Hello Friends! Mipela laikim yupela! (we love you!) - I think I said that right :)

Well it seems like time goes by so fast sometimes and we always have good intentions of updating our blog more regularly, but alas, I regret to inform you all that we're not perfect! :) For all of you who didn't already know that already. :) I'll do my best to catch you up on the going-ons of the Friesen clan out here in PNG

The work in Papua New Guinea continues to draw believers to the Lord. In one village the Phase 1 teaching, which culminates in Jesus rising from the dead recently came to a conclusion. We have often seen the NTM video of an entire village celebrating the conclusion of this teaching and coming to the Lord as one body, but that was not the case in this village. The people said that this teaching was “strong”, but few made commitments to the Lord. And yet, we praise God for a few that did understand and gave a clear testimony of their faith and acceptance of Jesus' atoning sacrifice.

Clinton recently was talking with our missionary in another village and he spoke of how they were seeing a need to go back into a previous phase of the teaching because they were seeing that their young believers were not truly understanding some basic fundamentals of the Gospel. The people would say that they were saved by faith alone. However, these same people would define faith as the good works they do. This is a culture that has a very hard time understanding the idea of a free gift. The people may give a “free gift”, but they will always come to get a “free gift” from you at a later time. So, work goes on to try to help the people understand that the gift that was given could never be paid back, no matter how hard they tried!

Still another missionary reported that they were having troubles in their church with believers stopping joining in fellowship when previously they were very active. When they question deeper into what has gone on they find a similar problem with the understanding of salvation by faith. These believers have come up with their own idea of how many good works it would take to pay for God's gift of salvation, and after doing the math, they find they have paid God back and no longer need to be a part of the church. So, prayer is needed for all the many works going on by all affiliations in all the world that are bringing the true gospel.

In our family life we doing well, and continue to thank the Lord for the peace we have at being in PNG. Clinton is enjoying being a part of the work with our aviation program, and I am very thankful to get into the clinic and offer my skills as a nurse one day each week. I got to say, being out here has definitely been strengthening my skills and also helping me develop new ones. I love it!

I have also been doing photography again, every saturday for the past 8 weeks I've been donating approximately 1 hr of my time to doing senior portraits for the graduating kids out here. It's been a lot of fun for me to get back into photography and the seniors are such fun to photograph.

Tayah is doing really well in school and is reading really well. That is a really big blessing, since we were nervous about home-schooling her. She really is thriving with the individual attention she gets this way, but she is looking forward to joining kids her age for grade 1.

Just before Christmas we were moved from our house right near the gate into Lapilo to a place on the top of the hill in Lapilo. It has been a real blessing to move as our children are not constantly having to play on the road. Just the other day a family here gave us their swing and slide to keep at our place, which the kids are loving. The house also has an extra bedroom and the extra space is quite helpful. Not to mention that this house has a bathtub, which was really exciting for Clinton and the kids (though Tayah prefers showers just like her mama)!

We are beginning to gear up for a visit from Clinton's mom, Ann Friesen, sometime in July or August! Hopefully those plans can come together, and in the cheapest way possible. It will be really nice to show a family member what we have been up to, and for the kids to see grandma again!

The other day my national friend, Jojina, stopped by for a visit and while we were talking she was telling me how her husband, Aute, had loved the banana bread I had sent home with them awhile ago. Jojina was telling me that Aute was bragging to all his family in their village about how good it was, and yet when they came to visit him to try some of it he refused to share! He said it was far too good to share. :) I just laughed, Aute is known as quite a funny man in his village and he's always a joy to talk with. Jojina is a believer but Aute is not. He has been told the gospel but is still not ready to accept Christ. Please remember to pray for him.

While I was visiting with Jojina she told me she had to be somewhere by 3 o'clock sharp. So I was supposed to tell her when it was time. So our visit continued and I looked at my watch and realized it was a few minutes after 3, so I told her the time expecting her to pack up and head out. Instead she said ok and continued making her bilum (crochet bag), I was a little confused but was like ok, maybe this is a cultural thing. About 5 minutes later I started thinking maybe I said the time wrong...sure enough when I asked her what time I had told her it was she said "you said 5 minutes to 3 o'clock", after I finally got out the correct time, we had a good laugh over my poor pidgin and she was on her way. :) I've got lots of learning to do yet! Makes me wonder what else I've said to people around here! :)

One prayer request we have is for our passport renewals. We need to renew by April even though our passports don't expire until october, but PNG rules are that we will not be allowed to travel to any other country (including Australia in case of medevac) if our passports are less than 6 months to expiration. Therefore we have started the whole procedure and the only glitch so far is that I forgot Clinton's birth certificate at home (I think), and so we had to order a new one. Please just pray that all will go smoothly.

Another prayer request is for our finances, we're doing good! :) Bet you don't hear that very often eh? ;) All kidding aside, we are fairing well, though occasionally we have had to use some of our "saving for tickets home" fund. The issue is that the currency out here (the Kina) is rising in value compared to the Canadian dollar and so our money doesn't stretch as far as when we were first here. Costs are also continually increasing, for example electricity costs just increased 15% this past month alone. We are trying to be good stewards of all our finances and God has been very faithful in taking care of us out here.

Again, we thank all of you that have supported us in prayer and finances, making it possible for us to be here! We ask that as you think of us you would continue to pray for the work being done in PNG, and for your part in that specifically, and we would also be thankful if you felt led to support us financially.

May God bless you, keep you, and may His face shine upon you and give you peace,

Lukim yupela (see you all, common farewell greeting),

Clinton and Rolanda Friesen