NTM

Hello!

Greetings from New Tribes Mission in North East Lincolnshire, where as a family we face only our second successive British winter since 1984. We trust all is well for you, we do thank you SO much for praying for us, and for the unreached people NTM works amongst.

 News from Ivory Coast:

The church in the village where we lived continues to meet together and grow. We are grateful to our co-workers Verne & Denny Johnson who have been able to return to the village each summer for the last three years to encourage and give more translated Scripture (Jonah & Ruth) to the believers for them to read and apply Scriptural truth to their lives. It is our (Mandy, Andrew & I) intention to visit the village in the month of August next year.

Our ministry here at North Cotes:

Mandy is continuing to enjoy serving in the nursery with Erla from the Faroes and three German volunteer girls. This year continues to be very different from last year and much more challenging. She enjoys her involvement with the student families.

As coordinator of the European Bible and Missionary Training Center, one of Allan’s responsibilities has been getting it accredited. This has taken well over a year so far and we have just heard that we have been given that accreditation. This is by no means the end of the process though; we have still to obtain a Sponsor Licence from the Home Office in order to be able to have non-European students for next year. We both are also tutors/mentors for 2 couples and a single lady on the missions course.

 As the season of Christmas will soon be upon us we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and trust that you will have many opportunities to give witness to the saving message of Christ to the lost around where you live.

 A recent verse that has been a challenge to me is found in 2 Peter 3:1 ‘This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory.’

 Love and thanks to you in Christ our Saviour,
Allan, Mandy and family.

We spoke at 2 meetings recently. One at the Yorkshire Christian Endeavour Annual Convention at Barnsley on a Saturday, and then at Garforth Evangelical Church on the Sunday morning. This was followed by a lunch- to which everyone was invited by the lovely folks at the Garforth church there. Sorry it was too far for our transatlantic readers !
I have included this photo of Andrew with 2 of his buddies just for fun

The new term begins here today at NTM UK, we have students from Northern Ireland, Germany, Holland and Belgium.
Sadly we did not hear if we have government approval to have student visa acceptance in time for the non EU students to come study. [We are still praying for this to be granted].
We do have one American who is married to a Brit, and the son of some US missionaries to the UK though. Yay!
It is so good to be involved with such a diverse group of students all aiming at going out all over the globe to expand the reach of the Gospel.

It has turned colder again over here in Lincs, we enjoyed a bit of lovely Spring weather last week. It will be snowing in Scotland and Germany this weekend the weathermen say.

Ok here- Andrew has ups and downs, he is a lot happier at college now he feels a part of it there- his favorite is Catering on Mondays and Tuesdays.  A friend of ours bought him a bike off ‘ebay’ so he was very happy about that as you can imagine.

NTM gets a government inspection next Monday for the college to become accredited, it is the first of more inspections to come, we are praying that we have got everything sorted out just right so that we pass with flying colors and can offer college places to staff and students from overseas. Allan is responsible for it all.
I am part of a team teaching the principles of literacy to the students here over the next 3 weeks as well as continuing my nursery responsibilities.

Allan, Andrew and I would like to visit the Ivory Coast this year- you know we have not been there for a long time. Actually we do write and telephone the Palaka every week- and we feel somewhat in touch with what is happening out there. We do not have either a peace of heart about the trip for some reason, and do not have the £/$ either ! So we would value prayer about those 2 things. We want to go back to visit there in God’s time, not just to be following our desire. You will understand what I mean Wendi.

We are praying too for dear Dave and Jill – our co-workers from the last 5 years in Florida- today they went to the second doctor’s appointment- one more to go tomorrow. Please check their site next week for more news.

We thank you always for your part with us in expanding the reach of the Gospel.