Missions Around the World

NTM Update

2007-10-26T12:08:00.001-05:00

October 26th

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Dinangat tribe: Missionaries are preparing to share God's Word with the Dinangat people in January. Please pray that the lessons will be clear and that the hearts of the people will be ready to receive God's Truth. Find out more -- read the full story online >>

Or receive the story by automated e-mail response. Send a blank e-mail with the subject "Send 6334" to: getinfo@ntm.org

PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Nakui tribe: Two Nakui believers -- Tuti and Kibo -- along with missionary Greg Greenlaw have taught evangelistic Bible lessons for three weeks in a Nakui village. About 80 people will hear the Gospel this weekend. "Please be praying that the people will grasp both their need and the perfect fulfillment of the promised Redeemer as they hear the words of life for the first time," wrote Heidi Greenlaw.

MOZAMBIQUE: Missionaries Jon and Angie Button write, "We have come up against some challenges and are asking that you join us in prayer to be able to receive our Visas in time to arrive in Brazil in January to begin our formal language study. We will spend one year there before going on to Mozambique."

AUSTRALIA: Praise God that NTM is celebrating 50 years in Australia today. About 300 missionaries and ministry partners were expected for the celebration. Pray for God to continue to be glorified through the training and sending of missionaries to plant churches among tribal groups.

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2 Timothy 3:12

Take a hike

2007-09-08T01:34:00.001-05:00


Kevin Miles and companions on a prior survey of the Elseng people.

Also available in: Español

September 7, 2007

by Dena McMaster

What do lollipops and ramen noodles have in common? They are both in missionary Jareb McClain's backpack ready for a trip into the interior of Papua, Indonesia.

Jareb is packing lollipops as gifts for village children and of course ramen noodles make a great snack. He also included clothes, water purification tablets, travel mug, matches, rope, sunscreen, granola bars and a host of other necessary items. Then he stuffed in several more packages of ramen noodles, just in case.

Jareb, Scott Flaugher and Kevin Miles will join Ortwin Oesterle, missionary to the Elseng people, to locate another village for Ortwin and his wife Regina to move to. Their trip will take them on foot through a jungle area that is hot, wet, dirty, buggy, thorny and very, very wild. Pray for the four men as they face exhaustion, thirst, leeches and mosquitoes on their trek to various Elseng villages.

A team of three missionary families moved into a village over the past few years to begin ministering to the Elseng people. Through various difficult circumstances only Ortwin and Regina remain. The people in this village have begun working for several natural resource companies and are reluctant to help the missionaries learn their language.

The NTM leadership team in Indonesia feels it might be necessary to relocate the Oesterles to another village where people are more willing to help the missionaries learn the language.

Pray for safety from accidents, good weather for hiking, a restful night's sleep and encouragement when the going gets tough. Pray that the Holy Spirit of God will lead them to just the right village where Ortwin and Regina can move in and establish good relationships with the people.

True Discipleship

2007-09-08T01:33:00.000-05:00


Literacy classes are being taught entirely by Kaulong teachers.

Also available in: Español

September 7, 2007

Kaulong believers in Papua New Guinea have caught the vision of reaching their own people.

There are now more than 150 Kaulong believers in the three villages, and ongoing outreaches in two of them. Literacy schools are also established in each of the three villages, taught entirely by Kaulong teachers.

"How thrilling that these Kaulong brothers and sisters in Christ, who were once lost in darkness, are now your and our partners in ministry," wrote missionaries Doug and Shirley Laney.

Earlier this year 22 Kaulong Bible teachers and six teenage trainees taught a series of 68 Bible lessons about who God is, Creation, how sin entered the world, the fall of man, and God's plan of redemption.

In April, when 34 people placed their faith in Christ in one day, the Bible teachers became even more determined to reach their own people.

"The vision is now impregnated into the very fibers of their souls," the Laneys wrote.

Doug and Shirley know that as they return to the USA this month for a year of home assignment that the work they leave behind is in good hands.

Please pray that more Kaulongs will come to a true knowledge of Christ and place their faith in Him.

NY, NY

2007-07-08T19:53:00.001-05:00

Dear Fellow Laborers,

First I would like to that all of you for your prayers and support, and for letting God use you in these ways. We left Jackson, Early Saturday morning, at 5:30. It took over twelve hours on the road to make it to New York, while traveling in a caravan of four vehicles; three minivans and a truck. As we arrived at CitiVision Camp, it was already dark and the consensus of the mood was a need of sleep. So late Saturday night we all moved in and crashed. We woke up Sunday morning to head out to Manhattan Bible Church. There, we worshiped together with them in their morning service. Located in the Hispanic part of Manhattan, we could hear the mumble of a translator in the background. A truly universal church was represented by every ethnic background imaginable. From there we headed out to take a tour of Manhattan, and New York City.
Monday through Friday, we worked good nine-hour days, up on a roof, in one-hundred degree weather, taking a break after lunch to avoid the worst of it. With two nail guns, four roofing shovels, and six guys, it tool the whole week but we finished the roof. We had to rip off two layers of shingles with about a million nails per square inch, at least it seemed so. That took two days to finish, and one day on replacing rotten wood and boards on the roof and the last two days to shingle it. All the ladies spent there time inside cleaning the walls and repainting them. The other guys in the group did drywall, and electrical stuff. I had my share of roofing for a long time!
On Thursday night we went to the Transformation Life Center, where drug addicts come to detox and hear the word, and be transformed by the word. It was amazing to hear these men shouting their lungs out to the Lord during the worship service, a huge contrast to our subdued, almost inhibited, services. To hear and see the uninhibited hearts of these men praise the God who saved them, put me to shame when I barely raise my voice in song in our services. To hear them shout, instead of sing. To see them cry and lift up their hands. It was plain to see that the Lord was working in them, and through them.
Tom Maharis, the founder and visionary of Citivision Camp, spoke with us on several occasions, and one of those he mentioned, “you are not here to do God’s work, he could have used others, but you are here for God to do a work in you!” That was so true. As we studied the book of James together God put on my heart many things in my life that were out of place. Studying how our faith should be genuine, and how mine is often stuttering, God laid on my heart that week what I needed to hear. There are many more things that I could tell you about that week, but I’d almost have to write a novel. So I will let this suffice.

God bless,
Rob Jordon

2007-06-18T21:24:00.000-05:00


A translation everyone can understand.

Also available in: Español

June 18, 2007

by Jackie Fallis

Men speaking three different dialects of the Guahibo language are currently working with missionary Mark Cain to fine-tune portions of their Old Testament translation.

They face a unique challenge: translating the Bible so that all of the Guahibo people, no matter which of the three dialects they speak, can understand it. However, the missionaries' understanding of the Guahibo culture makes biblical concepts easier to convey.

The day starts with discipleship time in the morning, lead by Mark. He is teaching through 1 Corinthians and recently brought up the fact that every culture has beliefs from their ancestors. Mark said it was really bad in the time of the Corinthians as they were doing a lot of evil things, and that it doesn't matter what culture we look at, we all have the same type of evils.

Back when Mark was with the Guahibo people teaching the initial evangelistic Bible lessons, some said to him, "Oh my, we are not like those bad Israelites. No way! We would never sacrifice our children to idols like they did. We don't even have idols. We are not bad like them." Today the Guahibo people think their earlier reaction was funny.

Mark later taught those same Guahibo people that they had other gods and idols that they looked to in their times of need apart from God. This is where knowing the Guahibo culture came in handy; the missionaries learned of parts of that culture that were equal to idolatry.

After having this pointed out to them, the Guahibo people were able to see that they too were sinners and that we are all lost without Christ.

After their morning discipleship time, four Guahibo men -- Virgilio, Luis, John and Joe -- work with the missionaries to edit the Old Testament in their language. They work all day on this, one chapter at a time.

There has been only one tense moment so far, when one Guahibo man felt that the word for "east" should be used from his dialect. To keep the Old Testament translation consistent with that of the New Testament, the word was kept as it was, but a footnote was added so that others would understand that another word is used for "east" in a different part of the tribe.

It may take longer than two weeks for them to comb through the Old Testament, but they are prepared to work on it for up to three weeks if they have to.

So far, the translation is going well.

Please pray for unity and understanding as the translators work with three different dialects. Pray for God's guidance as they choose which words to use to communicate the Bible to the Guahibo people.


When will the Gospel reach the Southern Tepehuans?

Also available in: Español

June 18, 2007

by Jackie Fallis

Tribal leaders of the Southern Tepehuan people of Mexico held a meeting last week. The question they sought to answer was whether or not to allow missionaries Kevin and Alina Beach and Stephen and Kathy Tibberts to live and work in their villages.

The missionaries had high hopes after holding dental and medical clinics for the Southern Tepehuan and forming many friendships among the people.

To the missionaries' disappointment, tribal leaders denied permission to build in the village. At that time the leaders also asked them to move all of their stuff from where they were staying and leave the village completely.

When they asked if they could continue the dental and medical clinics, the answer was no. The village leaders decided that they did not want to take responsibility for the missionaries if something bad happened.

The Southern Tepehuans have a deep, longstanding mistrust of outsiders.

The team is in the process of taking down the solar panels and packing everything up. Please pray for the four missionaries as they work through the discouragement of these latest events and to know how they are to proceed.


Jon and Janalyn were invited to their neighbor`s wedding.

Also available in: Español

June 18, 2007

by Jackie Fallis

Jonathan and Janalyn Carlson and Paul Wilhelmson are three of the new missionaries to arrive in Indonesia and begin learning the language.

"A friend of mine put it this way," Johnathan said. "The beginning of language learning is like standing under a waterfall trying to catch everything with a thimble!"
Paul asks, "Apa kata untuk brain-fried dalam bahasa Indonesia?" That means, "What is the word for brain-fried in Indonesian?"

Classes start at 8 in the morning and go until noon. Afternoon is personal study time, which includes going out into the neighborhoods and practicing what they learned that morning.

The students are exhausted, but are adjusting to the new culture and language.

Please pray that all of the new arrivals to Indonesia will have an open mind to learn the language. Pray also for their continued adjustment to their new situation.

TRANSLATING ROMANS A CHALLENGE

2007-06-04T13:05:00.002-05:00


Buka

Also available in: Español

May 30, 2007

by Dena McMaster

Translating Romans is a challenge for missionary David Lee and his Bena Bena co-workers in Papua New Guinea.

While working on Romans 3:5-8, where Paul talks about "our unrighteousness commending God's righteousness," David wrote, "My translation [co-workers] just looked at me strangely as if to say, 'Come on, nobody would really say a thing like that.' It just didn't make sense to them.

"Part of the problem is that I don't have a good grasp of the way the people use the kind of arguments that Paul uses in Romans," wrote David. The concept of posing rhetorical questions is not common in Bena Bena culture, so he and his co-workers are looking for the appropriate way to translate such passages.

In spite of some struggles with translation, David is encouraged by spiritual growth that he is starting to see. Bena Bena believers like Buka and Kokere are good examples of what's starting to happen.

Buka at one time stopped coming to the meetings because he didn't receive money for coming, but relented after David firmly told him that it was not the missionaries' custom to give money to people who come to the teaching. Now he not only attends, but participates and leads.

Kokere also remained faithful and now asks the review questions from the previous Bible lesson in the believers' meeting. Both of these men are showing leadership potential and giving evidence of the Lord's work in their lives.

Pray for David and his Bena Bena co-workers as they wrestle with difficult passages in translating the Bible into the Bena Bena language. Pray also for Buka and Kokere to continue to grow in the Lord and to take a leadership role among the believers.

ONLY 100 YEARS

2007-06-04T13:05:00.001-05:00


Inapang villagers prepare a meeting place, as God prepares their hearts.

Also available in: Español

May 31, 2007

by Dena McMaster

The missionary team ministering to the Inapang people of Papua New Guinea will begin evangelistic Bible lessons in two weeks, and the people will learn about a geographical world beyond their villages. This will be quite a revelation since the Inapangs can only trace about 100 years of their own history.

When Bill gave his Inapang language co-workers a preview of the lessons and they understood the limited amount of time they can actually account for, they were amazed. They realized that the world was much larger than their surrounding villages.

The Inapangs helped translate the Biblical accounts -- Creation and the lives of Abraham, Joseph and Moses -- and they were blown away when they grasped the historical and geographical context of those stories.

They said things like, "We are just new men," "We only know this little part of time," and "There is all that other that we don't know anything about."

To help the villagers visualize the historical timeline presented in the Bible, the missionaries will use a gift they received from a church in the USA -- a long rope of about 6,000 beads -- to wrap around the meeting area. This beautiful timeline can then be used to show how key Bible stories fit into the larger history.

"We all have our own jobs," wrote missionary Bill Housley. "Some of us pray, some of us teach, some disciple and some will listen and hear the message of hope for the first time."

Pray that the Inapang people will listen to the Bible lessons with hungry hearts and minds willing to understand and believe the Truth.

SEARCH FOR DEEPER KNOWLEDGE

2007-06-04T13:04:00.000-05:00


Village medical needs provide learning opportunities

Also available in: Español

June 4, 2007

by Dena McMaster

Observing the daily life of the Baga Fore people in Guinea has helped the missionary team to understand the way the Baga Fores think and how they interpret what happens. Missionaries Gene and Judy Bacon and David and Rachel Burke are studying the culture and language in preparation for teaching.

Recently two ladies were brought to Gene's home with advanced infections in their teeth. Both had been ill for several days. In questioning their families about the onset of illness, there were no clear answers. But they did learn that the Baga Fores believe that any disease that involves swelling can be passed to someone else and medical intervention won't help.

When the infections kept getting worse and the swelling was so great that one of the ladies could neither eat nor drink, they brought them to Gene and Judy's house for help.
Gene encouraged the villagers to bring those with infections to them right away so that they could be helped but the Baga Fore belief system causes them to believe that medicine won't help. The missionaries also learned that the Baga Fores believe that sorcery causes many of the illnesses and the bad things that happen in the village.

Understanding these cultural beliefs helps the missionaries to know more about the Baga Fore worldview so that they can prepare to teach evangelistic Bible lessons in a way the people will understand.

Pray for Gene and Judy and David and Rachel as they study the culture and language. Pray also that God will prepare the hearts of the Baga Fore people to believe the Truth when they hear the Gospel message.

Lifeline

2007-05-24T12:05:00.000-05:00

Kodiak aircraft by Quest

Geographic isolation is a key obstacle in taking the Gospel to tribal people. Aircraft cut travel time from days to hours or even minutes. But most of the aging aircraft used by mission agencies require fuel that is increasingly scarce or prohibitively expensive.
Quest Aircraft’s new Kodiak runs on readily available jet fuel. It is ideal for the short, rugged airstrips in remote tribal locations, has lower maintenance requirements and compared to the commonly used Cessna 206, can fly 35% faster while carrying twice the weight. New Tribes Mission plans to purchase 14 Kodiaks over the next eight years, preferably sooner. Quest will sell the Kodiak to selected mission agencies at cost. The precise cost cannot be determined until the aircraft are in production, but is estimated at $750,000 per plane. The Quest Foundation will match your gift, dollar-for-dollar, until the matching fund slots are filled. Additional required options to make the basic aircraft field ready is estimated to be $100,000 per plane. More can be found about this project at NTM.org

PARTY LEADS TO BIBLE TEACHING

2007-05-24T11:59:00.000-05:00


A tribal woman in Senegal

Also available in: Español

May 24, 2007

by Ian Fallis

Lynn and Wanda Harney are already sharing God's Word in the Manjack village in Senegal where they plan to move this summer.

On a recent trip to the village, Lynn stopped to visit friends he had not seen in some time.

"This was the day of a big prayer meeting for the local religion," Lynn wrote. "It is a time when they all get together to ask God's blessing, provision and protection."

But it's also a big party, and the goings-on include overeating, stealing and other forms of immorality.

"I asked them how can anyone expect God to answer their prayers when they are living like this," wrote Lynn. "Then I went on to explain that all the things they are praying for are earthly. What people need is to know that they will be able to spend eternity with God."

Lynn was then able to teach from God's Word for two hours. He concluded with an illustration from Manjack culture, a riddle about a kind of egg that can be found in the forest.

"If you find this egg you have to choose whether you will take it or leave. If you take it, your father dies; if you leave it, your mother dies. Using this riddle I showed them the Gospel was much the same. Once they hear it, they must choose -- take it and you live; leave it and you die for all eternity."

Lynn then entered the family compound to greet his friend's aging father.

"He too desired to go pray for God's blessing," he wrote. "I told him what he needed in his last days was not physical comfort but to know that he would, without a doubt, spend eternity in the presence of God."

Lynn again shared from God's Word, with the man's entire family listening in.

"As I left, I heard one young man say, 'Lynn speaks the truth,'" Lynn wrote.

Thank the Lord with us. After moving this summer, Lynn and Wanda will have more time and more opportunities. "Pray their hearts remain open and that they and their families will choose Christ," he wrote.

WHAT HAS 40 ARMS AND 48 LEGS?

2007-05-24T11:58:00.000-05:00


Filipino group traveling on one motorcycle

May 24, 2007

by Ian Fallis

How do 20 Higaunon believers and two pigs travel more than 50 miles to this week's bi-annual church conference in the Philippines?

They hire two motorcycles.

The load included all of their luggage, but it's not as bad as it sounds because the pigs didn't bring any luggage.

"These motorbikes have a frame built on the back of them with two planks of wood tied crossways to them and they often carry up to ten people plus the driver," wrote missionaries Ron and Michelle Jennings. Two people sit behind the driver, and two boards that they call wings stick out on each side in order to carry eight more.

"They told of how they braced themselves along the highway as big buses overtook them with other buses coming the other way and they prayed thinking they were going to be squashed between them," the couple wrote. "Then on the mountain roads they described how many times they crashed as the bike could not stay balanced on the rough roads.

"It's OK though, they said, with the wings sticking out the way they do the bike can't actually crush you, you just get toppled off."

Hiring the bikes cost the believers the equivalent of two weeks' wages.

"Anyone who is willing to go through all that to attend a Bible conference and stand at this end rejoicing in God's provision in getting them here has to have a motive that is little bit beyond the natural realm," wrote Ron and Michelle. "They just decided what the Lord wanted them to do and placed themselves in His hands."

"As usual they come as a tremendous encouragement to us as they shared what the Lord has been doing in their lives and the lives of the believers in their area since the last time we saw them."

Thank the Lord with us for the faith and growth of the Higaunon believers.

2007-05-19T01:02:00.001-05:00


Becky Preheim with a Mengen child

Also available in: Español

May 18, 2007

by Debbie Burgett

When people tell missionaries Keri Pacheco and Becky Preheim, who work with the Mengen people of Papua New Guinea that "I could never do what you guys do," they know from personal experience that is not the case.

Granted, living in a tribal situation, learning an unheard-of language, and making a clear, understandable translation of the Bible into that language, does take specialized training and capabilities that not everyone has -- just as not everyone has the abilities to be a scientist, a surgeon or an engineer.

But having served both inside and outside a tribal location, Keri and Becky know of the myriad of jobs that many of us can do and that are vitally necessary to keep other missionaries in their tribal ministries and able to focus on their specialized jobs.

"Without a mechanic, none of our vehicles would run and we wouldn't have any power," Keri and Becky wrote. Their diesel generator breaks down about every five days.

"With an average rainfall of something like 20 feet a year, our plumbing system needs constant TLC," they wrote. Plumbers also are desperately needed when building missionary houses from scratch. "I have no idea how to hook up an 'S' trap. Do you?"

As the ladies well know, it is impossible to get supplies into the jungle unless someone else buys and sends them to you by plane. "Thank the Lord for the guys who buy our chips and chocolate and send them in to us!"

And speaking of airplanes, "To get to our village, a person will either drive over terrible roads for eight hours and then hike for another eight hours straight up a mountain or he can hop on a Cessa 206 airplane or a helicopter and 30 minutes later, land on the airstrip right in our village."

The missionaries also pointed out that while someone might not mind doing all that driving and hiking "when you've got 1,500 pounds of food and fuel to take in," you wouldn't be able to even if you wanted to.

"Ever been without e-mail for a couple of weeks?" asked Keri and Becky. "Makes life difficult and discouraging, especially for missionaries who are already in an isolated situation. People with any kind of technical savvy are sure a blessing to everyone."

They also made a very strong case for the grounds maintenance guy. "When the grass gets tall, the snakes come in! Not to mention a thousand other creepy crawlies. Malaria is a major medical issue here in Papua New Guinea. If the grass is not cut or if there are puddles of standing water, malaria mosquitoes thrive. Not good."

Without these and many other necessary jobs being done, "we as missionaries would be unable to remain in our countries of service," Keri and Becky concluded.

Pray that we would all do our part in making sure our missionaries stay gone. And someday, as tribal people rejoice with us in heaven, they will be very thankful that we did.

You can join the church-planting team in a tribe, like Becky Preheim -- or you can fill a vital logistical role on a missionary support team -- as a career missionary. Find out how >>

2007-05-16T09:13:00.001-05:00


An Inapang child

Also available in: Español

May 15, 2007

by Dena McMaster

The Inapang people of Papua New Guinea will soon hear evangelistic Bible lessons. The team of missionaries has taught literacy and is now preparing to teach the evangelistic Bible series.

Five of the 15 Inapangs who learned to read and write are now teaching others what they've learned. There are three classes each morning. Many of the village leaders are now enrolled in one of the classes and are learning to read and write.

"A strong church is a Bible-reading church -- the Word is the sword of the Spirit," wrote missionary Daniel Moore.
Daniel and his co-worker, Bill Housley, are available to help the new teachers but their main focus has become getting ready to teach evangelistic Bible lessons.

Alex, Daniel's Inapang co-worker, is hearing many of the Bible lessons for the first time as he helps translate. After he and Daniel worked on the story of Noah, he said, "This is really good."

Daniel prepares the lessons with Markus, Alex and Kletus. They understand very little of who God actually is and are amazed that the spirits they fear so much are far inferior to God.

Bill translates the Bible passages for teaching with Kletus and Ampiankon helping him. Pray that the team, will find all the key words and phrases needed to clearly translate God's Word into Inapang. They have found words for "holy" and "sin" and "love." But need to find ways to express "redeem," "priest" and other key words in the Inapang language. A huge amount of work must be done to prepare to teach evangelistic lessons.

Bill and Daniel will be teaching Monday through Friday for three or four months in order to cover the entire series. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the Inapang people to hear the Gospel message. Pray that as Kletus, Alex, Marcus and Ampiankon help prepare lessons and translate Scriptures that they will believe the message of Truth.

2007-05-15T21:10:00.000-05:00

Valentin and his wife, Cuka

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

by Ian Fallis

Dust chased Tim Roberts and Ted Wingo down the Mexican trail like little kids following an ice cream truck. One look at them said at least that much dust had already caught up with them.

Nervous but happy replaced tired and hot as they saw the Tarahumara village ahead.

But the happy was ripped away as a man rushed from a mud-and-stick house. He ran right at them, his arms held high, his mouth forming words they could not understand. His angry expression told them he was the village witchdoctor, and he was cursing them.

The missionaries did not know this man's name was Valentin, nor did they know that he had hurled his most powerful curse at them. Even if they had known, it would not have stopped them from establishing a ministry in the village. They definitely felt unsettled, but had peace in following God's will to bring the Gospel to this isolated village.

One of the first people to befriend the missionaries was Nacho, Valentin's son. After the men taught him lessons from the Bible, Nacho placed his faith in Christ. He has held firm to his faith in spite of taunts and ridicule and physical attacks, and continues to study and teach and translate with Ted and Tim.

He has also carried a burden for his dad and his mom, Cuca; a burden that has become Ted's and Tim's as well. For 13 years they prayed with him for the couple, yet the opposition remained. Sometimes the couple was friendly, sometimes not.

Cuca would go often inside her house when she saw the missionaries coming. If she could not get inside before they reached her house, she would usually ignore them. When she spoke to them or about them, her disapproval was clear.

But this spring the couple asked to hear Bible lessons. Ted, Tim and Nacho started with Creation and moved through key Old Testament accounts, finally reaching the life of Christ, and then His death, burial and resurrection.

And things really changed this month.

Valentin and Cuca began to laugh for joy. It all made sense -- Jesus had taken their sins away!

"My heart was happy," wrote Tim. "Well, happy doesn't quite cover it. I was overjoyed … as I listened to two old shamans giggling like little children because of their newfound faith in Jesus Christ."

Pray that Valentin and Cuca discover the joy of being growing followers of Christ. Pray that Nacho has wisdom and insight as he helps Ted and Tim translate God's Word into the Tarahumara language.

2007-05-12T07:14:00.000-05:00

Willy and Brooks, returning from a pig hunt
Also available in: Español
May 10, 2007
by Donna Gibson

Willy is dying. He's a close Yembiyembi friend and the adopted tribal father of missionaries Brooks and Nina Buser.Willy has been battling what the missionaries believe is some sort of cancer for the last six months, and now his health is steadily getting worse."Recently he has really faded fast," wrote Brooks, "and we have discussed how to present the Gospel to him in a limited abbreviated form if possible."Tuesday, Brooks sat with Willy and discussed where he thought he would go when he died. "He gave the Yembiyembi version of the afterlife, with all the good and bad," Brooks wrote. After the two friends finished talking, Willy looked right at Brooks and said, "I have my thoughts, but if you know something I don't, you better tell me because this ground is going to swallow me soon."But the Busers and their co-workers Tony and Tara Sutton and Tim and Courtney Shontere are still in learning mode, seeking fluency in the language and understanding the Yembi culture. They have just begun to translate portions of God's Word and are many months away from teaching evangelistic Bible lessons.Willy may not have long to live, and the missionaries feel a sense of urgency to tell him about Christ."We are asking that you would keep Willy specifically in your prayers these next couple of weeks," wrote Brooks, "as he is going to be getting his one and only shot at knowing his Creator, and understanding what He did for him."Pray also for the missionary team as they put together a clear and culturally relevant, although very condensed, version of what they hope to someday teach the whole tribe.

the Sorimi

2007-05-08T14:11:00.000-05:00


A Sorimi family, ready for the Gospel

Also available in: Español

May 8, 2007

by Donna Gibson

These last days conclude months of evangelistic Bible lessons taught among the Sorimi people of Papua New Guinea.

Missionaries Poul and Carol Joensen and Jim and Erin Wyly are encouraged by the marked interest of the Sorimis as the complete Gospel message gradually unfolds to them in their own language.

"People are often coming to our porch for further discussions of the lessons, or to have Bible passages read again to them," wrote Poul.

Karibe, a young Sorimi boy who can read and regularly attends the teaching, clearly repeated the whole story of Jesus calming the storm.

He talked awhile with Carol about how people get sick because sin came into the world through Adam and Eve. He also shared how he understands that the missionaries' main intent is to bring the Bible, not material goods, to the Sorimi people.

The Sorimis are amazed by God's power in the miracles that Jesus performed, and their hearts are growing ready for the Gospel. A few Sorimi women who seldom speak shared how they believe they are just like the Pharisees in their duplicity.

"The people have been very attentive," wrote Poul. "Please, continue to pray that the Spirit will do His work in their hearts. Pray that Jim and I can communicate the truths well, clarify their questions, and help point them to Christ as a personal decision for their life."

Pray that Carol and Erin can utilize the language they have learned to come alongside the Sorimi women. And pray that the tribal children will also understand and believe.

"Our children and Wylys have had the privilege to see the teaching and be a part," Poul wrote. "We trust that some of their young Sorimi friends will also come to know the Lord as their Saviour."

2007-05-06T19:24:00.001-05:00


Traffic in a West African city

Also available in: Español

May 4, 2007

by Dena McMaster .

Augustin, who prayed fervently for the Senegalese people and NTM missionaries, died Tuesday morning in a traffic accident involving his motorcycle and a horse drawn cart.

Augustin, 39, trusted Christ through the ministry of New Tribes missionaries at the school for missionary children a number of years ago. He has worked at the guest home in Dakar for many years.

Missionary Dave Lanham is one of several missionaries who will miss Augustin. Dave wrote that each morning they have a prayer service at the home and Augustin never missed prayer time. He would pour out his heart for the Senegalese people who needed to hear about his Savior and for the missionaries ministering among tribal people.

"It was during these times [of prayer] I became convinced that nobody I am acquainted with longed more for the Senegalese people to hear the Gospel than Augustin," wrote Dave.

Though Tuesday was a Senegalese holiday, Augustin had told missionary Steve Bastow on Monday that he come to work as usual. Since he is very reliable, Steve called his home, when he didn't appear by 9:30. Augusin's wife, Fatou, told him she was on her way to the hospital because he'd had an accident. Later that day they received word that Augustin had died.

He had wanted to return to his home area as an evangelist to his people. He was also burdened to establish his home as a distinctive Christian home and to raise his children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His wife Fatou is also a dedicated believer. Augustin leaves four children, the oldest is 16.

Missionary Reidun Groot on medical leave in Norway writes that they were able to talk by computer Monday with Augustin. "He was such an encouragement to us all. He had a tender heart to people and to His Lord and Savior, with a real burden to reach his own people in the south of Senegal. I was amazed at times how he would pray for our missionaries with much insight and understanding. He was one of those pearls," wrote Reidun.

Pray for Augustin's wife and children as they face the loss of husband and father. Most of those he worked with at the guest home were not believers. Pray that God will use Augustin's death to make them more open to the Gospel. Pray, too, for the missionaries who mourn the death of a dear friend.

2007-05-03T12:50:00.001-05:00

May 3, 2007

by Dena McMaster

Teaching missionary candidates in Brazil has the added challenge of translating a phonemics textbook into Portuguese.

Missionaries Ed and Silvia Emsheimer have been teaching at the missionary training center in Brazil. Ed is teaching Phonemics right now, preparing students to analyze the sounds of an unwritten language and make an alphabet for that language.

The next challenge is preparing to teach the culture and language acquisition class. Since this is a new class for the students in Brazil, it means preparing lesson text materials and implementing the lessons into a practical session at the end of the semester.

The class will teach methods of learning culture and language. The teachers will be using the culture of the Dobu tribe in Indonesia but using the Guarani language. However, none of the teachers speak Guarani. They are learning the language in order to acquire enough vocabulary to give the students a simulation of events in studying a new language and culture. They are also studying the Dobu culture to create some "real life" situations for the students to practice their skills.

Part of the preparation includes building a small sweet potato field and a Dobu style house. The students will have language sessions with a "Dobu" (actually a teacher playing that role.)

The students will then write up a culture and language analysis just as they will when they minister in a tribal group with an unwritten language.

Pray for Ed and Silvia as they prepare materials to teach Brazilian students how to learn culture and language in a tribal village. Pray for the students who have given their lives to reach tribal groups around the world with the Gospel message.

Rotating to Indonesia

2007-05-02T11:16:00.001-05:00


Robinson R44 helicopter, to be shipped to Indonesia soon

May 2, 2007

by Ian Fallis

Rugged terrain in Indonesia means helicopters or very long hikes are often the only way into and out of tribal villages, and NTM Aviation is moving closer to being able to offer helicopter service to NTM missionaries there.

Last week, missionary pilot Preston Huntting took a check-ride for his commercial helicopter pilot license and passed. Preston and his wife, Kim, plan to join the NTM Aviation team in Indonesia.

Also en route to Indonesia is missionary pilot Steffan Pyle, who passed a check ride last week as well. Steffan is a certified flight instructor with a helicopter rating.

Missionary pilot Nathan Tag passed his helicopter check ride earlier this year, adding a helicopter rating to his commercial pilot license so he too could be part of the team in Indonesia.

For several years another mission organization has provided helicopter service for NTM missionaries in Indonesia, but in one region they no longer have a helicopter. And a helicopter is needed to serve those villages.

"In some of the mountainous terrain ... airstrips to date have been placed on the sides of steep slopes," wrote Jeff Werley of NTM Aviation. "The helicopter is able to use a much lower approach and landing speed, even a vertical approach if the landing zone is surrounded by tall trees or on the top of a mountain peak."

Steffan and his wife, Julie, who formerly served with NTM Aviation in Venezuela, hope to move to Indonesia this summer. "The program won't actually get up and running until Steffan has reached fluency in the Indonesian language," Jeff wrote.

Preston and Kim, and Nathan and his wife, Lanada, will follow. Indonesia will be the first place either couple has served with New Tribes Mission.

The helicopter in which the men are training, a Robinson R44, is expected to be shipped to Indonesia late this year or early in 2008.

Please pray that Steffan, Preston and Nathan can quickly become fluent in Indonesian. Pray also that funds come in soon for the cost of shipping the helicopter to Indonesia -- and that all of it will arrive undamaged.

a Pencil

2007-05-01T11:57:00.001-05:00


Gary Smith helping Takido learn how to hold a pencil

May 1, 2007

by Ian Fallis

Takido almost cried after learning how to hold a pencil.

The Dinangat man was one of many who were deeply moved yesterday by the first class in reading and writing their own language.

"Today tears welled up in my eyes as a man my age learned how to hold a pencil for the first time in his life," wrote missionary Gary Smith. "After class he too choked back tears as he told me how happy is to be in the class."

Many of the Dinangats were so excited to be able to learn reading and writing that there was not room for all who wanted to learn. "People actually started crying because there was no space anymore for them to be a part of that first class," wrote Ralf Schlegel, Gary's co-worker.

One of the women in the class went home in tears of joy over what she was learning.

The class for 14 people began a little after 8 a.m. Papua New Guinea time, and teachers and students were all excited and nervous. Jeremiah Markley, another missionary on the team to the Dinangats, is helping Gary teach the class.

"Little by little people gathered on both sides of the classroom windows to witness what was going on inside and they were excited to see their friends being taught how to read and write in their own language," Ralf wrote.

"Some of the students are familiar with reading and writing in the trade language and Lord willing will be the next teachers for the class," Gary wrote. "But for some like Takido this is the first time ever."

Gary, Ralf and Jeremiah, and their wives -- Esther, Elli and April, respectively -- make up the missionary team to the Dinangats. Their goal is to plant a church, and teaching the people to read and write is a key part of that effort.

"Becoming literate is the necessary step to being able to read God's Word," Jeremiah wrote. "We know the enemy would love nothing more than for this first endeavor to fail miserably. We have already found ourselves dealing with issues that seem to have come out of nowhere, but God's grace has overcome them all one by one, and we are still on schedule, all praise to Him! Please keep praying!"

"When you pick up a pencil today," Gary wrote, "stop and thank God and mention the Dinangat people to Him."

HOW I FOUND JESUS

2007-04-29T23:05:00.001-05:00

Thursday, April 12, 2007

by Madindingo with Dena McMaster

When I lost my finger, I found Jesus.

I had been guarding my fields from monkeys and wild boar and I grew sleepy. I sat down under a tree and dozed off. Suddenly, I heard a rustling in the bush and jumped up. As I did, my gun began to fall. I grabbed the end of the barrel and a stick wedged in the trigger slot. The gun fired and severely injured my finger.

I took off my shirt and wrapped my finger and ran as fast as I could toward the missionaries' house where the doctoro muso lived. When I arrived she took one look and said, "This is too difficult for me. I don't have the equipment to do this. But you're bleeding too much for us to take you to town."

With that she left and walked into the small room where she stored her medicine. Later, after I believed in Jesus, she told me that she always went into the room to ask God for wisdom about what to do.

Doctoro muso quickly came back and said to her husband, "Please get your blowtorch and that flat-bladed dental tool you use." He brought it and heated the blade white-hot. Then she put it on my finger and the bleeding stopped immediately. She put a heavy bandage on my finger and explained to me that I'd have to keep it over my head -- all night. The missionary also said I would have to come every day for a new bandage and couldn't work in my field.

As I walked home, I thought, "What can I do? If I can't work in my field how will I feed my family?" I worried about that one all night. I couldn't sleep with my arm up anyway.

The next morning when I went to have my bandage changed, the missionary Bible teacher, Brent, was there. He said to me, "Madindingo, would you help me put the Bible lessons into Malinke? I will pay you and you can buy rice for your family."

So I agreed. Day after day, I went to Brent's house and he would ask me questions: "Do you understand about Abraham?" he would say, or, "Is it good, clear Malinke?"

When we came to the lessons about the Debt Payer (the Malinke term for Jesus), I just couldn't believe it. He was perfect. I loved Him right away. When Brent did the lesson about how He died and rose again, I knew I believed in Him.

If I didn't hurt my finger, I would never have been helping Brent and listening to Jesus' story. I lost part of my finger, but I found Jesus.

Interface

2007-02-20T15:20:00.001-05:00

"If you do not come, people will perish."

These were the words of a Kaul tribal believer to our Interface students.

The setting: a 5 day side trip to another island where New Tribes
missionaries have learned the Kaul language and culture and shared the
Gospel in the Kaul language.

This was a powerful and challenging statement. The students were moved and
impacted by their time with tribal believers on their side trip, during the
second last week of the program.

The Jan-Feb Interface program wrapped up on Sunday, February 11th. The team
of students and volunteers included:
-a Taiwanese couple in their 30's
-3 Germans
-a Korean American
-9 Americans
-4 MK's, and
-a couple in their 50's

At the final campfire, many shared how they had an agenda in coming to ITF,
but God superseded all that in teaching them so much more than they had even
hoped to learn.

The Chens, from Taiwan, had been pastoring a church for 4 years but felt
they could not continue to preach about missions if they weren't willing to
go themselves. They plan to be enrolled in missions training this year and
return to PNG soon.

Thank you for praying for this program!

Emerson and Miria

Greetings from Papua New Guinea,

2007-02-20T15:18:00.000-05:00


There has been so much happening here the past couple of weeks I hardly know
where to begin. A huge wind storm with near hurricane force winds tore up
the village a few days ago, dropping a huge tree only feet from the church
and damaging the roofs on many of the area houses.

We have been receiving heavy opposition from a local religious group trying
to stop us from teaching the Bible in "their" villages.

Also a criminal gang armed with guns has been terrorizing several villages.
They came into our village last week and robbed over $18,000 from the local
Chinese sea cucumber buyer who was staying in our guest house. The police
are here now and are dispensing "local PNG justice"... they have tracked
down and shot off the toes of 3 of the gang members. And just last night I
got word that they tracked down the leader of the gang. He came after the
police with an ax, so they shot out both of his knees with their shot guns.
So it looks like his criminal days will now be a thing of the past. Maybe he
will finally sit and listen to the Word of God?

In spite of all the distractions, the Solong work is moving ahead. We are
just finishing up translating a set of Solong Bible Lessons on 1, 2 and 3
John and the next huge project will be to write and translate a set of Bible
lessons for the book of Hebrews.

Keep praying with us:

1. That the teaching of Gods word would continue in spite of the heavy
opposition.
2. That the leader of the criminal gang and his men will finally be open to
hear the gospel.
3. Pray for rain. It has been so dry that the village gardens are drying up
and the water supply for the whole village is nearly gone.
4. Pray as our village is being hit with a really nasty flu bug that hangs
on for weeks.
4. Praise that the tree missed the church and the wind storm only caused
minor damage to roofs and fruit trees.
5. Praise that Brittany hasn't had any migraine headaches for many months.

Thank you all again for your prayers and support in the Solong work.

Love, Paul & Robina

Reading the Future II

2007-01-20T12:14:00.001-05:00

READING THE FUTURE

Juan learning to read

Thursday, January 18, 2007

by Matt Arnold with Ian Fallis

Imelda's life would never be the same.

The Northern Tepehuan girl was crippled with an extreme arthritic condition, bedridden in her little house in Mexico. Then when she was 8, my co-worker Shirley Bauman started teaching her to read.

Imelda's world exploded as lines and squiggles on paper became letters and letters became words. When she could read, her little room in their adobe house could not confine her imagination.

Her dad's struggle to read turned into an opportunity for Imelda. She became the tutor he needed.

Unable to move, constantly trembling and sweating from the pain that racks her tiny frame, Imelda began to help her daddy read. Juan would spend hours lying alongside his daughter, reading.

She would giggle at his silly mistakes, especially the ones that he made over and over. In her tender way she would scold her daddy, "Are you ever going to learn?" They both would giggle and trudge on.

Almost every day, Juan reads with Imelda to help relieve the burden of her pain and misery. And Imelda is preparing her daddy for ministry.

When another Tepehuan visited recently, I watched as Juan pulled out some Bible notes that he had been reading over and shared Jesus with the visitor.

We believe that 15 Northern Tepehuans have put their faith in Christ. Of the 15, 12 are literate. Using a course developed by Shirley and my wife, Starr, we've taught eight of those 12 to read. The others were already able to read and write in Spanish, and were able to make the transition to reading Tepehuan fairly easily.

Teaching the Northern Tepehuans to read has been a long, slow process. The people are distrustful and live in tiny scattered hamlets. Coming together for classes is not their way, so all the teaching has been done one-on-one and likely will continue to be.

Shirley and her husband, Irv, started teaching Octavio, the first student, in the spring of 2003. Irv recalled one of their first students stringing together syllables he was learning, and exclaiming in wonder, "Hey, that says a word!"

And later, "I remember the first time that I had Octavio read a verse in the Bible when having discipleship time," Irv said, "and thinking, 'This is why I'm teaching these guys to read.'"

It may seem obvious, but if a church is to be planted among the Northern Tepehuans, it is vital that the believers are able to read the Bible in their own language. Becoming a disciple is contingent on spending time hearing from the Lord in His Word. Those believers that are literate and spend regular time in the Word are growing at a greater rate than those who are not literate.

On many occasions Juan has expressed with joy the fact that he understands the Bible teaching much better now that he can read the verses and also the lessons themselves. Before, when he couldn't read, he had a hard time remembering the teaching. But now after hearing the teaching, he reads the lesson at home and is beginning to teach those around him what he is learning.

And the teaching reached another level in November when Cleotilde, another of the Northern Tepehuan believers, decided to take the literacy lessons so she could teach her cousin to read.

One of our goals is to see the Tepehuan believers modifying and teaching this literacy course to their friends and families. We desire to facilitate them as teachers. Not only does this help more Northern Tepehuans to read, it sets the stage for Northern Tepehuan believers to teach God's Word themselves and eventually lead their own church.

Please pray that the Northern Tepehuan believers read daily and learn to read better, and that more catch the vision of teaching others to read and write.

Reading the Future

2007-01-20T12:07:00.000-05:00

Friday, January 19, 2007

At age 8, learning to read changed Imelda's life forever.

The Northern Tepehuan girl was crippled with an extreme arthritic condition, bedridden in her little house in Mexico. Then missionary Shirley Bauman started teaching her to read.

"Imelda's world exploded as lines and squiggles on paper became letters and letters became words," wrote Shirley's co-worker, Matt Arnold. "When she could read, her little room in their adobe house could not confine her imagination. "

Imelda helped teach her dad to read, and today a dozen Northern Tepehuans can read their own language.

Irv Bauman, Shirley's husband, recalled one of their first students stringing together syllables he was learning, and exclaiming in wonder, "Hey, that says a word!"

Literate believers are growing faster than others.

"Before, when [Juan] couldn't read, he had a hard time remembering the teaching," Matt wrote. "But now after hearing the teaching, he reads the lesson at home and is beginning to teach those around him what he is learning. "

But how do you help people go from learning that each squiggle and line on paper represents a sound, to seeing that together they form words and sentences, and even stories? That's one reason for NTM's Missionary Training Center. This and many other important skills are taught, so people like you and I can prepare to plant churches among tribal people.

Thank you for praying and giving! You are helping expand the reach of the Gospel, and you help expand the center that equips people to go to the ends of the earth with the Good News.

Ice storms and resulting power outages delayed the beginning of the semester. Pray that teachers and students will be able to make up for lost time; the schedule is tight.
Pray that the ongoing new campus expansion can continue, as new housing and more classroom space are urgently needed for the existing student body. The goal is to be able to equip students to go to unreached tribes with God's Word.

Find out how you can b

2006-12-27T09:54:00.000-05:00

Family & Friends,

We want to begin by saying Merry Christmas. The one thought that has sustained us here above all others, is that God left heaven for us. What could we ever sacrifice or go without that compares to that? Our sacrifices and light afflictions are a joy to endure in order to know Him better. Didn't some guy named Paul say something like that. Well, now I get it. I know what so many portions of scripture say, but it often takes specific experiences along the journey of faith before I see the real beauty and depth of the message.

We also want to thank you for all your prayers and support this year. Your emails and letters of encouragement, the updates on our church families back home, and provisions for our needs have all meant so much to us. You are so genuine and faithful, and an email cannot convey the thankfulness that we have toward God for you.

God has been using our time here in Indonesia to further His work among the tribal churches, and to further His process of conforming us to His image. We also feel, with confidence, that He is now leading us on to the next step. We feel like we have just crested a hill or rounded a bend in the course of our life and ministry; and now, suddenly, we can see what lies ahead. We would like to describe what we see before us.

As you know, our plans to move to the island of Taliabo and minister to the church there have been repeatedly thwarted by transportation and contingency issues. Loss of our plane, the inability to replace it, and rough seas have greatly limited our transportation options. The bombing of Christian areas and the murders of Christian leaders have significantly reduced the number of towns that we can travel through and get supplies from, and has lead to other missions organizations no longer being able to support us in the Sulawesi and Maluku provinces (Sulawesi being where our support bases of Manado and Palu are located; and Maluku being where three of our church-planting efforts are, including Taliabo; often referred to together as Central Indonesia). Hopefully it won't be long before new teams can get back into these areas, and we will continue to pray to that end, but we are forced to reconsider our part in it. We have seen a lot of great things happen in the Taliabo church over the past two years, and we have learned a lot through this time. We now have an intimate understanding of the main issues that are hindering so many church-planting efforts across Indonesia and the World.

Our hearts have been challenged to take on some of those issues, and we have been. During our time of waiting for the door to open to Taliabo, we have been involved in many other projects here in Central Indonesia. Most of our ministry has been focused on getting a flight program reestablished, improving communications abilities, contingency issues, and sharing the ministries and needs of our field with others. We have helped many families here to better communicate their ministry and needs as well. So we have gotten a pretty good idea of what our fellow missionaries need help with in that area, and we have a good idea of what the field as a whole needs in order to have reliable communication and transportation.

Last month, along with our leadership team, we made the decision to be officially removed from the Taliabo team. There is still no solution in sight within the next couple of years for the transportation needs here. And even though we were doing a lot of side projects, most of them were temporary needs or one-time projects, and we really felt a need to break with the Taliabo team in order to get out of that temporariness. It was stressful on our family, and there was no clear direction in our day-to-day ministry. And so we often didn't know what to communicate to people back home either. By taking on these numerous projects, we hope that we were able to help swing the Central Indonesia church-planting effort back into a forward progression, but we needed to get into a more official and long-term ministry.

Our field leadership, Sarah, and I felt like this new ministry direction for us should stay focused on meeting the communication and transportation needs of our church-planting teams and their support networks. No one had ever done this before, usually committees of various individuals form to tackle those kinds of needs, but they never have any longevity. We wanted to start looking for a broader and longer-term solution that could meet the transportation and communication needs of our whole field and all 70 families serving here. Sarah and I began working on a description of what this ministry would need to include. The transportation issues, at this point, however, mostly come down to a lack of funds to buy a Kodiak plane, and the couple of years involved in producing, equipping, and importing it. There's not much we can do about that. And as we began to get a clearer picture of what needed to be done on the communication/publicization side of things, we began to see many inherent difficulties in trying to do them from within Indonesia. The very problems that we need to fix, keep us from doing so.

During the past two months of trying to flesh out the details of this new ministry, we have contacted many of the other departments within NTM that handle similar ministry issues on a mission-wide scale. We wanted to get their input, and we wanted to make sure that our ministry here is in line with what the mission is doing, and we wanted to try to work with them in a mutually beneficial way. We found out that the Communications Department of NTM has a vision for doing many of the same things that we are wanting to do, and they are looking for help in doing it. In fact, some of the resource projects that they would like to start working on, I have already done for the field of Indonesia. We have been corresponding with them about working together on these ideas, and expanding some of my current self-initiated projects to include many other fields as well. They would really like to consolidate all of the various communications ministries and projects into one department, rather than each field having its own communications team. This creates a more unified and integrated approach to communications needs, and allows us to address the needs of over 3000 missionary families rather than just those in one particular country. They have invited us to be a part of this team. Sarah and I feel that our experiences over the past two years, and the work we have done, would benefit the communications department at the mission's headquarters.

In hindsight, it seems like the Lord has been preparing us for this change for a while, even though we were unaware of it. It's actually not a change from what we have been doing, only from what we intended to do. It's actually more like an expansion of ministry, freeing us from some of the limitations that we have here (like no phone or internet and unreliable electricity), and allowing us to become part of a team that can benefit a much larger segment of the missionaries in NTM and pull off some of the things that we could not do alone. We are not sure exactly what all of the details of this new ministry will include, as that will need to get worked out once we can sit down face-to-face, but we know that the Lord has some pretty cool things in store for us. We will share more about them soon. We will be moving to NTM's headquarters in Sanford, FL. And since our current visas expire the first week of February, we will be trying to pack and get back to CT by the end of January. Then I can fly down to Florida to finalize some of the ministry details and look into our housing options and all that. We really feel like this is the right ministry for us, and are excited to have long-term focus and direction again. Many of you have been praying for us and encouraging us as we have been trying to figure out how to address the needs that God has burdened our hearts for, and He has shown us how to do it. In fact, He has been preparing a place for us in Sanford, and He has been preparing us as well. Please continue to pray as we go through this transition.

We know this is a busy time of year, but still, we would love to hear your thoughts on all this when you have time. We value your feedback, and always want you to be an active part of our ministry. I tried to keep this from getting too long, so I may have left out some details here and there, but I can answer whatever questions you might have.

Again, Merry Christmas, and thanks for praying,

Aaron

Aaron & Sarah Libera

I'm Never Right

2006-12-19T13:58:00.000-05:00

A missionary visiting with tribal women

Friday, December 15, 2006

by Dena McMaster

She stood at the edge of the crowd, appearing remote and cold. The others chatted merrily while they worked. Some were pounding grain; others were rubbing peanuts between two stones to make a delicious thick chunky peanut butter called tigamungo for the sauce.

The women glanced at the pale stranger from time to time but did not speak. They were waiting for the proper greeting from her. In their culture, the newcomer must speak first.

As she stood there seemingly aloof from all the activity, no one could see the frightened little girl that hid inside. The girl cried out, "I can't talk to them! They always laugh! I never say anything right! I never know what to do! I'm never right!"

Finally, overcoming the fears and self degradation she called out hesitantly "Damba, Damba, Saakilibaa," the proper tribal greeting, calling out the last names of the women present.

The women laughed and the little girl inside the cool, detached woman cringed. Outwardly she tried to smile. But she was crushed and the little girl inside began the litany of depreciation once again.

But much to her surprise one of the women approached her. "I am a Saakilibaa," she said, "you are in my family." The women were delighted because she tried to greet them.

They began talking animatedly. But they wanted her to do it right. So they began shouting their names back and forth in the proper Malinke way. They urged her to shout out their names. In Malinke culture the louder you greet someone the more honored they are.

But she thought, "I was brought up to never raise my voice. I can't do this."

Determined however to learn culture and language and to be accepted, she raised her voice and shouted with all her might, "Damba, Damba, Saakilibaa."

Once again the women laughed. But this time she knew that they were laughing in delight at how hard she tried to be a good Malinke.

Pray for missionaries as they struggle to learn the often very difficult tribal language and culture, which is so very different from our comfortable "home culture." Missionaries aren't different from you. They have the same fears you do and need your prayers to bring the Gospel message to a lost and dying world.

From www.ntm.org

TRANSLATING WHEN WORDS ARE LACKING

2006-11-16T16:42:00.001-05:00

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Matt Arnold teaching a Northern Tepehuan man

This week, the translations of Romans and Ephesians in the language of the Northern Tepehuan people of Mexico are moving one big step closer to completion.

Kevin Case has worked with Gregorio and some other Tepehuan men to translate the two books, which are now being checked for comprehension. This means some Tepehuans who have not been involved in translating the books will have the opportunity to read them, one passage at a time, and then talk with missionaries about what they understand the passages to mean.

Each passage they understand correctly moves the Romans and Ephesians closer to printing. Each passage they do not understand correctly is a passage that needs to be revised. This is one of the final stages of checking. It began Monday and is expected to be completed Saturday.

"Within months," wrote missionary Matt Arnold, "the [Northern] Tepehuan believers will have those two precious books to add to the Old Testament portions, Mark and Acts in their language!"

One of the biggest hurdles is the fact that the Northern Tepehuan language lacks words for some key concepts in Romans and Ephesians, such as sin, righteousness and holiness. Through New Tribes Mission's specialized training, Kevin, Matt and other missionaries have learned that language reflects the culture, and the language lacks those words because the concepts are also lacking in the Northern Tepehuan worldview.

They learned how to dig deeper into the culture to unearth ways to express these concepts, as part of the overall process of not only learning the culture and language, but developing relationships and planting a church. Sound complex? It is! And that's precisely why NTM's training is so important.

This means the role you're playing in the ongoing improvements at NTM's Missionary Training Center is also important. You're helping make it possible to expand the reach of the Gospel to every tribe. Thank you!

Please pray:

The training center is very much in need of a new classroom building. Pray for finances for this building.
Praise! More student housing is vital in order to train more missionaries and reach more tribes, and there's been progress. The third student four-plex has been inspected. On the fourth four-plex, the pad has been poured, and a volunteer group has come to frame the walls.
Pray for the sale New Tribes Mission properties in Oregon and Indiana. Proceeds will be used to help complete the Missionary Training Center, so more tribal people can hear the Gospel.

TRIBAL CHANT

2006-11-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

by Lynne Strange

My arm stretched out to the clock by the bed. "Is it possible that it's already 2:45 in the morning?" I said to Chris, awake beside me.

Sing-song-y chants competed with the normal jungle night sounds and it meant there would be no sleep tonight. In the first months living in the jungle, we grew to love our lullaby of clicking and chirping insects as we drift off to sleep.

But last night they were drowned out by hours of chanting and dancing. Even the dogs were quieted this night by the unusual activity.

What competed with the jungle began around 4:30 in the afternoon. An elderly Banwaon man chanting in staccato bursts was followed by a procession of people moving forward with measured steps to the meeting place in the middle of the village -- and right beside our house.

As night fell the dim lighting illuminated the open-sided house packed with Banwaons huddled under blankets on the floor or stepping over the huddles.

Like relay runners handing off batons, the chanters belted out the sing-song-y rhythms for about 20 minutes or so until the voice began to fade and crack. That was apparently the signal for the next leader to begin.

We couldn't peel our faces away as we watched from our bedroom window, the perfect perch, out of the way and causing no distractions.

At 4 in the morning, the rhythm was notched up a bit and several young men and women scrambled out of their blankets to take part in a graceful dance that circled around those few managing to keep their spot among those sprawled around on the floor.

We watched unwearied by the long hours straining to hear the words that danced about with the people. It all finally came to an end by 11:30 the next morning as they tumbled out of the meeting house for food and rest.

As we soaked in this new experience, we prayed God would help us stay diligent studying this new language. We could understand only a few words that floated up to our window that night. It thrilled our hearts that those words were about God and His Son, Jesus and the work of His blood on the cross for them.

The chanting was of praise and thanksgiving for God the Holy Spirit teaching their hearts through the Word and guiding their praise.

We don't hear much talk about the old days of fearing the evil spirits that once ruled their lives. And we may never fully know what those all-night chants used to mean to them or for what purpose they were performed.

The Banwaon tribe has second generation believers. Praise God that He has shown them His love and given them a new purpose to chant.

Don't know many Missionaries?

2006-10-27T21:52:00.000-05:00

How can you pray for missionaries if you dont know many?

When we talk about missions, there is one thing we all must do. Now, now, if you know me, I’m not going to say you must be missions or die, but pray for it. After all it is the main goal of the church. God didn’t say for us to go into all of our comfort zones preaching the gospel and baptizing those who are saved. He said to go ye into ALL the world, making DISCIPLES of ALL NATIONS…

Hmmm.. don’t get me wrong but hey, we’re doing pretty bad if we aren’t even making disciples in our own churches and “comfort zones” let alone all nations…(that should convict you, if it don’t, then pray hard)

But, you say I’m not the missionary type… Neither was Moses by his own words,

Exo 4:10 But Moses said to the LORD, "Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue." 11 Then the LORD said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD? 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak." 13 But he said, "Oh, my Lord, please send someone else."
May I also remind you in the later half of Chapter 3 and the beginning of Chapter 4 God performs mericles, not just giving words, but turning wood into a snake and back, and giving him leprosy and healing him just as quickly and Moses still has the gull to say this…

So if you insist as Moses did that you are not the type to be used by God in extraordinary ways, then here’s what Christ still demands of you…

When talking to his disciples Christ’s words were..
Mat 9:37 Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."

Who knows, Maybe God will send an “Aaron” into your life if you can’t handle what he has convicted you of. The Christian life is about service, not self… Christ, not self… Love, not self… hmmmm seems like a pattern…

SINOWS BEGINNING TO SEE NOW

2006-10-19T13:02:00.000-05:00

Thursday, October 19, 200

The Sinows are crowding into the village meeting house to hear God's talk, eager to listen to the evangelistic Bible lessons being taught in their own language in Papua New Guinea.

Missionaries Kelly and Sien Luyendyk have enjoyed seeing the Sinow people so interested in God's Word. Kelly has translated the evangelistic lessons into the Sinow language and is teaching them.

On one particular evening Sien read some scripture and it was interesting to see the Sinows listen intently. They were amazed that Westerners could speak their language so well and that a woman could read from the printed page, but most of all that they were reacting to hearing God's Word being read.

So how did these outsiders learn the ways and the language of the Sinows so well, that they could express God’s Word clearly? Where did the Luyendyks learn to develop an alphabet, write down a language and translate scriptures and lessons? Those are all part of the training that New Tribes Mission provides for missionaries.

Thank you for the part you are playing in the ongoing improvements at NTM’s Missionary Training Center. The first classes are under way, and plans are in place for expanding the campus to train even more students, so more tribal people can have the opportunity to hear the Gospel.

Please pray:

- For the students and staff who are working through the new missionary training course. A lot of work has been put into the course, and there’s a lot of work ahead, but “we are off to a good start,” according to Andy Kline, one of training center leaders.

- For resources for a new classroom building. “We have some short-term alternatives but they do not provide a long-term solution,” wrote David Mough, part of the curriculum development team.

From PNG

2006-10-11T11:29:00.000-05:00

In the next few months NTM tribal leaders will begin Bible teaching in 8 different tribal languages. 8 tribes will be hearing the Gospel for the first time in their language. I tell you, this really gets us pumped up. We hope it does you as well. Please be praying for each one of these groups that hey will be open and receptive to the truth of God’s Word and that many will place their faith in Christ as their Savior. Here’s a list of the tribes;

Madak tribe; missionaries Chris & Peggy Bittner, April Fish, Karl & Marybeth Greeb, Aharon Mihill; Teaching to begin in 2007

Mariam Tribe; Missionaries Brian & Andrea Holmquist, Mark & Holly Woodward; Teaching to begin in 2007

Patpatar Tribe; Missionaries Butch & Tammy Kunzer, Aaron & Lori Luse; Teaching to begin in 2007

Dinangit Tribe; Missionaries Jeremiah & April Markely, Ralph & Elisabeth Schlegel, Gary & Esther Smith; Teaching to begin in 2007

Inapang Tribe; Missionaries Bill & Kelly Housley, Daniel & Elizabeth Moore, Matthias & Petra Mueller; Teaching begins in 2007

Sinou Tribe; Missionaries Mike and & Jen Cratch, Kelly & Sien Luyendyk, frank & Mirjam Tertel; Teaching to begin in Early September of ‘06

Sorimi Tribe; Missionaries Poul & Carol Joensen, James & Erin Wyly; Teaching to begin in Late October of ‘06

Tobo Tribe; Missionaries Jason & Kelly Knapp, Chad & Janeene Mankins; Teaching to begin in Mid October of ‘06

from Aaron and Sarah Libera - Indonesia

2006-10-09T08:05:00.000-05:00

Friends and Family,
Thank you for your continued prayers and support and notes of encouragement to us while we serve in Indonesia. I read a quote from a Bible study that really sums it up about how I feel here sometimes.."It takes so much energy just to survive, and the task is so daunting."
But I was reminded this week about the real reason we are here. I'd like to introduce you to the pastor of our small church here. His name is Thomas Wenda, his wife is Salomina and their oldest daughter is Sarah. They came here to Manado, from Papua, several years ago to go to seminary because they saw all the tribes around them in Papua that have never heard about Jesus Christ or the Saving Grace that comes through Him alone. They lost their second daughter Rohanita before they came here -she was three months old. After being here a few months the man that sponsored them stopped. They were in seminary school with two daughters and only a little money saved up. Not long after, their third daughter- Lydia (3yrs) fell down a steep ledge and died. The rest of their savings went to funeral expenses. Not long after that, their daughter Sarah was hit by a car and hospitalized for 3 months -the Lord provided for her hospital bills (totaling $500) with money someone had sent them so they could go home for a visit. Pastor Thomas has just finished seminary and is planning on attending the missions training center here (like ntm indonesia). This past friday night his wife went into labor (26 days late) with their fourth baby. On sunday evening, their first boy was born via c-section. Their determination to reach tribes that have never heard the gospel is an encouragement to me. Please pray for Salomina she will be in the hospital another week. Let me tell you about the hospital for a minute, when I went to visit her while she was still in labor the first thing I experienced was the stench of raw sewage that did not go away no matte what hall we went down, when we finally arrived in the labor and delivery ward, I saw a huge rat run across the hall. They wouldn't let us in the room to see her because it was the 'sterile room' all women labor and deliver in one room separated by curtains. I saw her through a cracked door. First I saw a bathroom with stagnate water on the floor and plastic gloves hanging on a laundry rack , then I saw Salomina on a cot with no sheets separated by a thin curtain, on the other side of the curtain not 18 inches away was three nurses playing video games on a laptop -she hadn't been checked on in 4 hours. Even though she was the one in labor, I also started feeling sick to my stomach and light headed. I asked her how many centimeters dialated she was, she said when they checked her in (11 hours earlier) they said 10...what/?? So I asked a nurse how many centimeters she was, he looked confused and said "one?" -go figure. After 36 hours of labor they decided she needed a c-section but couldn't do it until they got 4 bags of type-O blood, which is the families job to provide. It took six hours to find 4 people from our churches that could do it (many got turned down because of malaria in their blood). After all was said and done, their hospital bills will be around $900 which may sound cheap to you but they only receive a $20 a month stipend from the church to live on. Pray for their son that he will live a long, healthy life. Pray for their oldest child Sarah who is staying with us and hasn't seen or talked to her parents in 4 days. I am reminded of the verse "Endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry" Eph 4:5. This family is doing just that.

We are doing well. Things are all coming together for our time at home. Aaron has been really busy tying up all of the loose ends here, preparing for his trip to MO, and getting as many of his projects finished as he can or at least into "standby" mode before we leave. I am busy packing and making arrangements for things we will need at home and for the families that will be staying in our house while we are gone. There are two families staying with us now, as they are in town to meet with their tribal translation helpers and our field translation consultant to check completed portions of scripture. One of the teams just finished their final check for the entire new testament yesterday. What an awesome feeling of joy and accomplishment they must be feeling, and they have been giving all credit to the Lord, who gave them the wisdom and devotion needed to undertake such a challenging ministry and see it through to completion. Praise Him for His faithfulness!

Lastly, pray for our trip home tomorrow!

See you soon
Grace and Peace,
The Liberas