May 2018 Update

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Spring Wedding

In March we enjoyed a 3-week whirlwind trip from PNG to California and back again. The reason for the trip was to attend the wedding of our son, Simon to Chandler Noe. It was a beautiful outdoor celebration. It was a bit chilly but thankfully it didn’t rain, and it turned out to be a very special day for everyone. Our thanks to those who helped us with our travel expenses. Click here for More Wedding Photos

 

 

 

 

Translation Checking

After returning from the wedding we immediately began another translation check. This time we asked Ellen and her 14-year-old daughter Olivia to help. Ellen has done these checks in the past for other books we have already finished but this was all new for Olivia. It has been so encouraging to see men, women and children all pulling together to help complete the translation of God’s Word into Simbari. It was great to confirm that the translation is communicating well so that even young teens can clearly understand it’s message.

We are excited by what God is doing in the Simbari churches.

Simbari Church Growth – 4 things happening

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1. Even though some folks have left the tribe to look for work in towns, the church has continued to grow as more people have recently trusted in Christ.
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2. There is a growing interest in the Simbari Bible translation as it nears completion, so another literacy class was started which quickly filled up and is going well
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3. Another activity taking place in homes is what they call “Read Read” meetings. These are gatherings where everyone takes a turn reading from a portion of the Bible translation. This allows God’s Spirit to teach them directly from the Bible while at the same time reinforcing their literacy skills. People who haven’t been reading have been asking to be involved and others who were slow readers are practicing more in their own homes to increase their reading speed. It is helping to make the reading of God’s Word more of a regular part of their home activities.
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4. Bible courses being taught about 4 nights a week with the meetings rotating between different homes. The Simbari believers are talking about how bringing the teaching of God’s Word into their homes has been very important for them. They are enjoying it so much that they say it is like they are “swimming around in a pool of truth and don’t want to get out.” Just yesterday the church was able to begin a second outreach in another village with 9 people attending. Please keep praying for the Simbari church growth and maturity!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coming up

We are getting ready for final translation checks of Matthew and Luke in July. This is over 2000 verses, so it is a lot of material. Please pray for wisdom and also for the Simbari translation helpers to do well with the check.

Thank You

Thanks for standing with us in prayer. We hope you are encouraged by what God is doing among the Simbari!