Reconciliation and Forgiveness

A couple weeks ago, we were invited to the home of a family from our church. They live in a nearby settlement, in an area called Biwat Compound. They invited us to come so that we could witness a reconciliation ceremony.

For the last 2 years or so, the father of this family, Andrew, has not spoken to his brother, who also lives in Biwat, just a few seconds walk away. We do not know all the details, except to say that they had a major disagreement and as a result, Andrew's brother retaliated by burning their house down. And since then, none of the family members have spoken to each other, even though they would often pass right by each other. Over the 2 years, Andrew and his wife Agnes did try to settle the issue that was separating the families, but Andrew’s brother was not willing to consider this. The amazing thing was that Andrew and Agnes were wronged when the disagreement arose and yet they were the ones seeking reconciliation.

And eventually Andrew’s brother agreed that it was time for the feud to come to an end. And so we found ourselves in Biwat on a Saturday afternoon to witness reconciliation between these two brothers and their families. We were there along with almost the whole Biwat community, since most of them are somehow related to Andrew and his brother.

(Can you imagine living in close proximity with ALL of your brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, children, cousins, second cousins, etc.??! It’s no wonder that tension arises from time to time…)

What we witnessed that day was very moving. A leader in the community started off by announcing that what happened between them is in the past and that it is not to be talked about anymore. Then Andrew and his brother, their wives and the closest relatives, formed a tight circle, as you can see in the photo.

Andrew’s brother spoke first, and with tears in his eyes, told Andrew that he was sorry. Then they all went around hugging each other and shaking hands. Andrew and his brother shared a long embrace.

Ian closed the time with prayer, asking for God’s blessings over the families and praying that true peace would reign—the peace of Jesus Christ. Not only today, the day of the ceremony, but also in the days, weeks and years to come. We do praise God for restoring peace between these brothers and their families. We pray that as they made peace with each other, the Lord also used this to bring them closer to Him.

Here's Viviene, who will soon officially become a member of our church and was also there that day, with her cute little neice.

Sadness tightens its grip again

This world is full of pain and death. And sometimes these deaths seem so senseless! One of these deaths occurred today. This evening, Andrew vanderHeide (our colleague) and I went down to hold our regular evening fellowship in Biwat. This is a settlement very close to our place, so we can usually stroll there in about 10 minutes. As we left our compound we heard a police officer speaking over a loud speaker. Usually, this means something less than wholesome has transpired. As we walked towards the police, they drove off and a large crowd was milling around. We approached the crowd and saw a few of people we knew and they shared what had happened. A young man named, Ishmael, whose mother is a faithful attendee of our church, was stabbed with a bush knife in the back of his neck and left to die in a ditch. He is only about 20 years of age and part of a small gang who were involved in holding up some guys for their beer and money. The driver of the car, we were told, stabbed Ishmael in the back of the neck and he was left to die.

Our hearts go out to sister Augustina, the boy’s mother and his family. We don’t know her husband, as he has rarely worshipped with us during our evening fellowships or on Sundays.

We didn’t hold an evening fellowship tonight for obvious reasons, but I am sure we will take our part at the ‘haus krai’ (lit: house cry) and funeral. We pray that God will use us to speak the Word of truth and love into this situation. As we left the compound, kind of whisked away quickly as the members said things could get a little rough here, it was so sad to see many other youth and not so young people, congregate en masse seemingly to avenge the death. The questions we have are: Why do so many young men end up consumed or absorbed by a life of endless crime and violence? Where are their parents in all of this? And on our part, what can we do in Biwat to see an end to this trend? We have been preaching and teaching there for a year and a half now. All these youths know us, at least to see us—hence we feel quite safe around the roads here—however, not many care to hear the Word. The Gospel of grace and truth has not carved out deep inroads into their hearts, not yet. Others feel, if they hear the message of salvation once, whether they believe it or live it makes no difference, they are secure for all eternity.

Please pray with us for the young man’s parents and brothers and sisters as they grieve the loss of their son. Please pray that the Lord will use this sad and untimely death to begin a new trend among the youth. That is, that they will see the senselessness in living a life of crime and desire a life of wholeness in Christ. May God hear our prayers and shower His blessings upon them by His Spirit!

Farewell Friends!

Our Aussie friends left us a few days ago to return home to WA.

(Thanks for all your hard work, team!)

They did an amazing job turning a carport at the pastor's house into a living space for an older man in our church! This is Len Vandyk and Andrew working on the outside walls.


Korinda and Andrea made a bed, a little table and foot stool for brother Rumanasen too!

We didn't make them work every minute though...here they are enjoying Lae Yacht Club. We really appreciated the work they did and also how they supported us and kept us laughing despite some stressful times we're having in our ministry work (details to follow about that in another update).

We couldn't bear to be totally alone after the team left, so Wayne and Cheronne sent Cheronne's parents to console us for the weekend!! They are Hans and Margaret Vermeulen and we really appreciated their company too. They've since gone back to Moresby to spend some more time with Wayne and Cheronne and kids.

Aussie Visitors

Last week Monday, five visitors from WA, Australia joined us here in Lae. Their main purpose in coming was to help with a couple work projects, namely a concrete floor in the church and finishing off a room in the pastor’s house. But I think it’s become much more than that. Yes, the work’s getting done but the team is gaining so much more. They’ve become acquainted with the people, culture, climate, and road conditions of PNG! Their patience has been tested as they waited an hour to buy a roll of plastic at a hardware store and then 3 hours for the cement truck to come. They’ve gotten used to breathing the thick, humid air. They’ve taken in God’s beautiful creation in lush vegetation, mountains and waterfalls. They’ve endured the bumpy roads with ease. And last but not least, their hearts have been touched by the people they’ve met. They have tasted PNG!

And it’s been good for us to have their company too. Here are the kids with "Uncle" Len Vandyk.

We worshipped at the church with the new floor today and wow, does it make a difference. The church building looks nicely finished off now, there’s lots of space for people to sit down, better acoustics for singing, and our kids didn’t come home covered in dirt!!

The team was deeply thanked for the work they did as the people have wanted to finish the flooring for a long time. As a gift of appreciation, they were each given a traditional PNG bag, called a “bilum”. It was said, these bilums symbolize us giving our hearts to you in thanks for what you’ve done.

This is Andrea Strating and her husband Henry in the background.

And of course, there was food to enjoy too! Here's Korinda Bruning and Andrea savouring the PNG kaikai!

The team will be with us until Friday and will work at completing the room at the pastor’s house and spending time with the people, and with us too! They will then fly to Port Moresby for the weekend before heading back home to WA.

They will be remembered here by the people for years to come!

Home again

It’s amazing that no matter how much you enjoy a holiday, it is always good to come home. We’re glad to be back in Lae after our travels to Port Moresby and beyond, which for us was Cairns, Australia. (FYI Canadians, you pronounce it “Cans”. Although we’re not sure why… because Australians usually add “r’s” onto words, not take them away!).

Port Moresby was busy, but a great time. It was a blessing to take part in what’s happening at the Reformed Churches Bible College. I was thinking back to a presentation that Rev. Stephen ‘t Hart made while they were on furlough in Canada 3 years ago where he shared the vision and need for leadership training in the churches in PNG. And now here we are today—with that vision already realized; the prayers answered. The RCBC has a beautiful, functional property, which houses two missionary families, and everything for the school—classrooms, a resource room and student houses! It’s incredible how the Lord made it all come together in a short period of time. And of course there are already men and women who are being trained there to serve in different capacities in the churches! And as Ian sat in on some of the classes, he quickly realized that the students are privileged to study under both Rev Stephen 't Hart and Wayne vanderHeide. We’re excited at how the Lord will use the Bible College to help build up and strengthen the Reformed Churches in PNG for many years to come.

Here are our kids with the VanderHeides--Sjaan, Bryce, and Cameron…ready to be home-schooled! (taught by Cheronne, also a very good teacher!)



Cairns is just a 1.5 hour flight away from Port Moresby. It’s a beautiful spot for a tropical holiday, and at this time of year neither too hot nor too humid! Almost paradise…(as far as weather goes). We hardly sweated at all for a change! Anyone who wants to meet us for a holiday there some year, let us know! (And then of course you’ll have to take a little detour with us to PNG before heading home again….:) This is Jonathan, at Muddy's Playground, the best place for kids!


Karlyn and me at Lake Placid…how can you not relax with a name like that??

Australia has the most incredible beaches! Here's Ian and Jonathan about to ride the waves at Trinity Beach.

Ian also went to see a naturopath while we were there. So now he is wheat-free, gluten-free and coffee-free. It's a good thing there's no Timmy's in Lae! He is also on some herbal concoction to help him fight the virus, whatever it is. We do thank God that he's slowly on the mend.