Joy

This last week we finished the evangelistic lessons with 3 groups of Patpatar people who have been studying through God’s Word. At the conclusion, several of the men and women shared of their new found understanding and belief. One of the men in the village that I call grandpa who had just sat quietly in the background during the months of teaching spoke up and summarized all the lessons in less than a minute.

He explained, “This teaching through God’s Talk has led me to praise. It has led me to God’s Son. God made Adam and Eve in the garden and restricted them from the fruit. When they sinned a new road was needed to get to God. A new road was needed and God promised it, but it wasn’t completed then. That road is this that we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We believe and know that we are not good. I am not a righteous man. But if we know this and believe in Him, God will make us new again. That is enough and I will finish my talk at that.”

He had finished speaking, but the smile on his face remained. When we got together on Wednesday to eat together another older man stated his joy like this. “When you wake up in the morning, you can look out on the ocean and see dolphins jumping in the water. That is like the joy that I have. I have joy jumping up and down because of the teaching from God’s Word. It is clear to me and the truth has replaced what I used to believe.”

As Lori sat with one of the ladies who gave a clear testimony of her faith in Christ’s work on the cross, she couldn’t help but see the joy and excitement in the life of her new sister in Christ. The excitement was not limited to the Patpatar. I was overjoyed to see how the growth of young Christians who had gotten saved the first time we had taught and were now involved in helping me teach these 3 groups. As I wandered among all clusters of people, I overheard three of these men reiterating the Good News of the Gospel and explaining the truths of salvation.

Thank you so much for praying for the Patpatar and their salvation. Please continue to pray as some of them who have heard, but have not yet placed their trust in Christ. Also pray for those who have become Christians but their spouse and children have not yet heard and understood the truth. Pray also for situations that are occurring to hinder the work God is doing here. Last week one of the new believers was falsely accused of working poison on a lady in the village and was beat up for it. This coming week, I am being summoned to appear at a village meeting to answer questions by some who are opposed to the teaching and the work we are doing.

We praise the Lord for the new brothers and sisters in Christ and pray that more will be added. Pray for these new Christians and for their growth as we continue to teach them through God’s Word.

With joy, Aaron

Fact – Many of those who got saved had practiced a mix of traditional beliefs and religious beliefs. Now some are wanting to go let people know about the lies and deception from the sorcery, magic, and spirits. Others who had preached and led religious meetings are wanting to go apologize for misguiding and misinterpreting God’s Word.