I tried it the other day. I asked my princess enthusiast girls if they wanted to hear a story. With eager anticipation they both agreed. I began the story not with the traditional, “Once upon a time,” but rather cut straight to the conclusion. I told them that the prince came just in time to save the princess from her terrible situation. He took her to the king who gladly welcomed her into the kingdom. Upon the conclusion, my 5 year old Sierra, asked, “What happened next?” I told her that was the end and asked them if they liked the story. Afraid to disappoint me they hesitated, but finally admitted they didn’t really like the story. They didn’t fully understand. The beginning of the story was missing. They wanted to know more about the king and the prince and the princess.
Though a very weak comparison, how much more important is it when we communicate the story of the King of kings, the Savior who came as the deliverer and we as people lost in the misery of sin and our situation. So where do we begin to tell the story? Where do we start when we teach the Patpatar people?
In a tribe where traditional and animistic beliefs are strong and only partial truths about God and the Bible are known it is important to lay good foundations of the truth of God’s Word. How much we want them to clearly understand the saving Gospel and why they need a Savior. As we prepare to teach the Patpatar people, we are going to start “In the beginning,” which just happens to be the beginning of the Bible.
Please pray for Aaron and Butch as they write lessons and prepare the materials and Scriptures to teach the Patpatar people the whole story. Pray also for those Patpatar helpers who are hearing the lessons and helping us communicate the truths clearly.
Because we can live “happily ever after,”
Aaron, Lori, Avalon, Sierra and Kylee
Aaron and Lori Luse
Missionaries with New Tribes Mission
Among the Patpatar in Papua New Guinea
www.tribalmissions.com
www.ntm.org/aaron_luse