After helping me fine tune a Bible lesson last week one of the Patpatar men, Tokiung, pulled me aside and started to talk to me.
The lesson I had been working on with them was of the Israelites during their time as slaves in Egypt. As I began to set the scene for the coming plagues that God sent on the Egyptians, I told them that the Egyptians had many gods. They had a god of the Nile, a sun god, a fertility god, a god of the dessert and more. I went on to explain that these Egyptian gods were false and that the power displayed by Jehovah, the self-existing “I AM” God during the plagues invalidated their gods.
Tokiung had been coming faithfully twice a week to help me with the lessons. He is a leader in the village who has been known for his power to cause rain, thunder, and earthquakes. When he starting asking questions about when we would be teaching them God’s Word in their language I asked him to come and see what it involved. He came and had seemed very interested in the lessons, even the one about the Egyptians.
He pulled me aside and quietly but very animatedly said, “We are like those Egyptians. The people here believe in all different gods and spirits. The people here may say that they don’t believe in them, and may do religious acts for God, but they are like those Egyptians.” He went on to tell me that this teaching was very good. He told me he had heard this story before, but now it was clear in his thinking.
Pray for Tokiung who is still faithfully coming and excited about the things he is learning as he helps me. Pray for the other men who are helping as well. Pray for God to continue to prepare hearts for the coming teaching. Pray for Butch and I as we continue in curriculum development to make the Word of God clear in their language.
We have a big week coming up and we want you to be a part in praying for us. Lori is taking her 4th evaluation next week. She has already had to write up cultural conclusions and do a lot of work in preparation for this. She will be tested for 2 days to see how fluent she is in the Patpatar language. She has worked hard for years (along with all of her other duties) to know the language and culture of the people we are working with. I am proud of her and her progress. I know she would appreciate your prayers.
Hers is not the only evaluation. There are 3 couples in another tribe with another language that will be doing their 1st evaluation and 2 ladies in still another tribe and language that will be doing their 2nd evaluation. I will be traveling by boat and truck with 2 other guys to help facilitate the evaluations. I would appreciate your prayers as I travel and I know the missionaries would appreciate your prayers as they are tested.
All for Him,
Aaron