As you can see on the pictures we are excited to tell you that we have our co-workers, Gary and Esther Smith, back here with us in Dinangat. It was a very emotional moment when they got off the plane, not only for us but also for the Dinangat people. The Smiths were in the States for over a year and enjoyed a very good time with their families and church. But even though saying good bye at home was very hard, we could still feel excitement in their hearts about coming back as they got off that little plane. They came with renewed energy and motivation which excited and motivated all of us here and felt like a fresh wind coming through. Thank you, Smiths, we so appreciate you!
To be able to work as a team out here is a precious gift we believe. When we are alone it feels like we are not moving along very fast because in most areas we are only maintaining things. But now we can share the load. Gary is the main teacher and lesson writer. He also is the one who focuses on discipling the Bible teachers and our new church plant in T. Ralf is now able to put all his time into Translation and will from now on be able to translate more than double the amount per week than last year. We are really glad for that!
The other good thing about teamwork is that we can encourage each other and care for each other. As we celebrated our 13th Anniversary last week Esther cooked a yummy “Dinner for two” for us and took our kids to her house for supper. We then enjoyed a wonderful evening in our own house-restaurant together. Also our girls are more than excited to have their friends back. Naomi is happy to have her Charis to crochet, stitch and talk and talk and talk never-ending talks together :). Rebekka is thrilled to have her friend Caleb for playing outside mostly and climbing the trees together. Nathan and Zachary love this place, there is so much to do for boys their age. And Mirjam just enjoys playing along with all of them calling them over by her own creation of their names.
Thank you so much for your prayers for us as a team and the work here. We do appreciate every single one of you and see you as part of our bigger team! Please continue to pray for the believers of Dinangat, that they would grow in their faith and stay strong even in hard times. That they might… “know that you, whose name is the LORD – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.” Psalm 83, 18
In HIM, the Schlegels.