September 2026
Dear Praying Friends,
Wow, Father has helped us so much these last 2 months. First, Ben Reed and I started planning our short trip to Papua New Guinea (PNG). The purpose of this trip was to fulfill my responsibility to enter the country in order to maintain my visa status and to prepare things in Kaintiba for our family. Ben came along to assist me in this adventure. He didn’t even have a Passport until we started these plans. His Passport was in hand within a week of his application, and a PNG visitor Visa was in hand 5 days later! Our Lord sure brought all this together and in this same time frame Christi, Serenity and Glory received their official Visas to return to PNG. As all this came together, we secured tickets to return to PNG as a family, leaving the USA on the 29th of September.
When Ben and I started this trip on July 25th, we had to take the long “road” around to Kaintiba. We flew into Port Moresby for a night and then on into Lae for 2 nights to buy our food supplies for the 2 weeks of time in Kaintiba. By July 30th, we were jostling up the “Highland’s Highway” in a big van loaded with our suitcases and boxes of supplies…..headed to Ukarumpa in the Eastern Highlands. This was our place of residence for the next 5 days as we staged out supplies to be flown out to the jungle airstrip in Kaintiba. Two pallets of items were already waiting for us to unpack, and the biggest of these items was a X-Mark riding lawnmower!
By Wednesday, 5 August, all was weighed, loaded into the SIL Aircraft, and ready to fly. It was about ¾ of a ton, including Ben and I as passengers, that was safely brought into Kaintiba. The people from our church had prepared a special meal for us and welcomed us with such joy. I gave an update to them in the afternoon service, and by Thursday morning, Ben and I were busy doing the much maintenance that was in need to be done. Repairing gates, fixing steps and doing cleaning in the house were some things we did the next several days, besides preaching at the market, leading music and preaching to the Church. The first major work that we did, though, was the maintenance of the airstrip. That BIG 0-turn lawnmower was a great tool to get it all short in a timely fashion. 6 men and ladies helped in cutting the 3 foot grass along the sides. When we left Kaintiba, the airstrip looked like a “driving range” for golfers! The other large job that was accomplished the last few days in Kaintiba was the building of an addition to the children's classroom. This addition will serve as a “pavilion” of sorts to be used for events and “mumus” (feast/fellowships).
On August 22nd, Ben and I arrived safely back to our families, with many stories to tell of all our adventures. It took me nearly a week to get through jet-lag, but I am anticipating flying back to PNG by the end of September. We appreciate all who continue to pray for us and send money to help us return to our field of service. Grace will be married on September 25th, Lord willing. Christi, the two girls and I leave Buffalo on September 29th. Pray with us for all the last minute preparations and our long journey to PNG via Sydney, Australia.
Christi’s Corner: While Mark was in PNG, the girls and I got to spend some time with my parents and grandmother in PA. It was a fun week.
The place where we had been living the last few months was being sold. The week Mark left for PNG the Lord provided a beautiful house to rent for two months. It is three bedrooms in the country with lots of room to sort out things for our coming overseas trip.
Pray for me as I sort and pack! You'd think I’d have it all down, but it is a challenge every time!
Looking forward to being able to see Tabitha, Caleb, and the grand babies before we fly into Kaintiba! Even though we are working in the same country we are not in close proximity.
We will also get to see all the other children at the wedding and the other granddaughter! Praise the Lord!
PRAYER
- Fruit for our labors and witnessing
- Tabitha and Caleb on the PNG island called Normanby
- Our adult children to make wise choices in life
For His Glory,
Mark and Christi Helzerman
Serenity and Glory
E-mail: mhelzerman@gmail.com