Josh and Kerry Leise

Many have asked for an update on Josh’s health. Because of so many of the symptoms pointing to parasites and the high probability of us getting them overseas, we decided to first do a parasite cleanse. Josh is on day 21 of the 30-day cleanse. (I’m also taking the herbs but started a little later.) We also changed some eating habits and are exercising regularly. We want to give this some time and see if it helps. While Josh has experienced some good days of increased energy, he still has times of dizziness and exhaustion.

We are really trying to rest during this time, but just trying to get settled in here (a small apartment near my parents’ house), learning to prepare different foods, keeping up with laundry, and attending church 35 minutes away seems to keep us busy enough. Thank you for praying!

Medical Furlough

For a while now I (Josh) have been experiencing some kind of physical illness. At this point the symptoms point to adrenal fatigue, parasites, or candida, all of which have been diagnosed in several others who have had to return from Papua recently. We will not have an exact diagnosis until I undergo further testing, though. The illness has gotten to the point of preventing me from giving my best to the ministry.

Our next furlough was not scheduled until November 2011. However, with our pastor’s encouragement, we made the decision to return to the United States for a medical furlough. We arrived June 5th and are now looking into the medical testing that I need. The recovery should go a lot quicker, being away from the stress of the ministry.

The church we started has two capable leaders, Saut and Wius. Their first building is basically complete, and they have money in the bank (not from the States). Since it isn’t officially constituted, we are placing it under the authority of an established independent Baptist church in Jakarta. Please pray for the people here that they would stay faithful to the truth, continue to grow in Christ, and work together in unity.

We will send an update on my health in the next letter. Thank you so much for your patience and prayer.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

(Matthew 11:28)

The new church building is almost finished! There is now a nice new tile floor as opposed to dirt! Our builder is making progress. A piano will soon be delivered to the church, also, which will bring some beautiful music to the service.

Over the past several years of living in Papua we have seen several people come to Christ and we are so thankful. However, there have also been times where we gave the gospel to people but they just did not seem to understand. In fact, Josh would explain salvation again and again to them with seemingly no understanding. I’m not talking about on someone’s doorstep or one afternoon at their house–sometimes over a period of months! Naturally, we thought it must be a language or cultural barrier. Evidently it is not. A native Papuan recently told us that he is experiencing the same issue! He gives the gospel over and over to people (even his relatives) and they still don’t get it. What spiritual blindness is in this place!

Thankfully, it is the work of the Holy Spirit to convict someone of sin and for Jesus to give them eternal life. Our job is simply to tell them about Christ and His redemption plan.

Don’t miss the photos from Resurrection Sunday! Also, I just posted about last Sunday’s special day with the teen club over at Passionate Pengasuh. See the photos of that also.

Great Resurrection Sunday!

What a celebration we had on Resurrection Sunday! Around 55 people came to hear the good news. Before the service we had Bible-focused activities for the children and teenagers. After the service we ate a delicious meal together and got to know several of the first-time adult visitors who were present.

A man who grew up here as an MK and now has a family of his own has asked Kerry to tutor his children. Kerry is delighted to begin this other ministry in our home with these three boys. She also continues to write and prepare the curriculum for the second year of the teen club. More teenagers continue to join Pahlawan Kristus!

Recently, we have received many handwritten cards in the mail and encouraging notes by e-mail. Several of you have sent special large offerings and others have increased financial support. New churches have also started supporting us. Thank you so much! We certainly respond when we can, but I’m sure we have missed a ‘thank you’ somewhere!

“Success is never final; failure is never fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” –Winston Churchill

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After the morning service today many church members were busy cooking and preparing for the afternoon and evening activities. The children were so pumped and ready for the exciting things we had in store for them. They were already using their energy up playing in our yard!

At about 4:00pm the children and teenagers gathered inside the new church building. By the way, it now has partially painted walls, a ceiling, and lights! Some of the church members hid coupons with Bible pictures and numbers on them. Most of the numbers corresponded with a gift. Saut had all kinds of contests for the children, including singing, Bible facts, eating bananas, and more! There were plenty of prizes (nicely wrapped gifts) to go to each winner. Most of the children ended up with something. Several of my teenagers were there and I also had contests for them based on the lessons we’ve been learning and Scripture memory.

When we finally finished with all of the games, the food started arriving. Betty and others cooked a lot of food, including fish and papeda, at my house. Adults started showing up and with all the children already there, the place was full! People were coming and going, bringing food, but we seem to have counted around 55 people! There were at least 7 visitors. Some of those were parents of our Sunday School children or older siblings.

Josh preached a good message, we presented gifts to the winners of the contests, and then we ate some delicious food! Even the fresh papeda tasted good. Josh really enjoyed it. We are thankful for the privilege of celebrating Christ’s resurrection!

I’ll post more photos at another time. I’m really tired!

“Do you have an American coin?” A Papuan lady cautiously approached me in the grocery store. She seemed desperate with her request and her husband joined her in asking where we lived and for our phone number.

I knew we had some change left over from furlough, but I certainly couldn’t understand how American coins would help them. Since I didn’t think it would hurt anything I gave them our phone number and address, and promised them a coin. (giving out phone numbers and addresses to complete strangers is fairly common here)

The desperate middle-aged couple showed up at our house the very next day. I only had a penny ready,  just in case it turned into an “I need a roll of quarters” issue. Josh talked with them and discovered the mystery of why they wanted the coin.

According to them, if you put a certain type of coin in a box, add special, secret ingredients, and cover the box, the coin will “father” rupiah (Indonesian money).

Josh told them if that ritual really works then they are counterfeiting money, which is illegal. He told them it was most likely Satanic powers since God wouldn’t counterfeit money!

This happened about a month and a half ago but I’m just now posting it.

This news is nearly a week old but most of you probably haven’t heard it. Some of the leaders of the Papuan Baptist Church, broke out in a terrible fight the other day.  Three people are in the hospital. Motorcycles were burned, and classrooms, houses, and cars were damaged. This church group has a hierarchical system, as most churches here do, which in our opinion causes a lot of issues. We are independent Baptist and not associated with this group, although Josh does teach at one of the colleges. This group split not long ago and has been fighting for several years. The root cause? Power or money most likely. This is just another good reason for us to be here. Papua is already evangelized? Then, will the true Christians please stand up?!

You’ve been reading bits and pieces about this new teen club, Pahlawan Kristus. Now find out the details of how it began and what the curriculum is really like, including photos. To see this new series go to our children’s ministry blog, Passionate Pengasuh.