Radio Waves

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5

I realized I haven’t written in a while. We have been on furlough since November. We have our tickets to return to Papua New Guinea on July 28—probably returning to our village by the first week of September. If you have kept up with us through Facebook, you would have seen that we have been traveling a lot all around the USA and Canada. It’s been lovely to see all of you again, to be in your churches, and to enjoy the fellowship of other believers.

I was blessed to be a part of a women’s conference in March with one of our supporting churches. I was quite concerned that I had bitten off more than I could chew, but God blessed it, and it was such an amazing day. I’m always thankful that God knows best and gives us the strength we need when we need it.

Elijah is now 16 and has his driving permit. In New Jersey, you need to complete 6 hours with a driving school when under the age of 17, so he enjoyed that. His teacher was a hoot! He’s finishing up 10th grade. Bella is turning 15 in a few weeks (May 25th). She is finishing up 8th grade and has been enjoying traveling and doing crafts. Both kids have really enjoyed being with their grandparents and cousins!

I find it quite amazing how the Lord shows us things through other Christians. It’s been an incredible encouragement as we travel and talk to others. So many people tell us they are praying for us and thinking of us. A few people recently showed me that they have held onto our very first prayer card from 2013. I mean, that is amazing! We are not in this ministry alone—all of you are a part of it as well!

An opportunity has come to our attention, and we are hoping it will work out. For many years we have traveled up and down our river to other villages in the same language group. We preach the gospel there as well as help with medicine the best we can. Even though we do this, we know it’s not enough. We are always in our village of Moka, always among our people, and for a while now Caleb has been saying, “I wish there was a way we could minister to the other villages more.”

Ideally, that would mean another team (a couple) coming to work together with us, but that hasn’t happened yet. So when a friend suggested a radio program, it really got our attention! Another missionary family we know in Mexico has a radio program where they are able to speak to hundreds of people just by being on the radio. Caleb kept thinking he needed to email this couple to ask how they got the radio program started but kept forgetting or not finding the time. This past week he decided to write a quick text to find out how they got it up and running. Within a few seconds, we got a text back saying it is through a company called Galcom in Canada. Providentially, that same week we were driving past the exact place we would need to go to find out more information on how to get a radio program.

We were able to visit Galcom on Monday, and it seems like an amazing opportunity—if Papua New Guinea allows us to have a radio license. We estimate the entire cost at $20k—that’s for hand-held radios for the villages, the actual radio station, and the radio tower. The idea is to have the radio tower put on our property and a radio booth room underneath our house. We could then have a radio station that will reach all the villages surrounding us in our Kaser language. We would provide each village with amazing portable, solar-powered radios so individuals would be able to have God’s Word brought right into their homes.

The plan is to have Scripture reading by other men in our village, Caleb teaching from a passage in the language, and me having the ability to do a little health class where I can teach basic health topics like you would learn in school. The options are endless!

Please join us in praying about this project. And contact us if you would be willing to help fund it. Pray that if it is the Lord’s will, this door will swing wide open in His perfect timing.

~Melissa

Here is a short Moka story from Caleb about the picture below

Under the jungle trees in the north part of our village of Moka, four men sat together on logs for the Lord’s Day meeting. The sunlight was shining on their faces. One of the older men practiced reading aloud from the Scriptures while the others listened quietly. A younger father sat leaning forward, and two boys were sitting close by — one looking very thoughtful with wide eyes, and the other resting his chin on his hand. Their bare feet were on the dirt village ground, and their simple clothes blended right in with the forest around them.

This humble gathering is more than just a meeting. It is a beautiful picture of what God is doing in Moka. These same men are still in spiritual darkness, held back by fear and the old ancestral spirits of their animism. But now they also sit together to hear God’s Word. Their focused faces tell such a powerful story — lives we pray will be changed by the gospel, hearts to be softened by God’s grace, and a community, Lord willing, to be built on the firm foundation of Christ.

As we prepare to return to Moka in a few months, this photo fills our hearts with fresh hope. It reminds us why the radio station vision excites us so much. We dream of many more men, women, and children in the villages surrounding Moka being able to hear these same life-giving words right in their own homes. Please pray with us that the Lord will multiply these quiet, faithful gatherings until the whole region echoes with the praises of Jesus and His church is planted in this region.

mission books: our top picks

Below is a list of some of our favorite mission books. Buy one that peaks your interest then read it. Reading solid books about pioneer Gospel missions should be part of every Christian’s life.

Parlier, Jaki. Poking Holes in the Darkness. (1995)

A modern missionary account of bringing the Gospel into spiritually dark, resistant regions through persistent witness.

Patrick. The Confession of St. Patrick. (c. 397–493)

A firsthand testimony of God’s sovereign grace in calling and sustaining a missionary to pagan Ireland.

Elliot, Elisabeth. Through Gates of Splendor. (1957)

The story of the five Ecuador martyrs, showing that obedience to Christ outweighs even life itself.

Edwards, Jonathan. The Life and Diary of David Brainerd. (1749)

A raw portrait of prayer, suffering, and burning zeal for the salvation of the lost.

Taylor, Hudson. Hudson Taylor’s Spiritual Secret. (1932)

Reveals that abiding in Christ—not striving—is the true source of missionary endurance and fruit.

Anderson, Courtney. To the Golden Shore: The Life of Adoniram Judson. (1956)

A sweeping biography of relentless perseverance in Burma through suffering, loss, and slow fruit.

Elliot, Elisabeth. A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichael. (1987)

A life of hidden sacrifice and unwavering devotion to rescuing souls at great personal cost.

Nevius, John L. The Planting and Development of Missionary Churches. (1886)

Lays out a biblical model for indigenous, self-supporting, self-governing churches.

Young, Egerton Ryerson. By Canoe and Dog-Train Among the Cree and Salteaux Indians. (1890)

An adventurous account of Gospel work among remote indigenous peoples in harsh conditions.

Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? (1912)

Challenges modern missions by calling a return to apostolic simplicity and trust in the Spirit.

Haykin, Michael A. G. To the Ends of the Earth: Calvin’s Missional Vision and Legacy. (2014)

Shows that Reformed theology has always contained a strong and active missionary impulse.

Carey, William. An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians… (1792)

The foundational call that launched the modern missionary movement.

Bavinck, J. H. An Introduction to the Science of Missions. (1954)

A theological framework for understanding missions as the work of God among the nations.

Pollock, John. Hudson Taylor and Maria: A Match Made in Heaven. (1962)

A portrait of a marriage forged in shared sacrifice for the advance of the Gospel in China.

Sargent, E. M. The Life and Letters of Henry Martyn. (1819)

A glimpse into a short but intensely devoted life poured out for Christ in Persia and India.

Christie, Vance. Hudson Taylor. (1999)

A clear, accessible biography highlighting faith, dependence on God, and missionary vision.

Stuart, Arabella W. The Three Mrs. Judsons. (1883)

The stories of three women whose lives were bound up in sacrifice for Burma’s salvation.

Taylor, Hudson. Hudson Taylor’s Autobiography. (1902)

Taylor’s own account of God’s faithfulness in pioneering inland China missions.

Roseveare, Helen. Evidence Not Seen. (1988)

A gripping testimony of trusting God’s unseen purposes through suffering and violence in the Congo.

Paton, John G. John G. Paton: Autobiography. (1889)

A fearless narrative of taking the Gospel to cannibal tribes in the New Hebrides.

James, Sharon. My Heart in His Hands: Ann Judson of Burma. (2005)

The powerful yet often overlooked story of a woman whose endurance undergirded a mission.

Christie, Vance. Adoniram Judson: Devoted for Life. (2012)

A concise biography emphasizing total lifelong commitment to Christ’s mission.

Mathews, Basil. Book of Missionary Heroes. (1925)

A collection of inspiring accounts designed to stir zeal for Gospel advance among the nations.

If you’re serious about sharpening yourself as a Christian, and possibly a prospective missionary, don’t just read these—study them slowly. The common thread is unmistakable:

not strategy first, not comfort, not quick results—but surrender, endurance, and absolute confidence in the power of the Gospel.

Our last term

Caleb here, a blog post from me

As we finished our recent term in Moka last year, we’ve been reflecting on what the Lord has accomplished over the past 4 years in Moka. It has been a season of hard work, deep joy, and many reminders that Gospel missions truly are a front-line advance into territory long held by the enemy.

Yet even as we labor, we are constantly reminded that this work ultimately belongs to our God. The progress of the Gospel does not depend on human strength, but on the sovereign hand of the Lord who opens hearts and draws people to Himself.

One of the biggest milestones this past term was the completion of the grass airstrip near Moka. What began years ago as a distant dream slowly became a reality through long days of labor—clearing jungle, leveling ground, and persevering through many setbacks. After eight years of work, planes can now land directly in Moka. That airstrip will serve as a lifeline for the Gospel work here for years to come.

But the airstrip is only part of what happened this past term.

Throughout the term we continued traveling up and down the river to surrounding villages, preaching the Word of God to people who have no exposure to the Gospel. In places like these, many are hearing the message of Christ clearly for the very first time.

Translation work also moved forward. Portions of Scripture such as Jonah, Ruth, and 1 Timothy were translated, and we completed work on the Gospel of Mark. In addition, we preached through Genesis chapters 1–11, laying a foundation for understanding who God is, why sin entered the world, and why humanity desperately needs redemption.

One of the most meaningful parts of the work has been visiting families in their homes. Often we sit down with them, share a simple meal together, and then open God’s Word with the whole household gathered around. These moments are quiet, personal, and powerful—seeds of truth being planted in a place where spiritual darkness has long prevailed.

The reality is that missions is not simply travel or humanitarian work. It is spiritual warfare against the kingdom of darkness.

Every village where Christ is not known is territory where darkness has had influence for generations. When the Gospel arrives, it is nothing less than a direct assault on the kingdom of Satan.

Yet the missionary does not go alone, nor does the success of the mission depend on him. God Himself is the One advancing His kingdom.

David Brainerd, the pioneer missionary to the American Indians, once wrote:

“I cared not where or how I lived, or what hardships I went through, so that I could but gain souls to Christ.”

This desire has marked pioneer Gospel work throughout history—God’s missionaries pressing forward into difficult places, trusting that God is able to save anyone, even the remote people of Moka.

Scripture reminds us that the mission ultimately rests in God’s sovereign plan and power:

Jesus said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.”

Because Christ possesses all authority, we go with confidence that the Gospel will accomplish exactly what God intends.

Our prayer for Moka is simple but profound: that the Lord would save people. We long to see men and women come to true repentance of sin and faith in Jesus Christ. We want to see people able to read the Scriptures in their own language, and ultimately we hope to see a local church planted in this village.

For now, our family is stateside visiting many of you—our partnering churches and friends—to share what God has been doing. Lord willing, we plan to return to Papua New Guinea the end of July.

While we are away, please pray that God’s Spirit would continue to work among the people in Moka, and that when we return we would find that the Lord has been opening hearts to the Gospel.

This kind of pioneer Gospel work has always been a team effort. Every prayer, every encouragement, and every partnership strengthens the work on the front lines of missions.

None of this work happens apart from the sovereign purposes of God. The same Lord who rules over nations and history is the One who gathers people to Himself from every tribe and language.

The jungle may be remote, but the mission remains clear: to see people brought out of darkness and into the kingdom of Christ and the light of the Gospel.

As we plan to return to Moka later this year, we are grateful for those who continue to stand with us in this work. If the Lord leads you to partner with us—whether through prayer, encouragement, or financial support—you become part of what God is doing in places where Christ is still largely unknown.

Let us keep pressing the Gospel forward into the darkness, trusting that the Lord will build His church—even in the remote jungles of Papua New Guinea.

September 2025

Wrapping up our three year term in PNG-

This has been a great term! We can be grateful for so many of Gods blessings.

Some of them are:

-Permanent resistance of PNG (no more visas!)

-The airstrip being opened in NOV 2024

-Being able to print up literacy booklets and start to teach them to read

-Bible text being printed and read aloud

-Preaching to 5 other villages in the same language group

- medical needs that we can tend to and help with

Leaving these people behind always makes me wary for I fear death for them. The evil one continues to prowl over Moka. The evil that we see here everyday is unreal. Every week without fail is a major fight. More recently it’s been happening on Sundays after a meeting- which can be so discouraging. Two Sundays ago I thought I was at a boxing match. We keep praying for the Spirit to come and open the eyes of these people. Faith comes by hearing and hearing from the Word of God. There are no more excuses for them because now that Caleb has been able to translate some books of the Bible into their mother tongue, they have heard the Word of God and can understand it. While Caleb preaches he always asks questions from each verse making sure that they are able to comprehend it. When he first started this it was a challenge for them since they really never do this (comprehension questions). Now so many answer and we can see that they truly understand what he is preaching on.

        We have been here long enough now to know everybody’s story, family connections and children. I always notice a new face when one appears. They too are sad to see us leave but not because the translation was brought to a halt or that no one will be preaching Gods word. It is because they want medicine the feeling of security and the perks from us living here. I am sad sometimes because sometimes they are looking at us as a service (meaning only here to help them) They never see the true service which is the biblical truth that we carry and bring with us. We can’t save only GOD can. Please be in prayer with us as we leave behind these people for a short time. We continually pray that the Lord will save while we are not in the village. That would be a great encouragement to us that when we return some will have believed.

 Coming back to the states

We are on our way back to the states and truly are looking forward to our time together with all of you. Spiritually we become so dry on the vine that we cherish this time to replenish our cup with the preaching  of the Word and fellowship with fellow believers. Our plan is to be here in the States from Nov 1 - August 1 2026. This season we will be teaching Elijah to drive with his permit. He will get his license back in PNG. Homeschooling grade 10 & 8  and traveling to many churches to update you all on the work that the Lord has done in Moka.

   While we are home we would love to hear from you by mail! This is something we miss greatly in PNG for the mail system is slow and we rarely get mail.

Our address is

204 Dakota Drive

Lafayette NJ 07848

Birthdays.

Caleb 01/22/83

Melissa 11/17/85

Elijah 12/30/2009

Bella 05/25/2011

All of our Sundays are booked already for our return. But please know that if we are unable to visit you this time we will plan on it in the future. Your prayers and support mean everything to us and with out you all holding the ropes we would not be able to do it.

Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible .~Ephesians 6: 23-24

End of May in the village

We did something different for the people this Sunday night (May 25th) for coffee night.

We had a “Birthday Party” for Bella.

Bella turned 14 on May 25th. We celebrated many times here, in MOKA, but never with the people, so I thought they would like to be involved this time. The week before I started making banana cakes and freezing them. I had brought in decorations and so we put them up in our wind house. Some people even brought her food, as her birthday gifts! I was shocked that they knew this and was extremely grateful for those who showed this kindness.

Kindness is something that I am seeing more of in this village, more among the women (maybe because I’m with them more?) Just the other day, Kosovo brought a bag of their staple food, sak-sak, to her cousins family because she had heard that they didn’t have any and that his wife wasn’t feeling well. Kosovu has been coming to hear Gods word every week and even travels with us to the other villages. She has never proclaimed Christ but this gesture of kindness was a change in character. Sad to say that Satan got wind of this change and came charging into the situation, using her daughter as the pawn. Jennifer is her daughter, (the one I mentioned last year who was beat up by her husband.) I heard yelling in the village which is a common everyday affair and once I realized it was two women I went down to see if I could help solve the problem. The daughter was so angry that her mother would give away her hard work of getting the sak-sak( as I have explained before- it takes a whole day of hitting the pulp then squeezing it through sieves to get the starch.) At first I was like you have to be joking, oh but she wasn’t. So I tried to talk and help but to no avail. No one wants to listen and they just want to be heard. SO I LEFT. Later that night I prayed that I would have an opportunity to speak to the daughter on these things. So guess what GOD did, He brought her up to my house for medicine on Saturday and thats when I told her “I have some things to say-” she said “She was still angry that her mother never said sorry”. RIGHT there I stopped her. I asked her,”First of all whose sak- sak tree did you cut down for food”- (her grandfather KOBE’s) I was like “That belongs to your mom”, and… then I asked her “Who helps you when you have a problem?” - she said “My mother.” I wanted her to understand something else so I asked her. “Do you know where my mom is?” She looked at me puzzled, so I preceded with”FAR, FAR away, I can’t run to my mom for help or see her when I want.” She should be thankful that her mom is with her, and loves her, and is willing to help her. Many don’t have moms in Moka because they are long dead. I told her how her mom was doing something out of kindness and GOD loves that. What she did and said to her mother God does not like. She needed to realize that she should be thankful that her mom is here and has the food from her smart Grandfather who provided for his family for years to come. (Oh Kobe I miss him).

Logic and critically thinking are a big thing missing in the village life, and I hope Kosovo continues to be lead by the spirit right to SALVATION!-

“SATAN, you are unwanted in this village and it is time you move on to a new place.”

Bella’s Bday!

Kosovo is the one holding the string for Bella. She was with us on one of our evangelism trips.

May 1, 2025

“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—
 the people dwelling in darkness
    have seen a great light,
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,
    on them a light has dawned.”

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

- Matt 4:15-17

Right before we left the highlands in April, I had written on Facebook, about how one of the ladies in my village was killed by a crocodile on March 27th.  Her name was Dumi. She left behind her husband and two young children Amos and Roman. (both of who I named)

This was so hard for me to see the family upon our return to Moka. Wacuve is her husband and he was standing there on the side of the airstrip when the airplane landed. He was holding both his children. My heart went out to him. To think about how she died is just horrible. Apparently the Croc came up out of the water while she was on the edge with her feet in the water. She was was fishing for shrimp. There was another girl who was helping her with the net that was actually standing in the water but he totally bi-passed her. He grabbed Dumi and thrashed her to kill her and then she was never seen again. I mean this is like a story you would read in some book not expecting it to happened to someone you know. Dumi was one of the first girls I met in Moka, she was a young adult and just full of life. In my beginning days she helped me with laundry and would just come around to see what “the new people” were doing. After we came back from our first furlough she was married to Wacuve. He was another one full of life and very animated. They had their first baby in Dec 2020 and asked me to give him his “christian” name. I named him Amos after my brother in law. They were honored because just knowing that it was the name of Caleb’s brother meant a lot to them. Sept, 2023 their 2nd son was born and again I named him, Roman. Both of the boys are great little boys living the good life of the village. Every Sunday Coffee night they would come up to our house with their mugs!

               Dumi rarely came to any Sunday meetings. She was an SDA. Wacuve on the other hand has come many times and is one of Calebs translators. He is no stranger to the word!

Today I was cleaning up a bit only to hear Him crying out. Being she died by the crocodile there is a lot of sorcery tied to that and can cause many problems among family, and really anyone that they might want to blame for this sorcery. I know that Wacuve has an idea and plan of who he is blaming but we are not involved in that. Caleb and I just keep speaking truth to him, telling him that God knows the day that we will die. That he has to turn from his ways and believe the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We both have told him that with out truly believing he will go to hell. PNG people have very thick skin and rarely get offended by this kind of strong talk to them. He listened. We keep praying for his soul. He is in mourning which means that he wanders around in black (because there is no grave for him to sit by because there was no body to put in it). According to their ways he doesn’t wash, cut his hair, or make food for about 2 months. The sad thing is that many are not helping him with food, only 2 families that I know of.

Last week we had him and the boys up on the porch for a meal, He was so thankful and we were just so happy to have them. Please pray for Wacuve and his boys, that they will be saved.

This is Dumi and Wacuve with her pregnant with Roman in 2023

Roman eating a lollipop after he took a bath at my house.

me giving them a bath, dad standing off to the side. I told him (I could see they were really dirty) I would do at my tank water so we didn’t have to worry about the croc water.

Amos after his bath wanted to play in the tub- just like every other kid I know! so cute to just see his joy!

Friends moving on… June 2025

As a missionary we have seen many people come and go from the mission compound. It is a hard thing. These people become your friends along side you in a land that is not our own. We share experiences that no one else will understand in our home land. Our children become friends and play outside like a 1950’s American kid, non of this video gaming and tv watching always. This season June 2025 many are leaving the field. Many who we have know for over a decade. Friends who I have called on in the middle of the night, who have shared birthdays with as well as fellowship with. God heard my prayer all the way back in 2012 when we knew we were going to be coming to PNG and I prayed that he would give me Good friends. I was so fearful of the unknown I was hoping I would go through life with others from my homeland. God was good (as always) and granted me many friends thorough out this journey, some who had left pretty early on in our ministry and others who are leaving now. I am sure this will be the life ahead of me, for our plan is to be here long term. Never take for granted the friends that you have down the street or in your church. For when missionary friends leave normally that means they are moving back to a place that isn’t close to you even in your home country.

Pray for us, just feeling a little sad as we look at the empty houses and know that we won’t do life with them again. On a happy note- we still have good friends here and are thankful for all the LORD has done it Moka recently, more to come on that!

love you all!

a lot of us waving goodbye!

Feb 5

Feb 5,

Today was a big day for the community! We had a party to celebrate the opening of the airstrip. Caleb and I contributed flour, rice, ramen and Cheetos to every family in the village and then we all cooked garden food and met down on the airstrip to have a big potluck. Caleb cut the “ribbon” and they all escorted us to the eating area which was in Jamikas yard. There many people spoke and we were thanked for all of the work of providing tools and money for the airstrip project. It’s quite amazing what man power can do! They dug a jungle with shovels and bush knives!

Three days later we had an emergency where one woman gave birth but retained the placenta and we were able to call for a medivac to get her out to the nearest hospital to get the care she needs. I tried to sweep the uterus and get it out but it wasn’t budging the medivac was set for the next morning but thanks be to God her body rid it on its own and she was fine! We did not need the medivac. We praise God for all he has done!

cutting of the “string” for the true opening of the airstrip!

All at the potluck

New Year and lots planned!

January 2025 came in fast this year. I can’t believe it’s already the 27th~ From January 15-23 we got to visit my in-laws village of BU’U.

2013 was the first time that we were there . It was two months we spent in the village with them and I have to say it was one of the hardest times of my life. We had two little kids 3 & 2 years old. Everything was so new to me and the kids. Fast forward to 2017 we went into visit them again for about a month. I remember it not being as hard but defiantly not liking the cockroaches and bugs.

Now 2025 eight years later, I can say my goodness that was a piece of cake!~ We so enjoyed being in the village with them this time in. We mainly went to just to be with Dad and Mom. The people were amazed on how big the kids have gotten and Caleb was able to preach that Sunday. We made meals together, talked for hours, sat on the swing on the porch with coffee and celebrated Caleb’s 42nd birthday.

Calebs parents have been missionaries to their village for 25 years and only have two more books to translate for the New Testament to be finished. They are in the Gulf province as well but 160 miles from our village. This makes it very hard for us to visit each other and why it's been years since we visited BU’U. Thankfully we have the mission compound that we can see each other on.

While there I realized how God prepared us for our village of Moka. Bu’u is in the mountains and on every trail it was hard for me to just climb and walk normal. I mean if you know me, I am not easy on my feet anyways always sliding and catching myself and that’s when I’m walking in the flat swamp area of Moka. My In-laws have done great with all of the hiking that they have done in this village! I give it to them. Mom doesn’t even seem short of breath while walking in her village and here I am huffing and puffing…. (oh brother). The people are small, when I say small I mean like little girls size 10/12 for women and boys waist of 26 if that for men.They have a different personality that I think would have been hard to get if I was there full time. Just those little things made me think on how the Lord knew where he wanted us. I am open and talk alot I want to know things and I get so involved in my peoples lives that it would have been hard if the village we were ministering to was BU’U. But GOD knew~ he sent his people to the perfect spot.

We leave for our village Tuesday and won’t be back around till April! This is going to be the first time that we get to land on our own airstrip SO EXCITED!!!! This will make everything just so much easier!

This is the year wee plan to have our furlough. Nov 2025 is the goal for us to be back in the states. This tern will have been a 3 year term so we are ready to catch up with you all again!

Please pray for the People of Moka to be saved, pray for the translation of JONAH that is what Caleb is starting next. Pray for the rest of our homeschool year to finish out well and for our health and safety!

We love you all!

October 31, 2024

Today was a big day for us, for the last three weeks we had a woman here from the states who was making a documentary on our life and ministry. She was also here to film the opening of the Airstrip which has been in works for six years. The day started off quite normal waking up to see the sun, knowing that this is going to be a good day! We praised the Lord for his work and all that he brought us through to this point! As the day progressed on the helicopter was able to land and two pilots were on the ground. One pilot doing the survey which turned out to be a praise espeially when he gave the answer of YES it can be opened! He said “We’re ready to come in and land the plane!” but as he was saying it, clouds rolled in… you see during the time that he was doing the survey and walking the airstrip with Caleb, everyone in this village was doing their own sorcery magic. They were dressed in their original get up which has a foundation to their ancestors demon worship. They were also doing their chants and holding there relics.

As the pilot was talking, saying we are now going to come in with the plane, the weather was changing. The woman who was with us for three weeks jumped into the helicopter with the two pilots and they were just able to get out leaving us standing there with a massive storm rolling in. We’re talking thunder, lightning HEAVY rain… mind you we had no storms for the last 22 days. We haven’t had any of that. It’s not even the weather pattern for this time of year. The pilots waited at another airstrip not too far away for three hours hoping to make it in to land! It wound up not working out for that day. Caleb and I truly believe that it had to do with Gods judgement. It seemed so strange what was happening.

The same night Caleb said to me I feel very cold, but being that the storm came and the temperature dropped significantly by 20° I just thought it was that. I woke up in the middle of the night and felt him and he was burning up with 102 fever, for the next 2 days he continued on with the fever telling me he had severe head pain and bodyaches and his stomach just didn’t feel correct. We did a malaria test 2x and it came back negative so we continued to help him through the day with Tylenol and Advil but the morning of November 2 Caleb progressed to worse. He woke up in the morning around 4:30am and I heard him faint in the bathroom when I got to him I am not sure if he went into a seizure, but he was slightly convulsing in his hands and his eyes were rolling and he was gagging, my body started to shake and I thought “Oh please Lord, don’t take him.” We weren’t really sure what it was. We started to do a cold, shower and cold cloth on his body to bring the temperature from 102.7 down, I was able to get a hold of my friend in Ukarumpa who got a hold of the nurse for me and praise God for the Nurses and Dr’s of SIL!!! They spoke to me over the radio and told me to give him the malaria medicine even though it didn’t come positive. As we started the medicine. We also gave him Tylenol to keep his fever at a 99 the rest of that day. I was very fearful as we approached the night again that we would go through the same thing again from the night before but I prayed and went to sleep. The fever broke that night sweat pouring off of him, his body was dripping so we put a bath towel under him. I was just so thankful to know that it was malaria and that the medicine was working. For eleven years we’ve been in this country and we’ve never had malaria. The medicine is a three day course and by the third day he was back to normal with no headache and able to function again. The hours of the morning on November 2 are something I’ve never dealt with before…worrying about your husband while you’re feeling helpless in a place that’s so remote is hard. It might even wanna make you give up, we prayed so much that day for him. We were advised that maybe we should also try to get out but knowing that this would be a huge task we just asked for the Lords hand and guidance to tell us what to do. I praise God for His hand on Caleb and His protection over our family.

We’re now looking at having the Airstrip evaluated and landed on the 2nd week of November. He continually shows his hand upon all things always. I know that I’ve written that more than 1 million times, we were also extremely thankful that the woman who came to visit and was able to get out because if not, she would’ve missed all of her flights that we’re scheduled for the next two days to get her back to America. God answered SO many PRAYERS of the day! God is in control of all things and there’s so many times that I have seen miracle upon miracle of what he’s proven to us that that makes me not able to quit.

I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord and in the land of the living wait for the Lord be strong and let your heart take courage wait for the Lord - Psalm 27:13-14

This God, his way is perfect. The way of the Lord proves true. He is a shield for all those who take refuge in him Psalm 18:30

• Nov 14 The plane did land for the first time and we were able to finally open the airstrip! It was an amazing day!

OCT 23,2024

Christ took on flesh… when I think about that it amazes me that Christ gave up heaven for the sake of his people on earth. 🌏 He gave up perfection to be with us sinful people. He died a horrible death only to defeat it for our sake! Praise be to him!

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,[a] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,[b] 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant,[c] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. -Phil 2:4-8

I’m saying all this because this month it was brought to my attention on how much fear can guide you and how that looks to the people. The unsaved are always watching us. I want to be more like Christ as I’m among the people … shaking their hand, sitting with them, eating with them, helping them medically and obviously telling them of the Good news of Christ and what He can do for them. The perfect Son came from heaven to be with us, eat with us, sit with us, to die for us. I say all this because I am reminded that the Lord wants us to do things that would be out of our comfort zone! He stretches us in ways that we would think are almost impossible.

To be with others who are culturally different then you is extremely hard at first but the more you are with them the more things seem to become a more “normal.” I would say that after 11 years being in PNG as well as almost 7 years in my village, that I am now starting to feel like I am able to be “one” of them at least to an extant. Show Christ in all you do, remember that as Christians we are being watched and we NEED to reflect Christ in our daily lives!

September 2, 2024

Yesterday I wasn’t feeling well, so I planned on staying in the house all day after having a fever through the night. I was working with Bella at the table in my pajamas when I heard the sing song sound of a woman crying out. I went to the door and saw that all my workers were running to the top of my hill as well to see what was happening down in the village, and there I witnessed a man (I should say more like a boy) hitting his wife in the dirt where she fell  into a fetal position and he continued to beat her and kick her in the neck and head. I was screaming out from the doorway to find out who it was, it was the couple we just ate with two Wednesdays ago. We had a dinner with them and spoke of Christ. I would say they’re both about 21/22 years old. The argument was over firewood and babysitting. She said I will go get you firewood because he was upset that there was none and when she asked him to watch their baby who’s about a year and a half he got angry with her and decided to beat her. No one really stopped him at the time that was happening, but I did find out he was stopped from numerous times going back to her. I went out my pajamas called out to her to come, so I could help her. Her name is Jennifer… she came up with another girl and was caked over with mud since this is the rainy season and the ground is full of it. Her arm was so swollen from being punched her back was so bruised from being kicked and her neck extremely bruised. I was shocked that she could walk up to me. She was crying, so I told the kids to make her tea with lots of sugar and milk because I knew she was in shock. After we cleaned her, I rubbed witch hazel all over her body for the bruises I gave her pain medicine and was just thankful that she wasn’t dead. We wrapped her arm where the biggest bruise was on her muscle. She drank her tea in a state of shock and was sort of in a disbelief! After she went back down I came back in the house still not feeling well and said to Caleb. I can’t believe these things are aloud. This is just so evil constantly these people get away with things that are so wrong and there’s no justice. Caleb said to me but wait one of the policeman a true policeman( paid by the gov. not a civil police) is here in the village. He said “I told all the people to go to him so that they can handle this the right way” but here is the problem everyone has an issue with everyone so if one person goes to the police for an issue on someone else that person will turn around and say I’m gonna pull out my issue with you as well so they sort of live in this position of being scared. Thing is I don’t have any issues that people can hold against me so I’m not scared to go to the police. (Issues that I’m referring to is someone’s son slept with someone else’s family member. Someone stole a pineapple from someone else’s garden, someone stole something from someone else’s house those kind of things.)

As I’m sitting there gonna get my lunch I think to myself this can’t be happening. There’s no way, no one‘s going to call on the policeman. I just witnessed something so horrific and nothing will be done. I have done this for many years now one man almost killed his wife numerous times, and I had to help her. Thankfully, she lived through it all, but due to medicine and God’s goodness. Another time I’ve helped people who have been stabbed, which I’ve mentioned before.I have to remind myself that Christ is the ultimate judge who will seek the true justice of man. Many times I feel like everyone could be a victim to this evil world and the evil continues to prevail. So I decided I was going to go, so I got dressed and walked down to find him now, every time I walk through the village they are always wondering why I’m walking through the village because normally it has something to do with a medical situation, or they’ll take advantage of the situation ask me for everything they could possibly think of while I’m walking because they think that I carry bandages and pain medicine on me at all times, but no one bothered us as we (the kids and I) walked to find him. When I got to the area that he was in, I called out to find out where he was, and he was in a house. Now, previously throughout the week we have helped him and another man from another village as well to use our satellite phone because they needed to make phone calls to an area that was sending a boat that was going to pick them up and they were trying to find out when that boat was coming. In PNG culture you return one favor for another so since we help them with the Satellite phone which is a very big favor. I knew he’d be happy to help me. Just so happens that the girl that was beat up was standing in that area as well so when I called him out, he came and I showed him, what happened to her back…showed him the bruises on her neck and her arm that was bandaged. I explained that I watched it as well and witness the situation and then I stated the law which states “violence against women.” it is against the law in PNG to abuse your wife, which is a great thing, but not necessarily easy to control in villages that don’t have police. He took in everything I said and then proceeded to go and get the husband. I didn’t stick around but knew that he would be in trouble. The policeman was not even aware that it happened. Like I said no one would have told him. Sometimes doing the right thing is hard but I knew I was her only hope at that time. Please pray for Beri and Jennifer and their little daughter Helen. They need Christ. They have heard the word and we have been to their house to witness to them.

28 A dishonest man spreads strife,
    and a whisperer separates close friends.
29 A man of violence entices his neighbor
    and leads him in a way that is not good.
30 Whoever winks his eyes plans[a] dishonest things;
    he who purses his lips brings evil to pass.

Psalm 16:28-30

Jennifer is in the blue shirt with baby Helen

Demons are alive and well

Aug 18, 2024

Is He worthy?

“Is He Worthy,” is a song that I tend to listen to a lot, and a lot of times cry as I sing it because of my proud heart or sinful ways that overtake me on this mission field and bring me into self pity. All this brings my eyes off the true reason we are here and I need to remember that He is Worthy, and that giving up what we have is for his glory and his glory alone. It is worth it all. It doesn’t matter if you’re in PNG or America in the end all that matters is if you are a follower of Christ and how you lived your life for the gospel. Are you sharing the good news with others? Do others see a Christ like life in your life? Are you bearing the Fruits of the Spirit?

https://youtu.be/FkRiYsTN7KY?si=FLzILPmOZL_XTFGS ( the beautiful song)

There are days that I think to myself what are we doing this for? No one seems to be listening Lord and am I doing it in vain?

It all started two nights ago that I was hearing this strange screaming coming from the house right down from me, I mean horror non human screaming. Caleb said, “ just go to sleep it’s just kids playing”but I knew in my gut it was demonic. Nothing screams like that normally. It went on through the night and I fell asleep. The next day I asked around if anyone heard the screaming and they all just said it was kids from the house that I thought it was coming from. As the day went on Elijah was in the village and said he saw two guys carrying another guy(21) who was dealing with an evil spirit in him. That confirmed what I heard for that guy lives right below me, his name is George.  Last night again I heard the screaming all through the night…Now today Aug 18th Geni an Kerbuti ( his parents) were up by my house so Caleb and I went out to see what was up? They just said they were going for a walk and we started to have a conversation with them, as we were talking there son George comes out of the jungle half alive limping and looking like he was going to pass out! His parents go on to say nothing and so I asked is there an evil spirit attacking George? Then they opened up and said yes that is him screaming at night and six people have to hold him down his strength over exceeds everyone just like the story in Mark-

3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

Mark 5:3-13

As he was walking past us he sat down and literally couldn’t get up he had some encounter with the spirit in the jungle which he was fighting but obviously lost. I called to him he didn’t answer so we prayed over him in the name of Jesus. I nor Caleb have the power to cast demons out but the one who lives within us does. Nothing miraculous happened at that moment but I’m praying for George. God save his soul before the devil carries him to hell

Sept 3, it’s been a few weeks and still it has not come back to him. Praise God. We are not here in Vain and we praise the Almighty how he uses the power of prayer .

these are his parents

George is on the left and in the purple shirt!

Our trip back to the mission compound and how the Lord continues to show us His faithfulness

I feel like we go through seasons as missionaries. There are good times that tend to always outweigh the bad but then the hard times come and you seem to forget about all the good. My previous entry mentioned trails and it had to do with Bellas arm. This one was a hard one for me…

This past Thursday ( Sept 12th) we were scheduled to leave our village to get picked up and return to Ukarumpa to get our supplies. The beginning of the week was beautiful weather, blue skies, sun, and a lovely breeze. Thursday we woke up to a light drizzle and low clouds. Weather in PNG can literally change within minutes so we walked down to the boat to get going at 6 am praying that the weather would clear enough for the plane to land around 10 am. Our airstrip sill has not been checked out to be officially opened so we were going to the airstrip that we have been flying in and out of for years now. As we were about 15 mins on the water, the rain just came down soaking us to the bone for the next hour and a half. Jersey was hysterical weaving in and out of our legs trying to find cover as well. We got to the village of Faia and made a huge fire so we could dry by it for a while. Caleb got about 36 men as workers to go and help us cut the strip so the plane could land later that day. Elijah wanted to help as well and as he walked away I yelled for him to stay in the middle of the strip because I am very fearful of the poison snakes that would be lurking about on the side of the strip in the thicker bush. I don’t know if he heard me or not but about a half hour into their work I decided to go and see what he was up too only to see him chopping a small tree down standing in the bush with his Crocs! I was so upset, you know mom style, where you want to go and just scream but there were so many workers around and I didn’t want to be a bad testimony. So I hustled down the strip to get to him and as I’m walking towards him there are a group of men huddled around something… A POISON SNAKE! They said that they had just killed three. Meanwhile Elijah was just in that area and could have been bit! I was really upset and actually think about it still how he was so close and yet the Lord protected him. After the men finished cutting the rain was really coming down and there was just no way that the plane was going to make it in at that time. Thankfully the pilot had written us via satellite text saying he would wait all the way up until 2:30 pm because he was stationed at another airstrip 65 miles from us. So many times throughout that day we prayed for the Lord to open up the sky for the plane to be able to come in. We just sat and waited for hours and all I had was this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach with worry. I confess one of my biggest problems is worry I am fighting this always because it clearly states in the Bible that we are not to worry.

Luke 12:22- And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.”

Philippians 4:6- Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and suppliction with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God

We heard the plane overhead for about 10 mins from various directions yet he was unable to get in. This is when we were not sure what we were going to do because it was now 3:15 we still had to walk back to the village towards our boat and were going to have to make a phone call to aviation to find out what we should do next. The walk back is about a mile away and as I was walking I was getting blisters on my feet because I was wearing rain boots with no socks, yes I know, not a wise decision. We made it back to village around 4 pm. making it late to leave the village knowing we would be on the water in the dark. We called aviation and they said they could pick us up the next day so we decided that we would stay in the village and wait this out. We were not prepared for this we had no food, no mosquitio nets, and nothing to sleep on. We told the kids this would be hard and it was the thing we thought best to do. Thankfully both of them didn’t complain and honestly just went with flow. We had 5 men from our village with us as well so they too were stuck. Thankfully Wacove’s family line was in this village and we were able to stay in two rooms of their house (think bare shed floor). We had no food and therefore at 7 pm just sort of made camp in the room and laid down. The Moka men made two fires in cut up 55 gal drums and we just sort of “slept” till it was light outside. Jersey chased a rat out of our room through the night and we had many laughs while lying there. I think if we didn't laugh we would have been crying. The next morning we waited to see what the weather looked like and it wasn’t that much different except that it wasn’t raining. We had to make the decision if they should send the plane or not because we were paying for it even if it didn't make it in. Caleb said that we call at 10:30am (8:30pm eastern time) and if it wasn’t raining, we could see a hole in the clouds with blue patches, as well as the mountain ridge was clear we would say yes. So at 10:30 our famliy walks to a different area to pray first and make the call. All of what I just said was visible so we said “yes” send the plane. Right after I hung up the rain came pouring down on us and big black clouds covered the ridge. At this point since I had no sleep and my stress was so high I started to cry. I thought we should call them back. Call it off. But that would mean going back to Moka with limited supplies and an unknown day of pick up. Caleb said no we made the call, God knows and we are moving forward. Everyone started to walk the mile back to the airstrip Caleb and I were last in line. My feet were literally bleeding in my boots and couldn’t walk, I was crying to Caleb because my faith was so weak and I felt so done. Caleb reminded me that in my weakness His power is shown.

But he said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ then I am content with weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when a I am weak then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12 :9-10

As I was attempting to walk all I could see was the darkness of the storm and no light. Caleb said He wanted to pray when we got to the airstrip to show the Moka men that God will open the sky and that He trusted the Lord to do what is good. These men all morning kept saying that someone is working magic against you and they are controlling the weather. No matter what we said that is what they truly believed. Caleb mentioned to me that in 1 KINGS 18 Elijah puts the ball in Gods court knowing that He would show his power. His faith was amazing just amazing that he even had the alter doused with water not once not twice but three times knowing that the Lord would show up. He looked at me and said Melissa “He knows. He will do what is good.” We got to the strip once again and we prayed. Aviation told us that the ETA was for 12:06 pm and at 11:35 the sky opened and cleared. Even enough for the sun to shine through. I later found out that many people were praying for us at this time in the USA and let’s just say he heard you! The plane landed at 12:06 and by 12:20 the darkness was back and the storm was even thicker than before. We took off to fly right through it and as we ascended the clouds were so thick and there was very little visibility. After we landed in Ukarumpa the pilot turned around and said I would have never been able to get down through that if I was just a few minutes later. GOD IS SO GOOD! I pray that the Moka men saw that. That They heard Calebs prayer that they saw his faith and that only by God was the weather changed! I praise God for this testing of my faith. I praise God for these hardships and I know that as he refines me as well as my family it will burn and it will hurt but in the end I will be more like Christ. ALL glory to him.

James 1:2-3- Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for the testing of your faith produces steadfastness and let the steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

This is where we stayed and how we. “slept.” Elijah was just laying on the floor

May 2024

Serving God in the midst of trials.

The day before we were scheduled to leave for Moka, Bella trips on the road and fractures her left arm again! She was casted and we decided it wouldn’t be a set back and continued on with the original date of departure, May 7th. So the morning of the trip we were about 18 mins from our destination and there was a call to our plane that they needed it for a Medivac back at the mission compound.

Thankfully not as bad as the last time…

Now when we leave and pack up our house to be away from it for 2 months we eat everything out of the fridge or take what I can. I wash the floor, and bathroom, finish up the laundry and hang it inside if need be. So when they said we had to turn around I selfishly thought, ugh I’m going to have to do all that again another day. I then proceeded to be concerned about who it could be and what could be the matter with that person. We landed and weren’t sure of a new departure date since this throws a wrench into the scheduling and we would have to find out another day. So we opened the house up again and I called my mom to tell her what happened. She suggested taking the kids for ice cream (png kind) because they too had a thrown off day. So off we went to get ice cream. While there the Lord allowed me to bump into the person whose wife was on the Medivac. She was 30 weeks pregnant and her water broke. PNG is not set up with a NIC unit so they were flying her off to AU. Once I heard her story I thought about how selfish it was of me to think about the nonsense that I did. (Praise the Lord she was able to deliver at 37 weeks and the baby and mom are doing well now.)

As our week progressed in Uka both kids started to fight the flu, Caleb had started the week before and was about over the worst while we were on the plane but now Bella, had a fever and a cough and then on Friday Elijah came down with it. Monday the 13th was the new date of our departure and I was extremely worried about what we should do about going. I was praying a lot and asking the Lord for guidance. If we had our airstrip open I wouldn’t be as concerned knowing that we would land and be at the house but being it’s not it was going to be a long day of travel for Elijah who was still not feeling well and feverish.

These are times where my faith waivers and I feel like throwing in the towel for a moment.

We decided to go in good faith knowing that it would be a hard day but Elijah said he could do it. Praise the Lord we got in at the airstrip and all our stuff to the river, there was a boat and a motor and we were on our way to our house. The next three days were a blur as I nursed Elijah who continued with fever and readied the house. That Thursday the 16th I started to feel weak and tired and by night fall I too had succumbed to the dumb flu! I’m the worst patient and I hate being sick because I know I have just too much to do each day to keep the house running but here I am typing this blog out from my bed and realizing it ain’t up to me and that I just need to trust what the Lord has in store for me. For me it’s a challenge to serve God whole heartedly when in a trial. I’m so weak and I’m reminded of that now. My good friend wrote me and said “I guess this is a time to rest in Him, rather than actively serving. ❤️ Praying you'll be encouraged”

Thankful for her encouragement. Everyone else is on the mend with coughs and low energy hopefully in a few days that will be me as well.

There is not a word on my tongue, but behold oh Lord, you know it all together -Psalm 139:4

God does not give us everything we want, but he does fulfill his promises leading us along the best and straightest paths to himself

-Dietrich Bonhoeffer

A Quick update

April 12th, 2024

Hello all, so sorry I’ve been missing in action here. We were in the village all of January into February and then we came to the states for a missions conference the last week of Feb. We never do things like this so it was such a blessing to be with like minded Christians in fellowship with one another. We leave to travel back to PNG on Wed the 17th.

When we left PNG the last week of Feb. I felt like my “cup” was so dry. There are always ups and downs in the missionary life but not having a home church and a time of fellowship with other believers wears on you. When you are on the frontlines in missions you know that you are giving this up in order to bring them the GOOD NEWS but when the opportunity came up that we could go to the US for a few weeks, I was just so thankful for Gods knowing where we were at and helping us. GOD IS GOOD and we praise Him for this trip. We feel refreshed and rejuvenated to go back to the people of Moka and continue on with the ministry there.

While here in the states we got to spend time with Grandparents, Family, Church and friends.

Since we were in Moka last, the “mayor”, what’s apped us while he was in one of the towns. It was a first for us to see them on video! He told us that one of the Moka kids was killed by a crocodile. That’s so upsetting for me since that same kid I just helped back in January with Malaria. When these tragic things happen they always get to me and I get worried. Please pray for Mark and Sara it was their son who died.

These pictures Elijah and Bella took in January and February

Prayer points:

-Travel back to Papua New Guinea (17th-19th)

-Travel back to Moka on the 7th of May

-For the HOLY SPIRIT to come and that the Lord will save His people

-AIRSTRIP- To be opened up in August Lord willing

-To finish school with the kids while in the village

- Caleb’s language learning to continue on (he has progressed so much!) and preaching the Word!
- Safety and Health of our family

It has been too long, lots to write about.

I can’t believe it’s Dec 17th 2023 already. One year ago today Bella and I were on our medivac to Australia to get her broken arm fixed! Praise GOD for all he has done for us this past year and healed Bellas arm so it’s good as new. Last year I was overwhelmed and upset over our time in AU and that we were missing all our Christmas traditions of baking cookies and watching Christmas movies together. This year I am thankful and grateful that I am able to do them with the family!

I wanted to give an update on David and his family. Last time I wrote about him he was extremely interested in what the Bible had to say as well as was coming to every meeting. He genuinely listened to what was preached. Caleb and I decided to fast and pray for him one weekend because we had never had anyone so interested in the Bible before. We prayed for him and that the LORD would save him as well as another man Harry. The next day after we had done that we saw David outside waiting to talk with Caleb. Caleb went out and was gone for about an hour. When he came back in the news was not good. David said that he would not be coming to the meetings anymore because he had work to do to build his house etc… Honestly we were heart broken we had just pleaded with God for his salvation and now he was saying he wasn’t even going to come to hear the word anymore. Caleb asked him if there was a problem or if a demon spoke to him. He denied it but obviously something happened. We were extremely discouraged but God knows what he is doing and we trust that HIS will, will be done!

How can I love a National as Christ loves us? Is a question I ask myself a lot lately. In my sinful actions, I get upset or frustrated with things they say or do towards us and then become very angry with them. What kind of missionary am I if I’m angry with the people I’m supposed to be showing Christ too! I can’t really explain what life is like living in a village, you have to live it to truly understand. There are days that I’m ready to take on the world and help in every way I can and other days I want to hide in the house and not really try to problem solve their life problems. Being in the village as a foreigner you are looked too for all things. They expect us to help in everything, with fixing things for them, whether it is gluing a water tank, putting tape on a book or giving them things like a piece of paper to write on. All these are small insignificant things and we are happy to help! It’s when they come demanding things from you like fuel, to use the satellite phone, or money that starts to make me upset. We always help in the medical needs and community issues, but if it comes to a family issue or a problem between two individuals we are not involved. There is a small court here in our village and all disputes are handled there, such as… married people committing adultery, who stole something from someone’s garden, or a threat from another person. Loyalty is not something they care about and being that no one seems to be saved they will use and abuse a situation even if that means that they lost the friendship. Culturally that’s not how it works in America and a friendship means something to you, many go through great lengths to not have an upset or tiff in there friendship.

BUT GOD, yes GOD did this same thing right around this time 2000 years ago. GOD sent His son JESUS, to earth to so that he would be the propitiation for our sins, the last sacrifice! Jesus came because he loves us so much. Think of what sinners we are and yet he looked past that to literally become the GOD-man, fully GOD yet fully man. As I complain (which is sinful in itself) about my small roll in MOKA and how I’m not cut out for this and this is so hard….I have to humbly repent of my sinful ways and attitude, which not going to lie is hard because pride takes root. I have to remember there is someone much bigger then I in charge of the MOKA people and I need to be the vessel he wants me to be. When Mary was given the task to bore the son of GOD her first question was, Well how can that be since Im a virgin? But the angel goes on to say

“ And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy- the Son of God.”- LUKE 1:35

after saying these tings it goes on to speak of Elizabeth and how she will conceive but the point I want to get to is this, verse 37. Here the angel says “For nothing is impossible with God. 38 And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant if the LORD; let it be to me according to your word.” and the angle departed

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD! the fact that Mary spoke and said. “Behold” it was if now she was bringing a message, she trusted GOD and knew this is what you want me to do so I am your humble servant. This is what I am taking with me when we go back into Moka in Jan 2024. I am your servant lord, I AM to trust you for nothing is impossible with you and I have to own that and trust that always. Save your people and help me to be the your hands and feet, let me not be troubled with the sinful acts but to pray and speak of you to them.

I challenge you reader as you too have had hardships and might be feeling sorry for yourself, Remember Marys reaction to GOD when she was told she was going to carry the Son of God and how with her humbleness the Lord used her greatly.

this is at our house on the Mission base… MERRY Christmas to you all

I

last post till DEC.

July 30, 2023

I have been yearning for some good American food. You know pizza, hamburger, hotdogs and a milk shake!

We are in the rainy season it’s always a little bit more depressing because of all the rain. When the sun does show its face I’m sure to get everyone outside and catch a few rays because the vitamin “D” will do us all good.

As we continue to teach the people Gods Word, we have had some great conversations about Christ, Christianity and what it means. David and his two sons came to our house for dinner on Wed, we ate on the porch and I made white Chili… I made enough to have left overs, but being they don’t get food with a ton of flavor, the pot was empty by the end of the night. It made my heart glad. David asked questions about baptism, we also brought up that being a follower of Christ would set him apart from all of the people here, he said he wasn’t afraid of that since he is like an outcast already. It made me think of how Jesus was accepted more by the outcasts in the Bible because they had already been rejected, where as the rich man could not give up all he had to follow him.

Please continue to pray for David, that God would save him!

This is DAVID, his brother is in the background, and these are his two sons.

Aug 13

I just finished reading this book (it’s an easy read!) I couldn’t believe how parallel our lives are.

“Poking holes in the Darkness” BY JAKI PARLIER

I highly recommend this book about a missionary woman and her family in PNG durning the 1960-80’s she is an Italian from New Jersey which reminds me of myself!

This book is a great eye opener to those of you who do not live in PNG with the demonic force. Demons are everywhere and know how to capture their people in each culture. Here in PNG it’s all about the spirit world and how their “customs” control them. A while back I wrote a blog about Elsi dealing with a demon and how it really didn’t phase her that it would go into her periodically. This week we heard our village all screaming and shining lights on the river around 8 pm one night… we watched the parade of villagers walk towards the other end of the village. The next day we asked what that was all about and we’re told, this one young guy who always has a spirit with him went to the bush and was doing his work there ( gardening, fishing, chopping wood) when his new wife was upset or annoyed at the spirit so called out it’s name which from what I understand it started to fight the both of them ( makes me think it was wrestling with them) by the time night came they were exhausted and went calling out to the village to help them. They were across the river and what we saw was the village going out to help them get back. I am sure we are missing many parts to this story because they won’t tell it all to us.

What I have learned throughout my years here as well as in the states is that demons gain control by you speaking their names. I never played the ouija board but have heard about it from other people and they would say that the spirit would always spell out its name so then once you called it by name it gained power, I find that extremely similar to this situation here. We need to be aware of the the spirit world. IT DOES EXSIST! Christian, guard yourself from these things and have your armor on!

“For we do on wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

- Eph 6:12

Please pray with us for these things. We are planning on returning to our village Sept 28,2023

• That the Lord would prevail over the darkness

• Many would come to hear his word preached

• HE WOULD SAVE HIS PEOPLE!

• the airstrip would be finished by the new year

• Health and safety for our family

• that we would have Joy wherever the Lord has us.

“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”-JOHN 15:11

Another entry!

July 4th -9th

American holidays far away are always a little hard for me. Knowing family is gathering together for a BBQ or swimming, gets a little depressing. I always try to make the best of the holiday where ever we are so this year I made steaks and a nice meal. We read 4th of July Independence books and listened to patriotic music through out the day. We made the best of it and it turned out to be a nice day.

As we approached the weekend Caleb and I have been praying that many would come to hear the word. My prayer Saturday night was that many from Moka would come with us to go to the village fo Dufa where Caleb would preach Sunday morning. As I walked to the boat, it was pouring rain and cool. I climbed in and noticed no one was coming. I said to Caleb “Do you think anybody is coming?” Caleb said, “Yeah maybe a few.” Then out of no where 37 people piled into the dinghy in the rain. We drove up the river for 20 mins and arrived in Dufa. While there the man who always let us meet under his wind house said we couldn’t anymore. So here we are 37 people from Moka wandering around Dufa to find a place to meet. At first I was really annoyed but thought what kind of missionary am I to be annoyed, I need to be thankful look at what the Lord has done just this morning! I was extremely humbled by HIs grace and how he answered that prayer for many to come. The man who owns the small wind house is unconverted and why would I expect more of him? Anyway it all worked out and we were able to minister to a whole bunch of people. Thankfully God is good and in control of all things.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. -Phil 4:11

Us all meeting under a broken down house in Dufa. Thankfully everyone Is a good sport about it! Elijah, Stephen, his brother Bolgai (in purple) Douglas and Harro (in yellow) all these boys are 14 and 13. They hang with Elijah a lot!

A NEW UPDATE

After we arrived in Moka, we got to work unpacking quickly because everything was somewhat wet (due to the rain.) As we were unpacking we noticed that Jersey was in a “hunting” mode, she had found a rats nest! She chased the first rat into a corner where Caleb speared it with one of our PNG hunting spears. Let me tell you that thing was as big as a guinea pig. As we cleaned up that mess Caleb said, “Well I hope that was the only one,” as he says that she comes running out of the bathroom in pursuit of another one, this time it was a mama rat since she dropped her baby on the floor as she was being chased by Jersey. Jersey killed that one all on her own. No need to worry about rabies for it is not in the country. We threw all three rats outside in the rain, cleaned up everything and continued on unpacking. We have never had rats in this house before and we can’t find where they are coming from! The next morning all three rat bodies were gone meaning a village dog came and ate them.

Apparently there were 4 snake bites in the 6 weeks while we were gone, but praise be to God no one died! One of my biggest prayers is for Gods hand to be upon these people and save them! I truly believe the devil is at work. We carry the light into this darkness. I feel like when we leave the light goes with us and Satan and his demons are at work, for they too fear the light. He does not want these people to hear Gods word.

June 22-29

We are into a routine again, The kids are finishing up grade 5 and 7 now.

We have found some areas of our house that have termites. It’s not uncommon in this area, we are just concerned by all the hard work Caleb has done here that it will fall apart. We are looking into how to help this situation. Thanks to my parents who were able to get us termite stakes and my in-laws who got us the termite spray. I think were good to go!

termites.

We have visited two families these past two weeks on Wednesday nights. We go and share a meal with a family and then Caleb reads to them something that he is working on in translation. It always seems to go over well. We were at Mira’s house this Wednesday and I said to Caleb on our way back that I felt like it was sitting in a friends house. We so enjoyed being with them. They had fresh prawns cooked that Caleb and Bella shared. Elijah is allergic and I don’t do well with them. Mira is always willing to hear the word but still chooses his animistic view. Continue to pray for him and his family. Mira(dad) Morie (1st wife) Molly, Linda, Elizabeth (all of her children). Lokwa ( 2nd wife) Ally, Boi, and Grace( her children)

While we were there our one chickens “Goldie” went missing. So the next morning the kids and I went on the hunt for her in the village, after about a half hour of searching a kid found her with a bunch of other chickens in a tree. He scared them down and they went flapping away. It then took about 20 kids to chase her down! My thought the whole time was, “well this is great we found her to only have a kid diving on top of her and kill her.” She came out ok but screeching from fright! Oh good times.