NTM

The 2007-2008 school year has begun at NTMS–PQQ! With still a few classes left without a teacher, we are working to see how these needs can be met.

We are grateful for the help we have received in the elementary grades. Julie Ketcham (Angie’s cousin) will be helping us out for one year in the first-grade class. Our son, Derek, who is very pleased about being in first grade, enjoys having his "Aunt" Julie as his teacher. Also, we have the tremendous assistance of a Brazilian lady–Tia Elma–to teach all the Portuguese classes in the school.

In the high school, we have a couple math classes that we really ought to teach; so, in order to meet that need, I (David) am going to try to shuffle the schedule a bit more to accommodate that. This will mean some, including myself, taking on an additional class. But the spirit among our staff to help and to make this school year successful is phenomenal!

We are still waiting for a chemistry course on DVD to arrive here so that our PE teacher can supervise that course. Pray for him in the meantime as he teaches the class.

Obviously, we need more teachers–history, math, and science especially. Please pray that more teachers would desire to teach at PQQ and that these would be able to obtain visas for Brazil.

God is faithful, and it is on His goodness and strength that we rely. Thank you for praying, and until next time…

Grace to you,

David & Angie Kern, Aaron, Aleah, Dayton, and Derek

Have you ever thought that you’d like to teach overseas at a missionary boarding school? How about in the heart of the Amazon Basin of Brazil?

Since 1958, NTM’s boarding school for missionary children in the Amazon has been providing a sound academic education in a school and dorm environment that allows and actively encourages spiritual, physical, social, and emotional development so that each student may be prepared for a life of service motivated by love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Each year, we have needs for teachers, and the 2007-2008 school year (and beyond) is no exception. Currently, we are in need of a junior high/high school math teacher as well as a science teacher.

If YOU would like to help meet this need (or you know of SOMEONE who is interested), please let us know this good news.

NTM has application processes adapted for each term of service that you might be interested in, whether it be up to 6 months, up to 4 years, or full-time service.

We look forward to helping you embark on one of the most meaningful experiences in your life as together we assist in reaching the lost for Christ.

In the month of December, we asked you to remember two needs in prayer. The Lord has faithfully answered according to our requests. All glory to Him and thank you for praying!

The first item of prayer we had mentioned was for Megan Zupancic, a short-term volunteer who only lacked her visa before her January flight to northern Brazil to allow her to minister at the NTM missionary boarding school. Thank the Lord with us because Megan did receive her visa. Her flight leaves on Sunday, January 14. Continue to pray that she might have a tremendous experience in Brazil and be a blessing to the other missionaries there.

The second prayer request was for the provision of the remaining funds–over $50,000.00–needed for the full payment of an aluminum boat that the school had purchased this past year. Again, the Lord abundantly provided through several financial gifts, and the boat is completely paid off! Thank the Lord with us for the way He provided through faithful partners. We know that the boat will be an invaluable asset to the ministry at the school and will also indirectly serve many others.

Praise God for the truth of His Word: "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen" (Philippians 4:19-20).

Not only do we feel like we are having a part in training tomorrow’s missionaries, but we are also seeing the PQQ students acting in the missionary capacity right now!

We’ve been blessed to see the enthusiasm and dedication with which the PQQ students have taken their responsibility seriously of reaching those around them at the school with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Since we’ve been here in the US on our home assignment time, we continue to hear from different PQQ students that the Bible teaching at the community upriver from the school progresses. One senior writes that many of the young people at the Bible study location–younger children and teens–are coming to faith in Christ. Praise the Lord!

In addition to the Bible study with "our" group continuing, another couple has begun to study the Bible with one of our school staff members. May they come to faith in Christ, too.

Continue to pray for the students at the PQQ missionary boarding school that their burden to reach the world for Christ would continue and bear much fruit. All glory to God!

Currently, we are on our home assignment in California. We flew back from Brazil to Florida, where we participated in an administrators conference for NTM school administrators.

From Florida, we hit the road to Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota, Idaho, Washington, and finally to California. Along the way we had the privilege of sharing in churches as well as with families and friends who have partnered with us in prayer and finances.

Here in California, we are enjoying getting re-connected with our home church and friends. Our 3 older children are enrolled in a school, while Angie is homeschooling our youngest in kindergarten.

I (David) have been substitute teaching regularly and also working long-distance (via e-mail) with the acting principal and school leadership at the missionary boarding school PQQ in Brazil, assisting in whatever ways I can.

We thank the Lord for His faithfulness, and we are also grateful for those who have been partnering with us to see the tribes of Brazil reached with the Gospel of Christ!

Thank you for praying for the following needs:

1. Each year at the missionary boarding school PQQ, we are in constant need of more teachers.
   • We need teachers to invest their lives to teaching MKs full-time at PQQ.
   • Opportunities also exist to serve short-term at PQQ for 6 months to 4 years.
2. Visas–Acquisition of visas for Brazil is difficult for foreigners.
   • Pray for favor from the Brazilian officials to allow visas to be issued to those wanting to serve at PQQ.
   • Praise God! Megan Zupancic received her visa to help at PQQ; her flight for Brazil leaves on Sunday, January 14. Pray that she would be a tremendous blessing at PQQ and that her experience would be a very positive one for her.
3. Salvation of people at the evangelism outreach community and the growth of believers
   • Pray for Valciney (one we see as a potential future leader in a church there) to grow strong in his faith.
   • Valciney’s wife recently ran off on him but then returned. He was devasted but continues to soak up the Truth–the Word.
   • Pray that Valciney’s wife, Mara, would desire to know God in a personal, intimate way.
4. Praise God! The provision of finances–over $50,000.00–for a recently completed boat for the missionary boarding school came in over these past few weeks! 
5. Opportunities to share our ministry and the broader ministry of tribal church planting with others.
   • Our desire is that our lives be a testimony to God’s faithfulness and that He use us to challenge others to serve Him full-time.