NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

This past week a missionary came to me with an ongoing problem in her daughters foot. She began to describe to me what had happened.

“My daughter was outside at night opening our front gate for arriving guests and she felt a prick or a small bite on the top of her 2nd toe.   A week later or sooner it started getting black and had razorblade-like slits across it.  A couple weeks later it “spread” to the big toe which got black with slits also.  It itched and hurt all the time.  When it started getting black, pus also came out of the slits. We took her to a number of doctors, and they prescribed a number of different medications, yet nothing worked. Then we could start seeing the outline of a worm going from one toe to the other.”

I immediately looked up these sort of symptoms in my medical book. Being here at the Guest House I am very aware that the ground near the gate (where this child was when the bite occurred) is covered in sand, which is exactly where the larva live. Without any trouble I found the condition to be: larva migrans and prescribed the medication used to kill these worms.

This family lives in town and is in the process of getting this much needed medication to clear this condition up for their daughter. What a relief it will be when she doesn’t have worms growing in her foot!

During our last visit to this village I realized the people here aren’t the friendliest of villagers I’ve met. But this time things were worse. My smiles and waves were met with stoic scowls. When I walk up to them, they turn and walk away. Something is definitely not right here.

Since we had little time, I didn’t think much about it and got settled in and set up right away. The other two houses I wired and repaired on our last trip, but I didn’t have time or permission to do what was necessary on the third house. This time I was here for specifically for this house. It needed a total rewiring from using power sucking 220 volt AC to more efficient 24 volt DC, from their solar power system. We worked for a day and a half before I talked to the missionary here about the actions of the people.

We knew that a cult had been formed a few years ago. Missionaries from another organization had told some but not all of the gospel message. Showing a movie about the life of Christ doesn’t explain to them WHO Christ is, WHY they need Him and what the eternal results are of life without Him. Though well meaning, these missionaries actually caused much more harm by not beginning at the beginning. Showing God through Creation, the fall of man, the need for Old Testament sacrifice to pay for the sin of man had been over looked. Without this foundation, the New Testament sacrifice of Christ on that cruel cross, which paid our sin debt once and for all, was totally missed. Therefor their Creator became just another god in their list.

All this mess and misunderstanding resulted in one of their tribal leaders deciding HE was the messiah. And the only way to heaven was for others to have their picture taken with him. A few weeks ago the missionaries observed him requiring everyone bow to him and kiss his hand, an action he picked up from visiting villagers with even different missionaries here.

Part of reaching these people with excellence is to do it in their heart language. Though a few understand the national language, they don’t understand enough to really grasp deep truths. The people are mad because the missionaries have been here for years (still learning their difficult tribal language) and haven’t told them their “secrets” yet.  The tribal people are however, reluctant to teach their native tongue. Yesterday we found out why. The people believe that the missionaries, who are trying to learn a language spoken by 300-500 people in the world, are planning to sell it. They think our people are planning on writing a book and selling their language to Americans. They don’t understand there is no one in the world, but these three families who want to learn their language.

But this anger towards their lack of secrets and selling the language has begun to rear its ugly head. They are threatening to kick the missionaries out of the village. Though many tribal people died before they came, and now no one has died except from old age since they brought medicine, they don’t see what the missionaries are doing for them. They don’t notice the daily clinic keeping them well. They don’t remember what life was like before when they hiked 3 days to town for a little bag of salt. They forget who provided the flashlights and batteries, the lighters to make their fires, oil for cooking. They want all of these things for free. They think if they kick out the missionaries they can take the wood from their houses, the solar panels and batteries. They are even now bringing phones from town and trying to hook to the satellite Internet to upload. They really like pornography and will load it on their phone in town, but want access to the Internet for more. It’s so true, “There is nothing new under the sun.” Satan uses the same tricks and temptations to lure people from God whether in our “developed” country or the stone age jungles. Mans heart it black. None of us are basically good. And last night I got closer to that evil than I can ever remember.

I simply wanted a basket. Made of bark, they use them for all sorts of things, they are pretty neat. But it is a man’s job to sell them. Yesterday about dusk I realized there were no men, except the language helper. Really there had been very few men around the last few days. They were preparing for a festival of sorts. It began with their all night trumpet blowing that many of you saw in our last video. This awakened the spirits of the forest. But this wasn’t the ultimate purpose of their festival. These spirits were needed to summon the greatest spirit from his tree, Satan himself.

Yesterday a man told us, “Do not go to the end of the village, we have asked the devil to come to us from his tree and he is there. We have been speaking to him and he, to us. If you listen you will hear his voice. He is speaking now.”

From deeper in the jungle we heard the yelling and chanting of the men. Though we couldn’t see, I pictured them around a fire, standing or sitting repeating the chants over and over.

Periodically the chanting hit a frenzied pitch, echoing eerily around the village. And then silence, waiting for Satan to reply. And then, a flute, supposedly played by no man. Its notes sad and haunting. There was no song, no melody, and one couldn’t even call it music, but the fact that it came from the jungle by itself was scary, until I really thought about it, and then it was terrifying. I truly believe these people see and know about things of the spiritual world that we cannot see. Westerners have for so long rejected and dismissed things as lies or coincidence that we have lost the ability to see how Satan is working around us. These people have not lost that. They believe deeply in his power and actually desire his presence.

The man who was with us as we listened to the voice of Satan, told us, “Do not go down there. The Spirit does not want you. He will shoot you with arrows. It will not be a man shooting those arrows because he promised to kill you himself if you came to see.” And with that warning, he walked off into the growing darkness.

Last night I couldn’t get those images out of my head. I know my God created those spirits and has full control over them, but they are still very powerful. And they hate us. Whether we see them or believe in them or not, they are there. Only here they aren’t so invisible.

Laying in bed, I was imagining something looking into my window. Then strange green spots caught my attention in the darkness but were gone when I looked towards them. I’ve seen these spots before, when we had a foster brother who was involved with witchcraft living with us when I was young. Like green eyes, watching. My dreams were violent. I woke around 2 am feeling like I was going to vomit and my heart racing. I had the feeling that I was not alone in my room and felt naked and vulnerable under the sheet. I don’t remember if I’ve ever experienced that kind of fear.

But I know the One who casts out fear. He is Jesus. And He defeated this spirit already. I began to talk to Him. The sounds in the jungle went silent, as if I was only hearing them in my own head, replaced by bugs and the gurgling refrigerator I needed to fix in the morning. I don’t remember finishing that prayer before I awoke to daylight, roosters crowing and dogs fighting.

Pray for these missionaries. Pray hard for them. This place is unfriendly to anyone with the seal of the Savior on them. This is not an easy place to be.

Rash from Dengue Fever

A few days ago a missionary was telling me about some of his recent symptoms. He has had a fever but not high. It lasted a few days then stopped for a few days then started again. He has had a weird taste in his mouth. He has a rash on his chest and abdomen and forearms. The rash looks like measles but does not itch. The rash is not raised but mostly looks red with white spots. He had chills, night sweats and pain in his back in the beginning when his fever was higher. He has been fatigued and lost his appetite. He feels weak.

In addition, he has complained of a bad sore throat, so he self diagnosed and started taking amoxicillin thinking it was strep. It didn’t help even after four days of treatment.

After getting a full assessment, I told him I think he has Dengue Fever.

He went to the hospital yesterday, since he is in town and can easily get blood drawn for a test for Dengue. The blood results came back, and he tested positive.

He is resting now and is feeling much better. He will be able to go back into his tribe soon and continue the work going on there in reaching the tribal people with the Gospel.

Tribal missionaries, Paul Pries, Phil Svado, Tim and their families, haven’t yet finished their runway and rely on this old junky 1981 cruiser to drive the terrible road leading to their tribe. Over the years their vehicle has slowly been destroyed by others working on it, the worst being the wiring. Many of the wires had been cut and rubbed through in so many places and had dozens of splices that were just wrapped and taped. Where there should have been 5 and 10 amp fuses, the shop had put 30 amp fuses and bolts. Basically the ignition system and windshield wipers were the only thing that sort of worked, and it would randomly shut off still. Also you had to turn the wheel a full two times before it would start moving the tires. Nothing had been greased for years, and tie rods and brake wheel cylinders needed replaced. As well as one u joint and some bulbs died in the shorting problem.

But with this past week of work, I have been able to get it up and going, repairing and replacing all it needed. I’m continually amazed that God would give me the wisdom in each situation to do just what I need. I’m so thankful for the years of experience He has given me for times like this! Now the tribal missionaries can drive back into their remote villages where they are learning the language and will be teaching the Bible to the indigenous people there.

That's a head, shoulders and back for those of you who are visually challenged.

Yes, it is true. We are going to have a baby. It is 16 weeks in the making, and we are greatly anticipating our next February 1st appointment where we will learn if it is a boy or a girl. So exciting! It is due June 27th, and we will go home to Alaska to have “it” there.

Yes, we are still going to Asia Pacific in February.

And, no, this doesn’t mean we are changing our ministry or staying stateside from now on. Life will resume as…relatively normal with even a trip overseas in the Fall.

Finally, yes, we are very excited

Jason and I made two movies of our time in Indonesia. One focuses on the tech areas where Jason served and the other one is all about the medical side of things that I was involved in.

Check out the TECH video here.

Check out the Medical video here.

This is our most current information, check it out HERE.

59 days in Indonesia. Six tribes with tech and medical needs. Two missionaries with hearts to serve God’s people and continue having a part in indigenous tribal church planting and Bible translating wherever we are.

Sorry we are not including tribal names, as it is only for the safety of those serving there.

Tribe number 1: Even though this tribe already has believers and an indigenous church plant, they do not have the entire Bible in their heart language. There are two missionary families (one American and one Indonesian) wanting to move in but asked Jason to determine what tech needs they would have in that location and whether or not they should go with solar or hydro power. Jason also fixed one of the tribal missionaries vehicles when the timing belt went out.

Tribe number 2: As the first phase of Bible teaching was complete, the tribal missionaries discovered they needed more power than their solar could provide to run their printer for the lessons of the second phase of teaching. Having a steady water flow with lots of head, made this tribe a candidate for a hydro system. Because hydro always takes second place to solar, the need must be really great to move in this direction. Because of regular cloudy weather, Jason installed from start to finish a hydro system for these missionaries. He also fixed their chain saw, generator, and we both helped dig a new septic hole. I assisted in the clinic each day diagnosing malaria, pneumonia, ear infections, eye infections, and cleaned and bandaged many wounds.

Tribe number 3: This tribe of believers  is completely independent of missionaries except that the hydro system left by the missionaries which occasionally needs maintenance. Even though this was a quick trip, Jason repaired their hydro system. It now has 60 amps which will provide electricity to the entire tribe.

Tribe number 4: As a new work, we joined three families to help them with tech and medical needs while they continued learning the tribal language and culture. Jason installed fans, lights, and switches for one family of 6, and did several days worth of repairs for another family of 7. One house he hooked up an entire solar power system including all the electrical circuits needed inside. These families now have power to run their computers for language learning and eventually for Bible teaching and translating. I helped run the clinic there and got lots of experience with the many different people who came through. Common illnesses were malaria, pneumonia, elephantiasis, abscesses, and wound care.

Tribe number 5: After years of dedication and service in this tribe and a indigenous church plant as a result, two families continue to work on Bible translation from the States because of the health conditions of their wives but return for translation checks. Jason fixed their generators, motorcycle tires, worn out brakes, hydro system, an oven and hot water heater, and a solar power system. Now they can focus on their language checks and not their tech needs.

Tribe number 6: Last but not least, before we even went to their tribe, Jason fixed their vehicle and motorcycle so when they come out they have good dependable transportation. While in their tribe, Jason worked on minor projects but focused his time on gathering information. The three missionary families need more power, and Jason took all the sun and water measurements to determine if they should go solar or hydro. I helped bandage wounds on a young girl and diagnosis malaria on a gentleman. We plan to come back to this tribe in a few months to help them set up their new system. These families are here to complete the translation for the amazing group of tribal believers who are so hungry for God’s Word.

Six tribes and six different types of service. But all were made possible by our faithful financial partners. Because of THEM, we were able to do this.

Are you interested in becoming a part of our team? Can we be your connection to tribal missions? We need you! Find out more by clicking on the About or Give page above. Thanks!