Takido almost cried after learning how to hold a pencil.
The Dinangat man was one of many who were deeply moved yesterday by the first class in reading and writing their own language.
"Today tears welled up in my eyes as a man my age learned how to hold a pencil for the first time in his life," wrote missionary Gary Smith. "After class he too choked back tears as he told me how happy is to be in the class."
Many of the Dinangats were so excited to be able to learn reading and writing that there was not room for all who wanted to learn. "People actually started crying because there was no space anymore for them to be a part of that first class," wrote Ralf Schlegel, Gary's co-worker.
One of the women in the class went home in tears of joy over what she was learning.
The class for 14 people began a little after 8 a.m. Papua New Guinea time, and teachers and students were all excited and nervous. Jeremiah Markley, another missionary on the team to the Dinangats, is helping Gary teach the class.
"Little by little people gathered on both sides of the classroom windows to witness what was going on inside and they were excited to see their friends being taught how to read and write in their own language," Ralf wrote.
"Some of the students are familiar with reading and writing in the trade language and Lord willing will be the next teachers for the class," Gary wrote. "But for some like Takido this is the first time ever."
Gary, Ralf and Jeremiah, and their wives -- Esther, Elli and April, respectively -- make up the missionary team to the Dinangats. Their goal is to plant a church, and teaching the people to read and write is a key part of that effort.
"Becoming literate is the necessary step to being able to read God's Word," Jeremiah wrote. "We know the enemy would love nothing more than for this first endeavor to fail miserably. We have already found ourselves dealing with issues that seem to have come out of nowhere, but God's grace has overcome them all one by one, and we are still on schedule, all praise to Him! Please keep praying!"
"When you pick up a pencil today," Gary wrote, "stop and thank God and mention the Dinangat people to Him."
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