“How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith. May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen” 1 Thess. 3:9-13
This week we received an e-mail with some refreshing news about the Simbari church from some friends who work at one of our support centers in PNG. They were finally able to made radio contact with Rison, one of the Bible teachers, and he gave them some news to pass on to our team.
It brought tears of joy to hear that the baby boy Shari had delivered a few days before we left the village is healthy and eating solid food now. (read about the baby) However, we were even more overjoyed to hear that the Simbari church is continuing to grow and thrive in our absence.
They have been going through the Creation to Christ lessons on Sundays since there are a lot of new people coming who have not yet heard these foundational Bible lessons which are so vital. Some are even making the rugged hike over from another village in order to hear the lessons.
A group of the believers are also getting together on Wednesday mornings to read some of the Bible portions together for extra reading practice and encouragement.
Thank you for continuing to partner with us in prayer for our brothers and sisters in PNG!
Home assignment is an opportunity to share about what God is doing among the Simbari. We had many opportunities to do just that during a recent trip around the USA. Now that we’re back in California we’re looking forward to many more opportunities to share. It’s also a time to catch up with family and friends and be refreshed in the Word and fellowship. David has been attending a weekly missions class at church and it has been extra special for him to have his two sisters attend the same class. He is also helping out with Awana and keeping busy with many other projects. Shari keeps busy with home-schooling Jason in 7th grade, attending a Bible study, being a mentor mom for MOPS, singing with the choir, etc. We are also catching up on some much needed medical and dental work after being overseas for the last 5 years. Shari had her gallbladder removed recently and is recovering well. Thanks for praying.
Esther recently moved to the San Diego area. Please pray that the Lord would provide a car and a job for her. We are really enjoying having Simon at home with us this year and it has been good to see him interact with his younger brother after not being together these last three years. Please pray for Simon as he graduates from college in December and begins his post-grad credentialing. Rachel is enjoying Bible College in Wisconsin. Please pray about her job situation because she hasn’t been getting enough hours lately to be able to pay her monthly school bills. Jason is homeschooling for 7th grade and enjoys hanging out with his brother and cousins.
Thanks for your prayers for us and for the Simbari church!
David & Shari