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.