“God is more concerned about the work He’s doing IN you, than He is THROUGH you.”
We are back home in Dem-Land after a great break! We had been in here since January and were really ready for one! For those who didn’t know, we as a family were able to take a vacation for some much needed family time. We have done a couple day get away’s at a hotel here and there before, but never an actual, planned get-a-way where we didn’t need to focus on ministry and just have some R&R. We felt like it was very much needed and we thank you all who had a part in seeing that possible. It was SUCH a blessing!
After our vacation, we came back to Papua where Eden did a week of standardized testing and we did some of our supply shopping. Then we had our regional conference. It was 5 days of hearing from other works on the same island with our org (NTM) and also a time of sharing, learning and encouragement. It was great for the kids as well as they were able to take part in a VBS program that was put together for the kids while the adults were in meetings all morning. It was encouraging to hear from other works and how the church is growing all over this island and we have new brothers and sisters in Christ.
After conference, our organization had a couple days of Church Development forums where we talked/learned about practical topics pertaining to our current and future ministries.
We can’t help but become anxious for the day we can give a report of the first Dem person putting their faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. But until then we keep plugging along at what He has for us now.
As of last week Eden started 4th grade, Jericho is starting 1st grade and our family is back in the swing of things. After being gone from our home for a little while, it took us a few days to get our house back up and running and all our supplies unpacked (for the next several months) and laundry done. LOTS of cleaning-you wouldn’t believe how filthy a house can get in a month here and how much spiders can overtake a house!
For those of you who have been praying for the mom and baby who didn’t have enough breastmilk; the baby is doing well! Our team has been helping her everyday that we have been here to supplement formula, pump, give medicines, etc.. This is a big shout out to our co-workers, the Teall’s and my wife Briana, as they have been diligently spending so much time cleaning bottles, preparing bottles for her to take home, teaching the mom and caring for these two. Also THANK YOU to those of who sent packages of formula for the baby. It hasn’t been something that our team has honestly wanted to do every day, but in the end we are thankful to be able to help this mom and baby and it would be so cool if this baby one day accepts Christ as her Savior.
As far as plans go for this year, we are not planning on coming out of the tribe until next March. Our hope is to work hard these next 7 months and for me (Jay) to take my final language evaluation sometime before Christmas. Then, Lord willing, Briana can can have a couple of months of full time language while I would be house dad before we need to go to town in March (2019) for some literacy and translation workshops. These workshops, which will last 5 weeks, are exciting because it means we can start the fun stuff like Literacy in the Dem language and of course the translation of God’s word into the Dem language for the first time in the history of the PLANET. How crazy is that!
After these workshops are over, our plan is to take a 6-7 month furlough. At that point next year, it will have been almost 4 years since being stateside, and the plan is to return to the Dem tribe in time to help with final preparations before we can start teaching the creation to Christ chronologically to our Dem friends in their own heart language. Pretty exciting!!!
In the coming months we will be sending out updates/requests for people who may want to give to specific projects. Next year when we head to Pennsylvania, we will need a car, possibly housing, plane tickets and also new solar equipment. We know God will provide as He ALWAYS does, but just somethings for you all to pray about.
Along those lines, if there is anyone out there who might have an extra car they’d be willing to rent/lend us while we are back, would you please let us know? We are tentatively planning on purchasing a car and praying we can re-sell it when we go to leave, but we thought we could put the need out there and see what happens first. Also if you know of any furnished housing options in the Boyertown/Pittsburgh area we’d appreciate any leads.
And in closing, as I mentioned during our regional conference, we had a guest speaker from the states and he challenged us everyday from the Word and something that I was reminded of was something I think a lot of us forget. For me I stay so busy with my ministry and what God is allowing me to be a part of and what is being accomplished “through” my work/ministry and I get caught up in wanting my ministry to count, and wanting others to see what we are doing for God, that I forget sometimes that God cares so so much about a personal relationship with me and He cares about what He is doing IN my life, far more than He cares whats being accomplished THROUGH my life. He doesn’t NEED any of us to do ANYTHING for Him. He desires you and me to be intimate with Him. THAT is the WHY He sent His son to Calvary. This was a great reminder to not let ministry get in the way or take priority before my relationship with Him and I hope you all remember the same thing.
Thank you all once again for your faithful support and we look forward to seeing you all next year.
*Also, over the years many people have changed email services or for whatever reason we have had our issues with some people receiving our updates who used to and its so hard to track so many different email addresses, so please feel free to share this amongst your churches and/or friends/family and hopefully we can get re-connected but please try and leave out specifics about our location and organization on social media.
Your feet to the Dem... 