NTM

Hello family and friends,

We are officially settled in here at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) and have some exciting and somewhat scary news. We found out last week that they are in the process of reducing the length of the training from 4 semesters to 3 semesters. We were planning on finishing up here in May 2009, but if these changes do occur we would be done in December 2008. Please be in prayer with us. We are praying that the staff here make an informed decision and that we will be receptive and flexible during this time of change. As excited as we are at the prospect of being done sooner it is somewhat scary to know that in a little over a year we will be so close to finally heading overseas.

So BIG news aside. I (Kellee) have officially started my outreach. Part of our training here is to choose an outreach in the community. I am volunteering at a women’s shelter in a nearby town. So far only one family has been staying there and the mother has 4 daughters from ages 5-17. I am volunteering on Tuesdays, so if you think of it pray that God will provide opportunities and open doors to share His love with others.

A couple of weeks ago we had a field fair. Representatives came from various fields to raise awareness. I was completely taken aback by the vast need for laborers on the field. I guess I knew there were needs, but I didn’t realize how many teams have been hit with illness and teams have been left understaffed and desperately seeking co-workers. It broke my heart to hear that only 1% of the population in Thailand has accepted the gospel. Thailand is an extremely unique and difficult field because of the difficulty of the language. Also a vast majority of the people are Buddhist, so reaching them takes a long time. It is important that appropriate time be taken so that the gospel is not added to their current belief system. A big buzz word here at the MTC is "worldview" change. It is not like coming into a setting and having a blank slate. The people have been greatly deceived and desperately need to hear the TRUTH. Please pray for us. It is hard to hear the need and not hop on a plane. We know without a doubt that preparation is absolutely necessary. Please pray that we would be patient and make the most of the time He has given us here.

Finally praise the Lord with us for free mechanics!!! A group from Ohio came down to the MTC to work on cars. It was such an example to me of how the body of Christ can come together to make a difference. Some people donated money to buy parts. Others donated time and money to come and work on the cars. Seven people donated time to cook for the mechanics. I even got to see some of my friends from Waukesha who took time out of class to come work on cars and cook! We had a belt changed in our car and a basic check up.

We covet your prayers and thank you for all of your previous and continued support. We know we could not have come this far without our families and good friends who have encouraged us and challenged us along the way.

We have been so blessed these first weeks at the missionary training center.  Last week we had a field fair where missionaries from around the world shared the needs from various fields.  I was overwhelmed by the immense need for people!  Every field and every powerpoint emphasized the incredible need for workers.  I started wishing I could multiply myself and feeling like one life just isn’t enough to give.  God has given me one life and I choose to expend it for his glory by taking the gospel to the unreached tribal people in Southeast Asia.  God does not want me to multiply myself he wants to see his body working together to complete this task.  Please pray with us that workers will be called out and that every member of the body will find a way to be involved! 

Well we are finally settled here in Roach, MO.  Classes started the August 20th.  It was mostly orientation sessions the first week.  The following week began a seminar about Worldview.  Doug and I (Kellee) are both sitting in on these sessions.  Since Doug has already been through the missions training, he is only sitting in on a few things here and there.  The guest speaker, George Walker, is very dynamic and has field experience.  His stories really help to illustrate the importance of getting to know the culture and worldview of the people group you work with on the mission field.  It is so fundamental to what we are planning to do. 

It has definitely been warm here in Roach, but we are so thankful for our air conditioner and of course the beautiful lake here on campus–I know we’re not exactly roughing it!

We appreciate all the prayers and would like to thank our Christian brothers and sisters back home who continue to pray for us.  We are excited for the future as we look to Him to prepare us for what lies ahead.

CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Here we are! Just 4 weeks into our 3rd Semester at New Tribes Bible Institute and loving where the Lord has us at this stage in our lives. He has truly blessed our first year here, and Kellee and I are excited to see what our heavenly Father has in store for us in our lives and ministry this year.

This new school year brings new challenges that seem daunting at first glance, but as we view them with an eternal perspective they become new opportunities. We have the opportunity to trust the Lord in new ways.

· With the biggest freshmen class NTBI has ever seen, we can trust the Lord to provide strength and wisdom to serve and disciple these students.

· As Kellee transitions from teacher to student, we can trust the Lord to provide wisdom as she balances studies and ministry.

· Now that we are both full-time volunteer NTM missionaries, we can trust the Lord to provide through His church in place of a teacher’s salary.

We can trust the Lord, because He is ever faithful! (1Pe 4:19 – So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to a faithful Creator and continue to do what is good.)

Will you partner with us to see the every nation, tribe, and tongue reached with the gospel of Christ? While we continue to train future missionaries to the tribes of the world, we are ever looking forward to the day when Kellee and I make the trek overseas to SE Asia to Expand the Reach of the Gospel!

Prayer Requests:

· That Kellee and I would continue to point these students to Christ

· That our support would rise to meet the mission minimum recommendation

· That our walk with the Lord would be ever dynamic and evident

· That we would continue to glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, following the leading of and walking in the Holy Spirit

Thank you for standing with us! Let us know how we can serve you!

Contacting us:

· Current news, giving, and prayer requests – www.ntm.org/doug_tomlinson

· Fun stuff – www.myspace.com/douglaos and www.myspace.com/kelleeann83

· Photos and archives – www.dougandkellee.blogspot.com

· Address – 915 N. Hartwell Ave Waukesha, WI 53186

· Phone #’s – Doug: (262) 364-6910, Kellee (262) 364-8311

Please pray that the Lord of the Harvest would raise up partners to join us in our ministry to expand the reach of the gospel. We need partners to uphold us in prayer, partners to support us financially, and partners to go with us to see new tribes reached in SE Asia!

Thanks for praying for us this semester. We have 120 new freshmen! This is the biggest class we’ve seen here at NTBI. Pray that God would grant us wisdom as we counsel and disciple these students, and that He would continue to meet our needs so that we would be fully attentive to the needs of our students.