20 days and counting. Can you remember what it is like to have senioritis? You are still in school but not really, all your mind can think about is what the future holds outside of the walls of school. Well Andrea and I have been suffering from a mild case of senioritis as we face the end of our home assignment.
As happens every time we are in the States, the final few weeks are the busiest, trying to squeeze in any and every lunch, or dinner with friends and family. This year we had the privilege of sharing in a mission conference at Russell Baptist church in Green Cove Springs. Hi to all of you receiving this Ullums Update for the first time. The conference was a great time for us to share the burden God has given us for the Kendawangan people.
We received word this week that a dear friend passed into a Christless eternity this week. A woman about Andrea and I’s age died this week of tuberculosis. She leaves behind 6 children, the youngest is only 1 year old. Her fifth child was almost delivered in the back of our truck as I spent a harrowing night driving out to the coast with her already in labor.
Before we left the village to begin our home assignment we had reached out to her again, that she should hear God’s message. we offered to do a special meeting at her house, but even though she has been on death’s door many times, she never softened her heart to the gospel.
The blinding of Satan came to her through a belief system (animism) as well as a religious system (Catholic). Both of these things worked together to convince her that despite not knowing God’s message for herself, she could trust that others, the witchdoctor and village elders, along with priests could safely entrust her spirit to God.
Our heart breaks to see the lies our enemy Satan has blinded the world with. As many of you know, Jesus promised that belief in Him, and His mediation for us is the only way of salvation. It is the narrow road leading to God. Trusting in ceremony, and priestly intercession is a false hope. Yet it is that wide road so many travel upon. A road leading to destruction.
I share all that to urge you to partner with us in prayer. Continue with us in prayer, that God would open a door for the gospel to be proclaimed in the Kendawangan area. There are so many villages that have not yet heard the gospel. Also pray for the believers that their, “love may abound even more and more in knowledge and every kind of insight” Philippians 1:9.
Grace Sufficient,
Tim & Andrea Ullum