Burdett Holiday Greetings!

It is so good to be back in the Dom ministering among His people. Time is spending its way past us as it always does and even though it seems like we just got here two months have come and gone already. It took a while to set up our home and ministry; unpacking, cleaning, dealing with utility issues etc. Jim’s office had been infested with rodents and was quite a mess. All that is behind us and we are back in the saddle again.

The Dom New Testament has gone over very well. It was such a blessing last Sunday to hear and watch two of our believers stand up and read from their Dom New Testaments sharing verses from their own devotions. We have been waiting for this day to come for over three decades. Praise God.

Judy has started literacy classes again and so far there is good attendance including several new Christians from two outreach areas. One of these Gospel outreaches is nearly two hours walk away from here over the mountain. Yet some of these new Christians are willing to come everyday to learn how to read God’s Word in their own language. We are hoping and praying that many more will come, both believer and non-believer, to literacy classes. All this keeps Judy very busy with printing that has to be done and prep work for each class. Pray that the 19 students will continue and not give up.

Jim is going through all the Bible lessons revising and improving. He and our Dom brother in Christ, Gena, have been going out showing the Dom New Testament to people in the surrounding villages, encouraging them to come and learn to read. As would be expected some show interest and others do not. However we have just gotten started and we are trusting the Lord to use His Word and Spirit to bring about great things here in the Dom. In the near future we will hold weekday Bible studies again for both men and woman. We are also hoping and praying for more invitations to go and teach in people’s homes. We can’t do this without being invited so please pray with us.

Our coworkers, Gerolf and Mailis Wuests, currently back in their home countries of Germany and Estonia, are greatly missed. We are eagerly looking forward to their return next year.

As we have shared previously there was a 6 month drought this year that dried up gardens and caused a serious food shortage not only for the Dom people but across much of the country. Even though the rains have come again and people are planting new gardens it will be several months before they are ready to harvest. In the meantime the people are struggling to eat. We want to thank all of you who have generously contributed to our food relief efforts. Last week, despite our pickup truck giving us problems, we were able to haul in one ton of rice and distribute it to our local Dom people both believers, non-believers and those of other religious denominations. It took two trips to our closest town to bring it all in. We are hoping, God willing, to get the mechanical issues with our truck resolved so that we can continue to provide food relief as long as He provides means to do so through His people. Additionally our own supplies including fuel are beginning to run low so repairing the truck is essential for all concerned. Please pray with us in this regard.

The holidays are especially hard being away from family. We have finally heard about Ilai through a friend and he is ok but has found it hard not being able to call us every week like he did when we were home. There still maybe a way for him to call, pray with us that this works out. Brian, thankfully has another job with better pay and is enjoying it more than his last job. It is roofing so with winter coming up it will be cold. Darren and Katie continue with their studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky. Heather is getting set up in an apartment. Still needs more work hours so appreciate prayer that she can get a full time job.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of the Dom work. Have a blessed Holiday Season as we celebrate the birth of our Savior in a special way. Happy Holidays!

Jim and Judy Burdett

Dom Tribe (dome), Papua New Guinea

Partners with Gerolf and Mailis Wuest