Dad's Office at Hunttings

I have recently returned from a trip to Florida to help my Dad move in with my sister and brother-in law (Dan and Debbie Huntting). I also needed to help him dispose of all his other belongings and all household furnishings, so that we can rent the house. It was definitely a very busy the days. The hard thing was disposing of all the many items that held many memories for Dad. He found it difficult to decide what to do with some things, so I took over that responsibility. He took all the things that he wanted over at Dan and Deb’s, and then I disposed of the rest. Some things the family wanted. Other things I took to the NTM Mission Barrel at the Home Office. Other things we took to Good Will and still other thing we put into the trash. We put a few things on the street to be taken by anyone that wanted them, but that wasn’t very much.

 You may wonder what caused this change to take place for my Dad. Well, it started what he got sick with a flu sometime back. He became very weak and one day when Debbie went over to his house, to take him some food that she has prepared for him, she checked his refrigerator and freezer and realized that he had not been eating much of the food that she had been sending home with him. She also noticed that his coloring was not good—he looked gray. In talking to him she realized that he felt real weak and was even depressed. Naturally this concerned her and she invited him to go home with her until he got to feeling better. Well, to make a long story short, he got over the flu and three weeks later he still hadn’t moved back home. I talked to him various time by phone and he told me that Deb and Dan had invited him to move in with them. Each time I talked to him I could sense that he kind of liked living with them and having Debbie fix his meals or leave them ready for him to heat in the microwave oven when she had to be gone.

We appreciate Dan and Debbie inviting him to move in with them.  We realize that he now needs to be with one of us. He shouldn’t be living alone any longer. Now he has those things that he needs and some of those things that he wants to have around him, but he doesn’t have a whole household to be concerned with. Both Hunttings and Dad will have some adjustments to make, but I’m thankful that he can be with them. Thank you for your prayers

Some of Our Latin Team

Hello Dear Friends,

In recent days, we are witnessing the participation of many churches and Christians in the objective of communicating the gospel to those that haven’t heard. I just returned from a trip to a country where representatives from 26 churches held a missions conference to understand better how to establish churches among the indigenous people in their country and round the world.

Up until recently they had left this task to the foreign mission agencies. However, now they realize that the Great Commission” was given by Jesus to the church and they are aggressively engaging.

Each morning we listened to tribal church leaders reporting about the expansion of the church in their respective language group. They are reaching out establishing churches in other villages. I taught a session each day on the values we must have if we are to accomplish what God has given us to do.

Another person highlighted the necessity of learning the culture and language of the people with whom we work, in order that effective communication takes place. He used many examples from the culture of the people with whom he works to contrast the stark differences in the way we interpret the world around us and the ways we relate. Isn’t it a great joy to be part of this process?

We are witnesses to the fact that churches around the world are obeying the commandment of Jesus to “God into all the world…” This includes the tribal churches that we, including you, have been involved in establishing. We are living in exciting days!

Faith and I want to thank you for your participation with us, in this great privilege. Your financial support is a wonderful blessing to us and we could not be doing what we are without you!

As I sat and visited with these believers from several tribal groups and visited with Pastors and leaders from many churches in that country, I saw a more complete representation of the “Church, the body of Christ.” I wish that you could have been there with us!!!

Faith’s Corner

Healing is taking place. We’re happy that the pain is more controllable. Physical therapy is helping and she’s gaining strength. The swallowing has improved and also the strength of her voice. Thank you so much for praying for us. Little-by-little she is doing more.

Rejoicing in What He is Doing!
Paul and Faith Wyma

Faith slept better last night. Her coloring is much better – her pain level still quite high – thank the Lord for medication that helps in this area.

Right after her surgery we thought that she could swallow, but she couldn’t. Since then we found that she can’t. Please pray that she will be able to do so by Monday morning. If she can’t swallow by Monday, the doctor will put in a "tummy tube" so she can take nourishment.

Words cannot express enough how much we have appreciated your prayers for her – thank you! She has said many times that it is the Lord that has given her the grace to even go through surgery again.

Thanks too for the MANY, MANY notes that we have received from you – the body of Christ is so amazing – not only has it encouraged us – but it has been a great encouragement to Faith. Kathleen and I have read these to her – it makes her weep for the outpouring of such love and prayer for her. Thank you each one!!!

Not sure yet when we will be able to take her home – next week sometime.

Much love and blessings, Under His Wings,

Paul & Faith, Todd & Chelle, Matt & Starr

Faith and I want to thank you for praying for us regarding Faith’s surgery today. After working on her neck for about 6 hours, the doctor let us know that he was able to stabilize and repair her vertebrae through the front (the throat area). Previously, He was planning to put rods in the back of her neck as part of this procedure. He chose not to do this and is trusting that what he’s done will fix the pain, numbness, shocks, weakness and alignment. He put in two plates, fusing six vertebrae. We thank God that this surgery is over! He told us that the recuperation time will be considerably shorter. She will heal faster since he didn’t need to open up the back of her neck. He said that her bones are soft so she will need to wear a neck brace for a couple of months. She has been moved from ICU to Step-Down ICU, where she will spend the night. The length of time she will need to be in the Step-down ICU Depends on how quickly she stabilizes. Another point for praise is the fact that she can talk, however weakly, and swallow although with considerable pain. We are so thankful for the fact that Faith’s sister, Kathleen Rasmussen, is here and so is our daughter, Starr. Starr has been recuperating from bronchitis in El Paso for almost a week and as she was feeling better, so called to see if she could be of any help. I assured her that if she could come; her mother and I would be most delighted!!! She needs to be out of the pressures of living in the tribe for a time, so we all see this as another part of God’s amazing love to allow us to be together at this important time. I have found having Starr and Kathleen being here to be a tremendous help to me emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Todd and Chelle are hoping to come and visit tomorrow. Thank You for your prayers and love! Resting In His Grace, Paul for Faith too

What is more amazing is that prior to the literacy program and the gospel presentation in 2007, they had been illiterate and in complete spiritual darkness. Because their language had never been written down before, they had been trapped in their tribal superstitions and were ignorant of the message God had passed down for them in the Bible concerning the gospel.

In 2004, as we moved into the village and began the process of language learning we were so thankful for training we received through the NTM training centers. In this village, there was no dictionary to turn to. The people couldnʼt tutor us as they themselves were unaware of the patterns in grammar and phonetics that made up their every day way of communicating. Even the way they thought and interpreted life was completely foreign to us. We were completely dependent upon the Lord to open our minds and show us how to proceed.

M. David Sills in his book, The Missionary Call, he quotes Ralph D. Winter, “God cannot lead you on the basis of facts that you do not have.” We saw this to be so true as we began the process of trying to understand the culture and language. The Lord did not give us ideas and plans from thin air or mystically come and inspire us. The Lord used our minds and the time we invested into being learners throughout the training as the substance to work with as he guided us through the Holy Spirit to do the work that He had sent us there to do.

Everything we learned in the training was crucial. All the little sounds we were hearing in the tribal language needed to be analyzed and written down into understandable symbols. The grammar structure also had to be analyzed so we could understand what was being communicated. When it came time to write an alphabet, we were able to use the training in forming new orthographies that we had received. It was not easy, but again, the Lord prepared us in advance with the knowledge required and then brought all the information back to the forefront of our minds when we needed it.

Sometimes we get so busy in what we are doing that we forget to stop and look back and remember how the Lord has worked in our lives to equip us for the work He is doing through us. In light of that, we want to stop and thank the Lord for the great cross-cultural mission training we received through New Tribes Mission. We want to especially thank the staff that works at the training centers for the time they give to equip new generations of missionaries and for passing on their life stories and examples to those of us who are able to take and apply those principles to our own new works.

We are also thankful for those who prayerfully and financially support these trainers and teachers as they work stateside. Their jobs may not be taking place on foreign soil, but they are no less impacting the world of tribal missions as their thoughts and ideas are spread throughout the world as they are implemented by the NTM students in many countries.The Lord is truly using them to give missionaries the tools they need to take the gospel to the ends of the earth.

-Written by Bill and Kelley Housley, serving with NTM in Papua New Guinea.
You can receive their updates by requesting them at pilgrimspa@aol.com.

Psalm 71 — is a wonderful reminder and pretty well describes our hearts as we make this move. Verses 17 through 19 are ….

O God, thou hast taught me from my youth:

and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works.

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not;

until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation,

and thy power to every one that is to come.

Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things:

O God, who is like unto thee!

On the 15th of this month I’ll find out if the bone fusion in my wrist is sufficient for surgery to remove the plate. The timing of our move North all depends when this can take place. I will probably wait to have my neck surgery until after we move up there. We are looking into doctors at the University of Columbia up in Columbia, MO. Evidently, the medical facilities there are excellent. We are confident that we’ll find good help for Paul also. And so — the Wyma-saga continues! Can we please just go back to living in the jungle with no electricity — naked Indians — and hours of travel over muddy roads?!J (That almost sounds like a piece of cakeJ). No — we are where we are — and God is leading, directing and giving grace each step of the way!

Thank you for praying for us!!

Paul and Faith

Your heart-warming emails are truly being used by God to encourage both Faith and me. We are seeing answers to your prayers. The verse found in Jer. 33:3 says, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." You have "called upon God" and He is answering.

We asked you to pray about the pain that Faith is experiencing, wisdom to know which surgery option to go with and which to do first, the neck or the wrist, and Gods sustaining grace for both Faith and me.

You "called" and this is how God is answering.

Faith is now on a better pain medication regimen that is providing relief from the intense pain that she was experiencing. This one does not have the negative side effects that the other had. (PTL) Wow! this is a tremendous relief for both of us and we recognize that God is behind this discovery.
Yesterday we visited with the doctor that did both of her back surgeries in the past. He’s the one that will do her neck surgery as well. As we watched him carefully looking over the MRI and EMG results and X-rays and then examined Faith’s neck and range of movement, we were keenly aware that he was not "on his own" as he was deciding what needed to be done and when. He deliberated long and thoughtfully. While he was intently looking at the X-rays Faith leaned over to me and whispered, "This is the wisdom we’ve all been praying about." I nodded in affirmation. He then informed us that the surgery that Faith needs is very extensive and is basically two surgical procedures in one. IThey will have to go in the front — turn her over and then place the rods in the back of the neck. These surgeries will likely take six months to heal (much like her previous two back surgeries) and he recommended that we get the wrist surgery done first, since she will probably recuperate faster from that and will get some relief sooner. Both Faith and I are accepting this recommendation as God’s nod of approval. Thank you!
Faith is now scheduled to have "total wrist FUSION" ( NOT wrist replacement) for the 8th of August. We were hoping that she could have it sooner, but this is the first date open. We are finding the adjustments to the limited use that she has of her hands, to be manageable. God is giving both of us increasing understanding for one another. I want to ask you to pray for me that I will be increasingly "tender" with my precious wife in proportion to her needs. I love her deeply.
At this time, we do not know when she will have the neck surgery. It will likely be about 8 weeks after the wrist surgery. Much depends on her physical condition after the wrist operation —- healing time and physical strength.
So, you have called — THANK YOU — He has answered — THANK YOU GOD — and He is showing us Great and Mighty things. Praise Him!!!

Together In His Service,

Paul and Faith

PS — God blessed us by allowing our daughter’s two sons, JJ and Caleb, to spend a week with us before Matt and Starr (Arnold — missionaries in Mexico) arrived to spend another week with us. It was a pure JOY to have them here. (Even though they were physicially challenging days). Starr and Matt are trying to work out the details for Starr to come to help, hopefully, at the time of the wrist surgery! What a blessing!

Praise the Lord — the Ayore people have heard the wonderful Christmas message and know that Christ came to earth to bring them salvation. That little boy is now in his forties! He can read God’s Word in his own language, and he can tell his own children and grandchildren about the wonderful Christmas story.

As I write you — our daughter Starr (a missionary in Mexico) instant messaged me asking us to pray for Jesus, an elderly Tepehuan man. Matt is sharing the story of Jesus with him, leading up to the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior. So we are praying that Jesus’ spiritual eyes and ears will understand this wonderful truth. Because his parents named him Jesus — he believes that this Jesus is his patron saint! So, he will brew up a big pot of corn liquor and many friends and family will come on Dec. 25th to celebrate his special saint’s day. All these years Jesus has never understood the Christmas story, He has never heard it clearly explained in his own language. Pray with us please that this dear little old man will come to know Jesus as his personal Savior — not just his special saint.

As you make those cookies this year and celebrate the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, please be encouraged with the part you are playing to spread the Gospel around the world! Little boys with big brown eyes and old men with wizened, wrinkled faces are hearing the Gospel for the first time. NINE new tribes were entered by NTM missionaries this year and NINE tribal groups heard the precious story of Jesus for the very first time in their own language in this year of 2006.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear friends! How we praise the Lord for you! And let’s be encouraged for what GOD is going to do through our joint efforts in this new year. THANK YOU for your prayers and financial support!