Current Hopkinson Happenings February 2023

 

5 + 1 = 6 September brought us a big surprise with the discovery that we will have another baby. It’s a boy! We are all very excited for this fourth little person to join our family. With baby boy due in April, we already left Indonesia landing in Houston earlier this week to be ready for the birth. Along with this blessing comes a need. We currently do not have the funds to purchase return tickets to Wamena. For our family to travel, tickets from Houston to Wamena will cost an estimated $8,000 or £6700. We would very much appreciate if you would consider giving a special donation specifically towards airfare. How to give.

Monthly Support Update Speaking of finances, we have a big praise to share. When we left for furlough we were at less than 30% of our monthly target set by Helimission. Thanks to the continued generosity of many, and the addition of new people joining our monthly support team, we are now at 60%! This amount means that while we can now cover our day to day living expenses in Wamena, other important budgeted items like health insurance and saving for airfare are not yet covered. So we again ask you to consider giving, this time whether to join our monthly team. Also, as we’ll be in the Houston area for several months for baby’s birth, we would be happy to share about our work with Helimission if you have any connections to churches, individuals, and groups. Please let us know. Support

A Growing Team

The last few years have been years of goodbyes as teammates have left the field. We were so excited to just this week welcome a new family to join our team! The Wenks are now settling into Wamena and we are really looking forward to serving alongside them. Soon, a second family, the Lehmans, will also arrive. Please be praying for these families as they adjust to life in Wamena begin serving with Helimission.

Wenk Family Patrick will be joining us as a mechanic. Lehman Family Salomo will be joining us as a pilot and avionics technician.

Wamena Catch-Up

We returned to Wamena at the end of November, and as is pretty typical, spent the next six weeks battling through various sicknesses. We were so thankful to finally all be healthy around the beginning of January! Despite the long illnesses, there have been some definite highlights. On the family front, the kids have loved being home again and reconnecting with friends and beloved animals. We’ve gotten back into a good home schooling routine, and continue regularly doing trash pickup along our road and neighbourhood. I (Anisha) have also been sharing the story of salvation and reminding our neighbour children of how precious they are to God using bracelets gifted to us on furlough. The kids love the bracelets and hearing/retelling the story. At the hanger, Ben had several very special flights. Taking the Clarks, 40+ year missionaries to the Yali people, back into the village of Lolat for a final farewell. Taking both Isaiah and Cara on medical evacuation flights. And a return flight for Paul Snider, a missionary to the Korawai people, after 2+ years in the US due to severe health problems.

Final Goodbye in Lolat 40+ years ago, Art and Carol Clark started missionary work in Lolat among the Yali people. Art sadly passed away but Carol and their sons have returned almost every year to visit with the people. This time they are clearing out their house for the last time. Jesus Is Worth It Paul Snider has laboured for ten years as a missionary to the Northern Korowai people in Papua, Indonesia. In the course of these years in the jungle, Paul was struck by a series of nearly fatal diseases, which forced him back to the States to recover. But by the grace of God, Paul determined to press on through his suffering and continue the work. After two years of toil and adversity, Paul at last makes a return to Indonesia.

Riots in Sinakma, Wamena

Sadly, the day after we left Wamena riots broke out. Many shops and houses were burned and 9 people lost their lives. The riots occurred right around two of our teammates’ houses. Praise God, our teammates have many miraculous stories of their homes being preserved and of being kept safe in a very dangerous situation. Wamena remains tense at this time. Please be praying for peace and justice in Wamena, also for our team (both locals and expats) as they are still in the city navigating this crisis. We have been sharing more details of the crisis in our private Signal Prayer Group. If you would like to join, you can do so here:

Signal Prayer Group

Life in Pictures

Making Christmas cookies with the neighbour kids. Isaiah coming along on a weekend medevac.

Cara coming along on a weekend medevac with Rebecca wanting to come along too. Celebrating Chinese new year.

Newly hatched baby ducklings to love on. We were able to welcome our long time friend Sugi and his wife Elva for a visit. We have known Sugi since 1999 with Mercy Ships.