Husa Family Update

It's hard to believe that three whole months have come and gone since our return to the US. Our return was uneventful. The kids were great, and we've been going through all the adjustments that are normal for those returning from longer periods living overseas. We've been here in Arizona trying to get caught up with our family, friends and the church. Years of limited medical care has left us with quite a list of things we're trying to get taken care of when we can afford it. So we've been kind of busy with that. I (Geoff) have already gone under the knife in hopes of helping with my chronic ear infections. I've been recovering nicely from that surgery the last couple weeks. Shannon has been homeschooling the kids each day.

Thank you so much to all who are supporting us in this ministry through your prayers and finances! We're all in this together as we see God's kingdom take deeper root and even continue to spread out from Mibu!

I've been going through some of my photos of Mibu recently. I realize how much I miss our friends there. Shannon and the kids miss them as well. And they miss their home and life there. This photo in particular, I think needs to be printed and taped to my wall above my computer! It reminds me of  the church and our friends we've left behind for the year. It also reminds me to keep praying for the developing church in Mibu and the struggles they go through as they live out their lives of faith in Jesus.

Looking through these photos also reminds me that our time here in the US is limited and that we need to be purposeful in strengthening our friendships as well as making new ones. And we need to be active in seeking God's provision for this ministry, so that when we return to Mibu (planning on returning first week of March 2017) it is with a stout base of support where we can set about finishing the church planting and development ministry in Mibu.

With that in mind, if you're interested we'd love the opportunity to share about Mibu Ministry in your church community or small group. God is doing such great things in Mibu! While we're back in the US is a great opportunity hear first hand, and to be encouraged about how God's kingdom is reaching this remote little place and people on the other side of the world! Please be sure to get a hold of us and we'll get something scheduled!

We are looking forward to having the chance to spend time and strengthen relationships with all of you while we're home. Before we know it, the time will be gone and, Lord willing, we'll be on our way back to PNG. Hope we can catch up soon!

Blessings

Geoff and Shannon Husa

Geoff's cell (480)584-7070

Shannon's cell (480)577-9827

Exciting New Mibu Video Clips

Recently, we borrowed a drone to get some video footage of the area here in Mibu. Here are a couple little clips we've been able to put together so far.

We hope you enjoy seeing Mibu from a different perspective!

Check out Mibu and it's surrounds from the air! The mountains and rugged terrain will leave no doubt why these mountains were dubbed 'The end of the world' by explorers so long ago. It also helps you understand the logistical challenges of our living and working here.

Mibu, An Aerial Perspective from geoff husa on Vimeo.

The Mibu airstrip project has been moving along strong these last 4 months! The Mibu people have set the goal to have it finished mid-2016. At this rate, they're going to be able to do it! Check out the progress in this video!

Mibu Airstrip - Progress! from geoff husa on Vimeo.

Urgent Need!!

We're super excited for our upcoming return to the US! Really looking forward to having some time to spend reconnecting our friends, family and supporters. Feb 24 is the date we're scheduled to arrive in Phoenix.

We need your prayers regarding our return. We had a church mission house lined up but just found out it fell through. So at the moment we don't know where we will be staying. We need a place to stay for the year before we return to PNG. If you have any ideas or know of a house needing renting we really could use the help getting something lined up.

Also we are leasing a van but cannot pick it up right away. So we're on the lookout for a vehicle to borrow (or even rent) big enough to seat our family for the first three weeks we're home. 

Would you please pray with us about these needs? The loss of the house was especially difficult to hear about. But we rest knowing that God is the one who sustains. We look to him for all our needs. No matter how it plays out we know he is the one taking care of us.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We want to wish all of you a merry Christmas and a happy new year! May this time be one of reflection and gratitude for our Savior, Jesus, who took on humanity as part of his plan to conquer sin.

As we reflect on the accomplishments of Mibu Ministry this last year, we're especially thankful for your prayers and monthly financial support. This last year has seen the completion and final approval of Ephesians and 1 Corinthians translation into the Mibu language, a huge push forward with the literacy program, steps forward in equipping leaders, and clear steps of maturation of the church. You've been a huge part of that! We're thrilled to represent you here in Mibu, and we're looking forward to another year of ministry!

We're also looking forward to our upcoming home assignment starting early this year, where we'll be back in the states to re-connect with you all as well as further develop our base of support.

Blessings from the Husas

Geoff and Shannon and the kids

Outreach Adventure!

The last few days took me on a 32 km hike up and down over 20,000 feet of mountain geography. It wasn't some masochistic thing that drove me to do this. It was the kickoff of a new outreach that the church in our neighboring Mina language group has been planning for some time. This outreach to the area of Birong represents the reach of the gospel message to the furthest border that can be represented by our ministry in Mibu. Beyond that, any partnership with the Mibu/Mina churches requires the help of more expat families, in a new language group.

Over the last 10 years, the Mibu church has spread out, covering now every Ma speaking village, and now all but one Mina speaking village! I was excited to seeing the Mina area churches in action, as they're the ones who planned and are sponsoring this outreach to the Birong area.

It was really exciting as we were on the way and seeing delegations of church leaders converge on the road to become quite the large group arriving to start and support this latest outreach effort!

I was especially encouraged to see how the different church leaders took the opportunity to support and encourage one another!

We got to see the first day of the chronological, 'Creation To Christ' teaching start in Birong, to the great excitement of those there who'd been asking for it for the last year or so! I was proud to sit and watch the teachers from the Mina area churches working together to reiterate why they were there, and to be aware of the cultural situation they were coming to teach into, and also to see how well they were able to start the teaching off!

It was also a strong reminder to me of how far the Mibu and Mina churches have come. Coming to this spiritually dark area, I was reminded just what it was like in the pre-gospel days in Mibu. Compare that to where they're at now and the difference is day and night! God's light is shining in this area. Others are seeing it. And it's spreading! Take some time to thank Jesus for all this, and to pray for the church leaders here who are tasked with not only these initial evangelism lessons, but for the future growth of the church there in the Birong area.

Thank you all so much for your prayer and financial support that allows us to continue serving here in Mibu, and to see God's word take more and more root in the life and culture of the folks here!

General Update

We just got back into Mibu after having spent a bit more than a month out in town. It's great to be back, and we're looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. We're especially looking forward to getting back into a routine as a family. We moved 4 different times while out!

Our reasons for being out were (1) to attend our regional conference where we get to see many of our other co-workers and be encouraged with some biblical teaching and fellowship together. And (2) to have our consultant check the Mibu translation of Ephesians and 1 Corinthians translation. And (3) to get a much needed 2 week break, one week of which we spent in the Goroka area, in the highlands, and one week of which we spent down on the coast, in Madang.

As for the translation check, we're excited to report that Ephesians and 1 Corinthians have been checked out by a consultant now and are just a few minor tweaks away from being ready to print. Just a few days' work really… well that and then formatting for printing and making into a booklet, of course. Such great scripture for the church to have in their  hands! Their translation wasn't without it's difficulties either so it feels good to be done at this point!

During our break, we were able to do some fun things together as a family, like shop in town, taking the kids out on 'daddy' dates, swimming, eating out, and going out sailing and swimming on the boat, Shan Skailyn out in Madang.

Returning to Mibu, as we approached the landing pad in the helicopter here in Mibu, we were blown away by how much the airstrip has been transformed in just the month and a half that we were out! Chris says that people have been up working just about every day for the last couple months! Wow! The Mibu people THEMSELVES have set a goal to have it finished by June or July of 2016! And at the rate it's been going, it looks like they'll be able to do it. This is the most sustained effort we've ever seen on the airstrip! Is it possible that we soon may not need to use the helicopter to get in and out of Mibu?! It's hard to imagine anything else!

You may remember we've been asking for prayer for rain here in Papua New Guinea. There has been a very long drought which has led to many problems and difficulties for the people of Papua New Guinea and also us. We are so thankful to see that God has been blessing us with rain just about every day the last couple weeks! The ground is wet, things are getting green again, and people's gardens can be planted now! Thank you Lord!

Another thing, a couple actually, that we're super thankful for is that in the last month, our core team, back in Arizona has put on two fundraising activities to help raise funds for us to purchase new computers and equipment soon. We last bought computers back in 2009, and while they've served us well, it's time for an upgrade! The first fundraiser was a backyard concert, put on by the bluegrass gospel band, Brush Arbor Revival. This concert raised over $3600!! Then just weeks after, there was a fundraising garage sale which raised over $2400. This is definitely enough to take care of our computer needs for the next 5 years or so! Special thanks and recognition to all those who planned these events, and did all that hard work! Wow! Feeling the love over here, guys!

Outreach, and Important Dates

Excitement here in Mibu and over in the Mina language churches has been ramping up as logistics have gelled for a new outreach to the last remaining village in the Mina speaking area! Over the last year, the people in Birong have been asking for the gospel message to be brought to them. It's taken a while to get some things in order, such as the all the evangelism lessons printed in a new format, a new set of literacy materials printed, and the funds to pay for said printed materials. But now, with those details worked out the date is set for God's word to go to Birong for the first time! If you would, we'd appreciate your prayers, begining now for the team that is going to do the teaching, and also for God to prepare the hearts of those in Birong to be ready to hear and believe his message of redemption. The date is set for the teaching to start on November 30th.

While you're at it, please continue to pray for additional workers who can allocate to the neighboring Jerung language group (green on the attached diagram). Formerly opposed, even violently, to the gospel message, the last couple years have seen a complete turn around due to the testimony that the church in Mibu has been! Most of the villages are now asking for the gospel message to come to them! All that's missing is the needed skills and manpower to translate the bible into their language, develop a literacy program, and teach them the gospel.

The upcoming outreach to Birong is not the only date to mark on your calendars. You'll want to keep the following dates in mind as well.

October 15 - Many many hours of hard translation work is going to be put through the final check starting on this date. Our translation consultant, Jason Stuart, along with 4 Mibu people and myself will be checking through the books of Ephesians and 1 Corinthians. This is the final check before these epistles can be officially printed as scripture! Please pray for all the preparations leading up to the check, and for the check itself, as well as the final corrections and modifications needed as a result of the check.

October 24 - The bluegrass gospel band, Brush Arbor Revival is putting on a fundraiser concert on the evening of October 24! Please plan to come for an evening of fun and fellowship to help raise funds for ministry expenses as we serve here in Mibu! This year's funds will be going toward the replacement of equipment we use for ministry in Mibu. Kids are absolutely welcome! If you were able to make it to the last one, you know it's not something to be missed! If you can, make plans to come.

November 6-7 - There will be a Mibu Ministry fundraiser garage sale on the weekend of November 6. If you have functional, working stuff that you think could be sold at a garage sale and you want it to go to a good cause, please put it aside and plan to donate it to the sale. The hosts of the garage sale (Gary and Kris Husa) can start taking donated items 2 weeks prior to the sale. We'll send out a reminder with more details and contact information.

Thank you so much for all of you who support us in the Mibu Ministry through your prayers and finances each month! It's so wonderful to know we're all in this together!