On the last Sunday of our bush orientation our dear friend, Ishmael, stood with us and prayed over our family. Ishmael’s commissioning prayer marked the unofficial end to our time of orientation. He prayed specifically that the Lord would clearly direct us to a people who have yet to be reached with the Gospel. As we returned home from the bush, answering the question of where the Lord would have us allocate became our main focus.
Benjamin joined fellow missionary Tony Sutton in the People Group Assessment office and for the past two months has been neck deep in maps and survey reports. To give you a better idea of what Benjamin and Tony have been up to watch this short video we put together.
It is only a matter of time before we have a clear picture of the areas of greatest need here in the Sepik. When this becomes a reality our ministry plan can be put into motion and we can begin, in earnest, the work that we came here to do. Benjamin and Tony have 5 survey trips planned for the next six months. It is their goal to have the allocation question answered by December. We need you to join us in praying for their strength, safety and for God to swing open the doors of Satan’s strongholds!
However, between now and then significant preparations must be made. When the door opens for us to move into a tribe we need to be ready, with all our supplies on hand, to build a house. Many of you have undertaken this kind of project before and know of all the complexities involved. While our bush house will be very simple in its design every other aspect of the project will be aggravated by the isolated location that we will most likely be building in.
The geographical challenge cannot be overcome easily or cheaply, but it is hard to estimate what we’ll spend in the process of buying, shipping, transporting, equipping and building our bush house. Obviously our goal is to do this in the most economic way and without going into debt in the process. We have been able to purchase some supplies (flooring plywood) and equipment (solar electric system, generator and some tools) but that is it so far. As we are financially able, we will conitnue to make the necessary purchases. It seems an impossible situation to us from all of our earthly vantage points. But we are reminded everyday to abandon these perspectives and to look through the eyes of faith and see it how God wants us to see it. This is the perspective that allows us to “laugh at impossibilities and shout, “IT SHALL BE DONE!”
If you would like to help in a specific way with this building project we have catalogued the major items that we need to purchase which you can access at this link. Each item has a description with an estimated cost and instructions on how to make a donation. Some of the items have to be purchased before the end of July so that they can be shipped to us on the next container headed our way from the US. Please pray with us that the Lord would supply all these needs and more so that we don’t have to hesitate for even a minute when the door opens and our church planting opportunity begins. Thank you for being a part of what God is doing here in Papua New Guinea and in our lives. Your faithfulness keeps us here and we are incredibly grateful to each one of you.
Benjamin and Missy Hatton