Steve & Julie Lutz,
LCMS World Mission in Papua New Guinea
Christmas Season 2007
The Word became flesh... God sent His Son into the world...
Dear Family and Friends,
So --- what if it really did depend on us to get a message out? From here in Papua New Guinea this past year, we'd have had quite the time. We keep two phone lines just in case one doesn't work, but neither one has worked for two months. We have a mobile phone, but no access to a mobile tower. We've sort of managed to keep in touch by e-mail, but we're at "systems overload" having used and borrowed 12 different computers and flash drives for e-mail during the year. We now have a radio modem for doing e-mail from our own house. It's slow and has a 50 kb limit and can't handle attachments without more contortions, but, hey, it's as reliable as the airwaves. Ah yes, those cumulative hours of listening to the fleeting, breathing, static-laden airwaves. No fancy web site, photos, IM, chat rooms, texting, facebook. No techno-glitz. Just techno-glitches. We still can drive 50 miles to post a letter or pass a message to someone else to pass on to someone. But then, how do we know if we've communicated? Some folks around here put great stock in dreams, but that's not us. What's left? When it is really important to communicate and neither angel messengers nor techno-gizmos will do the job, what do we do? Same thing God did: deliver the message in person. That's what Jesus' birth is all about, isn't it? After the prelude of prophets and angels, Jesus himself came to tell us about God's love. No, that's not quite right. Jesus came as God's love to us. He didn't only bring a message about love and peace - He Is the love and His death Is the means of the peace.
That vital message we have to share is God's love and peace. The message Is life, salvation, forgiveness and reconciliation. Thankfully, it's not a communication dependent upon any technology. When it is conveyed, it flows from one's entire being, stirred and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, one person to another one person.
Here's a glimpse of what that looked like in PNG in 2007.
Anton was down at Kaiam for a total of about six months, working with the Penale folks on constructing an airstrip. The first 150 meters are ready but it will take lots more work to get the next 500 meters ready so that a small airplane can land. But, of course, moving clay is the least of their worries. They've grappled with how to deal with land spirits and regulative deities, marijuana trade and use, gold prospecting, declining worship in home villages, and maraudering gangs on the lookout for anything they can steal, rape or destroy. They mourned Mose's death together - until Kepson noticed Mose wasn't dead yet and started an IV - and together they watched Mose recover! Anton, along with Steve, Steve's brother David, volunteer Luke Teale-Sinclair, Bishop Nik and other PNG colleagues, Pastor Peter, Jeff, Steven and Kepson, have been instrumental in not only constructing an airstrip, but in building up the Body of Christ.
LCMS Volunteer Liz Neuf has worked tirelessly this year to press for concrete steps forward in HIV services in our district. Through the efforts of Liz, Steve, Dr Saulip and hospital staff, the United to Be group and others there has been progress. Rapid testing for HIV is now available at the hospital, a post-exposure protocol is in place, and a Voluntary Counseling and Testing center is operating with trained hospital and volunteer counselors. Linda Davis, a second LCMS Volunteer and also an LDA deaconess intern, arrived in Nov. to assist in other aspects of HIV/AIDS ministry. We pray Liz and Linda's efforts will continue to bear fruit in changed behavior and attitudes which will minimize the negative impact of HIV in PNG. Steve continues to serve as consultant doctor/surgeon at Immanuel Lutheran Hosp. His roles as "Mentor for Youth- who- stir- up- trouble" and "Community Speaker-Outer" about alcohol abuse, violence, and dead-end tactics to make one's point known are also highly valued. In October Steve was able to conduct elective surgery on nine Hewa patients at the Wanakipa Health Center, rather than flying them all in for care at Immanuel Lutheran Hospital. It was gratifying to see the plans to improve localized health care bear fruit. While Steve was at Wanakipa, Neti Jonah, the wife of Pastor Jonah and mother of young children, was killed after being accused of being a "sanguma." Jonah and Neti were new Hewa graduates of Timothy Lutheran Seminary and serving at their first missionary posting in the Paiela. As I heard the horrifying news over the radio, my heart was immediately with my friends at their home ... Wanakipa. You see, many Hewa believe a "sanguma" is a woman who is host to an evil spirit which has the power to kill others. For many, the only plausible measure they can imagine to protect their community is to kill the woman. I spent considerable time in 2006 struggling to understand this phenomenon and long to assist the Hewa church in illuminating this part of their worldview with the Light of Christ. I thank God Steve was in position to be with the Wanakipa church leaders and community in the immediate aftermath of Neti's death. We point to Jesus, the One who is with us in the midst of tragedy. We proclaim the One who has not cast anyone from His love, the One who has not left even the most remote corner of creation outside of His power. Trusting Christ, the doubt and fear caused by beliefs in other spirits diminish.
By God's grace, our family is well. A portion of Anton's ministry in PNG is noted above. Laura graduated from Valparaiso University several weeks ago after completing her final semester in Namibia. She is currently arranging an internship for her LDC deaconess program. David will be taking next semester off from Valparaiso to return home to PNG for a spell. Paul and Becca remain in Newport News with their sons Wyatt and Hadrian, still in the service of the US Navy. Steve's mother is in her 90's and doing admirably in Ames, Iowa. My parents, Ralph and Lola Behrens, are also doing well, though my father walks a slower course in this stage of life, with my mother as his primary caretaker. We were able to be with them in July. Returning to PNG and not being able to be physically present with Mom and Dad reminds us again of the blessing you are, you who are close to them and whose love and support are tangible. We thank God for you.
The same can be said of each of you -- We thank God for you. You are each in positions to communicate God's love in ways we cannot, faithfully turning people to see Jesus. You have also enabled us to remain in ministry in PNG through your prayers and financial support. "Thank you," said humbly and heartfully.
May God strengthen you with His Spirit and enrich your lives with joy as you bring His love and peace to those whose lives you touch. Have a blessed new year!
With joy in serving Jesus,
Julie and Steve Lutz
Salutz@online.net.pg
PO Box 803, Mt Hagen, WHP, Papua New Guinea
Some of you are receiving this letter by surface even though you have an e-mail address. We would prefer to contact you through e-mail to save time and postage for our friends in Algona who send out the surface version of this prayer letter for us. If this is the case, please let us know your current e-dress or unlock whatever you have to unlock to allow our messages into your mailbox. We are not able to simply resend our message in 2 minutes to convince your machine that our message to you is not spam. Thanks.
