Too Many Transitions

As you know, we’ve been in a constant state of transition since May! Since then, we have been to Maine, Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri, back to Kansas, on to Cairns, Australia, to Goroka, PNG, then into Dinangat for 2 weeks, back out to Goroka, and now we are finally settled back in Dinangat. Half of us, that is.

Jordan and Judah seem to be doing fantastic, situated at the Numonohi Christian Academy dorm. They’ve both made the high school boys’ volleyball team and will be competing in tournaments throughout the term. They’ve also been enjoying tubing on the river, campouts up in the hills beyond the school property, and catching rides on 4-wheelers whenever they can. Yeah, life is pretty rough! Of course, there is lots of homework as well, but the communication has been very positive so far. So while we ache with missing them, we feel like they are in a great place.

In Dinangat, it seems like the majority of the church is doing well, staying faithful and eagerly reviewing through Colossians right now. While we were in the states, 2 of the Bible teachers were appointed as elders, and we’ve loved watching them functioning in their calling, serving the Lord with their whole hearts even though the cost is great sometimes.
However, there are some things that the Dinangat church really needs you to pray about. Recently, in the outreach village T, a religious cult came in and persuaded many of the believers to leave the church. This has been a heart breaking couple of weeks as Satan has deceived so many. Basically, the heresy that came in is the teaching that if you get re-baptized and come out of the water speaking in tongues, if you follow the Old Testament laws, dress a certain way and repeat certain words whenever you sin (and a bunch of other rules), then God will give you all the material blessings you desire. Forget that we live in a sin-cursed world of sickness and death, apparently you can manipulate God into doing what you want and you’ll never have to face another trial as long as you live. Obviously, this doctrine will not hold up, and we are just baffled as to how these believers were side-swiped with such nonsense. But please pray for wisdom as our elders seek to encourage those who have stood strong (against very influential people, praise the Lord for them!) and give truth with grace to those who are on the fence. This has rocked the church, but we know the Lord is able to work all things together good. We are trusting that Truth will reign and that our dear friends will be set free from the lies that have infiltrated their village!
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

• Praises and Prayer Requests:
  Praise Him that the boys are adjusting well to their new life, and that Alayna is also doing well with home schooling and living apart from her brothers and friends.
• Praise Him for several in the outreach village who have stood firm against false teaching.
• Please PRAY for our boys, that they would lean hard on the Lord and grow in their walks with Him.
• Please PRAY that those who have walked away would allow the TRUTH to set them free!
• Please PRAY that we would quickly re-acclimate to the language and culture so that we can get back into translation, literacy, etc.
• Please PRAY that we would keep our eyes focused on the goodness of the Lord, being isolated from family and coworkers can be discouraging and lonely at times!