Our former partners, Trevor and Judy, came to visit us this week. They told us that a friend of their’s in New Zealand, who is a builder, is interested in coming to repair our roof and perhaps help with other repairs and projects on our house which can’t be done by the Manubu’ without Gene’s constant supervision. There is a possibility of some others coming with him so perhaps as many as four total. That is all we know about it so far. We have suggested that mid May would be a good time to come as it would give us time to get materials together, and it would be dry season so easier to work. Please PRAY that this would all come together, as the Lord wills.
We’ve been working on final revision of Manubu’ Bible lessons, but it has been slow going as Gene has had to spend a lot of time overseeing workers. To get to our airstrip with out truck we have to ford a stream near our village. It washed out and took a crew of Manubu’ guys a number of days to fix it with rocks they hauled from a river on the other side of the village using a water buffalo and a cart. Gene had to keep running back and forth between working on lesson revision and instructing the workers. We also have to ford a river to get to our airstrip. The road going up out of the river washed out so he had to oversee repair of that also. Making concrete block to build a store house for the Manubu’ New Testaments was another project to oversee. And then there have been hours spent planning materials for roof repairs and other house repairs and improvements.
And those are just some of the jobs that have slowed up the lesson revision process. It is difficult to revise lessons when concentration is constantly being broken by these other things. We had hoped to finish the revision in about a month’s time so Carol could begin printing the approximately 1,500 bible lesson books on our laser printer, but it looks like it may be three to six months before the revisions are finished.
As we get older, we can get anxious about time slipping away when there is so much yet to be done in preparing teaching materials for the Manubu’ churches. But, God has given us peace about this situation. All that has happened and is happening that slows down the process of preparing teaching materials He has allowed for His good purposes in our lives.
Later today some of the Manubu’ Bible teachers will be going by motorcycle to the rubber tree nursery in the lowlands to make final payment for seedlings and arrange for the nursery to deliver the 800 seedlings to a town that is about two hours from our village. Then hired motorcycles (skylabs – you know what they are if you have seen our Powerpoint presentation) will bring them the rest of the way through all the mud holes and washouts. It will take about seven motorcycle loads to do that. Please PRAY that the owner of the nursery will be there so that they can get the seedlings and for safe travel for the guys going and for the seedlings. And, that the seedling will take hold and grow and not be harmed by animals.
We praise the Lord for His provision so that we can continue on here in our jungle village where we have ready access to our translation helpers. The Lord has provided special gifts of funds to purchase our satellite internet system, most of the funds for purchasing new solar panels, charge regulator and batteries for our electric system, and a large percent of the funds needed for repair and improvements to our house.
Just today we received an email listing gifts to the special Manubu’ project fund from seven different families and individuals. Some is for Manubu’ projects in general, some specified for purchase of seeds. PTL.
Thanks to all who pray and all who give so that we can continue to minister to the Manubu’ people.