"God, we are still wandering in the jungle. We need Tom and Jason to come back to help us. They have to return to teach us," Nowiele prayed as he opened a recent meeting with the Siawi believers.
It is the prayer that is on all of the believers' lips as they see their tremendous need for being grounded in God's Word.
Missionaries Tom Brendle and Jason Swanson are currently on home assignment in the USA and a number of factors indicate they won't be returning to their ministry among the Siawis for several months. Even upon their return they will need to refresh their language skills before they start writing more Bible lessons and begin teaching again.
For now, the Siawis meet to sing songs of praise and worship, and to give testimonies and read Scripture that has blessed or encouraged them.
After Nowiele opened the meeting in prayer, Kwaelom stood. He hadn't been present the week before and missionary Linda Kreig wondered why he was missing since his family was there.
Kwaelom now provided the answer, saying he hadn't attended the week before because he had been heavily burdened about his daughters. He knew, though, that staying home -- while culturally expected -- was not the response that a believer should have toward trials.
Kwaelom's two daughters are of marriageable age. In fact, the eldest daughter, Kofele, is considered an "old maid" at 22. There is a lot of pressure from all the men who are determined to take the young women as second or third wives. Kwaelom's refusal to give his daughters as second wives is causing stress in the village.
The Siawi man has been faithful through the years amid numerous trials and struggles. Pray that he will stand against the pressure and do God's will with his daughters' marriage proposals.
Pray too that the Siawi believers will continue to learn the Scripture and lessons that they currently have and that they will grow in their faith.
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