with our missionaries
A safe journey remembered papua New guinea
point from home and family; the journey’s end was within reach. My co-worker Frank and I left had Sinow with representatives from two assemblies of believers. Traveling with five Siawi men and four Sinow men, we marveled as traditional enemies lived as Christian brothers. Drenched by driving rain, lost and ill at ease at night, we commit-
PHOTO courtesy tim schroder
Thank you for your prayers. God is good and at work here in PNG and in the Sepik region. I had requested prayer for Pukapuki men going to Wewak for a curriculum development course. Four or five men went. We are not currently in Pukapuki, but rejoice with these missionaries as they press on in their tribal locations. Here is a shortened bit from a letter of Kelly Luyendyk, a missionary that works in the Sepik and went to these meetings: “I glanced at my mud encrusted watch and checked the hour as the prow of our Kelly and Sien Luyendyk are Schroders’ co-workers from Cremona, Alta., who have served with NTM for 13 years. dugout canoe swept in a shaky arc. Four o’clock, Tuesday afternoon. Ten of us had been This time of teaching and fellowship traveling since Sunday afterwas more than a workshop for church noon, homeward bound after leaders. It was a time of challenge and a week-long church workshop held at the coastal town of encouragement for young believers, Wewak. uncertain shepherds. This time of teaching and fellowship was more than a workshop for church leaders. It was ted ourselves to making it to Sinow a time of challenge and encouragebefore Tuesday night. Frustrated ment for young believers, uncertain with our perpetually sinking canoe, shepherds. Testimonies and discusfrightened by giant whirlpools and sion confirmed that God’s Holy Spirit oncoming floating debris, we pressed was molding their thinking in line on. with His Word. Now we were almost I navigated into the blackness, home. totally helpless and completely relyMartin’s steady hand on the tiller ing on Funwk and Nomo, on the bow of the 40hp outboard guided our care- with their roving flashlights. They ful circle on the Sepik River, everyone guided us past hidden oxbows and eager to check the huge crocodile islands on that serpentine river. sunning itself on a tree snag. Everyone huddled under plastic, We were only one more river water streaming from Maikel’s beard
as he kept me company. But we were heading home, and we sensed God in the canoe with us. The crocodile gracefully slid into the water. Everyone cheered, secretly wishing for the means to bring the meat home. Martin maneuvered the canoe upstream. I motioned him to idle to a stop. Funwk latched onto some reeds to keep us from drifting. Then Siawi’s Malikai grinned at Sinow’s Maikel, stood up, and led us in thanks for our Heavenly Father’s protection and provision. We had passed a Sinow man and his family in their bush camp who said Maikel’s wife had almost drowned the previous day in the flooding river. Frank, who had returned early, had swum to save her. Martin praised God that we could come home without grief waiting. Look away from your feeble strength and hang on the victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Right now you feel dirty and tired in your journey home, but look up ahead. The last bend is approaching. Hang on. Home is near.” Tim Schroder Tim and Laurel Schroder (Pelly) serve with New Tribes Mission.
Portage EMCers, Where Are You? Portage EMC 50th anniversary and building dedication August 28 and 29, 2010 Registration: August 28, 1-3 p.m. More information to follow on our church website. Please respond by July 31: 204-857-4146, www.portagepec.ca, or www.facebook.com (search PEC 50th anniversary)
THE MESSENGER | June 2010
15
