an outreach with bones!

This week the Higaunon church is hosting a seminar for the Bible teachers. They have come from several outreach villages.

This picture has several stories behind it that we want to share with you.

Starting from the right –

Langan came here in the late 80’s because he had heard that the “message of life” had come to our village. He wanted to be taught so he could be saved and take the message back to his village so that others could hear and be saved. It happened just the way he wanted (and more so since he married Iyi, our neighbor’s daughter). Today there is a church in their village with about 100 men women and children in regular attendance. Langan and Iyi sat on our porch yesterday sharing how God has blessed the ministry. Unbelievers in their village are surprised at how well things are going for them, especially since they don’t get a salary; they live on the little the church gives them and what they get selling produce from their garden.

Seated between Langan and Iyi is their youngest, Dabid. He will be 8 years old soon. He is severely mentally disabled and only recently started walking. Iyi shared that Dabid is such a blessing to their family. Not pictured here is another daughter and two teenage sons, one who is graduating from high school. They praise the Lord that people in the community look on them in wonder and ask, “how do you do it? Having a son who is disabled and pay all the expenses of having two sons in high school?” They give all the glory to God. Mi-mì is seated next. She is a big help taking care of Dabid. She is very sweet!

Remaining are the two guys on the left. Ilaw is one of several that Langan is training. There are 4 villages they are reaching out to with the gospel. Langan shared that they are teaching about 200 people and Ilaw is helping.

We visited Langan and Iyi a number of years ago. We’ll never forget them pointing out across the valley to a where a group were following the dictates of a witch doctor. Langan told us, “They gather the bones of their dead in anticipation of a resurrection.” At that time, they were not interested in the teaching. Today, however, there are 15 listening and Jumal (with the cloth on his head) is one of them. He is saved and has been listening to the teaching for 6 months; previous to that he was living in the jungle as part of the insurgency group. Praise God for his desire to be used of the Lord.

New Testaments

At the end of this week when the Bible teachers head home, they’ll each be taking Bibles back with them for distribution. The Lord provided a shrink-wrap machine so each New Testament can be individually wrapped until purchased. Pray with us that each of the believers will see it a priority to purchase a New Testament.

Thank you for your prayers and support.

Secure in Christ’s love,

Lance & Laura