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THE HONGS
LABOURING IN AUSTRALIA SINCE 1974
“ The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.” Matt 9:37
JULY -- AUGUST, 2007 Prayer/Newsletter
Dear Praying Friends and Faithful Supporters,
Greetings in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you once again to each one you who stand behind us with your prayers and financial support.
It has been another hectic time since our last prayer/newsletter.
After some of our teens went to the school holiday Christian camp, (I dropped them off, and picked them back up), I headed out to Charleville, 13 hours Southwest of us, into the outback with one of our young teen boys, to help one of the missionaries this work has been supporting. We went out there to help him and some other folks to hold street meetings, and evangelistic outreach in that desolate place. Daily we were down the street (market place) singing and passing out tracts and invitations to meetings being held up at the campsite each afternoon and each night. Visitors came for the meetings.
I got to preach in an old age home they had there, it brought some memories to some of the old folks of the old fashioned days. I'm told the old folks were very responsive, and they enjoyed the singing, testimonies, and preaching. It seemed to them, something from a by-gone era. And as a group, we were able to go into the main public school there as well.
I had to leave at the end of the week, but I was told that the meetings were fruitful throughout the weekend also, and that a man is there planting a church, and that he appreciated what was accomplished there. Please pray for a young lady called Rose, she, along with others, came to the first meeting, and came back through the week soaking up the preaching and asking many questions. She said that she needed to get her parents along to this young church.
Bible classes in the public school began again in July, after the 2 week break. And sadly, Mr. Gargett, the principal has retired, and we now have a new principal. He seems nice enough, and has not as yet sought to oppose us or limit our influence in the school, Praise the Lord; so please pray for him, his name is Peter. Some kids from other public schools want us to come to their schools, but I told them we can't unless their school invites us to come. Kids from our Bible classes 4 and 5 years ago come up to us on the street and talk to us. They tell us how those Bible classes back then have taught them and kept them out of trouble now. We rejoice in that, but would love to see them come along to the church services.
A couple of our people were witnessing outside our Thursday night street evangelism venue just a few weeks ago, and they got to witness to an African engineer by the name of John. Well, he went away, read the tracts he was given, and that Sunday morning he was in church telling us that he got saved from the witness and the tracts. He was leaving for Western Australia that week, and then over to Africa again working on mining equipment. He said he would come to church again when he gets back to this area working for the mines. Who knows when that will be? (only the Lord).
While giving out tracts at the Sarina agricultural show, a lady who took tracts, sent her daughter back to ask us when our services were held, so we told her. Two weeks later she came with her 3 children. Her name is Kimberley. She came on the Sunday morning. The following Sunday, she came to both services, and says she will be coming regularly. She has only been saved about 9 months. Her husband works out in the mines here as a boilermaker. I haven't met him yet, but when he comes in from the mines, Kimberley says he is coming down to where we give out tracts Thursday night to meet us, and to ask us questions.
In September, Lord willing, we will be going to a family camp in Malanda, 8 hours away. Several families will be coming with us, and we'll all be doing the pre-lunch Bible classes with the younger kids. Following the camp, as we return home, we will be stopping in Ayr, 3 hours north of us, where I have been asked to do an outdoor wedding for a young couple called Ben and Trese. Ben is a supermarket chain manager, and Trese is a fast food franchise manager. Then, in October, Helen and I will be down in Brisbane, 1,000 kilometres away, where I will marry another couple, Kieran and Filipa. I just got back from down there, where their marriage forms and documents, and Notice of Intended Marriage had to be filled in, written up and signed at least 30 days before their wedding. Yes, you read right. People can't just get walk in marriage ceremonies in Australia. There has to be at least 30 days notice (on legal notification papers) before a couple can get married.
Here's another item. Getting a driver's license is now much harder for beginners. One of the teens in our church here just got her Learner Driver's Permit. We have been coaching her. She has to carry a log book, put L (learner) signs on the cars she is driving. Her log book must contain the speedometer mileage recorded before she drives, when she is finished driving, how far she drove, what time she started, what time she finished, the registration number of the car she drives, the car's owner's name, and their driver's license number. She must sign the book with each entry (each time she drives), she must be accompanied by a driver who has been licensed for more than one year (which is understandable), but that accompanying driver must also sign her log book at each entry as well. Whew! After 6 months to a year she may be able to apply for her (wait for it) Probationary driver's license (and all this applies to all new drivers), but she must have enough accumulated hours and credits before she can apply, must pass a written test (which is normal) and pass the practical driving test with a testing officer (which is also normal). The Probationary license is for several years, before one can get a regular full time driver's license. During the Probationary License period, there are many restrictions on who can be in the car (friend/family) and limits on how many can be in the car. Hmmmmmmmmmm!
Well, I better keep moving. Maybe Big Brother, Big Mother, and maybe Big Other is watching.
Looking forward to reporting to our churches next year. I'll be in the States from the end of March, 2008, until the end of June, 2008. Just 3 months. So, Lord willing, I will catch up with each of you then.
Thank you so much once again for your love, for your patience, for cards that we have received, and for your supporting this ministry here with your prayers and finances.
The Lord bless you and reward your for your labours there.
Yours in His service,
Bro. Bernie Hong
I John 5:11
E-mail Address THEHONGS@bigpond.com
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