Hewa (part 5): beautiful feet

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can they preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"

~ Romans 10:14-15

Beautiful feet come in all shapes and colors and sizes: bush man; pedicured; wearing boots that have traveled the world, sandals that were given by a new friend, or forever barefoot; American; calloused and dirt covered; missionary; on crutches or bandaged up; Papua New Guinean.

The Kopfs are missionaries with New Tribes Mission.  They first moved to Fiyowana (where we were stranded overnight) in 2000.  After learning the language and culture of the Hewa, their team began to share Bible stores and eventually the gospel with the people of that village.  The missionaries were all evacuated in 2006 due to escalating tribal violence.  After a couple of years in the bush States, the Kopfs returned to PNG and relocated to Yififiki.  Several believers from Fiyowana and another village named Kudufundu also moved to this new place.  Jonathan has continued to work on translating the Bible into the Hewa language.  Both he and Susan are discipling local believers and teaching them how to read and write.  Susan, who is also a nurse, runs a small medical clinic and is training several men to be health workers.  Their love for the Hewa people is contagious!  And their feet are oh, so beautiful.

Many in Yififiki have accepted the good news about Jesus Christ.  Not only have they accepted, but they are passionate about sharing the truth with others who have not heard.  During the week of VBA training, the local believers opened their homes to house and feed visitors from other villages.  Every night they shared with their guests from the scriptures that Jonathan had translated.  On Sunday, they led a wonderful time of praise and worship and study.  Just beautiful.

Allan and Teresa Sawyer are... well... A-mazing.  Allan is an OB/Gyn doctor.  They own a private practice in Phoenix, Arizona.  Every other year for the last I don't know how many years, they shut down the practice for a month and bring the entire family to PNG.  The Sawyers are always an incredible blessing to those of us at Kudjip-- their service, hospitality, generosity, encouragement, love, and so much more.  And that blessing has been extended to the Hewa people!  BTW, the Sawyers have also helped to send thousands of gifts to children around the world through Operation Christmas Child.  How beautiful is that?

Arthur, Matthew, Mike, Fainbat, Joel, Susie, Emius, David, Jonathan, Becky, the other David, MAF, Michael...

These and more, there were so many beautiful feet in Hewa.

What a joy it was to walk among them.