The start of a new school year ...2012!

On your mark . . . get set . . . go! The 2012 school year for South Simbu Christian Academy is off to successful start. Twenty‐five students and five teachers are com‐peting in this long‐distance race. The course appears chal‐lenging, and the finish line seems distant, but we have set our pace to “run with patience the race that is set before us."

Since Matt and Rebekah Crain will be on furlough throughout this year, some of the other mission‐aries have stepped in to help with the school. Mike and Janice Berbin and Belinda Richter are teaching our three junior high stu‐dents. They are adding this ministry to their already full loads and will need God’s strength during this busy year. Grace, a national lady that has been working at the school for ten years now, will be teaching our K‐4 students. This will be her first year teaching in English, and although she is capable of the work, the job does seem a bit daunting for her. She would appreciate your prayers.

This year I am teaching second and sixth grades as well as doing much of the administrative work for the school. I have taught in a multi‐grade classroom in the past, but the span between second and sixth grades will make it a bit more challenging. I’m realizing that this task will call for additional creativity, orga‐nization, and stamina. The Lord used Corrie ten Boom’s words to be an encouragement to me today. “Trying to do the Lord’s work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.” Please pray that will be true for my life.

The longer I am in PNG, the more I am convinced of the need for this Christian school. The literacy rate in this province of PNG is below 30%. Be‐lievers have limited access to the Word of God, but most are unable to read with ease and comprehen‐sion. South Simbu Christian Academy was established as a ministry of the local church with one of the goals being to equip students to be pastors and church leaders who will strengthen and serve the believers of Papua s New Guinea.

As I teach my students, I am excited to see all of the potential they have for service to the Lord. Pray that students (and teachers) will not lose sight of the finish line this year but will “press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:14).

In Christ,

Tara Liston

Adventures in Pidgin

Although I have always been a fan of amusement park rides, I’m not so sure I enjoy the roller coaster and bumper car experience on the bush roads. We bump, jostle, jerk, slip, and slide on the way to church, and I want to hold my breath each time we drive through the narrow part with the 100‐foot drop‐off. However, I’ve tried to follow the other missionaries’ examples and sit calmly with my hands in my lap, but I mustadmit that sometimes a nervous squeal pops out! Our team ministers at two different churches in the highlands of PNG. Each Sunday morning we drive to Rapture Baptist Church in the village of Kilau. The drive is about 20 minutes on bush roads and can be rather exciting, depending on the weather and condition of the roads. After the morning service, we return to our village and hold another service at Victory Baptist Church in the village of Abai.

Although my main ministry in PNG has been to teach in the Christianschool, I have been so thank‐ful for the opportunities to minister in the churches as well. Many Sundays I help in the nursery, a little hut with a tarp thrown down over the dirt ground. Ten to fifteen toddlers play with toys on the ground, while the infants are in large woven bags that hang from nails on the wall. The children are lively and fun, and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the national women who help in the nursery. For about eight months now, since my pidgin has improved, I have been teaching Sunday school. My pidgin still has room for improvement, and perhaps that is why I am teach‐ing only the two‐ to four‐year‐olds. This current Sunday school rotation, I have also begun to train a national lady to teach Sunday school. I am excited for this ministry opportunity and look forward to working with each of the Sunday school teachers. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for this ministry. Please pray that I will be a blessing and a help to these women and that my pidgin will continue to improve as I communicate on a deeper level.

Prayer Requests:

*Pray that during our fourth term in school, God will continue to work in the hearts of our students.

*Pray for the family of three of my students as they face a difficult trial. Pray that this family will know the peace of God, that their faith will increase, that they will be protected from physical harm.

*Pray for my Sunday school ministry with the students and teachers.

*Pray “that that our God would count [me] worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in [me]” (II Thessalonians 1:11–12).

Thank you for upholding me and this ministry in your prayers.

South Simbu Christian Academy-Tuesday: July 13, 2010

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far county"

-Proverbs 25:25

I read this verse in my Bible today, and I had to chuckle as I thought it very appropriate. I certainly do have good news to report from a far country.

Yesterday was my first day of teaching at South Simbu Christian Academy. I am feeling much better., not quite 100%, but well enough to teach. I drink lots of teach and consume cough drops like they are candy. I am about out of both, and have appealed to my mom to send me more. Perhaps with a little chocolate.

Anyway, back to school, I have 12 students. Six are 6th graders (all about 14 years old). The boys are Joku, Moses, Mike, and Goro. The girls are Mu and Ambai. I also have six 4th grade students. The girls are JB, Janet, and Sofi, and the boys are Bomai, Yuanis, and kaubeck. It is really nice to have some female students. My last few years teaching in the states I have not had very many girl students.

My students seem to be bright , and hard workers. The school day ends whenever we are finished with school. Today school ran a little late, and I thought the kids would be anxious to leave. I dismissed class, and the 6th graders stayed for another 45 minutes. After about 15 minutes, I thought that they didn't understand that I had dismissed them. I asked them if they knew they were dismissed. They did! :)

The Virus- Friday: July 9, 2010

It has been kind of a strange week as I have picked up some sort of virus. I started feeling sick last Saturday, and it seemed to be steadily getting worse. Yesterday I started taking amoxicillin, and I have already started feeling better. I was very thankful to sleep through the night last night.

I have not been out and about as much this week due to my sickness. I have been spending most of my time preparing for school. Unfortunately I don't feel as prepared as I would like to, but it is out of my hands. Tomorrow will be a big day as it is my last full day to get ready for the first day of school on Monday.

School Starting

I am starting school. Praying for the Lord to give me wisdom in teaching ESL students. That will be a new challenge for me. Praying most importantly that I will be able to help the children grow spiritually. I believe that my students are all saved. I will have 12 students: 6-sixth graders and 6- fourth graders.

I am working on learning pidgin. It is relatively easy and has many similarities to English, but it still takes time. Mr. Berbin (the head missionary) would like me to learn it in the next couple of months so that I can better minister in the church and the community. This is also my desire.

New World- Thursday: July 1, 2010

Thursday: July 1, 2010
Every morning around 5:30-6:00 am there are loud shrill whistles across the mountainside along with roosters cowing. The roosters start around 5 am. Anyway the cacophony of whistles is my alarm clock. The whistles remind me o teapots. I thought the national were calling back and forth, saying "good morning," "tie o get up, "my whistle is is more shrill than your whistle." I asked the missionaries what the whistles mean. They didn't know what I was talking about. They don't hear the sound anymore-- hard to imagine. They finally realized that I was describing the sound of cicadas. I guess the cicadas are healthy and strong yea round here unlike every 7 years in the states.

I visited Patricia at her home today in order to begin learning pidgin. That was very interesting and helpful. The homes are made out of pitpit--a woven grass hut. The huts are probably a little smaller than my classroom was at Westside Christian. They divide their homes in 2 to 4 rooms. The main room is for cooking and sleeping, the other for just sleeping. I at on the edge of a bed as a couple of girls sat on the floor and the mom sat next to me on the bed. Basically I pointed to the things and asked how to say it. We had a few Churches over my pronunciations.

I wish that I had more time to study as I know they want me to learn quickly. I'm torn between preparing for school and studying pidgin. I don't have the free time that I though I would in the evenings. It takes quite some time to keep the fire going and getting it hot enough to boil 4 to 5 large pots and teapots of water. We use the water to wash dishes, cook, clean, filter for drinking water, and for showers. Cooking takes longer here too. There are no microwaves and most things have to be made from scratch (bread, sauces, granola, and yogurt). I will be learning a lot!

Email takes on a whole different meaning out here in the middle of nowhere with little contact with the outside world. My world has shrunk to about a square mile--it is a beautiful square mile. On Sundays we do participate in 2 churc servies. One of the churches is right outside my door. The other we drive about 15 minutes on the mountain dirt roads. We stand in the bac of the truck and hold onto the cab. That's much more comfortable than sittng in the bed of the truck since it is such a bumpy ride.

There was just some rodent scurrying across my roof?! It keeps running back and forth. YIKES! Glad i is out there, and I am in here! :) It sounds rather loud and large on a tin roof. t is a bit unnerving. The nitght makes everything a bit more daunting! It's probably a 2-inch mouse!!! What awinp I am! Before coming to PNG, I did read that this country has the larget rodents in the world. That is the one fact I manages to remember :)

Really it has been a fun, busy week--getting ready for school, going to church services, metting new people, learning pidgin, keeping a wood stove burning all evening, boiling water on the wood stove, starting a generator to charge our batteries, showering from an overhead bucket, early morning prayer meetings, filling our water tank with buckets of water from down te hill, unpacking boxes, organizing and cleaning our little house, visiting with nationals in their home, walking the dirt trails in my rubber boots, and finally dodging pigs, goats, dogs, and the village cow.

Arrival in PNG! 06/24/2010

Dear Family and Friends,
Just wanted to let you all know tht I safely arrived in PNG. I have been in the town of Goroka in the Eastern highlands Province all week preparing o move to the bush. I am finding that nothing is as easy or quick as it is in the States. It took several hours to open a bonk account. Much of that time was spent standing in line. On the other hand, I was able to get a driver's license in about 1/2 hour. I understand that was definately an answer to prayer as that process can somtimes take days. the driving in town is certainly and adventure!

We have been buying enough food and supplies to last 6-8 weeks. The stores in town don't consistantly carry the same goods. We have been to many stroes, and they are all very simiar and rather fregrant, and crowded. The containers of food are covered in a layer of dust and grime. Much of the food brands that we purchase are from Australia or China. I am told that although it looks similar to Americam food. It tastes somewhat diferent.

The city of Goroka has been a fascinating place to experience. The sidewalk on the main street is lined with people selling their wares. People loiter everywhere, sitting on a sidewalks, walls, curbs, grass, and even the dirt. Whe we park our vehicle, the nations will often lean against it. The streets are littered with debris, potholes, and pickpockets. The nationals gather in groups often gambleing what little they have.

God's creation is evident even in the midst of this squalor. The surrounding mountains and countryside are breathtaking. The exoctic plant life is lush and brightly colored. The nationals are a beautiful Pople for who our Lord and Savior died. What a privilege I have to declare His glord among the heathen, His wonders amony all people. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. O please pray that I would not be ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but that I would be a bold and faithful example.

Please pray for us as we travel to the bush tomorrow. I will begin teaching in 2 weeks as the students are currently on their midyear break.