van Wermeskerken November 2009 Newsletter
Hi everyone,
Another month has flown by and we haven’t shared about any of our highlights here in PNG yet. This time, instead of writing a report ourselves, we’re forwarding someone else’s as they report on a very special family here in Ukarumpa. No need for us to share anything else as the writer sums it up so well. Remi
Our culture makes heroes from celebrities—in effect, the more famous you become, the more famous people want to make you—whether or not the actions were heroic in scale or purpose. We honor people in sports and entertainment who use their gifts essentially in service to themselves (regardless of their secondary motives, for the most part are extraordinarily well compensated for their effort.) We honor politicians for managing to convince enough people that they are fit to serve—then honor them for the title we have given them.
The true heroes—those who have made heroic efforts and sacrifice and for heroic purposes--often receive their flash of recognition but quickly fade from public attention. (Yes—and there are some politicians, athletes, and celebrities who are arguably true heroes—but they are rare I think.)
One couple we know is Alex and Lois Vincent. This week they took their last trip to Ukarumpa from the village they have served for 52 years. They were among the first to come to PNG with Wycliffe in 1956-57, and they have persevered quietly (and heroically) since then to bring the Gospel message to the Tairora people and helping with the work throughout PNG. I heard once that they spent their honeymoon moving into the little house in Ukarumpa that they were still using when we arrived 43 years later.
I wanted to share a few photos about them as the Ukarumpa community celebrated their half century of service.
(None of these photos are mine…)
Thank you for being such an integral part of this ministry!!!
With lots of love from:
Remi & Tjandra van Wermeskerken
