The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.” – Isaiah 14:24

I wanted to just send out a quick note sharing some very cool information. There are many days that are very discouraging with trying to learn a completely undocumented language and days we feel like we will never learn it and many other other discoursing thoughts. However, we were reminded  once again at God’s Sovereign plan for our lives, and not just ours, but the Dem as well.

Last week one of our pilots asked if he could bring in a visitor from the states who is a board member of MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) who wanted to see a newer work in Papua and visit a location where they fly frequently. So they came in for about an hour or  so just getting to know us and asking questions.

Before this man came he had no idea where/which tribe he’d be visiting as the local Pilot made all the plans. This visitor had actually lived in Papua for many years as a Bible translator with Wycliffe.  So as we are talking, he told us that a long time ago (I forget what year), but at least 25 yrs ago, him and his wife almost came to the Dem. They heard abut the Dem and the Dem were 1 of 3 different tribes they really wanted to work in but God led them to a different village.  He was so excited to see someone had finally come to the Dem as he had been praying for them for many many years and here he got to visit the place he wanted to move to many years ago. It was pretty cool that he was able to come visit and we enjoyed having him here to talk to and encourage us.

There was also another team about 8 years ago with our same organization that did a survey to the Dem. They really wanted to come here and were making plans on moving into the Dem, but for political reasons they weren’t granted permission and decided the door was closed and went to a different tribe.

And now our team is here!!  When we moved to Papua not knowing exactly what area or which tribe we would go to, God brought the Dem straight to us and they invited us to come live with them and the door was wide open. It was just a reminder that for many many years there have different people that have wanted to come to Dem but for whatever reason didn’t/couldn’t and yet God opened the door wide open to our team and has let us live here. A place that has wanted missionaries for 40+ years.

The Sovereignty of God is an incredible thing when you think about it. God in His own perfect planning and allowance has brought our specific team to the Dem and when we feel completely unable, unqualified, incapable of doing this job we MUST remember that He has orchestrated our very existence on this planet and even to the jobs that we do, the houses we live in, the people we come in contact….. EVERYTHING.

He has promised in Isaiah 14:24- “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,” and we can never forget that.

So thank you for having a part of the work here in Dem-land. There is a lot of stuff I can’t explain to you because I myself just don’t understand about living overseas and in the  jungle but I can tell you that through God’s divine intervention He has allowed our specific team to be here doing His work, so you can get behind that knowing that by you praying, supporting, and encouraging the work in the Dem you are having a part in GOD’S SOVEREIGN plan.

I was sitting in my office the other day and thinking to myself “I’m never going to be able to speak this language well enough to present the Gospel clearly.” (this happens many days).  I began thinking about many of our supporters and wondering if people in the states really understand the fact that we are studying  a language that has NEVER been studied or written down before, or just how complex these languages are. 

Languages in Papua are some of the most complex languages in the world with how a verb can change hundreds of different ways.  I was going over a chart that we have here  (that we have compiled) with some verbs, and was once again blown away (even though I see these charts everyday) at the craziness this is.  I began to think of all the missionaries for centuries going off to different areas of the world with the same goal as us and I’m sure that they too, at some point felt the same as I did, about never being able to learn this language well enough to present God’s rescue plan clearly, and yet by God’s grace they did.

Everyday I look across the huge valley that is separated by a big river and huge mountain range as far as I can see from east to west. That land I see everyday is a people group, that up until about 5 years ago had never heard God’s rescue story in their language.  Our friends, the Wild’s and Ingles’ moved there, learned the language, translated sections of the Bible, and there is now a growing Church.

I’m sure there were days those guys sat in their offices, on their porch hanging out with tribal guys thinking, “I’ll never get this language!”, but they did it. They remained faithful to the Lord, and of course God will build His church and is forever faithful in HIS plan for His bride.

This was an encouragement to me.  It didn’t make studying easier at all that day, but just reminded me that one day, in God’s perfect timing the Dem will hear His Gospel message. It may not be from my mouth.  It may be from our partners who learned the language faster than me, but that’s ok.  We are simply called to be the light in the darkness, to love others as He has loved us, and to Love HIM above all else.

I thought you all would get a kick out of seeing a very small glimpse of what this language looks like on paper.  These are the different variations of the verb “buy”.  This isn’t all of them but just what we have so far. So when you want to go “buy” something next time, try to imagine having to think through all the different ways you can say it in Dem and using the right form. 🙂

BUY-

• ndoɣoɣwɑno
• ndoɣoɣmuɾo
• ndoɣoɣuɾo
• ndoɣoɾoɣwio
• ndoɣoɾɑɣo
• ndoɣoɾɑmo
• ndoɣoɑle deɾɑmo
• ndoɣondemo
• ndoɣoɑle dəndemo
• ndoɣoɑnjemo
• ndoɣoɣwɑo
• ndoɣoɣolɑndemo
• ndoɣoɑle doɣəlɑndemo
• ndoɣoɾo
• ndoɣoŋoɾo
• ndoɣoɣwɑno
• ndoɣoɣolɑŋoɾo
• ndoɣoɾo
• ndoɣondeo
• ndoɣoɾɑɣo
• ndoɣoɣolɑndeo
• ndoɣoɾɑmo
• ndoɣoɑle dəndemo / ndoɣondemo
• ndoɣoɣwino
• ndoɣoɣwinlɑndemo / ndoɣomeso
• ndoɣubeɾɑmo / ndoɣoɾɑmo
• ndoɣouβɑnjemo / ndoɣoubəndemo
• ndoɣomeo
• ndoɣomelɑndemo / ndoɣomeso
• ndoɣoɾumenɑŋo / ndoɣoɾuo
• ndoɣoɑnjemo / ndoɣondemo
• ndoɣoɣwɑmeo
• ndoɣoɑle dəndemo
• ndoɣoɑle
• ndoɣoɑwe
• ndoɣoolo
• ndoɣomelɑ
• ndoɣomelɑ wiuk
• ndoɣomelɑ dɑk
• ndoɣomoɣo
• ndoɣome ɑβo
• ndoɣoɾɑlɑ
• ndoɣoɾɑɣənɛk melɑ
• ndoɣoɾekmeo
• ndoɣoɑkmeo
• ndoɣotne
• ndoɣoɾɑme
• ndoɣoɾɑβuk bɑ
• ndoɣoɣwɑ uɾuɑm
• ndoɣoɣwɑ njem
• ndoɣoɣwɑ uɡulɑndem
• ndoɣoɣwɑ βoɾo
• ndoɣoɣwɑ njeo
• ndoɣoɣwɑ uɡulɑndeo
• ndoɣoɣwɑ βoɾo
• ndoɣoɣwɑ nyoɾo
• ndoɣoɣwɑ uɡulɑŋoɾo
• ndoɣoɣwɑβolo
• ndoɣoɣwɑmune
• ndoɣolu
• ndoɣolu
• ndoɣoɾɑ məŋɡɑo
• ndoɣoɾe koɾɑmo
• ndoɣoɣwɑɾəɡe njemo
• ndoɣoɣwɑɾəɡe nyoɾo
• ndoɣoɑŋɡun nyoɾo
• ndoɣomune
• ndoɣoɣwɑmelɑ
• ndoɣomelɑ oɣweo
• ndoɣoɑmune
• ndoɣoɾe

Thank you all for your faithful support and prayers.  I can’t tell you when we will be able to share the Gospel with the Dem, or how much longer we will be learning the language, as it’s just too hard to tell.  However, I can tell you that it will happen at some point just as God has promised us, that there will representatives before the throne of God “from every nation, tongue and tribe”, so you can rest knowing Gods plan for the Dem will not be changed despite my lack of abilities. And your prayers for the Dem are not going unheard.

We are humbled to be your feet to the Dem.

-J for the Stokes’ 

Hey everyone,

My mom is coming from the states in about 3 weeks for a visit and I was wondering if anyone had an old/extra ipad that you’d be willing to sell or giveaway? There are several apps and programs that I feel would be beneficial for language study but don’t wanna spend the money if someone has an extra one they aren’t using.

If so please contact us soon so I can arrange getting it to my mom before she heads this way.

Thanks everyone..

-J

Hey everyone,

This is going to be short but sweet. This past Tuesday we signed the papers for our 5 year visas. (FINALLY!!) That means for the next 5 years we do not need to worry about any kind of government paperwork. (at least the big serious ones) What a blessing it is to not have to worry about that aspect of our ministry and God used many of you to help the financial side of the visas and we couldn’t thank you enough.

It’s pretty awesome to think about in 5 years when we need to report again to the government we will have brothers and sisters from the Dem language. Its super exciting and you all should rejoice knowing you had a part of that also.

We are back home now in the jungle. Even though its been a lot of cleaning and work after being gone for 2 1/2 months we are very glad to be home. The kids love being back home and are  into exploring and playing with their friends.  Thank you everyone who have been praying for the visa situation and for our family.

Well in a nutshell we came out to town on Feb 1^st because our visa expired Feb 2^nd and we were supposed to be getting our 5 year visas. We were told 2-3 week tops. Well almost 9 weeks later we are still waiting. This has been very frustrating as things in a 3^rd world country go, we can’t really get an explanation as to why. We have been told there were issues with someone down the line filing something wrong (Indonesian government guys) and missing paperwork, etc…

 We have been staying at the guesthouse and we are thankful to have a place to stay but this isn’t our home, this isn’t where we have important work to do and have been spending a lot of money we weren’t expecting to spend as staying at a guesthouse, renting cars, and having to eat out add up after 9 weeks, but God is ultimately in control and although we don’t know exactly “why” we are stuck here there is some reason and we must trust that it is for our own good.

 Please pray the government would finish the 1 last piece of paperwork they need to, so we can finish our visa paperwork process and get home. Please pray for our teammates as this has added extra work to their load as they have been watching our animals and looking after our house for much longer than expected.

 As for praises- we are thankful that almost 9 weeks in town and none of us have gotten malaria or dengue fever. (very common to get while at the guesthouse) Also praise we have been able to have more family time together. Life in the tribe is very demanding and although we try hard to not exclude or push our kids aside, sometimes its inevitable but being in town has allowed us to spend more time and give more of our attention to just the kiddos.

Thank you all for being apart of what God is doing and being our support team.

We will admit that we aren’t the best at communication and sending out updates. There are many reasons that factor into this but we are trying a new blog/update platform here on wordpress. We ask that you please let us know your input and grant us grace as we try and figure out a better solution to send out updates more frequently and more easily with our limited internet in the jungle.

We do value you all so so very much and are humbled at being your feet to the Dem.