March 30, 2009
Greetings from Sanford. Winter is gone and our temperatures are already hitting 90 degrees. I am always sorry to feel spring bullied out of the way by hot humid summer. It is always sad, too, to watch our snowbird volunteers head north one by one. They have been a great help and blessing to us here and to the work of missions around the world through the time and effort they have invested for these few short weeks or months.
This year I was again blessed by being able to work with Dr. Wally. He is a retired kidney doctor turned cabinet maker, and like the Energizer Bunny, he just keeps going and going. This year he was 87 years old. His life is both a testimony and challenge for me- will I be faithful until the end? It was great being able to work with the other volunteers, too- engineers, farmers, contractors, electricians, resort hosts- all have come to use their talents for the Lord and have become friends. By the end of the first week of April they will all be gone. So it is a sad time, but also it gives us something to look forward to because, Lord willing, most of them will be back next year.
Cody graduates from New Tribes Bible Institute in May. Lord willing we plan on being there for that and to help him get all his “stuff” home. Please pray for him as he looks to the Lord for his future. He hopes to learn to fly with the possibility of becoming a missionary pilot. In a recent letter he asked for prayer that he “would have a hunger for the Word of God.” That is a good prayer request for all of us.
Jackie and I keep busy around New Tribes Mission headquarters. With Dr. Wally’s help we got a lot of cabinets built, but only one set installed, so I have a lot to do to finished up that job. Also, there is some major roof issues on one of the mission buildings and as soon as we get permits, every able bodied maintenance man will we needed, so I will probably help on that job. Jackie continues to teach in the mission school and when she has extra time working in the Field Ministry Office.
Now some mission news:
BOLIVIA: Twelve Ayore Bible teachers from Bolivia traveled to Paraguay for a Bible conference. They will be teaching and encouraging the believers. Please pray that the teaching will inspire believers to devote themselves to fellowship and ministry. You can read the story online at: http://www.ntm.org/news/9200
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Mengen tribe: Most of the people in a Mengen village are attending Bible lessons and understanding God’s Word. Pray that they continue to learn and ultimately to trust Jesus as Savior. Read more online at: http://www.ntm.org/news/9202
SENEGAL: Konyagui tribe: Please pray for missionaries Chantal Pilon and Brian and Sherri Hofer to be able to learn the culture and language of the Konyagui people and build good relationships with the people as they begin a ministry among them. You can read the full story online at: http://www.ntm.org/news/9194
These are just three of the places around the globe where the Lord is working in the lives of tribal people. Please continue to pray – as we are struggling during these hard economic times, many people in other countries are struggling even more and have so much less. We are truly blessed just to know the Lord – let’s pray they will know Him, too!
Thanks again SO much for your prayers and financial support! Together we can reach the lost for Christ!
Serving the King,
Phil and Jackie
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