Happy 11th Birthday to Rachel!
Airstrip Closed For Service
We had to close our airstrip last week because it was getting worse and worse with all the rain we have been having. The Simbaris have patched some of the worst spots but there is still a lot that needs done. Please pray for a change in the weather so the airstrip will dry up a little and so the Simbaris can do some more work on it.
PNG Independence Day
Weather permitting, we’re hoping to catch a flight out to Goroka on Wednesday. Papua New Guinea Independence Day is Sept. 16th and we haven’t been out in town for an Independence Day since we first came to PNG in 1991. And this particular Independence Day is the 30th year celebration. Our whole family hasn’t been out of the tribe since April so we are planning to go out to town for the festivities and to have a little break with our kids. We’ll be spending one week at the kid’s mission school near Goroka and one week out at the coast. Of course we’re looking forward to some good family time and hopefully seeing the sun again.
Conference Update
In our last update we told you how 3 Simbari believers had gone to an area conference for national believers. The weather had been bad but God gave them beautiful weather for the 2 day hike. That was a little miracle since it has been raining for almost 3 months straight now. One believer who didn’t go to the conference gave testimony that he had been using the rain as an excuse for not going to the conference but felt rebuked when God gave the other guys good weather for the trip. They hiked over an 8000 foot mountain peak and down into another tribe. They were a little worried when they entered an old traditionally unfriendly village in the Wantakia tribe and wanted to spend the night. But they were not harmed and were given a place to sleep and some sweet potato and sugar cane. The next morning they had hoped for a little food to eat for breakfast or to take on the trail with them but they weren’t offered any. They thought they would be hungry during the 10 hour hike that day but they didn’t even feel hungry. When they arrived in the Aziana tribe at the village where the conference would be they were given food. They said the food was nice but what they really came for was God’s Word. And if that’s all they got during the conference they would have been happy. They attended 3-days of meetings hosted by the Aziana tribe local church where the NTM missionaries have already phased out and the church is on it’s own. They were amazed by all the mature believers there. And that even old people were carrying Bibles and could actually read them. They were also impressed that these folks without much education were so knowledgeable in God’s Word. From all that we heard it was a real challenge and encouragement to our guys. They said they shared tearful goodbyes with their new Aziana friends and came back. They have been very excited since getting back and wanting to spread God’s Word to everyone. While they shared in church last Sunday the meeting went on for 2 and 1/2 hours and the excitement about God’s Word and the Gospel spread to the others who were there too.
By His Grace,
David & Shari Ogg
(Esther, Simon, Rachel & Jason too)