NTM

Thank you for your continued prayers for the work here in Papua New Guinea. We recently enjoyed a weekend of “conference” with our co-workers – a weekend of teaching and recreation – a little deviation from the daily work to encourage and challenge one another. One of the things we enjoy in our meetings is to get to hear from different tribal works regarding God’s ongoing work among the people. The story of Sagilo below is from the Mengen tribal group. Her story is similar to so many that we hear. We are so thankful to be a part of helping men and women like her.

Sagilo… is a lady that has lived in constant fear of the spirits, not sleeping at night for fear of the spirits entering through the holes in her home or running for fear when one would appear to her in the bush. Well, this past week in coming back from her garden in the afternoon in order to attend the teaching, she had a spirit appear to her. As a result of hearing that God is greater than the spirits, she looked at the spirit and said, “You’re evil and from Satan. I’m going to hear God’s Word.” With hearing God’s name, the spirit disappeared. She went on to say that she is now sleeping at night without fear and that God’s Word is heating her insides as its taking root. Praise the Lord.

This week the Madak tribe heard the end of the gospel message – the message of Jesus’ atonement for us on the cross. The missionaries are very encouraged by the response of the people. They are looking forward to talking to them more one-on-one to see how God has worked in their lives.

A singing group called Point of Grace sang a song called “This Day”. The final verse shares:

We pray you will make the most of “This Day” – it soon will be over. Perhaps we can share love and share God in this day!

As our tasks of teaching missionary children continues from day to day, it can at times seem like we are doing very little to help expand the reach of the gospel in the remote tribal villages around this country. We often have to be reminded that other missionaries would not be able to serve in their ministries if a school for their children was not available. Though our position may not be “front line,” we are thankful that we can be a part of the team that makes God’s love available to so many.

Before seeing the power of the gospel in the lives of the people here, I was often guilty of a belief that it seemed like too much trouble for people from so far away to go to the expense and trouble to share with the people here. The following story shares a response from some of the believers here to that attitude!

What would you say to someone who says, “Leave them alone. They are happy the way they are.”?

Three Lamogai tribal believers faced a team of 14 Interface students in a missionary’s living room one evening. (Interface is a New Tribes Mission program that allows those interested in tribal mission work a short opportunity to learn all that is involved in sharing the gospel in unreached tribal villages.) It was a question and answer time. The team leader explained how some people in America try to convince Christians not to bother the happy-go-lucky tribal groups nestled in jungles all over the world.

It took 10 minutes for the 3 Lamogai adults to comprehend the question. Disbelief and confusion covered their faces. They couldn’t even begin to understand why someone would suggest a thing like that. Could they be hearing the question correctly? Minutes passed as the missionaries translated again and again in different ways.

Finally, the tribal Christians turned to the students.

"We lived in fear…under Satan’s control…how could anyone say ‘they are happy the way they are’?"

Over the next few days, the Interface students experienced the love, joy, generosity, and hospitality of the Lamogai believers. They left feeling like the Lamogai Christians understand in a far deeper way than westerners do, what it means to have been ‘delivered from the power of darkness into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins’ (Col.1:13-14).

This morning I read the following from a book by Andrew Murray: We might as well attempt to see without eyes, or live without breath, as believe or draw near to God or rest in His love without an all-pervading humility and lowliness of heart. As I have considered that thought I realize how much more I need to die to self to be able to draw closer to God and know His heart better. Hearing about the Lamogai has helped me understand God’s heart regarding these tribal people. He LOVES them, and he knows the fear and frustration they experience as they live from day to day removed from HIS presence. Together, you and I can be tools in HIS hands to make HIS love available to these people. Thanks for partnering with us to make this possible!

Hello – from the Land of the Unexpected!!!

We pray all of you are well after the festivities of this week! What a wonderful holiday – Thanksgiving! I think of how Paul so often introduced his letters by mentioning how thankful he was for the believers. We, too, feel that thanksgiving for you!

This morning at our church service we were able to hear from Jeremiah Markley, one of the tribal missionaries to the Dinangat tribe. Earlier in the year we all prayed for the Dinangat tribe as they heard the gospel for the first time. This morning Jeremiah was able to share with us firsthand of the incredible work that has been done in the lives of the people there. Nearly the entire village has come to know Christ – and they are eagerly seeking discipleship. The missionaries began a men’s Bible study recently, to help the men with their reading and also disciple them in the newest scripture that has been translated. After an hour of study the missionaries were closing their lesson. The men couldn’t believe it! “If that is all the time we can spend on this, we must move the study time so that we can meet for several hours!” When your soul is hungry for truth, you want to make time for it – at all costs!

Jeremiah thanked us – you and I – for being those who have supported this great work among the people in Dinangat. We have all been a part of the body that has made a difference in their lives! We are trying to get a copy of the video they created that shows part of the original teaching and testimonies of some who believed. If you would like a copy to share at a church or small group meeting sometime, please let us know. We will get one sent to you!

On Our Knees

Some of my favorite moments all week are those I spend on my knees in the early morning, allowing God to penetrate my heart and provide direction for the day. I’ve had the privilege of studying through Ephesians with a group of men. Several times we see Paul desiring that the believers could be filled to the “fullness” of Christ. God wants us to know His fullness in our lives, but we (maybe just I) allow so little of that to fill me each day. May each day challenge us to know more of His fullness for that day!!

I would ask for your prayers that I would allow God to work more in and through me. I have been very convicted recently that I can be a better friend – that I could love others better. I don’t know how it will happen, but I do pray that God can change me to be a more loving person – one who has time for others, one who cares deeply – like Jesus.
Please continue to pray for the tribal works. Works like Dinangat continue daily with discipleship. The work is hard. Most of these missionaries spend 10 or more hours daily in working with the language, translation, checking translations, discipling believers, and just taking care of the needs of the people. On top of that are just the tasks of caring for the family and growing individually. Please pray for their spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Pray that the people would become the church that God has called them to be.
Please pray for Madak and Patpatar. These two tribal groups are hearing the gospel for the first time. Please pray for the missionaries who daily strive to share God’s truth in meaningful ways to a culture and language that is alien to them. Pray for insight. Pray that the people would not be blinded by false motives, but would seek to know truth.
Thank you for your prayers for the Gass family. Jana should return this week. Please continue to pray for their healing as they deal with this change in their lives.
Please continue to pray for more workers for the field. There are many more tribes seeking missionaries and each of those will need support. Pray that God would provide a teacher for music, HS English, and HS science for our school next year. Pray that God will continue to raise up those who will commit to 24/7 job of youth ministry provided by dorm parents.

May your soul be hungry for God’s truth this week – a hunger that is not distracted by the latest Christmas ads or the busy-ness of the season – a hunger that can only be satisfied at His feet!

Partnered with you to share God’s love in PNG!!!

As many of you know, this year has brought about a change in our ministry focus. Patrick is moving to a position as elementary principal while still teaching some courses and Dawn will continue to work with homeschooling moms while also providing therapy for students with learning difficulties. The past few weeks have been very busy with preparations for these ministries. What does a principal do? Well, before these last few weeks, I wouldn’t have known how to respond. I have always appreciated the leadership and support of principals who handled the “business” side of things while I taught in my classroom. Now I am learning a little bit about their side of the educational “fence”.

These past few weeks I have been moving equipment in rooms, corresponding with parents, answering questions, listening, obtaining supplies, preparing orders, killing roaches, going to meetings, preparing handouts, and on and on and on!!! It has been a busy time, but it has been a joy to be able to serve in a role that meets the needs of so many.

These great kids are our ministry and yet – we are still church planters. You see, the church planting efforts in the tribal locations could not occur if someone was not here to provide an education for these children – the children of pilots, supply buyers, doctors, leaders, maintenance people, and so forth. Though our piece of the puzzle may not seem like a very big one, it makes it possible for so much else to occur. Your piece of the puzzle may also not seem very big – but you are also a church planter, making it possible for us and many others to minister in this far away place.

Above is a picture of the people we live and work with each day.  It includes all of the NTM teachers, pilots, mechanics, medical staff, supply buyers, finance workers, computer personnel, dorm students, maintenance people, and guest house workers and their families.  This team makes it possible for the hundreds of tribal missionaries to do their work of Bible translation and discipleship in the tribes.  They represent countries from all over the world.  These are the people you have sent us to support through the school.  As I look through the picture I don’t see any halos or distinctions that would separate these people.  They are simply believers – like you and I – who are willing to be used of God – even if it means traveling 10,000 miles from “home” to do it.  Within the next few months a large number of these faces will disappear.  Some will have finished the time they committed to serve.  Some will return to “homes” for a year of home assignment.  Some will be forced to return to live in a more modern culture due to health limitations or family needs.  Some will graduate from high school and be forced to leave the country to seek God’s new direction for their lives.  The one constant at the PNG support center is change!  Perhaps that change will include you one of these days. 

While we often ask for prayers for the missionaries in the tribal works, these missionaries also need your prayers.  While it is a blessing to work in the midst of this community, these  individuals face the same challenges, joys, hurts, and struggles that anyone faces – yet on a foreign soil amidst a culture that is not their own.   We are so thankful that God provides the needed grace and strength from day to day to keep this group going.

The one constant at Numonohi Christian Academy is the changing face of the faculty.  Of the 11 primary teachers in the high school, 7 will be leaving.  That leaves many holes to be filled.  We are so thankful for God’s faithfulness in providing willing people to come and teach.  One teacher is returning from furlough, another teacher is beginning a full-time career, two teachers are coming as associates to help meet needs.  Other holes in the staff will be met with part-time help from missionaries trying to serve in other roles.  A nice part of being a teacher here – you always know you ARE needed!

We hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas holiday!   One of my most enjoyed parts of Christmas this year was in observing our children learning about the joys of giving.  They managed to save up a little bit of money throughout the year and looked forward to getting presents for each other.  With the prices here and the limit to their “budgets”, getting gifts was challenging, but that made it that much more special.   I think I will always treasure the simple things that were given – not because of the object, but because of the heart behind the gift. 

This morning part of my devotional reading said, “live in order to please God.”  (1 Thess. 4:1)  It made me wonder if the simple “gifts” that we bring Him please Him in the way that the gifts from my own children pleased me.   Sometimes our “budgets” are slim and the “prices” are high, but we give what we are able to give, desiring to please Him.  I believe our “gifts” to Him – the time we spend, the commitment to His ways, our willingness to let go of self – I believe these abundantly please Him since He knows those gifts truly bring us the life He intended.  He knows the “price” we pay and He knows the benefits we will reap.   I pray your “gifts” to our Heavenly Father will bring you both joy in the days ahead!