Toti, a Semandang believer, just graduated from high school and is home working and saving up some money for college. She is staying with Darcy.

Another of Darcy's "adopted daughters," Lia, recently came to visit for a few days. She brought her husband and 4-month-old girl, Rere, to meet Darcy.

"I was able to get some good grandma time with Rere and begin to build a relationship with Lia's husband," Darcy wrote.

Darcy continues to translate the Bible into the Semandang language. Six women come to her office each week to work on the translation project. Each has been setting aside one day each week to serve the Lord by helping Darcy with Bible translation.

"Even though the busy planting season is far from over with the focus being on getting the wet rice seedlings into the fields," Darcy wrote, "they willingly give of their precious time to see God's work going forward. They are such a joy and encouragement to me. Please pray that I will also be an encouragement to them."

Pray for Darcy as she builds relationships among the Semandangs. Pray also for the growth and relationships of those helping to translate the Scriptures into the Semandang language.

Soon, the tail will be assembled and attached. And a part of that tail has already made a long journey of its own, to the NTM USA Home Office in Sanford, Florida, on to Indianapolis, and back to the Quest Aircraft facility in Sandpoint, Idaho.

The purpose of the trip was to give some of the people who made the plane possible an opportunity to sign the part.

In 2005 and 2006, the children of Molly Lawton's third grade class at Heritage Christian School decided they wanted to help New Tribes Mission purchase a Kodiak. Most adults would blanch at the thought of raising $375,000, the cost of a deposit on a Kodiak after discounts and matching funds. But not these kids.

In a presentation to a foundation, one of the children summed it up:

"You are probably thinking, 'How can a third grade class buy an airplane?' Our class believes in Jesus Christ and that He will make it possible for us to raise the money to buy a Kodiak plane."

On May 2, 2006, they met their goal. "Both Renee and I lost it," Molly wrote. "Many of the children just broke down and cried." It was the enthusiasm of Renee Anthony, 10 at the time, that helped the class drive toward their goal.

And their example helped many others get involved in providing Kodiaks for NTM Aviation.

So it was only fitting to give the kids and their parents an opportunity to sign a piece of the plane they helped fund. Many were able to attend the April event in Indianapolis, and their signatures will be inside the plane as it goes about its duties.

After the plane is delivered to New Tribes Mission, it will be flown to the New Tribes Mission Aviation facility in Arizona, where its outfitting for the demands of missionary aviation will be completed. Pilots and mechanics also need to complete training on the Kodiak. It is expected to be in service in mid to late 2010.

<a href="http://www.ntm.org/news/srkodiak01.php">Find out more about the Kodiak project, and how you can help with the remaining costs for the first plane >></a>

The week before his death he told missionary Scott Phillips, "No man knows the day that I will die, but the Creator knows. Will I die while I am young? Will I die while my wife and I have only cut the cords of two children? Will I die when I am old and have lived a long life? No man can know such things, but the Creator knows. And if I die while I am still young, then the Creator has chosen that for me. I am ready to go up to that good place above the sky and live with Jesus."

"It is hard to explain with words how we feel right now," Scott wrote. "As I am sure it is hard for anyone to explain how they feel after they have lost a close friend. We don't pretend to know why God chose this specific path for Wikipai.

"We don't understand why God saw fit that Wikipai's wife, Moipi, and their two kids, Tawekabo and Damekauwo, would be left without their father at such a young age. But one thing we do know and that we do not for a single second doubt is that for His own glory and for the Dao people's good, God sovereignly chose this for Wikipai."

Just four days before his death, Wikipai and another Bible teacher, Daapoi, were commended for their ministry.

Simon Tanner, the leader of Helimission, arrived from Switzerland to visit the Dao people. The Dao believers were very excited to have an opportunity to thank Helimission for providing those interesting dragonfly-looking contraptions called "helis" that have played such a huge part in bringing them the message of Jesus.

As the people gathered to honor Helimission some of the prominent Dao men spoke. Kopeedi said, "If it wasn't for you … we would still this day be living in darkness with no knowledge of what Jesus has done for us. We thank you for carrying the message bearers here so that we could hear of Jesus."

Then it was Simon's turn. He stood and pulled two small shiny packages from his pocket. After sharing for a little while about how it was Helimissions' privilege to be a tool that God uses to carry the Gospel to those who have never heard, he said that he had something to say specifically about Wikipai and Daapoi.

"There are two men here that I have heard many things about. I have heard of how they have been faithfully teaching God's Word here. I have heard about how they have encountered many challenges and sicknesses trying to carry the message of Jesus to the people. I have heard about how the enemy has been working against them and I have great respect for these two men who have been faithful despite these sicknesses, challenges, and attacks from the enemy.

"We have come here also to show our appreciation to them. And that is why I want to present these two, small, special gifts to Wikipai and Daapoi to show our admiration for them this evening and encourage them to not give up in well-doing."

"You should have seen the smiles on their faces," Scott wrote, "when Simon reached out his hand with those little shiny packages in them and presented to Wikipai and Daapoi two brand new, bright red, Swiss-army knives, hand carried-from Switzerland especially for them.

"The Dao people thought that they had gathered for a special feast just to honor Helimission but it had been turned around on them and ended up being a feast that the visitors had used to honor the first two Dao Bible teachers and evangelists, Wikipai and Daapoi. They were lifted up in front of their own people and all those gathered for their faithfulness despite all of the hardships and sickness that they have recently encountered."

Please pray for the Dao people and specifically for Wikipai's wife and children - Moipi, Tawekabo and Damekauwo. Pray that God will be glorified in this great loss and that more Dao men will be challenged to take God's Word to those distant villages.