I was waiting to post a November update until next week when the Maliyali people had finished hearing the Gospel in their own language, but I was convicted about instead giving you the opportunity to pray for them in this final stretch of the teaching.
The Maliyali people will hear about the crucifixion of Jesus on their Saturday morning after hearing chronological lessonssince the end of August. Next Monday they’ll hear of His glorious resurrection. Read the following paragraphs for more information from the start of the teaching, and email me if you’d like to know how to get updates on social media from the missionary team. Be praying for the Maliyali people as they hear and process this news and for the team as they present it and follow-up with new brothers and sisters.
From NTM PNG Communications: We are extremely excited for the chronological Bible teaching currently happening among the Maliyali people in the western Sepik area of Papua New Guinea. Starting on August 29th the Earls, Muellers, and Rimestads introduced the Maliyali people to the concepts of geography and time. They then, in the following days, started in Genesis teaching the people about who God is—that He existed before everything and that He created all things. They explained that God created man and gave him purpose and provided woman as a partner for him.
The Maliyali people learned about Adam and Eve’s sin and separation from God. They felt the heaviness of that separation and understood why their lives are hard. But thankfully, the story doesn’t end there, and they learned about God’s promise to Adam and Eve that He would send a man to “cut a road” to bring people back to Him. YO MATIFU MOFI (Yo: road Matifu: Maliyali verb for cutting a path through the jungle Mofi: man),
The Maliyali people saw today something that they have been seeing their whole lives – the absolute sorrow and damage sin has brought upon this world, their families and on their very own lives. A good friend of ours, Trusen, responded to the teaching today saying, “see, we are all the same. These are our ancestors, and we are all destroyed because of sin. I am waiting for this road cutting man, you say He will help us, that he can get us back to God, I am waiting for Him.” Rachel Mueller
Praise the Lord for the understanding the Maliyali people have had during the lessons so far. Pray for the team as they continue to show the people step by step that they can trust God to provide this “road cutting man” to make them right with Him as they progress through the biblical narrative toward the Savior. Pray for protection over the team and the people, that there would be no obstacles or distractions that would keep them from hearing the good news to come!