NTM

“We’ve never seen anything like that!” These words were spoken about Jesus when He
healed the paraplegic man brought to Him on a stretcher.

Eugene H Peterson tells the story so well in his book the “Message.” Look with me at Luke 5:17-28 where we find men on their way to Jesus with a friend that can not walk. Jesus spoke directly to the paraplegic, “Get up. Take your bedroll and go home.” Without a moment’s hesitation, he did so- got up, took his blanket, and left for home, giving glory to God all the way. The people rubbed their eyes, incredulously- and then also gave glory to God. Awestruck, they said, “We’ve never seen anything like that.”

Now, me, I think the story gets better in the next paragraph so let’s read along with Eugene as Jesus comes up on a business man setting at his desk. After this He went out and saw a man named Levi at his work collecting taxes. Jesus said,” Come along with me.” And he did- walked away from everything and went with Him.

Can you believe that? Levi just walked away from everything and followed Jesus. Today we do not see this happening much but let me encourage you to pray with us as we pray for more men and women to just up and walk away with Jesus to the regions beyond. You know what? When you do that, you to will hear the same words spoken today. “We’ve never seen anything like that.”

Jack Housley, fishing for men for the regions beyond.

Wild blows the wind in the darkness of night as thunder falls off the mountain and rolls down the valley. Lightning flashes reminding me once again how much I love these Sepik storms.

As the storm drifts away, I let my mind drift with it to the days gone by: those early years in training and days preparing for the field.

Oh! What a thrill it is to sit in churches back home among believers and talk of all the things we plan to do on the mission field. We discourse bravely of all the new tribes we will open and all the unknown paths we will tread to get there. Then, we move into the tribe; darkness falls and with it the shadow of loneliness like we have never known in our protected lifestyle at home. We expected so much in our dreams of the mission field. Days turn to weeks, weeks to months, and months to years. “Alas,” where has the time gone?

Have I been faithful with my time? Time will not keep. The hours we spend today will never return to us. “God, help us to be faithful with our time You’ve given us”.

Muruk, Boat and Paddle

Thanksgiving Day – what do you think about as you look on the wonderfully spread table, the turkey, and all of the other nice trimmings that go with this special day? I myself can never look upon the turkey without this thought in mind, "What does the turkey think about all of this?" What was on his mind as he walked to the axe that day to become your Thanksgiving Day dinner?

Well, I think I know a bit how the turkey felt. I remember the day along a jungle river in Papua New Guinea that I thought a bird was going to have me for dinner. The Muruk or Cassowary, for all of you who have never seen one, is a smaller supped up version of an ostrich. With huge legs, somewhat like kangaroos, and three dagger-like toes that are four to six inches long, the Muruk is a bad dude to mess with anytime. It is reported to be one of the most dangerous birds alive and also one of the largest, weighing in at 120 to 130 pounds.

The fateful day was in 1978. Janie and I, with our two younger boys Wes and Darren, were traveling up the river with a load of cargo for Bob Kennel and George Walker. Now, when you are in a location like we were at that time, fresh meat can be hard to find. With this in mind, you can imagine how excited my wife was when she saw a Muruk swimming in the water ahead of our boat. "Fresh meat," she cried with excitement in her voice. "Get her Jack, and we’ll have her for supper!" Slowly we made our way alongside the Muruk, and I hit her on the head with my boat paddle. Not knowing that a Muruk has built-in head armor, I thought that would finish the job. The Muruk went under the water and swam to shore, jumped a high bank and disappeared into the jungle. Edging the boat to shore, I stepped out with the paddle in hand and pondered the fact our fresh meal was gone.

I realize from here on this story may be hard for you to believe, and if my wife hadn’t been there, the story would never have been told. Believe it or not, here goes. All of a sudden I heard the movement of the Muruk coming back through the jungle towards the river bank. "What is this?" I thought, as I watched the huge bird jump down the bank and stand before me eye to eye. New Tribes Mission didn’t mention this kind of situation during my training days so I thought I’d best back off as she came at me with her spear-like feet. For the next five or ten minutes I began to wonder if I was going make it out of this battle that must be fought. One of us would die before this day was finished. I remember hearing the two younger boys asking their mom, "Does he eats mans?" and the same question was running through my mind as well.

The first few minutes we just sized each other up as we made a circle on the river’s edge. Each time the big Muruk kicked out with those deadly claws, my heart would beat a bit faster. I knew that I wasn’t sufficient for this battle – but God was. I was so happy when He took control of the boat paddle and after a few terrifying moments, the Muruk lay dying at the edge of the water. I realized just how helpless I am without God. Friends, always pray for us, for one never knows what he will face before the day ends. Now I know what Paul felt like when he said he fought wild beasts at Ephesus, I fought my wild beast along the banks of a jungle river. King David mentioned that he was just a step from death. I realized that day, that I too, was just one step from death.

I sat on my bed roll and watched as Lawaibe spent time fooling around with the old hurricane lamp. How in the world do these men and women do it I thought as fire was put to the wick and the old lamp came alive with light that penetrated the darkness? Then when he was satisfied with the light Lawaibe reached for his old bag and started digging around looking for his Bible.

As he opened the Bible to the book of Luke, the picture you see just came naturally; it was just too good to leave to wonder in my memory and to be forgotten in time. What a rush that came over me as I pondered the setting. Twenty-five years ago this was what we had in mind as we preached the gospel to our Bisorio brothers. I was a bit set back thinking here is a bush man that more than likely spends more time in God’s Word than I do.

Lawaibe was still reading when my weary mind drifted off to sleep. The next morning before day light I heard a man break the silence of the morning praying, thanking God for sending the missionaries to tell them the story of Jesus and His salvation. Yes you are right, it was Lawaibe. After maybe five or ten minutes another man began praying. How delightful to know the Holy Spirit has taught these men this faithfulness to pray and thank God for His goodness to them.

Listening to them pray I began to quietly pray with them thanking God for allowing me to witness these bush Christians worshiping God in this way. I also prayed for you that have been so faithful to pray for this work over the years, God bless you all. Jack Housley

Sometimes our missionary kids can be such a vital part of our work among the tribes. Here in this photo we see Madison our 10 year grand-daughter holding a Papua New Guinea child in such a way as words can never explain.

This young baby will never grow up and hear the gospel; in fact a few months after I took this picture the child became sick and died as so many do in this rough environment. In a country like PNG where we live and work among 820 language groups sometimes all we have to offer is old fashion love and I feel this young missionary says it so well.

Please pray for our missionary children as they grow up in New Guinea. Today we are in great need of teachers and dorm parents to meet the needs of our children that will be coming out of the bush in the days ahead. We need men and women that can love our children in a dorm situation. This is not a job for just anyone, pray with us for two or three families that can fill this great job as of now. Jack Housley PNG.

After all these years of saying good byes and leaving our kids in dorms, leaving older Moms and Dads at home, I thought I could handle just about anything, I thought I was “faith tough”. We all know that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen but I had not seen it all yet.

Two years ago was the best and hardest year of my days with New Tribes Mission since walking into the gate of the training center in 1973. My faith and my love for God had never been stretched more. I must admit that I am not “faith tough”, leaving my son and his family in the middle of the jungle brought tears and fears. The PNG jungle looks so big at times and I very well knew where they would be living for the next several years. As I hiked out of the village that day my mind wondered into the Word of God, the place I often find rest in days like this. Some times I would find myself reminding God of the place I was leaving those small granddaughters, like he did not know, God must laugh at times.

Look with me to the book of Revelations where my mind lingered and my heart found rest as well. Rev. 2:13 “I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is.” What comfort knowing He knows all about where we live, He knows it is the place that Satan dwells as well and you know what? He knows about all the snakes, bugs, sickness and all the other things that play with our minds as we live in the places where Satan dwells.

Moms and dads, in the middle of God’s will is the safest place we can leave our children and the most exciting place for them to dwell. Never be afraid to allow them to follow Jesus to the regions beyond for the glory of God. Jack Housley, PNG

Please pray for our missionary children as they grow up in New Guinea. Today we are in great need of teachers and dorm parents to meet the needs of our children that will be coming out of the bush in the days ahead. We need men and women that can love our children in a dorm situation. This is not a job for just anyone, pray with us for two or three families that can fill this great job.

LEST WE FORGET
“Missionary’s Mother’s Day”

Luke 2:34-35 “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold this child is set for the fall and the rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also;) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

The sword was pushed deep inside Mary’s soul the day she watched them nail her son Jesus to the cross. What pain she must have felt as she watched each nail being driven into those outstretched hands. Sometimes I wonder if she knew it was for my sin that His blood was shed. Old Simeon was right; the sword would pierce her very soul.

Now, what do those same words mean to us today? Jesus said, John 20:21, “As my Father hath sent me, even so I send you.” We have a job to do, and we have mothers that will be affected as we pick up our cross and follow Him. It was 1976 as my wife and I along with our four boys were saying our good-byes for the last time before boarding the plane that would carry us to our work in another country. I for one could not believe all the fuss these mothers were making. Didn’t they know we were about God’s business? Four long years, how could they understand this was God’s plan?

God, please let me never forget again how that same sword must pierce the very soul of all the mothers of our missionaries as they watch their daughters, sons and grandchildren head for the unknown of the mission field. Let us never be ashamed of the sobs and the tears that fall from those sweet faces as they watch their families board the plane that will carry them to the regions beyond. This was “Mother’s Day”, this was mother’s pain, you might not remember, but she will never forget. Please finish the job she has sacrificed so much for.

I want to bow my knee to the Father and thank Him for all our mother’s that have given their children and grand-children for the work of mission’s world wide. God bless you all.

Jack and Janie Housley