Mike and Mati Winters Bringing a far off... focus near one student at a time Quick Summer Update
Drew, Wesley and Kaytlyn have a week left before they feel the freedom for the warm days of summer. We are happy to see the cold days of winter behind and are so much looking forward to sunshine and family time. We spent our first day at the lake on Monday and they all had a blast swimming.
We graduated another class. This Spring Class of 2011 was our 12th class that we have said goodbye to.
Next week we will be heading to Pennsylvania to Wayumi to help out cooking for a week during their High School summer program. It will be a fun road trip and a great time at “camp.”
Then it is back home for a couple of weeks and then off to Lifest in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Lifest is a huge concert that spans over 4 days with just about every Christian group you can think of and a lot you can’t think of. That is a much shorter trip and just an hour and half up the road. We will be meeting a lot of people and telling them about New Tribes Bible Institute. If you happen to be at the fest, stop by and see us in the exhibitors hall.
Mike will begin working on two new classes he will begin teaching in the Fall Semester. Missions in Church History and Intro to NTM. Fall semester Mike will be teaching at least 3 classes, that is what I enjoy. Mati will be getting ready for a new Senior class that will graduate in December.
All is not work, we will have plenty time for our family time and visits to the lake. We pray that you all have a great summer.
Thanksgiving 5k with Fellowship of Christian Athletes
The 5k Crew
It is 3:30am and the aroma of freshed brewed coffee can be detected across the first floor of New Tribes Bibles Institute Waukesha as preparations were being made to re-fuel the hungry runners of the second annual Thanksgiving 5k run in Racine, Wisconsin. NTBI Waukesha hosted the continental breakfast with bagels, pastries, oranges, bananas and lots and lots of hot chocolate and coffee. Thanks go out to Mark Williams, Mike & Kristy Day, Dean Mundy, Michael Roberts, Levi, Liz, Julie Coombs, and Thomas & Jennifer Freeman. Mati and I had a great time working with you and appreciate all of your help. The goal of this was to serve others and get the word out about what New Tribes Bible Institute is doing around the world with New Tribes Mission.
The Winters want to send out a huge THANK YOU for your prayers, financial support, and encouragement. We are passionate about representing you in this ministry at New Tribes Bible Institute in reaching the unreache
Mike and Mark Williams trying to stay warm
I Love A Parade
The town Waukesha had their annual Christmas Parade this last Sunday and we had front row seats right at the corner of
Ashley, Kim, & Molly
Main and Buckley. Many New Tribes Bible Institute students were a part of this years festivities. They dressed up as silver bells, ornaments, candy gum drops, and sign holders and marched with the best of them. The kids got into it as they scrambled for the candy canes as they slid across the asphalt where they finally rested in broken pieces. Christmas has officially kicked of in Waukesha, Wisconsin. NTBI Students have worked very hard and look forward to a long Christmas break. They deserve it.
Jed and Jonny Jingle Bell
NTBI’s Got Talent (or not)
Friday night student and staff gathered together to see the proof if New Tribes Bible Institutes really do have talent. Well they do!! Nothing like good clean humor to make a long week better. NTBI students are so passionate about the gospel that even in a fun filled night we got challenged by Emily, quoting the 12Th chapter of Romans and Jed, Eric, and Darrick giving the gospel to Smeagol from the Lord of the Rings. We also had many other funny skits and songs. So yes NTBI’s Got Talent
We are not playing football, WE ARE COOKING!
Team Winters took to the field today (entered the School Kitchen). We suited up (put on our aprons). To put it simply each Sunday our New Tribes Bible Institute cooks take turns cooking breakfast and lunch for all of the Students and Staff. This week it was the our turn, so we all put on our aprons (even Micah) and made Thanksgiving dinner, Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Bean Casserole, Rolls, Cranberry Sauce and of course Pumpkin Pie (okay we ordered the pumpkin pie). The kids jumped in and helped out making it a family affair, proving that Ministry is for everyone and everyone can serve in one way or other
Drew’s favorite was making the mashed potatoes and the sound of the cranberry sauce coming out of the big can. Wesley’s favorite was panning up the rolls and getting them ready to bake. Kaytlyn’s favorite of making lunch was getting the pies ready and the silly pictures we took. Micah’s favorite part was putting the aprons on and throwing the cans away. They worked so hard, Mike and I are super proud of them.
A busines connection becomes a ministry connection!
We have some exciting news for you. Around the first of October Mike received a phone call from the CEO of a company that New Tribes Bible Institute uses. The man said he wanted to get together with Mike for coffee. Mike and I figured that he just wanted to get with Mike to talk about NTBI’s business needs. But a few weeks later when he called to cancel, he told Mike that he was a believer and that Mike’s testimony as a missionary was one of the reasons why. So we may not be in a tribe and we may JUST be training tribal missionaries, but God is working at NTBI in the USA to also reach people for Christ. We are so excited. The Lord uses us wherever we are planted.
My Daffodils are blooming, even if my Fig tree is not !
I THINK MY FIG TREE IS DEAD, or is it…
Our lives don’t stop the seasons, for that we are glad. If they did, can you imagine what it would be like? For us January came with its snow and wind and cold weather. Surgery for Mike….. February came we had a few more snow storms. We still struggled to get Mike healthy. I guess you could say like everyone else, we were looking forward to “spring”. We kept hoping for good news, kept hoping for Mike’s health. Sometimes it came down to just “hope in Christ’s Salvation”. More than one night I pled for Mikes Life. One night I walked out of the hospital room kissed Mike goodbye knowing that if God chose to take him home I would see him in heaven. Things have been pretty bleak lots of times. You know that week after Christmas when you have put all the Decorations away (well not my family we like to leave them up till Easter or get My sister Jody to come put them away) and you realize that winter has just started and now you just have cold weather and ice to scrape off the window of your car each day. That is how life has been for us. We have no idea when spring is going to come. We know it will eventually, even if it is not till heaven.
In March we had our annual senior banquet here at the Bible School. 82 students gave testimonies to Gods work in their lives through the Bible School and its Staff. Mike sat on a big comfy chair in the school Kitchen since he had just had surgery the day before, and directed the frenzy. Our Kitchen Crew cooked and served amazing food, never leaving the kitchen, never hearing the testimonies not knowing the students hearts, not sitting, not resting till it was all done. Mike and I may never know why this has all happened, we may never know who we have reached. My hope is that just like the Kitchen crew we just work faithfully and diligently for the Lord till the job is done.
OUR DAIFIDILS ARE BLOOMING!
Even though The Winters’ fig tree is not blossoming, the daffodils are blooming. One of our dearest co-workers and neighbors has decided to go to the tribe. We are very sad to see them leave but very excited to see them at a place where they just “need to go”. Our whole effort is to challenge our students to grab a hold of Gods truths and take them and live them. I guess sometimes the challengers get challenged. Mike and I have noticed the change in them. The fire has been building underneath them, and they can no longer stay stateside. They feel the passion to go to a tribe and learn the language and teach Gods truths.
In May 82 students graduated, knowing the need for laborers. Some will go on to our next phase of training in Missouri and some will go home. Mike and I will trust that they ALL have learned to work faithfully and diligently for the Lord. That is our hope and again we may never know. The daffodils are blooming even if it is snowing in our lives right now. We know that God is GOOD, He is WORTHY, AND He is HOLY!! We will rejoice because “HE IS”!
Tags: Bringing a far off... focus near one student at a time
Peace on Earth is for Today
This is the time of year that we hear a lot about “peace on earth.” I have often thought that it is only at this time that we wish that for people or even wish that for the entire world. Will there ever be peace on earth? Well, the short answer is yes there will be, the long of it, not by anything that we do by wishing or even bringing it about.
Is the phrase “Peace on Earth” an impossibility and an empty Christmas wish that we use during this time? Or is it an accurate statement that is used by even those who may not understand it. Away in the manger many years ago, peace on earth did come, He came for everyone of us and has given us peace and has given us peace on earth. Is it a global peace that means “no more fighting?” No, not right now, but it is an individual peace that is given by our Savior. It is a peace that can be seen in each one of our lives. It is a peace that can make a difference today, right now. It is a peace that can be shared. It is a peace that can surpass all understanding.
There is PEACE ON EARTH, and it is here today, but not for everyone for many still have heard about the life of Christ and the peace that has given. Thank you for being a part of Planting Churches around the world. We (you and I) are a part of “peace on earth.”
Merry Christmas, Mike and Mati
Update on Mike
Hi Everyone, I hope this note finds you enjoying the snow, the sunshine, or the rain depending on what region of the country you happen to be in tonight.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers over the last few weeks as we found out that the cancer had return, as we waited for results, and as we processed through the whole thing. I am confident of one thing, it was a faithful Savior, and praying friends and family that encouraged us and comforted us in the days behind us.
Last week as you know I went in for a PET/CT on Tuesday and an MRI of the brain on Wednesday. We are praising the Lord as the results of both of those test came back clear of cancer except for the one area we already knew about. This was a great relief to all of and the waiting was very hard. God’s Grace is sufficient for us even in the times of waiting.
Today, I met the surgeon who removed my kidney in March 2008. He will be doing the surgery to removed the spot that was found. We are praising the Lord for this as he feels he can remove the spot and some of area around through Laparoscopic Surgery which means no large incision my stomach. Also mean a shorter stay in the hospital. If it doesn’t work to do it that way, then he can switch over to a normal surgery to take care of it. The surgery will be scheduled for sometime in January. I will meet again with the Oncologist in January to see what is next as far as treatment is concerned.
Once again thanks for praying, this is the best news we could have heard today. I will keep you all posted as to dates for surgery.
Have an amazingly Merry Christmas, Mike and Mati
Thanks for Praying
I have had my PET scan and the MRI, the next step is meeting with the surgeon on Tuesday, December 22. We are encouraged by all of your prayers and support in this. Thank you all.