THE BURNS WANT TO SAY…
Hi! We wanted to wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! Our family was all together for Christmas except for our son, Jason, and his wife (and their little puppy, Titan). They weren’t able to fly down now, but maybe next year! Since my mom is living with us, my brother and sister and their families, plus a nephew and niece and their families came over to spend the day and celebrate with us. Actually, it was pretty warm for Christmas.
We are thankful and excited about the new year the Lord has given us! Phil hopes this new year will see his neck feeling better as he has been battling neck pain for the past few weeks. I, ( Jackie) on the other hand, had a little accident while trying to be young and playing fulbito (similar to indoor soccer) with our kids and other younger folks. I was knocked down and landed on the cement on my elbow and hip and have a few bruises and a sore arm to show for it. No broken bones, though, so that is something to be thankful for.
Our kids have really enjoyed the holidays as they have had several of their old "Bolivia school mates" around visiting family and friends in the area. It is amazing how these MK’s develop such lasting friendships! They spent days together playing soccer and fulbito, going to the beach, playing games and watching movies. Most have had to leave now but I’m sure they will remember their good times together.
Heather is still anxiously waiting to hear if she has been accepted at the University of Central Florida for this semester. If not, she will continue working and taking classes at the junior college.
Cody was disappointed to have to start school again this week, but Haley still has off until the beginning of next week. I need to prepare my lessons for the start of classes next week, as well.
My mom has been doing pretty well and we were excited to see that she missed checking into the hospital for the last couple of holidays (we had been kidding her that every time there was a holiday, she ended up in the hospital).
Now, for some MISSIONS NEWS:
- In 2003 the leaders of a small village of the Siar tribe in Papua New Guinea wrote to New Tribes Mission leaders and asked for a missionary to teach them God’s Word. Pray for Chris and Erin Lujan as they now prepare to answer the letter by moving into a Siar village and learning the culture and language so they can teach God’s Word. Pray for the Siar people who have finally received an answer to their request.
We mentioned the Tobo tribe of Papua New Guinea in our last two prayer letters. Here is the continuing story of the Tobo tribe:
Tignon, the first Tobo believer, has made a decision. "I have everything I ever wanted or needed because Jesus washed my sins away," he replied when he was approached by leaders of a group who believe material things will magically appear if they belong to a certain society. Tignon continues to help missionary Jason Knapp translate God’s Word into the Tobo language.
Many Tobos have stopped coming to the daily evangelistic Bible lessons. They joined the group which is looking for riches to magically appear. The missionaries continue to teach every day, though they are heartbroken that the people are turning away from listening to God’s Word because they desire to receive material goods.
Jason wrote in a recent letter, "The hearts of the Tobo people are so hard, only the Holy Spirit can penetrate them, Lord, please work a miracle here." Pray that the Tobo people will desire God’s Word more than chasing after material things. Pray for Jason and Chad as they continue to teach the evangelistic Bible lessons to those who will listen.
Thank you so much for your support which allow us to be a part of this vital work of helping to reach the unreached tribal people with the Gospel.
Your Missionaries to the Tribal Missionaries,
Phil and Jackie Burns
New Tribes Mission
Sanford, Florida
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