Last week Diane and Annette, two literacy consultants, came to help us layout and develop the Patpatar primers for the literacy course.  They were a great help to give suggestions and methods for what letters and sounds to teach first and how to go about teaching them.  Lori is taking a bulk of the responsibility for the literacy program and so had spent months gathering materials, creating word lists, working with the Patpatar dictionary, and getting things ready.  When the consultants were here Madonna (our other partner) was a huge help in cooking meals and watching the kids.  The rest of us (including some of our Patpatar friends) spent long days putting everything together in an orderly fashion and writing stories in the Patpatar language for new readers.  The books include new sounds to teach and then stories to reinforce those sounds.  Like the Dick and Jane stories, they start out simple and get more complex.  Here is an example of one of the early stories from the first primer:

Tata kana?
Tata kana.
Tata i tuntun ku?
Tata i tuntun ku.
Tata i kanakana.

Nana kana?
Nana kana.
Nana i tuntun ku?
Nana i tuntun ku.
Nana i kanakana.

The above story means very little to those who don’t speak Patpatar, but when the Patpatar read it they understand exactly what is being said because it speaks to them in their heart language.  Our desire is that many will become literate so they can read the Bible in their own language and that they will understand exactly what God’s Word says because it speaks to them in their heart language.  Pray for us, and especially Lori, as we finish the primers and begin to write teachers manuals and get everything together to start the first literacy school.

See Aaron and Lori.
Aaron and Lori say good-bye!

It’s been four days now. Four days ago, we taught from God’s Word on the death, burial and resurrection. As each day passes we have been able to visit with more people as to what Jesus did for them and their response to His work on the cross. With each day we are excited to see God is adding to His kingdom.

On Thursday, when we presented the Gospel there were three distinct groups of people. There were a couple of individuals that stood and contradicted the Gospel of grace. They clearly went against Scripture and started listing things that we must do in addition to trusting in the finished work of Christ. As they spoke about living a good life, not smoking, and not chewing beetle nut in order to get to heaven it was clear to us that they were not accepting the free gift of God.fortunately it was clear to many of the Patpatar as well. The second group were those who accepted the Gospel of grace. A handful of men and women shared that they were not relying on themselves for salvation, but were believing in Jesus as their Savior to be accepted by God.

Here is what some of them had to say:

“You asked us this question, ‘You are believing in what?’. Let me answer that question, I am believing in Jesus alone, that He died and rose again for me. He is the road to God. He has placed me in God’s clan.”

“I just want to tell you this. I am a pastor and have been preaching God’s Talk for a long time, you know that. However, this teaching of God’s Talk you have given us, has made me clearly understand the message of God. Before, and all the way up to today, I have had one foot standing on Jesus’ death and one foot standing on all my good deeds. Now it’s clear to me though, that I am a sinner and my good deeds are not able to get me to God. That is why He sent Jesus. Jesus came to pay for all my sins on the cross. I am trusting in Him. Today I have both feet in what Jesus has done on my behalf.”

“All the teaching we have had from God’s Talk makes one thing very clear to me. Belief. Over and over God’s Talk says believe. Belief is what I am doing now in God’s Son who took my place. That is all my talk.”

“Until today I was unclear on how to get to heaven, but now it is clear. I have turned my thinking from all that I used to try to do to be acceptable in God’s sight, those things were taking me down the wide road to hell. I am now believing in the cross, in what was done on the cross, in Jesus to get to heaven.”

We are rejoicing with the angels over the handful of Patpatar who have testified to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. There is a third group though. A majority of the people who heard the Gospel sat silently and had no outward response. Some of them have trusted in Christ as their Savior as we have found out in the last few days. However, we know of others who are still struggling with the truth, still trying to understand what was done on their behalf, still struggling to place their trust in the Messiah.

Pray with us as we are seeking opportunities to visit with individuals one-on-one to see where their understanding is and to answer their questions. Pray also, as next week we will continue to meet with the Patpatar (twice a week like we are currently doing in the other village with the believers there). Though our aim is to gather the believers together and begin teaching them their standing in Christ and the truths God has in His Word for them, the first few lessons we will strongly communicate the Gospel message over and over in order that the truth of salvation will become clear to those who are still unclear. Praise the Lord with us for the gift of His only Son. Praise also, that because of that, we now have more Patpatar brothers and sisters in Christ.

ALL for Him, Aaron and Lori

“You go on ahead, I’ll be right behind you.” This was the third day in a row I had walked the extra mile especially to see him to be sure he was going to come hear the teaching (in the village where we are laying foundations to present the Gospel). This was the third day he guaranteed he would be there. This was the third day he had gone against his word. To my face he had been cordial and had said there were no problems. But there had to be. He had come faithfully everyday for two months and was usually the first one there, then suddenly he stopped coming. That’s when others began to fill me in that he had not agreed with some things in the God’s Word because they were contrary to what he had traditionally believed. He was believing the lie of self-righteousness to get to God. That’s to be expected.

“Another fight broke out yesterday afternoon,” someone informed me. The location was right across the road from where we teach. The issue involved only one family, but the whole community was talking about it and spreading rumors. Property had been destroyed and now souls were in danger. Not only had this pulled some of the family away from the teaching it had also distracting others who were not even involved. That’s to be expected.

“Don’t worry I am not asking many people to help, only 2, or I guess 4, well.not too many, but the job is important.” One of the big men had started a house project in another area and had hired some of the men who had been coming to the teaching to go and help him with the project. He was very supportive of us teaching God’s Word to the Patpatar and had told us how much he wanted to hear the truth as well, but busyness had stolen him away and was now stealing others away. That’s to be expected.

That’s to be expected because Satan does not want the Patpatar to have the chance to hear and know the truth. This coming week we will be presenting the Gospel. After several weeks of teaching through the Bible about the holiness of God, the separation of man from God because of sin, and the coming of Jesus the promised redeemer, we will now be teaching on His death, burial, and resurrection by which we can be accepted by God once again through faith. Satan however, wants the Patpatar to believe lies, to be destroyed, and to be stolen away. John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.” We can expect a fight from the enemy; we can expect distractions. But that is not the end of the verse.

Jesus said, in the rest of John 10:10, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Praise God that He is a God of the unexpected. The almighty God became helpless babe. The perfect God loved imperfect man. The holy God died for sinful men. He gave sight to the blind, strength to the weak, and life to the dead. He desires to spend eternity with you, with me, and with the Patpatar people. He wants none of them to perish, but all of them to have a chance to hear and accept the Gospel message.

Pray this week with us to the God of the unexpected. We expected people would disagree with God’s truth and not want to come, but He is the God of the unexpected. We expected situations would come up to destroy people or to destroy the work of the Lord, but He is a God of the unexpected. We expected distractions to come that would steal people away, but He is the God of the unexpected. Pray for those who have been pulled away. Pray for the many who are still attending faithfully and are excited about the truth. Pray for us as we present the Gospel. Tuesday and Wednesday (U.S. time) this week, we will be teaching about Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

To Him that is able to do more than we can ever ask or imagine, Aaron

It was just about dark when he came by. One of the believers came to the house and called out to announce his presence. I went out and we started the typical small talk conversation. After a minute or two he said, “I just want to tell you this, I am happy.” He went on to elaborate, “The group that met yesterday hearing God’s Word together [the Patpatar church made up of new believers], I am happy for that. What Jesus has done for us, I am happy for that. The Holy Spirit coming inside us like God’s Word says, I am happy for that. I say, ‘thank you’ to God my Father.” With that he turned and said, “that’s all” and walked away.

His statements reflected the attitude of several of the believers this week. During one of the believer’s meetings one man shared that he had been listening to a group of people talking fearfully about a firefly that they saw. They wondered who’s dead spirit it was and why it had come to them. The man shared with us and said, “I couldn’t help but smile and laugh on the inside. They were afraid, but I smiled. They thought that the firefly was a dead man’s spirit, but I knew it wasn’t.” Another man spoke and said, “I am glad because I no longer have to live in fear of the dreams that I have. I’m a believer in Jesus and those dreams aren’t messages from spirits. I was always afraid when I would dream, and didn’t know what would happen to me, but now I can just be happy.”

It is thrilling to be a part of this “brand new church” as we study the first “brand new church” in the book of Acts. It has also been exciting to continue to teach in the other village as we progress towards teaching the Gospel. Last week we presented the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. We taught about Jesus’ childhood, His baptism, and His temptations by the devil. Next week begins the ministry of Jesus as we teach about the many miracles, words, and actions of the promised Messiah.

Thank you for your continued prayer. Despite some lessons that taught truths from God’s Word contrary to what the Patpatar believe, there has continued to be good attendance. Pray as we only have four weeks left of this foundational teaching, that they would continue to come, to have understanding, and to accept the Gospel message. Last update I asked pray for the church that the group would be more faithful in attending. The last two weeks have been well attended and they are excited as they are learning about their identity as a group of believers. We appreciate your participation as part of the church, the Body of Christ.

ALL for Him, Aaron

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity,” Paul tells us in Colossians 4:6. In the last few months, God has given us many opportunities here in Papua New Guinea. We know that many of you continue to pray for us and the Patpatar people daily and we do not take your part in the ministry for granted. It has been a month since we updated you last, so we wanted to write a longer general update about all that we have been involved with recently.

The Patpatar Church: We are excited that one of the opportunities we have been given is actually not with outsiders, but insiders. That is those who are now in the family of God. Twice a week we get to meet collectively with our Patpatar brother and sisters in Christ. Since January we have been meeting as a church at the traditional men’s house, but instead of performing the customs associated with the Patpatar clan, we have been able to teach what we have been given as members of God’s clan. Last week we finished reviewing through the Old Testament and the Gospels to show again the finished work that Christ accomplished for us and the eternal hope we now have as believers. One of the believers, Subul, a quiet man who prefers to follow rather than lead, has been told by others lately that he is not going to go to heaven and has been pressured to return to the works and religious exercises to work his way there. After one of our meetings I heard him confide to his fellow believers that, “It doesn’t matter if they call me a man of sin. It is not my work that will get me to heaven, it is the work the Jesus did for me and I am believing in that.”

The outside pressure and years of lies have not made believing the true Gospel message a popular choice. Right now the group is small with only 10-20 of them attending regularly. We are praying to see the small church grow and become stronger. This week we begin the book of Acts. This will be an exciting journey, as we study the early church, the spread of the Gospel, and the power of the Holy Spirit despite the persecution that they faced. Pray with us as we have opportunity with the “insiders” as they interact daily with the “outsiders.”

The Other Village: Meanwhile, five mornings a week we continue to have opportunities with the Patpatar people in the other village. We continue to be pleasantly surprised by the great attendance as we teach this group of 60+ people through the Old Testament laying the foundations of our helpless situation as sinners before a Holy God. It is exciting to hear as individuals are grasping the truths of God’s Word like never before. One morning after the lesson as I was visiting with one of the men he said, “I haven’t figured it out completely yet, but I’ve noticed a pattern. It seems like a lamb is always killed. I wonder why a lamb. I wonder why the blood of the lamb had to be shed for the sins of the people.” This week we will finish the Old Testament and begin the New Testament, where the Lamb of God will be introduced.

Aaron – on the side: As many of you know, I had been given the opportunity to be trained to become a culture and language consultant for new missionaries in other tribes. I have now completed my training and have been able to be a part of several evaluations. This has meant that my weekends (and some weekdays) recently have been consumed by traveling into other tribes. This in itself can be an adventure as the last 3 hour hike through the jungle ended up being a 20 hour trek due to a small landslide cutting off the road, swollen rivers that couldn’t be crossed from a deluge of rain, and having to spend the night in a hut along the trail because of nightfall. Once at the tribal locations, I get to see how the missionaries who are learning the language and culture of those tribes are doing, evaluate them, and give them direction. My desire is that God will use this ministry to speed the rate of their language and culture study time, so that they can begin writing Bible lessons, translating God’s Word, and teaching God’s Word more quickly so that more tribal churches can be planted.

Lori – On the Side: Lori has also had many opportunities. Last month she took her last evaluation and has now official completed her culture language study. She has been working hard preparing for the Patpatar literacy course, analyzing the sounds of their language, preparing materials, working with the Patpatar dictionary, translating booklets, and getting things ready for the construction of primers.

Allowing Opportunities: One of the reasons that Lori and I have been able to be so involved with so many opportunities is the continued help of Aaron’s sister Heidi and her friend Lela. They have helped out with much of the cleaning, cooking, housework, and homeschooling to give us more time in other areas. Their time here is coming to a close and we appreciate all they have done for us.

All for Him, Aaron

In the last couple of weeks, we’ve been amazed over and over again at God’s amazing ways! He is working here in Patpatar and there are so many things to get excited about!

First of all there is an infant church we are meeting with. No, there are not many members. Depending on the day you may only find about 20 people meeting, but the meetings are so sweet as we hear about what questions they have about their faith, what God is teaching them, and how He is making His Word alive and clear to them. They are also having to put their faith in action and help us which brings us to:

TEACHING IN THE OTHER NEIGHBORING VILLAGE!!! That’s right! Our first week we broke the 100 mark in attendance one day. Why is this so exciting? This is the village where we have seen so many of our relationships challenged, and it just hasn’t seemed as if they have been there. We were wondering what God would do and if they would even be receptive to the teaching. Some days we have weathered storms at teaching time, but still people hunger, and continue to come.

We’ve had so many great conversations with groups of men afterward. There hasn’t been as much of an outward show of what they are thinking publicly, but rather small group conversations where they are communicating their thoughts and asking questions. The ladies are hanging back a little bit, and it has been a challenge to the women on the team. We have come to the conclusion, we just have to work on those relationships and pray that when they have questions, and when the teaching gets more challenging, these women will open up to us, and God will give us wisdom as we minister to them.

The believers have gotten involved by being there some mornings to help ask the group review questions from the day before. Other days they have come and helped with illustrations, and skits, or teaching a certain point in the lesson that day. It is very exciting as we watch them reach out because the village they come from, and the village we are now teaching in don’t really get along. This is a huge step as they help us in the teaching, and it is amazing to watch God at work as they come with humble attitudes to help.

Last but not least, God has brought along people to help us, Aaron’s sister, Heidi and her friend, Lela are here to help us for a few months while Lori works on the literacy program. Please pray for Lori as she takes on this task.

We are teaching every morning in the other village and have just finished teaching on Creation, the fall of Lucifer, Adam and Eve, and Cain and Abel. Some of the big events we cover in the next few weeks will be: Noah and the flood The tower of Babel Abraham

Right now we are teaching the Believers collectively Monday and Thursday afternoons. We have been going back through the Old Testament and reflecting on God’s grace, mercy, and provision for those who have trusted in Him and showing the work of the Holy Spirit throughout the Old Testament, as well as teaching some of the passages we by-passed the first time around.

Thank you for your prayers! Lori for the family

We are well into 2009 now, and we are so very thankful for the ways God blessed our family and His ministry to the Patpatar people.

Our journey in 2008 began with Aaron beginning to write Bible lessons and meeting with our church planting consultant in January. This was an exciting time, as began writing Bible lessons in order to teach the Patpatar people chronologically through the Bible.

In February Aaron’s sister came and lived with us for 3 months. During this time she assisted us so that Lori had more time for ministry, and was a huge blessing as her big smile and loving heart was a witness to the Patpatar. During March we had a meeting (which included a feast) with some of the Patpatar people expressing once again our reason for coming and plans for things to come. We reiterated our reasons for being in their place. We emphasized the fact that we had three jobs to do: Literacy, Bible teaching, and Bible translation, and told them that we were now ready to begin the work for these things. We also asked for their help as we prepared for the Bible teaching.

In May school was finished up with Avalon, and we found that there was now more time for Lori to do ministry type things. Lori’s sights were turned to language learning as well as the task of Literacy. In June, Lori took an evaluation finding that she had made progress but still has more work to do as far as learning the Patpatar language.

July was conference time this year and we were blessed to have Aaron’s parents come to be with us for some time during conference as well as afterward. We had a great time with them and 3 of Aaron’s brothers! We were made aware of some challenges Kylee was having as far as growth. We praise the Lord that she is now gaining in her height, and things seem to be headed in the right direction for her.

The first part of August was the beginning of our adventure with teaching through the Bible from Creation to Christ! It was a very exciting time, and as many of you know, we now have a church made up of Patpatar believers in Christ! During this time Avalon also began 3rd grade, and Sierra started her school career! She’s now in Kindergarten!!

During that 3 ½ months our family found it a challenge to get done all that we had to get done. We left our house every morning at 7:30 am and would not return until around 10:30 in the morning at which time Avalon and Sierra would begin school. School went until late in the afternoon when it was time to begin supper. Aaron and Lori would work after supper on the house, home school things, and Bible lessons. We would go to bed, and get up and do it all over again the next day.

After the teaching ended in December, our partners took a break, and we stayed with the new believers!!! What a privilege to be with these babies in Christ! It was incredible, challenging, and encouraging all at the same time.

Right after Christmas, our year ended with a much needed break to Australia for 2 weeks. We were blessed to have Aaron’s brother and his wife as well as our nephew join us. It was very refreshing. After some meetings in another area of Papua New Guinea, we came home the end of January, and now have started another teaching of Creation to Christ in the neighboring village….more to come on that!

We are so thankful for each and every one of you!!! There are so many of you that have written to us and encouraged us. Many of you don’t know who you are because we haven’t written back, but it is most certainly not because we take your encouragement for granted. We realize we could not be here without your prayers and encouragement. There would not be a Patpatar church without you praying to move the hand of God, and ministering to us, his privileged servants.

So much has happened…..our kids are growing like weeds, Avalon is learning to write reports for school, Sierra is well into reading, and Kylee is running around with her mischievous grin not only getting into things, but also helping to pick messes up. She’s great at it! J Our family is so thankful for you all, and for God’s provision through you. Thank you so very much! We praise God for a WONDERFUL year in 2008!

With Love to you all, and praise to God for His Faithfulness, Lori for the family

For the average American passing by the scene, it probably doesn’t look like a church: A group of tribal people sitting four inches off the ground on pieces of bug eaten bamboo. Most are dressed in their daily garb consisting of well worn and tattered clothes, or just a piece of cloth wrapped around their waste like a skirt. The rusty corrugated tin suspended above their heads by a few bamboo posts help to keep the sun off them, and if the rain starts will keep most of them dry if they are not under the big holes. Beside several of them lies a machete, ready for another day of work in the garden. Though freshly raked from leaves the ground around them is covered in red with remnants of the beetle nut they continually spit. The children many of which are naked wander in and out, and they are welcomed, as opposed to the dogs and chickens which also make their attempt to mingle with the crowd. In the background off to one side people are bathing, washing clothes, or washing dishes in the creek. On the other side a group of pigs are being fed coconuts, while someone else squats near a fire to cook bananas.

At first glance, it may not appear like much, but you have to look a little closer. Despite the noise of the animals, the ocean, and the kids and despite the distractions, they are all straining to grasp every word that is being taught. The sounds and words would sound funny to you and would make no sense at all. But to the Patpatar this is God’s Word being taught in their own language. Not everyone in the village is here. In fact, some don’t want to be here. In fact, some are telling the rest they should not be there. But yet they have chosen to come. They aren’t very old in the faith; baby believers; two week old Christians, but they are eager to be here. When the bell was rung some left their cooking, some left their wash by the creek, some had been sitting near by ready and waiting. All eager to learn and grow in their understanding

Someday they will probably have a building to meet in. Someday they may have benches or chairs. Someday it may look more like “a church,” but that is not what we are after at the moment. Right now we are more interested that these new brothers and sisters are rooted and built up in Christ. For now, we are more interested that these new believers are seated securely in the heavenlies. We are honored to be a part of the birth of this church and what a wonderful time to be born around the birthday of our Savior.

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support in making this church a reality. Pray for the new Patpatar believers. Pray also that God will continue to add to His Church. And this Christmas when you sit at church, reflect on what truly makes it church and have a wonderful Christmas as we celebrate with you on the other side of the world.

For His Glory,

Aaron

Silence! Not a word, not a movement, only silence. We had just finished teaching about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. We had presented the Gospel message clearly. After months of teaching the climax had been presented. I ended the morning by giving the Patpatar people a chance to respond and then I sat down. No one moved. No one talked. There was only an awkward silence over the crowd.

You see, this message of the cross was different from anything they had ever heard. They had heard of God, they had heard of Jesus, they had even heard about Jesus dying, but they had never heard about salvation by faith through the grace of God. The concept that the way to eternal life in heaven with God was not through their own effort, ability, and works was revolutionary. The fact that Jesus was the way to the Father, and that believing in His work on the cross for their sins was the good news was new.

If the Patpatar truly believed this message they would be turning their back on everything they have ever heard and known. In this community driven society they would be turning their back on what their ancestors taught them, what their clans taught them, and even what their churches taught them. They would be turning from their dependence on the spirits, their good works, their religious efforts, and their social strivings to be accepted by God, to a dependence on the Son of God who paid the price for their sin. If they believed the Gospel message they would be set free from sin and bondage, but would seemingly also be ostracized from the tribe.

The silence was frustrating and we wondered if we had communicated clearly. Then when we began to talk one on one with the Patpatar people we began to be encouraged. Over and over again we heard that “God’s talk” was clear to them, that they understood the message and that it was different from what they had heard before, but it was good. We answered them that merely understanding the message was not enough and that they had to personally put their trust in Jesus as their Savior to be delivered from sin and hell. Here are some of the responses that followed:

“This school is different from what we believed. Don’t be fooled when some of us seemed to know the answers because we knew some of God’s Talk before. We just got a piece here and a piece there, and tried to get to God through a big process. I want the others (those who weren’t at the teaching) to believe like I do now. I believe in Jesus’ work for me. His blood paid for my sins. I am not good enough to pay for them. He was the only one that was the perfect lamb so my sins could be paid completely. I thank God that His Talk has been made clear to me. I thank God that He sent you two (Butch and Aaron) here so we could hear the good news.” – Tokiung

“When you started to teach ‘God’s Talk’ I was not ‘one stomach’ (in agreement) with you. I didn’t want to hear the talk and I didn’t want you to be here. Then one day I went to hear the teaching. The talk fought with my stomach (really made me ponder). I started to come all the time. Now I have heard the work of Jesus. I couldn’t sleep last night because that horrible suffering Jesus endured was for me. He did the work for me to get to heaven. Now I want everybody to hear this message.” – Matias

“Belief is the way. I believe in Jesus’ work that He died and rose for me.” – Maria

“I came with lots of questions in my head. I didn’t want to throw them out. I wanted to hear God’s Talk from the beginning to the end so that it would go inside and answer those questions. Now I am clear. The questions have been answered. I know that I am a sinner and can’t get to God on my own. I am clear now on the way to heaven. That Jesus died for those sins and it is by belief in Him that God will accept me.” – Pius

“I had to miss two days of this school to help with a village event. When I was there I didn’t want to be there, I wanted to be back here at the teaching. I don’t get the answers at the village. I get the answers made clear to me at the school of God’s Talk.” – Tika

“I used to be in Satan’s clan because I am a sinner. I tried to do good works, follow the laws of the church, even appease the spirits, but now I know that was not enough for me to get to God. I am now trusting in Jesus’ work for me – He died, He was put in the tomb, and He rose to pay for my sin. He is the only way to God. I am believing in Him! Yes, the Spirit of God has given birth to me in God’s clan now.” – Tamrau

Praise God that there are Patpatar Believers! Pray for us as we continue to talk with individuals and try to bring clarity to the Gospel. Continue to pray for the Patpatar as many now know the truth and are struggling with whether to accept or reject the Gospel. Pray for those who have trusted Christ as their Savior and are now are our brothers and sister in “God’s clan” as they may very well face opposition. Next Tuesday we have a village feast to celebrate the teaching of “God’s Talk.” Those who heard the Gospel know that they will have a chance to publicly testify about how God’s Talk affected them.

Thank you so much for your prayers, your support, and your part to reach the Patpatar. God’s work among them has only just begun!

For His Glory,

Aaron