Aholt Advances Christmas Greetings from Goroka,

 

Thanks so much to each one of you that sent once and again, faithfully, to our necessity, for the spread the Gospel of Christ here in Papua New Guinea.  Time and eternity will reveal the true number of lives that have been changed through our labors together for Christ.  Fruit from God that may abound to your accounts.  We have received and greatly appreciate those things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God (Philippians 4:16-18).  We pray knowing that our God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus (vs. 19).

 

One of our coworkers has recently summed up our inner feelings with the following lines: 

    "We missionaries find separation from family a little tougher than usual this time of year. One thing that has always helped us is the realization that the first Christmas was not about family togetherness or reunion but about separation. God the Son was far from home and His Father. In addition, He was experiencing the strangeness of incarnation--having His glory veiled in human flesh, the humiliation of being born into the family of a poor carpenter and spending his first night outside the womb in a shelter for animals, and, above all, the revulsion of being surrounded by human sinfulness. This certainly helps put any loneliness we feel into proper perspective and even makes it seem appropriate that to be His representatives in the world, we experience separation from most of our precious earthly family."

 

On Friday, we received a call that there had been a terrible vehicle accident in Bundi and an air medical evacuation was needed.  There were seven people in a double cab truck, going down a mountain road, when the brakes failed.  The driver stopped the truck by running into the mountain.  Our plane is not suitable for medical evacuations involving stretcher patients.  None of the commercial carriers in Goroka wanted to do the flight for fear of not getting paid.  All seven passengers needed hospital attention with two of the patients in critical condition.  Steve opted to pay for the flight to assist in this emergency situation.  The pilot assessed the situation on the arrival at Bundi and concurred that he would have to make two flights due to the nature of the injuries with three stretcher patients.  Please pray for the physical recovery of these people and that each one will be saved spiritually, through this event.

 

Timothy Barey and his family are with the church family at Bundi for this Christmas week.  They all are really enjoying their time together.  The Barey children really like Bundi.

 

Please pray for a 100 hour inspection coming due on the airplane on 30 December.  Steve will be in meeting all the next week (Jan. 4-8) and will not be able to work on the inspection.  Flights are scheduled the following week for our missionaries.

 

We have not had any time off since last Christmas.  We are weary and are looking forward to some rest time.  However, there is much to be done in the next few weeks.  Thank you again for praying. 

 

Listening for the trump,

Steve and Sandy Aholt