Ostman Update…

Hebrews 4:12(NKJV) For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

OUR (UN) CHRISTMAS    Since Christmas has come and gone and we’re half way through January, people have asked us how it was having Christmas in our new house. Although we are really enjoying our home and the space it provides to work on Scripture translation, this Christmas was the most un-Christmas we’ve ever had. There were several deaths of people close to us, one being Laura’s niece’s husband who was killed in a fuel tanker explosion December 19th. We were at Dan’s memorial service two days before Christmas. As sad as that was, the Word of God is proving itself to be powerful in the lives of this family. Please pray for them as they grieve

TRANSLATION Due to the accident, the rough draft of Jeremiah wasn’t completed before Christmas as we had hoped but it has been completed. We are now preparing Leviticus for its final check. The Higaunon are looking forward to having more scripture in their language. Please pray that they would continue to allow the power of the Word to impact their lives.

FLORIDA We drove to Florida last week for two workshops that we signed up for earlier last year. We thought since we’re making the trip, we might as well have our annual physicals and see our Florida chiropractor again. Praise the Lord all that is done; we were both given a clean bill of health and Lance’s therapy seems to be helping his back.

The workshops are next week, Monday through Friday. Please pray that we will learn all that God has for us. Lord willing we leave Florida on the 25th, traveling to see some friends and family on our trip home. We should be back home in time for two meetings scheduled in Oklahoma in early February.

PRAYER REQUESTS We leave for the Philippines in about six weeks. Here are some specific prayer requests:

1.) Safety as we travel both to the Philippines and then on to our village.

2.) For the aviation program. We normally fly in and out of the village but at the moment, it’s looking like we will be hiking into the village in early March. NTM Aviation is hoping to have a helicopter in use for us soon but perhaps not in time for our arrival. Please pray for all the details to be worked out for that. (Click here to view our flight into the village.)

3.) We would really like to visit our daughter and family in East Asia while we’re on that side of the world. We are praying for the finances for this. Now would be the time to order our visas. Click here if you want to donate towards this (or any other aspect of our ministry).

4.) There are two SYIS workshops scheduled for us to help facilitate this year. One in June in Manila and one in August in Kansas City. Please pray for the right participants.

Thank you for your continual partnership with us in prayer and finances. We praise God for you!

Secure in Christ’s love,

Lance & Laura