March 2008

Dear Co-worker,     

    ‘Trust in the Lord and don’t give up, He is a friend so true to me, no matter what your troubles are; Jesus will take you through, sing when the day is bright, sing through the darkest night…’ (Sing His Praise, Christian Books Melanesia, 1971, No 240). Trust in the Lord forever for the Lord, the Lord is the rock eternal (Isaiah 26:4 NIV)

   The hymn above speaks for itself, passages in Isaiah and Psalms portrays human beings like us, prompted by the Spirit of God to put ultimate trust in the Lord., despite of sensing danger, or been hurt by some-one wrongly, enduring a prolonged agony and pain, or have been forsaken by a trusted friend? No matter what has happened they trusted in the Lord. Trust is having confidence in the Lord hoping that the Lord will intervene in our troubles and bring comfort, strength, peace relieve and give endurance, that our dreams and hope will become a reality someday.

   Whether you have started the year 2008 well, or started with problems and pains to much to endure, continue to build on the eternal rock, surely Christ will take you through. Fellow worker have courage, our Lord is not distant, He is in our midst. Let’s continue to pursue with our TEE work this year with trust that God will do mighty things, no matter what our troubles are. “Keep Going” Special feature in our March 08 Edition

   Western Province TEE at a Glance. TEE has been viable in the Western Province for many years, Balimo, Awaba, Rumginae, Kawito, Kiunga and villages like Kimamma, Pisi Soweta and others are major TEE bases and Mapodo Bible Training school.

   There is No Easy Road – the task is not that easy, the coordinators and Tutors sometimes, have to spend their own resources to get the program going. DTE thanked those faithful TEE tutors and coordinator who at times sacrifice under intense pressure, in ensuring TEE survival; you are always remembered in our prayers.

   Bruce Sepe hails from Kimama village and he is one of those committed and faithful one who coordinates TEE in Balimo and other areas of the Western Province

  Lack of finances, the desire and vigor is there but, one major problem for our TEE groups in the isolated and remote areas are shortage of funds, groups are formed but no money to pay their TEE course fees, they have inadequate support base like the Group below from Wanigili village Balimo.

   Soweta Village TEE Group with their Tutor (below)                                   

   Please we encourage our TEE partners and friends to pray for our fellow friends who are in need; for Gods’ intervention, so that they might be able to pursue with their desire to study Gods’ word, and live for Him

   Faithful &Committed; TEE Tutor Mene mene has to travel all the way from Pisi village (which is quite a distance) to Balimo in his dugout canoe to enquire about his groups TEE materials. While the dean was there, Sometimes TEE tutors don’t get their materials on time, and this of course reduces their enthusiasms at times, but it is not that easy for tutors like Menemene to give up easily, what the Lord has entrusted to you, we have to be mindful and be good shepherds

Thank you our faithful & committed Co-workers and Partners; Our appreciation and thanks to all our TEE Coordinators and Tutors in PNG and the South Pacific, we do not forget you, you are always in our prayers, many thanks to our Port Moresby and Lae CLTC center Deans Emmanuel Kauna & Moses Bakura in their tireless effort in making attempts to penetrate the urban populace through TEE, your partnership in the ministry of TEE is acknowledged.

     Welcome on board Karl Kaumi, read more about Karl in our March Cup TEE edition. Where-ever you are, you are remembered. Keep up the good task in 2008, despite of whatever problems we are going through, have confidence in the Lord.

  We are only passing by…Certainly fellow partners, the going is not always easy as you have already realized because, we are not of this world, we are just passing by… Remember; that hardships and difficulties will never deprive us of our rights and relationships with our Lord Jesus, Jesus is still on the throne, we are the citizens of heaven

   MAF-THANK YOU - MAF-(PNG) is playing a very vital role to the success of TEE for many years, the dean and his assistant have flown on MAF planes on many TEE trips, our students in remote and outlying areas rely heavily on MAF for their TEE materials and correspondences.

   Our prayers are with you; management, pilots and staff of MAF. The dean was fortunate to fly on one of MAF plane piloted by TEE tutor and pilot Brenton Paix.

   Madang TEE: Amele TEE Tutor In Training, These tutors in training hails from Catholic and Lutheran backgrounds

   Face to face visits-CLTC vice Council President, seekers and TEE students – Praise God! In the recent week we received an unexpected visit from CLTC vice president Mai Ori, who had the opportunity to encourage and prayed with us. There were other visitors from nearby villages as well as seekers and students from other parts of the province, who came in by person. This visit encourages us to believe that God is brewing something special beyond our understanding, let His will be done.

With these our best regards to you in 2008, we hope to hear from you. Yours because of Jesus.

Philip, Timothy, Wendy & Alice