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FINDING JESUS!

Posted by Robert and Cirena Smith on Friday, May 17th, 2013

 

Robert, Cirena, & Sheila

When Finding Nemo first came out in film back in 2003 we totally missed it.  As a matter of fact, I distinctly remember one of our co-workers giving Sheila Marie a stuffed fish that same year for her second birthday.  I was told the fish’s name was Nemo as evident by his ‘lucky’ fin.  I however had no clue.  This was our first year of ministry in the Philippines on Palawan and we were busy helping tribal people in the process of Finding Jesus.

Since then we’ve had the opportunity to watch Finding Nemo a number of times and I would say this is arguably one of the greatest cartoon films ever created.  After all, who can forget lines like, (insert surfer accent) “Taking on the jellieees!  Dude, you’ve got some serious thrill issues.”  Back in Palawan, currently the gospel is being preached among the Calamian Tagbanwa and when I stop and think of the work this takes, it makes me want to say to our co-workers as little squirt said to Marlin, “Dude, you totally rock!” 

Our co-worker Nate recently wrote, “Teaching people who have never clearly understood God’s word is slow going… sometimes painfully slow, but taking the time to teach steadily from the beginning has been so worth it!”  He went on to say, “As we teach about Jesus, people really connect the dots right away and He makes sense to them.”

In Finding Nemo, in order for Marlin to save his son Nemo, he had to venture off the reef into dangers unknown, cross the ocean and fight of some hungry sharks and other creatures of the deep.  Despite the danger, Marlin’s love for Nemo compelled him to set out on this incredible journey.  Along the way he found help from forgetful Dory, a 150 year old sea turtle named Crush and numerous others along the way.

So what’s the point?  Whiling Finding Nemo is a cool cartoon, Finding Jesus is of far greater importance. Leaving “the reef” per se to travel across the ocean into challenges unknown so that we might teach people about Jesus is not always easy and fun but it is worth it.  Why do we do it?  It’s because His love compels us!  As for these other fish in the ocean such as Dory & Crush, planting tribal churches doesn’t get done alone.  It requires help along the way.  To that extent, my wife and I might be nothing more than an old sea turtle and forgetful Dory (Shay for sure is our little Squirt), but coming alongside of our co-workers in this incredible journey is a privilege we wouldn’t change for the world.  

Please pray for the continued teaching among the Calamian Tagbanwa as they are in the process of Finding Jesus.  Blessings to each of you and thanks for your partnership in helping to see the gospel preached among the least reached people groups in the Philippines.

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Preparations and a long-lead item

Posted by Keith and Holly Splawn on Friday, May 17th, 2013

Currently it’s really hard to keep my part of the preparation ball rolling because I spend so much of each day schooling.  I have one more week of school to finish up with the children.  I’m thankful we homeschool and have flexibility in our schedule to finish up our year a little early.  After that, it will be much easier for me to give our mission field preparations more of my focus, time, and energy.

I’m pretty sure I could go on and on if listed all the things that need to be done, taken care of, or figured out before we make it to the field. None of these jobs are in and of themselves huge, undoable tasks, but when I start thinking about all of them I tend to get very overwhelmed.  I’m thankful to God (who is the best match-maker) for a husband that doesn’t get so easily overwhelmed, who keeps things all in perspective with a good outlook on them and keeps me focused on what needs to be done each day.  He calls the day’s task “the long-lead item”.  Today’s long-lead item is painting cabinet doors.  I can do that.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  John 1:16


 

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keeping those suitcases free of dust…

Posted by Jerry and Joyce McDaniels on Thursday, May 16th, 2013

Yep, it’s time to get out our suitcases again. We are preparing for an important trip to Bolivia. We leave the end of this month for Bolivia. One project we’ve been working on is to update the literacy training that missionary candidates receive and then to train the trainers. This trip to Bolivia is a part of that process. We are so excited to work with about 15 students from Bolivia and Peru, as well as help train the literacy course teachers and field literacy consultants. And we have an added blessing of being able to visit our daughter and her family who are serving at a school for missionary children in Bolivia!

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4-wheeling in May 2013

Posted by Theo and Martha Enns on Thursday, May 16th, 2013

We drive to church in the mission’s “Big Red”.

Driving to a local Haitian church.

You can see a picture of us on our way to church by 4-wheel drive, on our NTM blog where we post a new picture each month (see our web address at the bottom.) The churches here in Haiti may read from a French Bible, but the preaching is done in the language of the people: Creole. Since Creole was developed as a language by freed slaves from West Africa during the colonization of Haiti by the French,  there are certain similarities to the French language which help me follow along in the Creole services. But there are also significant differences that are not always obvious, (more…)

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Begin at the beginning

Posted by Keith and Holly Splawn on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

After reading the book Radical by David Platt and having a conversation with a friend who suggested taking the whole family on a mission trip, we decided that “it would be good for the kids” to do so.  A year later that dream was realized we went on a family mission trip to Brazil in the fall of 2012.  We chose our destination as a New Tribes School for MKs.  This particular place was dear to my husband’s heart.  His roommate in college had grown up at the school.  Keith had visited him there one summer during his college years and had always wanted to go back.

After the trip we talked about going to missions full-time, but the conversations were never serious.   In February our pastor was preaching a series of sermons on Elijah.  He got to the part where Elijah calls Elisha and during the sermon.  Then I knew He was calling us to Brazil.  During the sermon, I keep praying for my husband to be hearing the same thing.  After the service, I asked him what he thought about the sermon.  He said that he’d been hearing that call for a while and knew that God was calling us to Brazil.

Soon after we began the application process to become Associates with NTM.  We were accepted about a month ago.  We plan on going back to the school in the fall.  Keith will work in maintenance (and that is quite a job there!) and teach and I’ll be a teacher’s assisstant in the elementary school.  What a honor it will be to serve other missionaries!  We are excited about our roles serving tribal and city missionaries by helping to provide a loving, safe and educational environment for their children.  It’s an important investment in the future.

To be honest, we are scared and excited and feel like we’re on a roller coaster most days with all the things that have to be done before we go.  But we are thankful that the One who’s calling us there is the One in charge of that ride.

Please pray and consider coming alongside us and being God’s means to providing the support we need to get there.

1Thessalonians 5:24 “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”

 

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Graduation upon us

Posted by Rex and Shirley Schaffner on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Our senior class of over 50 students will walk the stage this Saturday as we celebrate their amazing work these past two years. You could almost hear their sighs of relief today as they finished their classes. What a joy to have had this time with them, focused on the Word of God. It has been their steady diet since August 2011 when they arrived. Hours and hours each day in class and doing homework. We figure that they have logged over 2,000 hours of study during their time here. After about 1,000 hours they come to realize they are not just reading and studying a book…they are interacting with God Himself. It is the living Word isn’t it?!

The Spirit of God is so faithful to reward those who diligently seek Him. We see evidence all around us each day. Faces lighting up…faces troubled. Hearts soaring…hearts heavy. The joy of knowing Him and the reality of knowing what we are like on our own. The victory of walking in freedom from sin and the defeat of finding ourselves in sin again. But God is faithful, Who forgives and loves unconditionally. Full of grace and truth! What a privilege to be a part of training so many young people to walk in truth and the Spirit. Thank You Lord!

We thank God for you all often…those who pray for us and support us in this, His work! May you know the joy of His Spirit as you invest in eternity with us! Thank you!

Phil 1.3-6 Thankful and confident!

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Tying Things Up!

Posted by Jared and Diana Jantz on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

The END OF THE YEAR is always a good time to “tie things up” so I decided to host a card-making party for my Evangelism Girls Group.  I knew that several may not be able to attend due to other “end of the year parties” but we put it on the calendar for those who were available.

Although only half were able to come … we had a great time of being creative and bouncing new ideas around the table.  It was an evening of laughter and relaxation knowing that classes were over and no more assignments were due.

And to end the evening … we all enjoyed a yummy dessert of strawberry short cake with ice cream and some specialty chocolates that my sister in Texas gave me to share with the girls.   It was all a big hit!

How thankful I am for each young woman that God has placed in my group – I am truly blessed because of them!

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Leave FLorida? For Michigan?

Posted by Rex and Shirley Schaffner on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

That was the big question 20 years ago in January 1993. It is so hard to imagine we have now completed our 17th year serving at New Tribes Bible Institute after 3 years of training with NTM from ’93-’96.  Little could we imagine back then the blessings in store as Shirley and I served in different roles that would come our way. We love thinking back and remembering what the Lord has done.

For Shirley, her ministries have included child care, teacher secretary, admissions, dean of married ladies and dean of single ladies (9 years), subjective grader and most recently assistant to the President :>).

For me, cook, food service coordinator, business manager, dean of married men and single men, director of community relations and most recently President.

Our latest roles find us busy in the areas of recruitment and mobilization. We have the privilege of working with Andrew and Sarah, an alumni couple who will be with us until December, when they will head to the NTM Missionary Training Center to be prepared to go to the field. We have so enjoyed working with them in spreading the word about NTBI, NTM and the work God is doing around the world. As sad as it will be to lose them, we are excited about the work they will do reaching a tribe. They will take a big part of us with them, and you too…those who are praying and supporting us. We are so blessed to be able to invest in them (as you invest with us) so they can invest in tribal people and point them to Christ.

We have a busy semester ahead in the fall, meeting with many new Pastors and Youth Pastors and training new interns to work in Andrew and Sarah’s roles.

We appreciate your prayers for us in the following:

Enrollment – we have room for 75 new freshmen

Returning students – that all will be able to return and money will not be a hindrance

Wisdom as we plan our mobilization strategy and meetings the rest of 2013.

Thank you so much for your time, interest and prayers! To God be the glory!

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Back in Paraguay!

Posted by Mark and Janet Case on Wednesday, May 15th, 2013

Thanks so much for your prayers for us this past month as we traveled back here to Paraguay and have gotten settled back into our various ministry responsibilities. We were warmly welcomed by our co-workers and neighbors as well as by a variety of creepy creatures who set up house while we were gone. We had birds, scorpions, centipedes, frogs, and hundreds of spiders taking up residence not to mention the snake that came up the shower drain. If you hear an ear-piercing scream, it is probably just Janet finding another welcoming creature.

Shortly after getting back, we were able to attend a workshop called Strengthening Your Interpersonal Skills. It was a great week of learning and growing in the areas of listening, problem solving, confronting, encouraging, dealing with conflicts, managing stress, and dealing with loss among a host of other concepts. We want to be effective tools in God’s hands for impacting others for all of eternity, and we are very thankful for this week of personal learning and growing.

Pray for our family as we balance a variety of ministry responsibilities. One couple recently needed to leave for a six month home assignment, so we are endeavoring to cover their responsibilities while they are gone. Pray for Josh as he finishes up his 9th grade schoolwork. He is enjoying being back home here in Paraguay. Pray for Ben as he finished his first year of college and has a variety of different activities and work planned for the summer.

Thanks for your prayers!

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FRANCOIS TEACHING

Posted by Phil and Elin Henderson on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

Francois is busy these days teaching God’s Word at the newest outreach into their village. He along with several other Mwinika believers are working together to communicate God’s Word clearly to this new group. Pray for strength for the Hattingh family and that many will come to hear the Truth and find the freedom it brings!

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