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Daily Scripture
 
"Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness."

Psalm 37:3

TRIBAL PEOPLE IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA OVERCOME FEAR AND RECOGNIZE GOD'S TRUTHS.

The Siawis are starting to gain a better understanding of God`s Word.

July 14, 2008

by Christina Johnson

Linda Krieg has been away from Papua New Guinea, but is still eager to share the news of what is happening between the villagers and teams of missionaries in the Siawi and Bagwido tribes.

The teaching from Romans is underway and although they are moving slow through the book, the Siawis are starting to gain a better understanding of God's Word.

"Loving one another is still a truth talked about, but evidently not yet being practiced, at least to any great extent," Linda wrote. "What is encouraging is that the tenor of the questions is changing a bit."

One Siawi man, Someliae, wanted to know more about strengthening others and how he could, in return, be strengthened. "Are we able to follow this road today? How do we do that?" Someliae asked missionaries Tom and Danielle Brendle.

The Siawis in this village are starting to recognize that God calls His people to look out for others and to not selfishly look inward.

"John 3:16 and Romans 1:7 tells us God loves us. It tells us how … God loved us and sent His son to bind us back (with God)," Imen, another Siawi, said. "Today, how do we do love like that? I am asking because it is easy to like my own clan and the people in my own family. I usually only think of them."

For the Bagwido people, the task at hand is overcoming the fear of evil spirits they believe lurk in the dark or hang from the trees. One morning, after a Sunday morning worship service, Mark Woodard heard a story that displayed God's wisdom and strength through the faith of Kingsley, a four-year old Bagwido boy.

"Last night after dark, little Kingsley was walking by himself on the thin trail that winds through the village. Kesu [a Bagwido man] saw him and asked, 'Where are you going?'" Holly Woodard wrote. "'I'm going to see my grandpa,' he answered (his grandpa lives on the other side of the village). Kesu asked, 'But aren't you afraid of the nshonm (bad spirits that lurk in the dark)?' Little Kingsley replied, 'What nshonm? My dad told me that talk about bad spirits is not true talk. What do I have to be afraid of?'"

Kingsley's parents, Donald and Caroline are teaching their children truths from God's Word. "Last week, Caroline told Holly that as they sit around the fire at night, they tell their little ones the stories of the Redeemer and thank God for the things He made," Mark wrote.

Please pray that God continues to show His glory through the tribal people in Papua New Guinea and shows them they have nothing to fear when they place their faith in Him.