NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

In 2007, a village in Papua New Guinea heard the gospel, joyfully accepted it and many of them began worshipping the one true God who alone is worthy.

Now these same believers themselves are beginning the literacy and gospel outreaches that are needed to reach the other 2,700 people who share their language. Amazing!

What is more amazing is that prior to the literacy program and the gospel presentation in 2007, they had been illiterate and in complete spiritual darkness. Because their language had never been written down before, they had been trapped in their tribal superstitions and were ignorant of the message God had passed down for them in the Bible concerning the gospel. 

In 2004, as we moved into the village and began the process of language learning we were so thankful for training we received through the NTM training centers. In this village, there was no dictionary to turn to. The people couldnʼt tutor us as they themselves were unaware of the patterns in grammar and phonetics that made up their every day way of communicating. Even the way they thought and interpreted life was completely foreign to us. We were completely dependent upon the Lord to open our minds and show us how to proceed. 

M. David Sills in his book, The Missionary Call, he quotes Ralph D. Winter, “God cannot lead you on the basis of facts that you do not have.” We saw this to be so true as we began the process of trying to understand the culture and language. The Lord did not give us ideas and plans from thin air or mystically come and inspire us. The Lord used our minds and the time we invested into being learners throughout the training as the substance to work with as he guided us through the Holy Spirit to do the work that He had sent us there to do. 

Everything we learned in the training was crucial. All the little sounds we were hearing in the tribal language needed to be analyzed and written down into understandable symbols. The grammar structure also had to be analyzed so we could understand what was being communicated. When it came time to write an alphabet, we were able to use the training in forming new orthographies that we had received. It was not easy, but again, the Lord prepared us in advance with the knowledge required and then brought all the information back to the forefront of our minds when we needed it. 

Sometimes we get so busy in what we are doing that we forget to stop and look back and remember how the Lord has worked in our lives to equip us for the work He is doing through us. In light of that, we want to stop and thank the Lord for the great cross-cultural mission training we received through New Tribes Mission. We want to especially thank the staff that works at the training centers for the time they give to equip new generations of missionaries and for passing on their life stories and examples to those of us who are able to take and apply those principles to our own new works. 

We are also thankful for those who prayerfully and financially support these trainers and teachers as they work stateside. Their jobs may not be taking place on foreign soil, but they are no less impacting the world of tribal missions as their thoughts and ideas are spread throughout the world as they are implemented by the NTM students in many countries.The Lord is truly using them to give missionaries the tools they need to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. 

-Written by Bill and Kelley Housley, serving with NTM in Papua New Guinea.
You can receive their updates by requesting them at pilgrimspa@aol.com

We (the Farthings) met with Bill & Kelley and their partners 3 years ago to talk to them about their alphabet decisions.

 
Praise: We had a very good trip back from Germany this summer and the kids did really well.

Praise: For our students’ willingness to leave their families, home country and other comforts to bring more worshippers to God
Prayer: That the Lord would raise up a strong team that is behind these Missionaries in prayer, encouragement and financial support.
Praise: The good time we had with them in Oklahoma.
Praise: For the wonderful recovery of Niklas’ hands.
Prayer: Continue to pray for us as we hope to get to know the students better and be a blessing to them beyond the classroom setting.

Prayer: For our parenting skills and for our kids to get to know the Lord early on in their lives.
Prayer: That we would walk closely with the Lord and glorify him with our attitudes and actions. For balance in our lives as we try to juggle many responsibilities.

Praise/Prayer: Anna Schmidt, from Germany, will be here in February/March to volunteer at the Missionary Training Center. Please pray for good travels, good adjustment, and that it would be a good experience for her. She will be working in childcare and in our Linguistics department. We are very thankful for her help.

Prayer: For more laborers. So many areas of this ministry to the unreached seem to be literally crying out for more workers.

Our time came to an abrupt halt a few days early, when Niklas, our 10 month old, crawled quickly to a gas heater and grabbed its grate with his hands. We took him to the emergency room and he had deep 2nd and some 3rd degree burns on the palms and fingers.

As you know we take our Linguistics class there every year to practice their analytical skills on the Cherokee language. This time Monika and the kids had to come down a few days later. Lukas had tubes put in his ears to help them drain better. He has had frequent ear infections and fluid collecting in his ears. We believe the tubes have helped his hearing.

The Cherokee believers see it as a ministry for the Lord to help us in our yearly Cherokee studies and to make it a good learning experience for our students. They are glad to have a part in reaching other tribes for Christ. God gave us a really good time with the students in OK. Our kids especially enjoyed playing with the other children there. Monika was able to get to know the ladies better and have a Bible study with some of them. Dennis had the opportunity to speak at 2 churches.

Our time came to an abrupt halt a few days early, when Niklas, our 10 month old, crawled quickly to a gas heater and grabbed its grate with his hands. We took him to the emergency room and he had deep 2nd and some 3rd degree burns on the palms and fingers. Everyone helped us pack and we headed to Missouri that same evening. The next day we went to the Burn Center at the University Hospital in Columbia, Missouri which is about 100 miles away. We had to go back there to change his dressing quite often. Now, over two months later it looks like Niklas fully recovered and we praise the Lord for it.

We have been and continue to be so truly blessed by all the help that we have received from so many people during this difficult time. We have had assistance with packing, and unpacking, loading and unloading the car, cleaning and bringing us meals, babysitting and laundry. The body of Christ is truly a beautiful thing.

Did you know ……that we are constantly adjusting how we communicate with others based on many different factors. How well do I know you? What is your reaction to my communication? Do we have shared experiences? What background knowledge do you have? Are you interested in what I am saying? Do you understand? Like a boxer responding to his opponent, we bob and weave, and duck and swing; trying to make sure we are understood. Think about it, and see what you do, the next time you converse with someone. This is a small part of what a missionary needs to do to be able to communicate effectively in a second language.

Praise: For God’s work in Dinangat.
Praise: For a safe delivery and healthy baby boy.
Praise: That Lukas is a great big brother and already a big helper.
Prayer: For a good summer of preparing for next semester.
Prayer: We hope to get to know the students better and be a blessing to them beyond the classroom setting.
Praise: For a good time in Germany.
Prayer: That missionaries would be raised up.
Prayer: For our parenting skills.

Most of you know we have a new son, Niklas, who is five months old now. We have been busy adjusting to life with two children. The Linguistics course has gone through changes which have taken a good deal of our time. We are now in Germany visiting relatives and friends and speaking at churches.

Lukas
Lukas is doing well. He is definitely a people person. We call him our little ambassador to the world. He has done well meeting many new people during our stay in Germany and has been a good traveler. He is talking much more now and if you meet him and he finds out your name, he will probably talk about you. He will be two in a few weeks.

Niklas
Niklas is a happy, healthy little one who likes to smile, laugh, and do other normal baby things. I think it is a little easier for us the second time around, but having two is certainly more complicated and time consuming than one. The boys are a real blessing to us and God is teaching us many things through them.

The Linguistics course
The Linguistics course has kept Monika and me busy. I have been teaching a bigger class than usual which takes more time. In addition to that we have been gathering new language data and preparing it for homework problems. There is much more to do for the coming semester after we get back from Germany July 9th.

Another new church
The Dinangat tribe in Papua New Guinea, that Monika and I flew into to help with the alphabet formation, has recently heard the Gospel and many were saved. We are especially excited having been to the village and worked with the missionaries there.

The Missionary Training Center
The Missionary Training Center in Missouri, where we work, is in expansion mode. A master plan is in the process of being put together for the campus. A great need is an educational center for classrooms, offices and a student life center. Please pray for finances and vision as we look to the Lord for His master plan.

Our time in Germany
Our time here in Germany has gone well. I have spoken, with Monika translating, at 6 different churches. We are praying that God would use our time here to raise up more workers, givers and prayer partners to help accomplish God’s plan of reaching the world. We have had good fellowship with the believers. It was very refreshing, motivating and encouraging to see their love for the Lord, commitment and sacrificial lives.

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints." Phil.1:7 

Prayer: The missionary team in the Dinangat tribe will start the teaching of about 70 Bible lessons on Jan. 28, 2008. (Originally they were planning to start this fall, but because of different delays they had to postpone it)
Prayer: For good communication of the gospel, open hearts of the people and clear understanding of the truth
Prayer: Please pray that the missionary training will equip the students well for expanding the reach of the Gospel.
Prayer: For God’s wisdom and leading for those working on the curriculum.

Prayer: For the linguistics students as they finish up their pre-field training in a couple of weeks and go back to their home churches to build stronger relationships.
Prayer: That they will get all the prayer and financial support they need to be able to have an effective ministry.

Prayer: That we would do our ministry joyfully and wholeheartedly as unto the Lord.
Prayer: That we would impact the students beyond just teaching them in the classroom.
Praise: For a good pregnancy so far.
Prayer: For a good delivery, a healthy baby and a good transition for us to being a family of 4.
Prayer: That we continue to be able to have good quality personal time with the Lord.

Prayer: This fall the missionaries in the Dinangat tribe will start presenting the gospel. Please pray for prepared hearts of the people and for strength & wisdom for the missionaries
(We met with this team about the phonemics and orthography of that language as well while we were in Papua New Guinea).

Praise: That the Refresher Course went well.
Prayer: For the Missionaries and their kids that they would be encouraged. Some are going back to the field these days and have hard “goodbyes” to say. Others go through some culture shock back in their “own” culture as they begin their furlough and have to get used to living in a western culture again.

Praise: For the students who want to give their lives to reach those who have not yet heard.
Prayer: For the Linguistics students who are on break now, that they would have an encouraging summer. That churches and individuals would get behind them in prayer and financial support.

Prayer: That we will be examples and good leaders for the students in Oklahoma.
Prayer: That we all would learn much from God in this time in Oklahoma and glorify him in our attitude.
Prayer: That Lukas would sleep well despite the noisier environment in Oklahoma.
Prayer: For continued wisdom for Dennis as he works on the Linguistics Course.
Prayer: That we will be able to have good quality personal time with the Lord.

We as a family are doing great. It has been nice to enjoy a slower pace during the semester break. Dennis uses the time to work on grading and also to continue to readjust and improve the Linguistics Course. The Training Center hosted the annual Refresher Course for Missionaries on furlough again this summer. Like the last few years, we together with others were responsible for the Junior high kids. We love those kids and enjoyed providing a program that would allow them to get spiritual nourishment as well as have fun with their peers.

Lukas: ”I worked on improving my walking skills because I will be a Mini Toddler in childcare next semester. I will get to play with about 15 other 1-2 year olds while my Mom works in the office. She will start helping out in childcare once a week though since they are desperate for help in that department.
What I liked most about my first birthday party was that my Grandparents, Uncle Doug, Aunt Julie and Cousin Bethany came. The best birthday gift was the talking vacuum cleaner I got from my Grandparents.
My parents told me that I will be having a brother or sister by the end of January 2008. Yippee!”

In October we will be going back to Oklahoma once more. We are looking forward to getting to know the students better that way and also to learn more about God who walks with us in these unusual living conditions. It always is a special but also stretching time to have only one room as a family to sleep and live in and to share the other rooms (like bathroom, kitchen, dining hall) with everybody else for 6 weeks. Some of you know that Lukas is not a good sleeper and wakes up easily. We hope all the new noises won’t keep him (and then us) from getting enough sleep.