Jerry deciding on cover style

Great, great news! The Kuna literacy program has been turned in to the printers and work has begun on the printing, laminating and binding of students’ books, flashcards, homework assignments, writing practice, tests, attendance sheets, teachers’ daily lesson plans…!

Thank you for your prayers while we were in Panama. We watched God do wonderful things:

• We had the best time with our friends! Many of them have said, “God didn’t just send you here to work on the literacy materials. He sent you to encourage us in His Word!”
• The final questions for the literacy materials have been answered, artwork completed, formatting done. It was a busy time, but you know how much fun even hard work is with great friends!
• We just received word that 100% of the funds for the Kuna literacy project have come in! Many thanks to all who gave towards this!
• Details are coming together for the next big step in the process, the literacy teacher training in November.

These are exciting days in the life of the Kuna Church as they look forward to soon being able to read God’s Word in their own language with understanding!

Joyce & Norma

We have to tell you the story of two Kuna ladies, Yeli and Norma with whom we were just re-connected while in Panama. Many years ago when we had to leave the Kuna village where we had been living because of safety issues, we resettled in a community outside of Panama City where there was a large Kuna population. Joyce began a Bible study and literacy classes with 4 Kuna ladies from that neighborhood. The group quickly outgrew the facility and was moved to a large Kuna church where it touched hundreds of ladies. Well, Yeli and Norma were in that original group of ladies! They heard the Gospel, trusted Christ, learned to read in Kuna and fell in love with His Word!

We’ve lost track of them over the years. But recently while in Panama, we visited a new Kuna church in that area where we used to live. And yes, we ran into Yeli and Norma! They were so excited to tell us how that little group has continued to grow and that now there are Kuna men, women and children with their own dear Kuna pastor meeting together. Just goes to show that you never know what God is going to do as you are faithful with a few that He brings your way!

Newly designed mola for book covers.

If you’ve ever worked on a huge project for a LONG time, you know how wonderful it is to see things coming together! That’s how we are feeling about the Kuna literacy project.

Years ago we began developing a whole literacy program using all the things we’ve been learning about successful literacy training. Since it has not been our “full-time” ministry, we’ve worked on it here and there between other projects as we could.

Well, we are in the very final stages of editing and formatting in order to take it down to Panama in a few weeks to check a few questions we have, get some artwork done, and then turn the whole Kuna primer series into the printers! Woo-hoo!

Would you pray for us as we finish up the last details on this huge project? We are thrilled with the financial gifts that have come in toward the project. The Kuna literacy fund has received 77% of the total cost.

To follow the progress, please go to:  usa.ntm.org/projects/kuna-literacy

Ever wish that you could somehow invest in strengthening the Kuna churches of Panama?

As you’ve gotten to know some of our dear Kuna friends, have you ever wanted a tangible way to reach out to them, to spiritually encourage them and their families?

 If so, we’ve got an opportunity for you!

The Kuna Old Testament translation is nearing completion. Just think of it! Soon our Kuna friends will be able to read the Psalms and all those wonderful Old Testament books in their own language for the first time! Well, that is if they are able to read! There are many who cannot read and will not have access to God’s Book.

A whole literacy program in Kuna has been developed with a series of student’s books, writing practice, comprehension drills, daily lesson plans for the teachers, flash cards, and homework papers. We are asking God to provide partners to join us by giving to fund the printing, travel and training of Kuna literacy teachers and a literacy supervisor. New Tribes Mission has approved the Kuna literacy project and tax-deductible receipts will be given for each gift.

So even if you are able to share only a small amount, would you please consider this need? As we work together it adds up and God’s Word goes out stronger and stronger. For more information please go to: http://usa.ntm.org/projects/kuna-literacy

Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”

There is great value in taking time to be sharpened, equipped, and refocused for the tasks God has called us to do. This guards us from becoming dull and ineffective. The annual Kuna leadership conference in Panama, held early in November is a “sharpening” time for the church leaders and their wives.  

Some specific prayer requests:

• Preparation of Bible study materials in Kuna for our teaching sessions. Pray that we will communicate well the things God has laid on our hearts.
• Safety as everyone travels – some are coming from jungle villages on horribly muddy trails. Others from island villages traveling in canoes on the ocean to airstrips where they will fly in. Then there will bus trips to get to the little town where the conference is to be held.
• Provision of finances for conference, food, printing and travels, including our own personal travel expenses.
• That God’s Word will speak to all of us with transforming power – each of these church leaders will be given Bible study materials in Kuna that they can take back to their congregations and villages. 
• For encouraging fellowship together – many of our Kuna brothers and sisters are serving the Lord in remote locations where they do not receive much encouragement. Many of them even face opposition for their faith.
• For wisdom as we present the upcoming new Kuna literacy program and teacher training to be held in 2012.

We appreciate and need your prayers!

Anelio & Silverixia

We have such a great respect for so many of our Kuna brothers and sisters in Panama! Anelio & Silverixia are a young couple that were sent out as missionaries by their church to a village upriver. You may remember that in 2009, while returning to the village where they minister, they lost their 3 year old son in the flooded river. God has used their faithfulness in spite of many hardships to win many to Christ.

A church has been established in the village. Every Saturday Anelio has also been traveling upriver with some of the new believers to the next Kuna village to teach “God’s Book.” The chiefs are asking Anelio and the church leaders to come for some official meetings the end of this month. They would like to have  a couple move into their community to dedicate more time to teaching literacy and the Bible.  Pray for God’s wisdom, provision, and timing for this open door. What a bright spot to remember that God’s Word is still going out to new areas!

he's not old...he's vintage!

Jerry is now a certifiable antique person. Yep, he has turned 50! The kids helped me pull off a surprise birthday party with about 60 friends and family members. Check out pictures of how bad we were to him on our photo page under the family album.

Everyone asks, “When’s your next trip?” We are glad to report that we actually have several months without travels! We’ve taken on some huge projects and are thankful for some time at our desks to organize, write, and make materials available to the missionaries and consultants working in literacy. Trips are lining up for Panama and Africa later this year. We appreciate your prayers for wisdom and clarity as we work.

Bolivia, one of the first countries that New Tribes Mission opened up in the 1940’s, is the location of our next trip!

Even though it’s an older mission field, there’s still plenty of work for tribal missionaries. Several groups in Bolivia have yet to hear the Gospel even once! And to finish up well, there is church planting work to do among the Ese Ejja, Chimane, Guayaru, Weenayek, Yuqui, Yuracaré people. An extensive survey is going on this year to clarify the needs.

One thing is for certain. Both in the new works where tribal people will be hearing the Gospel for the first time as well in the older works where churches are moving toward maturity, literacy will play an important part so that people can read God’s written Word in their own language.

We appreciate your prayers as we prepare for this upcoming trip in October and November.

It is a location known for amazing diversity in wildlife, plants and scenery. There you will find the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo Dragon; the world’s largest snake, the Reticulated Python; the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia; and the world’s largest bee, the Chalocodoma Pluto. 

So…did you guess Indonesia? Joyce and I can hardly wait for the opportunity to work with the missionaries and the tribal churches. We will be there from April 5th through May 14th.

Please pray for:

• The details of traveling…flight connections, physical stamina for the 13 hour time zone change, paperwork and customs in different countries with different languages!

•Prepared hearts for us and those that we will be serving (missionaries, tribal church leaders, consultants). How we want to be instruments that God can use to build His Church among tribal people in Indonesia! Please pray for God’s wisdom as we listen, learn and minister.

•And for the Kuna churches in Panama as they continue to send their own missionaries into unreached villages. We just got an update from Kuna co-worker in a new work where God’s Word is changing lives. Please also pray for the ongoing final revisions of the Kuna Old Testament translation being worked on by our dear friends and coworkers, Keith & Wilma Forster and the Kuna translation team.

We need and are counting on your prayers!

So often as we travel we have to ask ourselves, “Were we as great a blessing as we were blessed?” This was the case again as we returned from a trip to Mexico!

Our hearts were so encouraged by the quality and commitment of the missionary candidates studying at the training center. The staff ministering there are doing a great job of imparting not just the technical things about mission work, but a real passion and urgency in the ministry.

We enjoyed every minute of our time in Mexico, taking the students through the steps necessary for motivating, producing and teaching literacy in tribal settings. Each one practiced by teaching the class a literacy lesson they developed.

Can you imagine what God will do through this group as they minister in tribal groups throughout Mexico?