October 2018
Dear Praying Friends,
These last three months have passed so quickly. We do apologize for the long what to hear from us on an official letterhead. The internet service through Digicel is weak in Kaintiba now, so no attachments can go out with our emails. Emails take minutes, hours or days depending on the strength of the signal. Since Christi and Hadassah are going out to do our bi-monthly supply run and banking, they should be able to get this sent out from Port Moresby. Through a Providential Flight that came through to Kaintiba, I was able to go out to Ukarumpa, Eastern Highlands to get a few extra supplies to hold us over for another 6 weeks, hence a total of 13 weeks in Kaintiba before we were able to get out to send an update.
This “providential Flight” was to help get Samuel to POM and then on the the USA. As he is approaching his 17 birthday, and having a hard time adjusting back in PNG life, Father directed us to send him to stay with his maternal grandparents to get some needed spiritual help and allow him to get some counselling to work through some hurt he is feeling. Now we have our three oldest children “out of the nest”, so to speak. Titus has adjusted well in Alaska with work and his Bible Studies. He is doing some practical ministry with our friends at Bible Baptist Church in Fairbanks. From time to time he feels homesick, but it is a natural feeling….yet needful for him to mature into the man God wants him to be. It pleases my heart to see him desire the work of God and is seeking to know the will of the Father for his own life. Both Tabitha and Titus are showing good fruit of all the work we have invested in them.
Hadassah is showing her own maturity in Christianity. She quickly volunteered to take the place of Titus at teaching the children class. No man or woman had continued in that ministry while we were in the USA….our people here are still immature in the faith to do the work. A few have the ability to do it, but have no desire to teach “insigniFicant” children. That is how children are considered here in this ungodly culture. But we do know that every church needs to have some way to teach the children, especially in a community where the children can do what every they want without any parents to correct their behaviour. We do pray the parents will start to begin the things we are teaching them, so the children will have many teachers to develop good character traits. Ultimately a work of salvation is needed for them to yield to a Mighty God Who has a purpose for their individual life. The “Clan” mentality takes away the need to be personally held accountable of their lives. This is noted daily here in Kaintiba. So many people think that IF they are part of a clan, they (the clan) can all carry the blame when someone of the clan/family makes an offence against another.
Continue to pray for us. These last 3 months have been a challenge to readjust, overcome trials, fasting often from a constant barrage of attacks within the “church” and also from without. My chief adversary “without a cause” is the man who helps me in translation work and some preaching. He often Finds fault with how Father directs me in the ministry. He looks at the ministry as a business instead of a working body of believers that need to submit to the King of kings in all daily practice. Often I agonize to see them Flounder so in their “Christian” life, because they will not fully submit to the work of Christ. The Dear Lord has sustained us in every attack, and we hope to see some major work of God shortly. Come what may, how can we be unfaithful to Christ Jesus Who has ALWAYS been faithful to us? He is our faithful Friend!
Christi’s Corner: As I type this we are waiting for news of our grand-baby’s birth. I had hoped to be there for the birth. This didn’t work out. I am excited to be able to see my kids via FaceTime when we go to the city. Glory is very excited to get ice cream when I come back from the city! She keeps changing the Flavor from chocolate to vanilla to banana to strawberry! Every day she asks me if its on the list. It’s the little things that matter to her! We appreciate all who pray for us and do love you all in Christ.
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Samuel, Hadassah,
Grace, Hope, Serenity, and Glory
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com