Our missionaries to Papua New Guinea are the Russell Family

Dear friends,

FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT

Isaiah 9:2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light:
they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.

When God called the Russell Family to the Swamps of Papua New Guinea, He called us, like Paul, "To turn them from darkness to light". I am excited to be a part of the commission which the called of God call "Great"! Last month we asked you to pray for the salvation of several people. I want you to rejoice with me in the salvation of Thomas and Flora. They are a husband and wife. Thomas is from Balimo (the place that God originally put on my heart to bring me to the Western Province) and is the airline agent (that sounds more highfalutin than it really is) in Wipim. Flora is from a village near Daru and is a grade three teacher in the local primary school. Like I said in the last letter, I have been teaching on the topic, "What does the Bible mean, 'SAVED'"? on Wednesday nights. I have seen conviction and consternation on their faces for serveral weeks, and then one Wednesday night I saw them after the service very fidgity and looking like they wanted to say something. I approached them and asked if I could have a time with them at the house and that night they bowed their heads in sweet humility begging God to save their sinful souls. Amen, Glory to God!!! These are the first adult coverts of the Wipim Baptist Church. Please continue to pray for the others that were listed and those that I have not. We are having good attendances every service (between the 50 and 80 range) and the people are still very hungry and eager to hear the Word of God.

CONTAINER RECEIVED

Colossians 4:2-4 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

The need has never been more evident to me than it is today that we need more laborers! There is not a week that goes by that I do not get a letter from a new village inviting us to come, "to speak the mystery of Christ". It pains me to hear about and see the spiritual needs of the people of the swamps not being met quick enough. If God has put Papua New Guinea on your heart in some way would you contact me? There is more work to do, there are more doors that are open, there are not enough hours in a day or life for one man to accomplish what God has prepared to be done in the Western Province. Understand, I am not complaining about too much work to do; I am exhorting those "whose hearts God had touched" to surrender to His will before it is eternally too late for these.

CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

We have now had two work teams come, with a third to arrive next week to assist me in building a house for my family. Although our house is not to the caliber of most American homes we are very proud of the way it is coming up. All of the timber for the house was sawn on our saw mill and all the labor is being done by our visitors from the States and my former Bible School Students. It is common, but in our eyes it is not only practical but also beautiful. Thank you for your sacrificial giving that enabled us to purchase the tractor and sawmill which in turn has allowed us to build our house and within a couple of months the Wipim Baptist Chruch and Bible School buildings.

A Big Thanks to the Barona Baptist Church of the Barona Indian Reservation for sending 8 of your men to stand the house up!

Again, God Bless you for your love, concern, and sacrifice for these in the Swamps of Papua New Guinea. Continue to Pray, Pray, Pray and we will see a great harvest of souls!

In the Swamps with the Gospel,
Jason & Ana Russell
jrussell@daltron.com.pg

"Finally brethren, pray for us..." 2 Thess. 3:1