| Dear Praying Friends, January, 2011
It’s Exciting!! Another tribe hears the Bible taught for the first time! Bible teaching began this week among the Akolet people of Papua New Guinea. “Adults and children gathered together under the shade of the large blue tarp as we prepared for the lesson to begin,” wrote missionaries Adam and Julie Martin. “Adam’s ‘podium’ was an empty 55-gallon drum. The seating was planks or mats the people brought with them. The ‘sound system’ was as loud as Adam could talk.”
“Each of our team also gave a brief testimony of how we at different points in our lives heard the truth of God’s Word and made a conscious choice to accept it as true and to follow it, that being the very reason we are here living with them today,” the Martins wrote. The Akolets appeared to be listening attentively. Please pray that people will come faithfully, with a desire to hear the lessons. This is exciting news for us and reminds us of why we do what we do here at our mission U.S. headquarters. Although we aren’t overseas being a part of the Bible teaching, we are part of the team here in the States rooting them on with our prayers and sometimes mundane jobs that make it possible for missionaries like the Martins to put all their efforts into the Bible teaching. Speaking of our ministry here – some of our volunteers are back and more are on the way. These snowbirds come south for the winter and give us a hand with projects around the mission. Doc Wally is back and my shop is now full of cabinets. He is looking stronger and better than he did the last two years, and this time he is 89 years old! He is an amazing man and fun to work with. I’ve learned a lot from him.
Heather graduated last month with a degree in engineering. She leaves next month for Mississippi where she will begin flight training. We will miss her, but we are proud of her accomplishments. Pretty soon we will be left with just one at home! Haley is a senor in high school. She enjoys soccer, and will miss it when her season ends this week. Pray that she will have wisdom as she decides what to do with her life. We are thankful for a New Year, for more time to serve our Lord and for our blessings in Christ! We are, also, thankful to be able to partner with you in the exciting task of taking the Gospel to a lost world! Thank you for your part in praying and giving! We feel so blessed to be counted worthy by our Lord to serve Him!! We trust that your New Year has started off well and that you are rejoicing with us in this New Year. Your Missionaries to the Tribes, Phil & Jackie Phil & Jackie Burns |
The first lessons are introductory. Adam started by explaining that this teaching is different from anything they’ve ever heard. “It is God’s message for all mankind and each and every one of us needs to hear and understand it,” the Martins wrote. A large inflatable globe helped Adam explain where the people of Israel lived and how God’s message spread.
Last week we caravanned with Cody to Jacksonville. He started school there on Monday, learning to work on aircraft. Wish he knew more about mechanics now, because his car gave him trouble on the way up and the first day there it wouldn’t start He finally decided it wasn’t worth putting more money into so he ended up buying a used truck. Please pray for him. It would be nice if this one would last him until he finishes school in a year and a half. 
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