Literacy Graduation
In past updates we’ve mentioned how we’ve had an outreach underway since August down at another village in the community school. Bible and literacy was taught each day to the 7th and 8th graders. The community just had the commencement for the 8th graders and we were invited to present certificates to the literacy students as part of the ceremonies. The ceremony began at about 8:30 A.M. with the flag-raising and the students singing the national anthem. After that us missionaries as well as some other speakers were escorted by some students to a decorated platform. The ones escorting us were all dressed up with feathers, grass skirts and body paint and chanting as they went along. After the opening one of our Bible teachers named Raymond began things with a very powerful Gospel message. There were hundreds of students and parents in attendance and most of them are strongly influenced by another religious group who teach them that salvation can be gained apart from Christ through their own efforts to follow the Mosaic law. Raymond began by sharing about the fall of Adam and how all of us that descend from him are sinners as well. Then when God was preparing to deliver the Israelites from Egypt he spared His people from death at the Passover when they took refuge inside a house that had the blood of a lamb on the doorway. Then he talked about how John the Baptist had called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” He boldly shared from Colossians 2:16-17 how the Old Testament ritual laws were only a “shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.” We thank the Lord for the opportunity for so many to hear a clear presentation of the Gospel.
David also shared his salvation testimony with the students and made a comparison about how a diploma can help a person be successful in this earthly life but God’s Word is much more powerful in that it shows us the way to receive eternal life. Then he encouraged them not to forget the truths of the Gospel that they had recently been taught and told them to hold on firmly to God’s Word. Our co-worker Lori then shared about vernacular literacy and the benefit of being able to read God’s Word in their own language. Some of the speakers at the ceremony could only speak in Pidgin and their talk just didn’t compare to what our team had to share about the Gospel of Grace in their very own language. Pray that the seed of the Gospel which was planted will begin to grow in many hearts.
Literacy Leaf
The day after the ceremony we all made the grueling 4 hour hike up to our home village. Along the way we passed a house near the trail with a leaf stuck on the wall that caught Raymond’s attention. The leaf had a message to him from his wife: “Ray, I’ve put our taro shoots here for you to carry up. Greetings. your wife, Ellen”. We thought it was so cool to see them using their literacy in practical ways even if it means writing on jungle leaves.
Church Building
It’s been almost three years since we began teaching the Creation to Christ chronological Bible course to another village about an hour away from us. Our temporary meeting shelters were not working out too well so eventually the new believers from there started making the hike up to our location to attend services until we could put up a meeting house for them. The church has already sprung to life in this community and this will just be a meeting house for them but we are praying that others from that village will come to hear the Bible teaching once this building is done.
Translation Update
David has finished his preliminary draft of Ephesians and is currently finishing up the Bible lessons for the book of Romans. After the Romans lessons are complete he will finish off the first draft of Ephesians. He’s also planning on attending an advanced translation workshop in February.
It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is this coming week! We hope each of you have a wonderful day with your family and friends. Thanks so much for your continued prayers. We are thankful for each one of you.