News from Sesi

Sesi called me recently and though the time we had to talk was short, he was able to pass on plenty of news about things with the church in Mibu.

Directly there in Mibu: The church continues to meet together and review lessons. People are encouraged. However there is a growing concern for those in the community who just don't seem to be 'putting their thinking so that it all goes to God'.

In the village of Ta**knan: In the past you recall arrangements were made for the teaching to start in Ta**knan again, but then an influential individual who lives there shut the whole thing down. Well your prayers for that village are being answered! The teaching has been going on there for over a month now and seems to be going well. Those doors were opened back up, God's word continues to be preached there, and that influential individual is even part of the eagerly listening group who gathers to hear. Sesi said there are only two small groups of people that are not interested.

In the village of Da**ve: The outreach by the Mibu church to Da**ve is going very well. Many people are interested and have been following along. There are just four more weeks of teaching before the initial evangelism teaching reaches the final lessons about the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Regarding the airstrip: The work continues on the airstrip. Sesi gave me some details, but the phone connection made it hard to follow them all. But I did catch that they feel they have leveled out about 60 meters (1/10) of the airstrip so far. That could mean a number of things. We'll have to wait to get there to see. But one thing that is clear is that they're owning this. Their continuation of the work despite our absence is a good sign.

Sesi also reported that two shovels that were purchased for work on the airstrip were stolen as they were being transported back to Mibu from Madang town. That's a pretty big deal because just going out to Madang again to get more is a huge ordeal and expense for somebody. We're hoping they'll be able to get by with what they have until some more funds come in to get a few more tools.

So many more details I would have liked to ask about. But then Sesi's minutes ran out and our conversation was ended.

100x20 progress

So far, we've found 23.5 of the one-hundred $20 per month commitments to support the Husa family in their service to the Mibu church. Interestingly there have been a number of folks who have taken more than one, and even as many as five, of these $20 'units'.

We are committed long-term to finish the task we were sent by the local church to do in Mibu. It's such a huge blessing and encouragement as we find others who are equally committed to the task, who have the resources to help fund such an effort!

The countdown is on… There are 45 days left. If you haven't already, would you prayerfully consider being a part of meeting the Husa's financial needs as they work to provide much needed bible translation, discipleship and more as they live and serve full-time in Mibu, Papua New Guinea?
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Here are the different ways you can give:

Automatic Monthly Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT):
Go to http://usa.ntm.org/eft to find out about the benefit and ease of setting up a monthly automatic electronic funds transfer.

Give Online:
You can give online using a credit card or debit card. Go to http://usa.ntm.org/content/missionaries-details?crm_type=missionaries&crm_id=822 and search for "Husa" in the "Give to a missionary" section toward the top. (Because credit cards and debit cards are processed the same way, transaction fees are the same for both.)

Give By Phone:
To give by phone with a credit or debit card, please call 866-547-2460. Credit card and debit card transaction fees apply.

Give By Check:
To mail your gift, send it to:
New Tribes Mission1000 East First StreetSanford, Florida 32771-1487
Please make your check or money order payable to New Tribes Mission and include a note designating the funds to the Husas.

Airstrip in Mibu?

Could it be? Is it possible that sometime in the next couple years there might be an airstrip in Mibu?

In December of last year, the Mibu people started making some noise about trying to finish the airstrip project. It's something they'd begun many times in the past but always left undone. Many things got in the way, but mostly it was uncertainty. "Is all this effort actually going to result in the opening of an airstrip?" was the question that plagued as they toiled. It didn't take much then for folks to give up on the effort.

This go around is a bit different though. As members of the community ourselves we've decided with the Mibu people to provide some input into the project. Not so much that this becomes our airstrip, but some guidance so as to keep the work on track and also to add an element of confidence that their hard work will pay off; that it's worth doing. Also, as we have extra funds, we'd like to help contribute to some of the approximately $10,000 in expenses that would be required to finish this project.

Amazingly, when they started the project in January, the motivation was higher than we've ever seen it. They managed to clear about 600 meters of land in just 6 days! Truly amazing. Still a TON of work that needs to be done, but a good start. Reports I get on occasion indicate that the work still continues in our absence... a good sign of ownership. This project is also a great setting to stress the importance of working together and point out the attitudes that can so rapidly discourage and cause doubt.

The benefits of this airstrip for the Mibus is largely that it connects them with buyers of their cash crops. They have an ever increasing coffee harvest each year and currently are not being paid a fair price. Sometimes they don't get paid at all after all that hard work. This airstrip will be an encouragement to them as they'll hopefully begin to see more of the fruit of their labors. They also have great oranges and we could see them connecting with some of the markets out in town.

100x20 Update

Anything big with long lasting potential can take a while to build momentum. 100x20 is approximately (still waiting on a couple exact numbers) at about 10%. The goal... to find 100 new people to contribute $20 per month for Husas to continue serving in Mibu. Will you help us reach this goal?

Check out this page for ways to give.

Today marks the beginning of a one hundred day long effort we're calling "100x20".

God has been doing great and exciting things for his kingdom among the Mibu people in Papua New Guinea! From the birth of a new church, to the extension of that church into other areas, and also their ongoing maturity as they grow in their understanding of the authority of God's word in their lives and their identity as God's people... through it all, God has been working powerfully in the Mibu people's lives!

Over the years and through a great deal of generosity many folks have found great encouragement and excitement as they've backed this work financially. Truly, without those gifts we wouldn't have made it this far! And yet, there's still a great deal of work to be done in Mibu. Bible translation, training and discipleship, and lesson development and teaching all have a ways to go before the church in Mibu is at a point where our presence is no longer needed. As for us, it's a huge blessing to wait and see how God works through people to provide for our needs each and every month. That's where you come in. Currently we're about $2000 per month short of what is recommended for most effective ministry in a location such as Mibu. 100x20 is a way of getting the word out so that we can see this need met as we continue to serve the church in Mibu. If we can find one hundred new people to commit to $20 a month this need can be met.

If you've not yet taken the opportunity to be a part of Mibu Ministry through your financial help then maybe now would be a good time to hop on board and put some of your financial resources to work for the Mibu Ministry. Would you prayerfully consider a commitment to help with $20 or more each month? Or if you're currently giving, would you please keep us and the 100x20 effort in your prayers over the next one hundred days?

Here are the different ways you can give:

Automatic Monthly Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT): Go to http://usa.ntm.org/eft to find out about the benefit and ease of setting up a monthly automatic electronic funds transfer.

Give Online: You can give online using a credit card or debit card. Go to http://usa.ntm.org/give and search for "Husa" in the "Give to a missionary" section toward the top. (Because credit cards and debit cards are processed the same way, transaction fees are the same for both. There is no fee for using EFT.)

Give By Phone: To give by phone with a credit or debit card, please call 866-547-2460. Credit card and debit card transaction fees apply.

Give By Check: To mail your gift, send it to:

New Tribes Mission
1000 East First Street
Sanford, Florida 32771-1487

Please make your check or money order payable to New Tribes Mission and include a note designating the ministry or project you would like your gift to support.
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Over the next one hundred days (ending July 27, one week after we're scheduled to return to Mibu) we will provide periodic updates about the progress of the 100x20 project. If you're not already, be sure to sign up for our regular email updates about the exciting things God is doing in Mibu. Just go to http://mibu-ministry.blogspot.com.

Blessings!

Ethan Wade Husa

Ethan Wade Husa was born this morning (April 20) via c-section this morning at 8:43! He's a very healthy little baby boy at 8lbs 1.3oz and 21 inches!

Celebrate with us this new little life with which we're entrusted!

Mibu Ministry now on Facebook

Mibu Ministry just got its own facebook page! This will allow us to keep you posted on some of the more day-to-day things we experience as God works to both grow and mature the church in Mibu. Go to http://www.facebook.com/MibuMinistry to check it out. Be sure to 'Like' Mibu Ministry so you can follow what's going on!

Just FYI: We're still planning on maintaining our current system of posting articles to the blog and distributing via email as well.