Lance and Laura Ostman Ministering to the Higaunon People of North Central Mindanao These pictures tell the story!
The Last Leg of the Journey
The “Precious Cargo” of Higaunon New Testaments arrived safely at our NTM Guest House on Tuesday this week. Later today the shipment will be put on a truck and dear friends of ours will bring the shipment TOMORROW. They plan to leave at 4 AM, (4 PM Thursday EST) and the Lord willing, they should arrive somewhere around noon.
Tags: Higaunon, New Testament, New Tribes Mission, Pray
Precious cargo!
We learned this week that our precious cargo of Higaunon New Testaments had arrived in Manila and had cleared customs. Today we heard that the shipment is already on a boat to Mindanao and should arrive in port on Monday. This is Great News as we did not expect their arrival until the first or second week of November.
Please pray with us: There is a truck available on Friday. We are praying that the shipment clears the port and is ready to load onto the truck on Thursday. If that happens, we’ll have the New Testaments here on Friday! Pray for safety for the trip over land. It will take about 6 hours to the end of the road. Then, pray for those who will be carrying the boxes from the end of the road into the village.
Thank you for praying for safety and a timely arrival.
What Grandfather told us…
Dag-ay said today, “I want to tell you what Grandfather told us.”
Grandfather was a shaman and as he got older (but mind you, not so old that he was losing his mind, he didn’t want to wait that long! He couldn’t, for his message was vitally important!) he gathered his family around him to tell us what was on his mind before he died.
Now, you need to understand that we had been searching for the path of eternal life. We were sure we’d find it through the spirits who lived in Grandfather!
His words to us that day were both disturbing and prophetic.
AWAYO – a “must see” video from NTM!
A story of a Moi man’s journey from fear to faith!
Tags: New Tribes Mission
An Apple a Day
An apple a day!
We are packed and ready to return to the village! In our boxes of supplies are enough apples for us to have one a day until we get our next supply shipment. That’s what the diet list said! We’re allowed one apple a day! Praise the Lord, Laura is feeling MUCH better!
We remember the days when an apple cost a dollar and it was a luxury. We would carefully cut it in fourths, a piece for each of us. These days, however, apples are no longer that expensive here so we’ll enjoy them.
We have to wonder though, how many people around the world don’t know what an apple is and if they did, could they afford one! Much more than that, there are many in this world who have never heard the name of Christ! The gift He brings was costly to HIM but is FREE to ALL mankind! Scripture says, “Whosoever believes in Him…” What awesome truth!
Thank you for praying for us as we get back into our routine. Please be praying for the following:
- For that precious cargo, the Higaunon New Testaments to arrive safely.
- For the Higaunon as they plan a thanksgiving celebration for their New Testaments.
- For Lance as he works on Psalms
- For Laborers, amongst the Higaunon and around the world!
Thank you to those who pray, thank you to those who give, thanks to each of you for your part in this ministry.
I’m feeling faint!
Dear Prayer Partners!
The past week plus has been quite an adventure. You know from our previous update that I was scheduled for a colonoscopy on Tuesday. I also was scheduled for my annual mammogram.
My mammogram was scheduled for 7A.M. and the colonoscopy for 9. Being prepped for the colonoscopy, I had been to the bathroom a lot (as any of you know who have gone through that – not fun!) I was having my mammogram and the technician was about to do the last x-ray when I said to her, “I feel faint!” (I had had nothing substantial to eat since the morning before!) She didn’t understand my slurred speech and I couldn’t remember the right word in her language…
The next thing I knew I was “waking up” on the floor, the poor technician was so anxious about me, “are you okay?!” She was trying to get someone to get Lance to come. When I came to after the fainting spell, they took my blood pressure and it was very low!
Well, you know what happens to your body fluids when you lose consciousness?! So there I was, with no change of clothes. After the last x-ray picture, I was taken to the ER, where I was given a hospital gown
and an IV. It was nice to rest and wait for the next procedure. A while later while holding a cup of coffee, (you know where his priorities are!) Lance was trying to help me get off the bed and he spilled his coffee down the front of his shirt and pants. We made quite the pair!! I guess he didn’t want me to feel badly about soiling my clothes, so he decided to join me!
The results of the colonoscopy were “non-specific colitis” and the doctor thinks that is from the yeast infection. Lance also has yeast (his is in his mouth) so we are both on a strict diet now –no sugar, carbs, white flour, anything with yeast etc. etc. Yes, I’m feeling faint again!!
I wonder how we are going to manage here, where there are not a lot of specialty food items available. I have the assurance from friends who have been through this that we will be fine. It is just a matter of eating wisely – mainly meats and vegetables, hardly any fruit as even natural sugar is bad for us. We can’t have white rice and the worst part is NO CHOCOLATE! (How ARE we going to live?!)
In all of this we are thankful. My tests did not reveal anything serious! We praise God for His grace. In my quite time this morning, God gave me two specific verses to encourage me. Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Isaiah 41:10 Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.
Thank you so much for praying for us! We are delaying our return to the village so I can rest and we both can adjust to this new diet. Lance does have plenty of time to work on the Psalms, so he will continue with that. We would appreciate your prayers for our healing from this yeast infection.
Secure in Christ’s love,
Laura and Lance
Tags: colonoscopy, faint, health, Lance & Laura, New Tribes Mission
Please be praying for Laura…
Lance & Laura - September 2009
We know everyone who has those extra few pounds they’ve been carrying around, especially at our age, likes to lose weight! Right?! Well, when you have rapid weight loss and your clothes start to hang off your frame without dieting, then it’s time to find out what’s going on!
We spent a number of hours in the doctor’s office the other day and again today, getting Laura checked to find out why this has happened to her. So far, we know that there’s a rather nasty yeast infection and that could be what is causing the weight loss. No, we don’t recommend that for those of you who want to lose weight! There’s quite a bit of pain that goes with it!
The first doctor felt something hard when palpitating her abdomen. She said, “I want you to return on Thursday and see “Doc Alan.” So, we did that and he said, “You’re so thin, what I’m feeling is bone!” He has written a prescription for the yeast and he wants her to have a colonoscopy next Tuesday just in case!
Thank you all for praying for us, we really appreciate it.
Secure in Christ’s love,
Lance & Laura
The Higaunon Church says, “Thank you!”
To our beloved siblings in Christ there in America,
How are you doing in the Lord? How is your faith in Christ? If you are wondering how we are doing here in our village, we are doing well thanks to the Lord’s love and watch care over us. He shows that same love to each one of you as well.
Now then, even though we have not met and we speak different languages, I really wanted to write to you because I know that you are the Lord’s children just like us. We are all one in Christ since we all have put our faith in his perfect blood.
Now then, the purpose of my letter is so that you know that we are really happy and thankful for your help with our Bibles. We praise the Lord for you giving of yourselves and finances to be used for God’s purpose. We are the recipients of that blessing as well as others who have yet to accept God’s Word. This is why we are so happy, especially me. I cannot thank you enough for allowing the Lord to use you in regards to our Bibles.
My siblings, we do not have anything to pay you for what you have done in the way of worldly things but there is a God who will reward you and repay you for the money you spent for God’s purpose. He will exchange that with heavenly wealth which is stored in heaven.
God is trustworthy to fulfill his promise that he gave to his children. However we can help you by praying for you. We pray that God will continue to watch over you and that He will bless you with the things you need.
Now then, siblings in the Lord, we also ask you to help us by praying for us. Please pray for us that God’s purpose will continue to be fulfilled that we will continue to minister his word to others.
As for us, we will persevere in our praying for you all.
That is all I have to say,
My name is Sonà and I’m one of the church leaders here amongst the Higaunon. My wife is Yanit and we have 5 children.
Tags: church growth, Higaunon, New Testament, Philippines, Prayer Request, thank you
On their way!
The boxes have been picked up!
Forex is a company we have used on a number of occasions.
They deliver “door to door” but that doesn’t mean they’ll deliver to our door here in the village. (haha!) They usually estimate 6 weeks delivery time.
Pray with us for a speedy and safe travel.
Tags: Forex, Higaunon, New Testaments, shipping
