Exciting Reception

 In our last update, we shared how God was using our team and leadership to give us some new direction; since then, we have been focusing on getting to the “K” people group. You may remember that us guys hiked up into their remote village this past January. Well, after some additional trips to the coastal areas (where those people often come out to town), we made the trek back up to their village a few weeks ago. The objective was to present our programs and goals to them and see how they would respond.

Long story short, we presented a few social programs—like clean water and basic education (reading and writing)—and then explained (through those who understand the national language) that we want to translate and tell them the history of mankind and the Creator’s Story in their own language (after we learn it, that is!). They were pretty excited about all that and after a short group discussion in their mother tongue they unanimously said they want to “receive” us.

The Practical Logistics

Following their positive response, we were able to start asking about a place for our families houses as well as a spot for a helicopter to potentially land. Their tiny village clings to the slopes of a mountainside so flat land is tough to come by, but they pointed out a few spots that we could consider. They even pulled out machetes and quickly cleared a small area for us to inspect for the helicopter pad.

So now we pray pray PRAY for God to provide a helicopter for our team here. Currently there is one being imported that will hopefully be in country by December, but it will be stationed 6 hours away and only be able to help us out a few times per year (we’re praying for another one that could be closer!). We are leaning heavily on the Lord to provide for these huge needs and trusting His timing for it all as we look towards getting building supplies in place and then moving our families up there when houses are ready. It may be a bit of a long road ahead…

In the mean time?

So for now we will focus on acquiring the final necessary legal permissions, and then try to move to a small village on the coast to be closer to the village. Housing is the big issue with that right now. We would prefer to simply rent a local house, but there don’t seem to be any available that are in a livable condition. So please pray with us that we might know what is culturally appropriate in this situation and whether or not we should just go through the effort—and expense—of building simple houses there in town.

Family life continues as well. Allegra has been a hero and God has given her incredible strength and stamina recently to take care of the girls while I’m away. Also, after returning home from that last survey I got sick with Dengue Fever; so for the past two weeks I have had high fevers, headaches, nausea, weakness, and no energy so Allegra has been taking care of me too. (I even got to experience a 2-night hospital stay to get some blood counts up.) So thankful and proud of my wife. God sure gave me an amazing ‘Helpmeet’.

Praise:

• For a positive response from the “K” people.
• For potential locations for houses & a helipad.
• For healing from Dengue Fever.

Prayer:

• For the logistics of transportation & housing. (pray for a helicopter!)
• For God to be preparing both us & the “K” people for His Word to reach them.
• For the final permissions to come through.

We just wanted to include the option of watching this 30-min chapel video we made for Ethnos360 Bible Institute.
Regarding: the needs in our country of service and the opportunity in the “K” people.