Yes, dear friends, there is a way to say it's Christmas time in Mesem. The words are literally Jesus Christs' Being Born Time Is. The word "la" which means, "arise, stand, born, happen" and several other things depending on the context is a word in Mesem that I quite like. I like the idea that "laladn" can mean not only birthday, but also arising. That the name of Jesus "arises" in this land and in the land of Papua New Guinea has been our long standing goal and prayer.
As I write this Neil is at the nursing home conducting a service and I remained home with our injured son to write, cook, pick up pine needles and ask God for new direction for the year 2009. Even as I do these things, I am reminded of an expression my friend Elyce used when she prayed for us and for the Mesem. Elyce would say, "Lord make Your Name great among the Mesem".
So this Christmas we bless you, are thankful for you, and pray that God's Name is made great in all the earth.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Mesem "Magic" Stone
Many years ago a village elder told us the story of a magic stone that the spirits in the rain forest had given to the Mesem people as a gift. Whenever the Mesem went hunting with the stone, they were guaranteed success. They would go out, set their traps and be guaranteed success the following day. We asked what had happened to the stone, and were told that no one knew where it was, but it was suspected it had been taken by people living in an area closer to the coast.
So, it was with great surprise that a friend of Neil's approached him and told Neil that he had the stone in his possession. He asked that it be taken to the US to undergo tests to find out the source of it's power.
The stone is safe and will be evaluated for age and we are amazed at the detailed work on the stone given that no metal tools were known in Papua New Guinea until last century. We'll keep you posted on what we learn but many of you heard us tell this story some 15 years ago when we began working with the Mesem. It's quite the modern day mystery!
So, it was with great surprise that a friend of Neil's approached him and told Neil that he had the stone in his possession. He asked that it be taken to the US to undergo tests to find out the source of it's power.
The stone is safe and will be evaluated for age and we are amazed at the detailed work on the stone given that no metal tools were known in Papua New Guinea until last century. We'll keep you posted on what we learn but many of you heard us tell this story some 15 years ago when we began working with the Mesem. It's quite the modern day mystery!
Friday, December 5, 2008
A Quick Update
Three weeks ago, Yangga Tumbe, our dear brother in Jesus and Neil, stood side by side on a mountain in PNG and shared this moment for a photo. Yangga has long stood by our side since that first day in 1995 when he knocked on our door and asked, "Do you believe in binding satan in Jesus Name?". He told us that after months of frustration, God had told him to come and see us. After months of frustration on our end, the answer to our prayer came at our door and knocked!
Yangga's valuable insights into Mesem culture helped us to better understand the obstacles faced by our Mesem friends and their animistic world view. Yangga continues to be a pillar in the Christian community among the Mesem.
Neil is home and an update will soon appear in your mailbox (just after I get the expense report turned in). The goals of this trip were for the most part accomplished. We have some outstanding prayer concerns that continue to be a matter for intercession but we are rejoicing that the Mesem have told us that they are anxious for a 2011 typesetting deadline with 2012 as the prayerfully anticipated date for the Mesem New Testament dedication.
More to come. Rejoicing in the One who exploits the darkness.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Home Again
At this writing, Neil should be 36,000 feet above ground, or sleeping in an airport somewhere. It was a wonderful experience on Skpe to talk with Jerry Jacob who spent two of the last three weeks with Neil, and get a feel first hand for the situation to which we will be returning in just a few months.
Neil had a very productive time with the Epistles of John and Jude and reception to the Gospel of John was very positive. Likewise the people were very pleased to meet Jerry for the first time and here him give his full support to the task at hand and his desire to see us be able to give our full attention to translation and reading through the scripture. Pastor Giegere Wenge also attended the meeting, thus lending his continued support to this endeavor and confirming that although we officially work under a different covering, our ministry will remain much the same as it has always been and we are working together for the glory of Jesus Christ. There was further enthusiasm where we shared our prayerfully chosen "deadline" of 2011 to have the scripture checked and ready to be brought back to the US for typesetting. The time has come for the Word of God to be in the hands of the people.
It's been a long road and never without challenges. I was reading Paul defense of his ministry at the end of 2 Corinthians. It's a pretty exhaustive list of "things that could go wrong" so that in weakness, the power of God would be evident. While I have yet to be shipwrecked (I once boasted I never had come down with dengue and got it three months later so I'll qualify with 'yet'), there were quite a few things on his list I have experienced to some degree and found difficult. Yet even as Paul clings tenaciously to his integrity and his calling, reinforcing principles found throughout scripture, he also boasts in the sufferings with which he was entrusted. His ministry as an apostle would not be valid without them. That's quite a statement, from quite a man, who was the best travelled, most liked, most disliked, and, since he could preach all night, undoubtedly the longest winded missionary of first century fame. Somehow, the trials fit into God's picture for finishing well among the Mesem.
Neil will be home in 30 hours. I'll write more later. Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.
Neil had a very productive time with the Epistles of John and Jude and reception to the Gospel of John was very positive. Likewise the people were very pleased to meet Jerry for the first time and here him give his full support to the task at hand and his desire to see us be able to give our full attention to translation and reading through the scripture. Pastor Giegere Wenge also attended the meeting, thus lending his continued support to this endeavor and confirming that although we officially work under a different covering, our ministry will remain much the same as it has always been and we are working together for the glory of Jesus Christ. There was further enthusiasm where we shared our prayerfully chosen "deadline" of 2011 to have the scripture checked and ready to be brought back to the US for typesetting. The time has come for the Word of God to be in the hands of the people.
It's been a long road and never without challenges. I was reading Paul defense of his ministry at the end of 2 Corinthians. It's a pretty exhaustive list of "things that could go wrong" so that in weakness, the power of God would be evident. While I have yet to be shipwrecked (I once boasted I never had come down with dengue and got it three months later so I'll qualify with 'yet'), there were quite a few things on his list I have experienced to some degree and found difficult. Yet even as Paul clings tenaciously to his integrity and his calling, reinforcing principles found throughout scripture, he also boasts in the sufferings with which he was entrusted. His ministry as an apostle would not be valid without them. That's quite a statement, from quite a man, who was the best travelled, most liked, most disliked, and, since he could preach all night, undoubtedly the longest winded missionary of first century fame. Somehow, the trials fit into God's picture for finishing well among the Mesem.
Neil will be home in 30 hours. I'll write more later. Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.
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