One of the parables Jesus used to describe His kingdom work here on earth is the mysterious growth of a seed after it is planted.
26 Jesus also said, “The Kingdom of God is like a farmer who scatters seed on the ground. 27 Night and day, while he’s asleep or awake, the seed sprouts and grows, but he does not understand how it happens. 28 The earth produces the crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. Mark 4:26 – 28
Did you catch the end of verse 27? “he does not understand how it happens.” As we reflect back on 10 years of work getting to a place where we could communicate the gospel in the heart language of the Kendawangan people, and now having begun that work of telling His story, we are so aware that some other force is at work bringing life to spiritually dead people. In Jesus’ parable it’s the “earth” that produces the crop. Jesus even goes so far as saying, the earth produces the crop, “on its own.”
We are so grateful for the unseen hand of God bringing life to people who from their own lips, puang tau’ “gana’-gunu’,” which matching the meaning we would say not knowing our right hand from our left. God is doing an unseen work, an unexplainable work that is so far outside of anything we would have done or accomplished by our own efforts.
Recently our partners sent me a recording of one of their study group meetings. As the people talked two men were reflecting on how criticism and ridicule have come from believing the good news. As they talked they took comfort in remembering that Jesus was also mocked and worse. We are so grateful to hear some of the believers identify themselves with Jesus and although they have never heard the words of Heb 12:2 “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.* Because of the joy* awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” they are looking to Jesus.
We ask for your prayers as the new believers make plans to celebrate their new found faith with a special Christmas party. This will be a first for them and we are asking that God could use this to encourage their faith and build they identity as a group of believers. We also ask for your prayers for our partners who are in the village. Pray that God would be their true source or delight and clearly lead them as they serve the new believers.
In close we would like to let you know that we are back on the States and would love to get together with you. Please feel free to contact us. We would love to see you and give you a face to face update on the work God is doing in Kendawangan land.
Grace sufficient,
Tim & Andrea Ullum