Thanks for your continued interest in our ministry. It has been great hearing from many of you via e-mail! Thanks for keeping us up to date on your lives as well!

January holds many interesting events for us.

Beka has 3 recording sessions at Full Sail University in Orlando. Their state of the art equipment gives her songs a new professional dimension. She has had 2 sessions so far, and has recorded 4 songs. You can listen to them on her facebook.com “Band page” by going to www.facebook.com/bekaheckman. You can get a download of her songs from www.noisetrade.com as well. She is also beginning to work a fulltime shift for the EVAC ambulance in Volusia county for the next 6 weeks or so. She still loves her work.

Linda has surgery on her hand January 19. Thanks for your prayers as we go one-handed for the next couple of months. They will be removing bone from her left hand and replace it with a tendon to form a natural cushion for the now arthritic joint which causes lots of pain. The doc says not to use my laft hand for 6 weeks. Think I can do it?

We still keep busy with our work at the Member Services Offices at NTM. We handle much paperwork which enables our missionaries to remain at their work of tribal evangelism. We do a lot of correspondence with our mission family to help them, and be a resource for their needs. We communicate with our members who are nearing retirement age, and those who find the need to move on to other ministries or care for aging parents and have to step out of the NTM ministry for a time. This scratches the surface of our responsibilities, but I wanted to give you a glimpse. Please pray for us as we minister here at the Home Offices of NTM.

Our ministry with the MK (Missionary Kid) teens and their friends continues with some review this week and then we plan on taking a group to Dare 2 Share in Lakeland in February. Pray we get a good group to go. We have discounted tickets, but need to get some fundraisers lined up quickly! Time is flying away!

peaking of “flying away”, Amy flies away also this Saturday. It has been a pleasure to have her home for a few weeks. David flies back to cold Wisconsin next week. It has been nice to have him home, too! Brett and Debby and the Grand-girls joined us for a week or so around Christmas as well. We had a full house and lots of laughs! We missed Hector, but he joined us several times on SKYPE.  What a blessing to have our children walking with the Lord!

Amy and Hector are trying to get wedding plans arranged. We have an answered prayer in that Hector got a job. He is planning on taking the training in Mexico, now that his visa situation did not work out. That will begin in August 2012. They are thinking of a summer wedding, in Florida. After that time, they will move out to the Mexican training center as well, and Amy will be involved there with the folks in training, while Hector studies.

Thank you so much for the support you have offered to us. We appreciate your kind generosity. Please remember to pray for us as we balance our time, ministries, and home business. Thanks much!

George and Linda Heckman
& Family

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Linda’s surgery and recovery
Amy & Hector’s wedding and training plans
George wisdom in his work
Beka’s recording and wisdom for how to best use her music ministry
David to have enough hours at his job to cover his school bills
Brett and Debby as they raise their girls to love God, and their ministry with Grace Bible Church
Tim to finish his last semester of High school well, he also needs a job.
Thank you!!

In early November, Tim took a week to visit NTBI in Waukesha. He enjoyed the classes there and was encouraged by the students. He even had a few minutes to visit with his brother!  He came back challenged in his walk with the Lord. His plan is to attend NTBI after graduation, next Fall.

November 18-28 the whole family, as well as Cody (Beka’s special friend), drove to Mexico to visit Amy and meet Hector, her fiancé. One reason for the trip, was so we could have the traditional dinner with the family of the groom, where they ask for the girl’s hand in marriage. We had a tremendous time, and enjoyed meeting Hector and his family. They were very nice folks. We pray that God will use our visit to open doors for the unsaved members of Hector’s family to be open to the Gospel. We have seen opportunities for this even in the time since we have been home.
We had a nice time visiting with Amy and Crystal, as well. Both seem to have adjusted well in their new ministries. It was fun to visit their church for a potluck/bonfire, and also to sit in on the ladies Chronological Bible Teaching class, which was followed by their English class. What a nice group of ladies is studying there!  We visited the best food places (the ones Amy likes anyway!), and had a fun afternoon shopping in El Centro (City Center), and walking around De Portiva, a large city park. If you go on Facebook; to Amy or Beka’s page, you can see a bunch of pictures from our outings. (I don’t have my pictures up yet!)

A big prayer request is for Hector to get his passport as soon as possible. He was not able to have the needed paperwork in December, and the next available appointment was in January. This means he will not be able to begin the missionary training in the US in January. This development changes their plans which were in place. Now, they will new plans. We will keep you updated!

David flies home on December 18. Amy flies home on December 19. They both return in mid- January. Amy will continue teaching at the Missionary Kid’s school in Chihuahua for the time being. (The school principal is happy about that!) She is enjoying teaching the kids and helping the Spanish speaking kids learn English and she also helps, and tutors several of them. It is exciting to see the friends she has made, and how God is using her there.

And that wraps up the review of the last month. We look forward to a BIG Christmas with all the kids and granddaughters! It should be fun. We will miss Hector, but trust he will make it for next year!

We have seen a change in our youth group as we have about 10 less kids! The group at Bible School is doing well. God is teaching them new lessons. The group we have at Youth is younger, and we don’t know them as well at this time. We have a couple of gals who will be moving away, and that is hard for them, and us. We plan a trip to Dare 2 Share in Lakeland in February. We pray that this trip will be one that brings the group together in unity more. Several of our kids are dealing with pretty heavy issues at this time. Please remember to pray for each of them to grow more, and walk closer to the Lord. We hope to teach and challenge them to be in the Word of God and growing in their walk daily. Thanks for lifting them up to the Lord with us.

The Lord has blessed, and provided, and given wisdom. Please continue to pray for us as we desire to challenge and encourage, and to be a blessing where God has placed us in ministry. Thank you for your participation in our ministry.

Blessed to be a blessing,
George and Linda Heckman and family

They got away from Central Florida yesterday early in the afternoon. They ran over a tire in the road near St. Augustine, which caused some damage to the underside the Prius (AGAIN!!). It is drivable, so on they went. Travelled all night and are due to arrive soon in Waukesha.

All the guys were excited to see family members and friends at NTBI. Pray they have a great week. That God will grip their earts, and give them clear direction for their futures; and that he will give them SAFETY on the trip back too!

Thanks for partnering with us in prayer! We appreciate you!
George and Linda

A car pulled out from the side street and the driver didn’t even see George coming. George was able to accelerate and miss the other vehicle (and the palm tree by about an inch)! This Curb-hopping excitement caused some damage to the underside of the car (the Prius!). It also caused a street sign to break off (denting the bumper and roof of the car).

We are so thankful no one was hurt. Car damages can be repaired (and were). But personal injuries are harder to heal. We are so thankful the the other driver was not hurt either. (He is our co-worker!!).

Thank you for your continual prayers for us! They do make such a difference in our lives.

We are so thankful for you all! We appreciate the part you have on our TEAM!

Blessings,
George and Linda

Below are some prayer requests for you. See how you can be involved in reaching the tribal people with the Word of God. Join us in Prayer! I have also added some personal requests at the bottom of the list! Thank you for remembering us in prayer! We appreciate your part on OUR team as well!

PHILIPPINES:
The Agusan Manobo New Testament in the mountain and the loland dialect is almost ready to print! They may start Oct 24th!

Please PRAY for safe travel (out from the village), production of the New Testaments to go well, that the clinic will be able help Gene (chronic Malaria), and that Joe (computer guru) will be able to get the laptops to network.

More detail below from Gene and Carol Trudeau (Philippines) – today!

We’ll be flying out to our NTM guesthouse in town as the final proofs of our mountain dialect New Testament are due to arrive there tomorrow or the next day. The lowland dialect is scheduled to arrive later in the week. We’ll look them over to make sure the page margins are okay and then fly to the city and be there for when the printing starts. If there are no changes to make then the printing could start as early as Oct 24 .

While in the city Gene will go to a clinic to see if they can help with his chronic malaria. And our mission computer guru, Joe, who is at our mission office there in the city will work on getting our new Windows 7 laptop to network with our older laptops which have Windows XP.

So, please PRAY for safe travel, production of the New Testaments to go well, that the clinic will be able help Gene, and that Joe will be able to get the laptops to network.

Gene and Carol Trudeau
With the Manubu’ people
New Tribes Mission
Philippines
blog: ntm.org/gene_trudeau

HECKMANS:
Please be praying for wisdom and God’s provision as we are looking at a trip to Mexico to see Amy and meet her prospective in-laws. Culturally, it is important that we go and meet Hector’s family and get to know them. We think it will work best for us to go the week of Thanksgiving. Please pray for us to have wisdom in planning this trip, as well as the finances to take the trip. It is a long drive to Chihuahua! Amy and Hector are excited that we will come. It looks like Beka and Tim will come with us, Lord willing.
We would like to be able to stop and see friends in San Antonio, Texas area as we are going through. Please ask the Lord to give us wisdom and the contacts we need along the way.
THANK YOU SO MUCH!
George and Linda Heckman

Dear Friends,

Happy Fall! What a beautiful change in the weather October has brought to us in Central Florida. Our temperatures have dropped and the humidity has lessened a bit.

George almost had a collision with a co-worker last week. He came within an inch of a good sized palm tree. The car sustained some damage from hitting the curb and knocking over the street sign, but no one was hurt. It could have been much worse. We are thankful for God’s mercies last week!

We had a great time with Amy home for a visit for 9 days. Brett and Debby and the girls came and stayed while she was here, so we had a full happy house! Please be praying for Amy in her new position teaching English as a Second Language at the NTM missionary kids’ school in Chihuahua. Crystal will begin working at the National Missions training center about 15 miles out from Chihuahua. Please remember to pray for Amy to have wisdom regarding where she should live, and if she should buy a vehicle. (Her present apartment is too far from the school to walk, so she needs a way to get there, once Crystal moves.)

David is enjoying NTBI in Wisconsin, please continue to pray that he will find work enough to provide his needs at school. Beka has passed and is a nationally certified Paramedic now. She also has been accepted at Full Sail University to record some of her original music. What a blessing! Thanks for your prayers for our family. We appreciate you!

We are averaging about 30 kids each week in the Youth group. It is fun to see the kids growing in the Lord and in understanding of His word. Looking forward to February when we take a group to Dare 2 Share in Lakeland.

In the Member Services department, we continue to help our missionaries as they go through transitions. Several are facing retirement, and many of our members are facing the death of parents and loved ones. These are times we must encourage one another and rely on the strength and grace of the Lord to lead and guide. One of our Associate missionaries had to come home from the mission field and then make the decision to take their father off a respirator. These are tough times, and tough decisions for these folks to make. Pray we will have wisdom in offering them assistance and encouragement during these days of change. God is the God of all comfort. I am so glad of that–aren’t you?!

We have had a shift in our home based business of our workforce, as many of our workers went to Bible school this Fall. We are able to enlist the help of some of their mom’s, now. Still it is great to be able to be a blessing to our missionary family, even if it is by providing work, and a little additional income. Many of our home staff are very under-supported, and are looking for a way to make ends meet. Many folks are not willing to support home staff, they want to support “Real missionaries”. As none of our mission family are on a salary, we find many with financial needs. Thanks for praying for those families to! 

We really appreciate the part you play on our team. We could not be here serving without your prayers and support! THANKS!!
George and Linda Heckman

We have heard some great news from our friends in PNG. In the Malaumanda Tribe, where several of our former students are laboring
Many encouraging things that have been happening:

“In July, after the Phase One (Creation through Christ) chronological teaching for the kids was completed, and having spent a few Sundays reviewing Romans chapters 6-8, we began teaching the book of Ephesians. This was the first time for most of the Malaumandan believers to hear these truths. The apostle Paul packed a lot of foundational and practical truth into just six chapters so it was necessary for us to work through it slowly. In the morning we taught the new material, and in the evening we review what had been taught and opened up the time for questions or for one of our teachers in training to expand on that section. In addition to our teaching times, and possibly a more valuable time for really clarifying what we had taught, was each day between teaching times, we missionaries would be in different houses or just out in the village wherever people were talking about God’s Word. One answer to pray, in this area of getting out to the houses, was the fact that during the entire Ephesians course, three Bisorio church leaders (Markus, Mathias and Maile) were here to assist us in the teaching. They were such a blessing. I can’t tell you the number of times that as I was heading to a house or an area of the village, I would hear, “Oh, Markus was already here.” or “Mathias was teaching until past midnight”. Praise the Lord for these Bisorio leaders. They are true servant leaders and a real blessing.
Please continue to pray that the Malaumanda believers would
Continue to grow in their understanding of the Grace of God and that they allow these practical truths to bring change to every aspect of their lives and relationships.

Another exciting thing that is happening is the ongoing discipleship of 12 men. Eric, Bob and I have divided those men who have been coming faithfully to the Tues. /Thurs. discipleship meetings into groups of four. We have been meeting regularly with these smaller groups for prayer, Bible memorization, deeper study of the Word, but mostly just to be investing time into these young believers. It is very exciting to see how these 12 men are growing and attempting to apply what they are learning into their lives and marriages and in the community. Please be praying as we begin to meet with these men and their wives as couples. Pray that Christina and I would be good examples to them of a Godly marriage and Godly parents. (It is very sobering to think that WE missionary couples are the example that needs to be living out before them.) Pray for these young couples as they are working through the clash between their culture and God’s Word in these areas. Pray that we would have wisdom, patience and love to help guide them through. Pray that we would begin to see MORE men and women involved as discipleship continues.”

What a neat thing to see tribal believers discipling other tribal believers. Feel free to go see the Hedeen’s or Hutteman’s website on www.NTM.org. I am sure they will have the full story for you there.

We just wanted to share this little bit with you and say THANKS again for your partnership in our ministry over the years. What a blessing to be a part of the team that is reaching the Malaumanda tribe with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

As we continue laboring here in the Home Offices of New Tribes Mission, we really appreciate your prayers for us to be faithful, content, and have wisdom from above. We minister to missionary teams worldwide and hope to be a channel of blessing and encouragement to them. We minister to many missionary kids and other teens in the MK & Friends Youth Group on Fridays.
We are so thankful for those who have gone up to the New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin and are learning God’s word there “for themselves”. His word will not return void, and we are thankful for the folks on the team at the NTBI that serve our ”kids” as they are there and learning God’s word, and life skills to serve Him.

Thanks again for your partnership, and care for us!
We appreciate you!

In His Strength,
George and Linda Heckman

On the Road Again                            August 2011

Hello!

  We head out again Saturday.  We are on the road to Wisconsin by way of Northern Michigan.  We will take a few days of vacation time before taking David on to NTBI.  We have a couple of extra people going with us to make the trip fun!  Angie will be heading to NTBI as well, and Tristin is coming along for fun and fellowship, and maybe some fishing!  That gives us a full van with a roof bag on top for luggage! Please pray we have a safe trip.

   We have planned a few stops with friends we haven’t seen in a long while in Wisconsin and Indiana, and perhaps Tennessee also.

   We hope to have David somewhat settled in at Bible school, and be on the road back by the 14th. 

   Tim’s school starts August 22.  He has been working hard the last couple of weeks doing yard work for a friend in Sanford.  He’s been working 6-8 hours a day in the Florida sunshine.  It has been a new experience for him, but he likes it.

   Beka has 1 more day of testing to finish the Paramedic course.  Pray that she does well.  She is planning on going with us to Michigan and Wisconsin.

    Brett and Debby and the girls were here for the weekend.  It is always a joy to see them.  Brett is hoping to transition to part time at his job and part time at Grace Bible Church soon.  We are praying or this transition to work for them, as they desire to be more involved in the work of the ministry there in Palm Bay.  Their AC went out last week, and we are thankful they got a great deal to install a new AC unit.   Thanks for your prayers for them.

   Amy is finishing up her Spanish study.  She should be done in December.  She and Hector hope to come here for Christmas.  They are praying about his visa situation, and if he should take the NTM training in the US.

   George and Linda keep busy. There is always plenty to do in Member Services and with the Youth Group!

Thank you so much for your part on our team.  We appreciate your care for us, your prayer and your financial gifts!  We thank the Lord for you!

Member Services-NTM

   As the leadership of NTM continues to review policy and issues within NTM,  some of the changes they want to put into practice directly affect the membership of NTM,  Often we have to communicate the changes to our members, and do the data entry which is made necessary by the changes.  We continue to update ministry, account, and family history on the members of NTM.   We have been helping our folks as they move to retirement status, as well as those who are stepping out of NTM for new ministries or family needs.  Pray with us that we would be sensitive to these folks, and encourage them as they move to the next step of their lives, walking with the Lord.

   We need wisdom from above daily!  Praise the Lord He gives us that liberally when we ask.  (James 1:5)

Praise the Lord with us

• Several of our youth group kids are returning to NTBI, and about 10 more are going for the first time.
• 5 kids from Youth were baptized at the beach in July.
• God is faithful and gives us work of import to do with our lives
• Our vehicles  continue to run well.

With Gratitude,

George and Linda Heckman and Family

Serving with New Tribes Mission, Sanford Florida

Warm greetings from WARM central Florida! Our temperatures are in the 90’s already! It will be a hot summer!

Beka is back from a great 2 week adventure in Mexico with Amy. She had a good time, and learned lots! Now she is back working for EMS, and soon her Paramedic 3rd semester will begin.

One of our co-workers is headed to Michigan for a missions conference, and she wanted some pictures of our youth group to share there. I had such a fun time going through the pictures of the group! God really encouraged me with the ministry He has given us of discipleship and teaching the youth. Our group is up around 50 again each week, and it is fun to see them grow in the knowledge of the Word of God, and learn how to relate to others in a godly way. Several of our students are going up to Wisconsin for Bible Institute this August. Pray with us for them to do well, and learn what God has for them.

Member Services is a busy place. We have a large group of people that leave the field each year for Home Assignment in the summer months. That flow of people has begun. We also have a class intake of new members that have finished the training in Canada or the US and who will become members of NTM and move on to the Partnership Development stage of their missionary career.
How exciting to be a part of seeing new missionaries headed to the fields that are so ready to harvest! (It reminds me of Matthew 9:35-39; we have prayed, and God is sending out the laborers.)

The granddaughters are doing well. Chloe and Lily are lively girls and a source of joy to their Mom and Dad. Brett and Debby have decided to stay in Palm Bay and continue working with Grace Bible Church where they have a great ministry with the youth and the church body.

Thank you much for your part in our ministry. Your prayers and moral support are a source encouragement to us. You are a blessing!

Please pray for us as we travel this summer. We head to Michigan in June, and also to Missouri for the NTM Enrichment Conference.

This conference gives us ample opportunity to meet with missionaries on Home Assignment and be an encouragement to them. They usually encourage us as well! The kids love it, and we are thankful to be able to be a part. Pray we will be an encouragement and blessing to others there.

Great fun! Blessings go around and around! What a joy to be a channel of God’s love for others.

Joyfully Serving Him,

George and Linda Heckman and Family

New Tribes Mission Home Offices
Member Services/Personnel Department

Hello, and thanks for thinking of us!

We have had an eventful month of March.
Our big even happened March 11 when our sweet Granddaughter #2 arrived. Liliana (Lily) Valerie Chapman made her debut, weighing in at 7 lb 5 ounces. She is such a sweet baby and big sister, Chloe, loves her and says that Lily is her “best friend”. So sweet! Linda was able to spend a week helping out with the girls and cooking for the Chapman family while the Heckman’s got along ok without mom’s cooking!

We praise the Lord we were able to get our taxes done already! This is an early finish for us! PTL! Each year gets a bit more complicated, and we try to make it easier by using better bookkeeping methods and software. Pray with us as we are still learning the new system. We have a friend helping us with “Quickbooks”, and she has been a huge blessing!

Youth Group is doing well. We had a big group of 45 or so last week for a special missionary speaker. We thank Chad Mankins for the great job he did sharing about the TOBO people in the Madang region of Papua New Guinea.
We are encouraging some of our younger kids to get involved in the leadership as well ad learning to play guitar to lead our singing. It is always fun to see who the Lord raises up to lead our group as a new bunch graduates and goes off to Bible School each year. We are sending off about 5 of our key kids this Fall.

Member Services is keeping busy with changes in policies and tracking our missionaries as they come off the field and return to the field. We are seeing new folks heading to the field for the first time every month and it is a blessing to see them beginning their trek to take the Gospel to all the world. We are thankful we can be a part of their team in serving them as they go. Often we write a letter for our members to take with them as they travel, stating they are doing the work of NTM. Last month we helped a gal get all of her paperwork certified and legalized to be ready for her to take to Brazil with her. We heard recently that she has received each paper back for the two different consulates we had sent them to. She is ready to go! Each one of our missionary family who goes begins a world of new adventures! Thanks for remembering these dear ones in prayer.

We are so thankful for your prayers for our ministry. We are trusting the Lord to continue to provide for us as we serve Him here. We see His hand at work as we seek His will for us in ministry each day. We are convinced He has us here, and we are thankful to be a part of the NTM Member Services Team. Please pray that we would stay focused on Him, and attentive to His leading.

Beka is finishing up her 2nd semester of Paramedic training. She is now also an employee of the county EVAC team. She loves this, and is learning a lot. She helped save a man’s life in church a couple of weeks ago, as he was going in to cardiac arrest. How thankful we are she has had the training to deal calmly with the issues she faces. Please pray for her to have safety as she drives to Daytona Beach for classes and work. Last Friday night she was run off the freeway by a semi-truck. We are so thankful that she was protected. She missed the guardrail, trees and bridge abutment. We also are thankful that her car was ok after the drive on the center median!

She will be going to Mexico for a visit with Amy during her class break in April. Pray for safety and a fun trip! Thanks!

Amy is doing well. She is very involved in her ministries in Chihuahua. During the next year in Language and Culture Study she hopes to be forming a team, and team strategy for a tribal allocation. Please pray with her for wisdom about her next steps, and her relationship with Hector, as he still needs to take the Missions training course.

Linda is trying her hand at a new venture. She is leading the little choir at our church for an Easter Program. Please join us in prayer for our little group to pull it all together and present a program which is honoring to the Lord.

George is looking for new business ideas, and is refining our current book business. This is a long term job including training others as well as listing new materials. We thank the Lord for the ways He is using this business, not only to provide for us, but for several others in NTM, as well as MK teens in High School and in Bible School.

Thank you, again, much for your continued prayers and for your faithful support. We are so thankful for the support team God has given us. We couldn’t serve here without you! Thank you.
You are a blessing!

Much love and appreciation,
George and Linda and Family

George and Linda Heckman
New Tribes Mission
1000 E 1st St
Sanford, FL 32771
www.ntm.org/george_heckman