Jim and Judy Burdett, missionaries to the Dom people of Papua New Guinea had a wonderful Christmas with their daughter Heather. She stayed for two weeks and the Dom people were so thrilled to see her as many remember her from her childhood.
They had a great Christmas service with the Dom Christian family that included communion and the baptism of five believers. They all gave clear testimonies of faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. This was very public with many nonbelievers listening and watching.
Their co-workers, Gerolf and Mailis Wuest, were originally planning to spend Christmas together with them and then leave for home assignment this month but it did not turn out that way. It came to light that Gerolf’s mother and Mailis’ father were very ill and the Wuests thought it prudent to leave as soon as they could. God willing, they will return to the Dom later this year. Sadly, when they return Jim and Judy will be on home assignment too. This lack of overlap cannot be avoided, and they will be apart as a team for 20 months. A long time.
These next five months will be busy as Jim and Judy balance their ministry with the task of packing up for home assignment in early July. Jim has some outside the office work projects that need attending to like repainting the house. Pray for them as they begin to sort and pack and for the needed tickets.
The women’s weekly Bible study is nearing completion of their study of the Book of Philippian’s. The three Dom women that Judy has been mentoring to teach are doing a great job. Soon they will move on to the Book of Colossians. Pray for them as they teach each Tuesday night.
Jim along with three Dom men are team teaching a Romans series on Sunday mornings. One man has been sick lately and has not been able to join in as much. Another ever-faithful servant of God, walks to an outreach village (two hours away by foot) every Sunday early in the morning to teach the small group of new believers there. All this despite his constant fatigue as he continues to battle mouth cancer.
Jim and Judy thank the Lord for this small body of believers that they are privileged to minister amongst. This month marks 37 years since they first arrived in 1982. God has kept them through thick and thin and they praise Him for it.