Hi Friends,
It has been a big week or two here in our village. I have been able to finish up language and culture study which is a huge weight off my shoulders. The test lasted for three days and covered many subjects; I had to explain how paper is made, how the rain works, from evaporation onwards. So I got a thorough going over in my evaluation which I am happy for. I had my speech recorded and then played back to Mengen speaker checking each section for mistakes etc. Needless to say I am very happy to be done but now a different type of work awaits me. Please continue to pray for Annika as she learns language and culture. She is doing wonderfully well but needs your prayers also. Get you knee pads out as we need your prayers. I will be starting to teach the phase one gospel lessons from tomorrow morning. I am also working on writing 6 course two lessons which I will translate back to English. (Course 2 lessons are used to teach the believers that we are now to meet as Gods family to be taught from his word and praise God) – These lessons will then be used by consultants to check that my lessons are communicating well and that the content is all there; they will check them in the back to English translation but then also come in and check them with native Mengen speakers in person. I am also going to be working on translating the book of Ruth, the first chapter is done, but there is much work to be done. This week’s gospel lesson: The story of Cain killing Abel. The main points we are teaching are below.
1) God is gracious and gives Cain and us opportunities to humble ourselves and trust in the Redeemer.
2) If we do not humble ourselves before God sin will destroy us.
3) God has the right to judge Cain and us all.
4) If we do not humble ourselves and trust in Gods strength alone we are enemies of God now and will spend eternity separated from Him in the place of fire.
Please pray for:
· Mande, the wife of one of our teachers Alex. I will be teaching them a lesson on their own at night because Mande is part of the Kevung cult and gets much pressure from her family to not listen to the gospel teaching.
· Wante, has made a profession of faith, pray we can discern her understanding as we teach and do discipleship with her.
· Lule, that she would grow to understand the main truths of the gospel.
· Trinde and Alphonsia – pray they would continue come to the teaching with their family in the midst of adversity and would trust in the redeemer.
· ME – Simon, that God would help me to be clear as I teach the gospel lessons and that I would have freedom in the Mengen language.
· Pray for our trainee teachers as they take on more responsibility in the Friday lessons.
· Pray for Annika and myself as we do discipleship in the village, that God would water the seed planted.
We need your prayers! Thanks for joining us in the work of the gospel, Much love in Christ,
Simon, Annika, Nya and Noah