On the Move!

 

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,”  2 Tim. 1:8

Teacher’s Training
Praise! We had a wonderful teacher’s training conference in early February! As a result of this course, some have said that they’re going to begin teaching Chronological Bible lessons to their loved ones who have not yet believed the Truth.  PLEASE PRAY that their words turn into action!  Meanwhile, one elderly man has already begun!  The Lord burdened Bau’s heart for a few of the elderly in our village who have continually clung to their animistic beliefs, including his own wife, and he has been faithfully teaching this small group in his home for several weeks now!  Please pray for the Lord to use this man’s faithfulness to bring these dear folks to salvation!

Post Literacy…first course, check!
Our first post literacy course has 12 students who are steadily improving in their reading skills.  Next week will be the end of the official course, although we are encouraging them to continue drilling and practicing to increase their proficiency.  We have been so encouraged by their faithfulness, and our evaluations tell us that almost every student has moved up 2-3 levels since the initial evaluations 3 months ago!  You’ll recall that we had begun a fund to build a new literacy building.  Sadly, at this time, there is no one willing and available to continue teaching this program, so for now we have had to put a stop to that project. Please pray that the Lord would fan the flame for literacy in our village!

Women’s Bible Study
The women had a great time on Good Friday “acting out” many of the scenes from the Bible the led up to the Resurrection!  What joy was mine as I watched them fully engage with me as we read verse after verse, and then acted it out with minimal props, no stage, no audience but the LORD HIMSELF, and ALL HEART!  To God be the glory!  Their love for Him, their belief in His actions on their behalf was written on their faces, in their tones and bodies through this spontaneous drama.  They are growing!  They are leading the Bible studies mostly on their own now.  Just today in our session Badoma told us the story of her oldest daughter recently giving birth.  Sadly, the baby was still-born, and the labor very nearly killed the mom as well.  Several people pushed her to use their old animistic rituals that involves ginger and a certain type of plant called yasit.  Badoma’s daughter refused, and together the family called on the name of the Lord, proclaiming that if she was going to live, it would be by the power of God alone, nothing else could help.  Praise God, she did live, and is a wonderful testimony to His goodness and strength!

Translation Status Report
Jeremiah and our co-worker Ralf continue to push ahead with the translation.  Jeremiah is tackling the Gospels and has completed Mark, the drafting of Matthew is finished and in various stages of the checking process, and he has now begun drafting Luke.  Lately, for various reasons, he has had a really hard time getting helpers for checking.  It’s frustrating when you can’t move ahead because of circumstances beyond your control.  But as always, the work is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  This is the Lord’s work, it’s His Word, and we know He will see it accomplished!  Please pray that the Lord will raise up helpers with a heart and passion to see His Word come into their language!

We are Moving!
May 17 is our official move-out date.  We will continue to translate itinerantly, making several trips back into Dinangat, while living WITH our children. We praise the Lord for the good year they’ve had and for the many wonderful people who have poured into their lives!  But since this will be Jordan’s senior year, we feel the Lord is leading us to be together to help prepare him for his next steps.   We can’t wait to be a family again!  Please pray for the Lord’s provision! This move will be expensive.  We will have flights to move some things out and house set-up costs like a washing machine, etc. (Praise the Lord, we have already been given several furniture items that we will not need to purchase!)  However, we will be living in our region’s church planting support center, away from the school and will therefore need to purchase a vehicle (about $10,000 to purchase from PNG!)  Nothing is too big for our Jehovah Jireh!

Thank you so much for standing with us!  We are privileged to be your hands and feet in PNG!