NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

After many months of waiting, a couple of very important containers cleared customs and made their way up the mountain to us. Now here is the rest of the story!

One of these containers departed Ireland months ago. It contained information that you and I take for granted, yet it is the most important information of our lives. You guessed right; it carried Bible lessons!  However, these were all written in Tok Pisin, the language of the local people of Papua New Guinea.

A church in Ireland donated their resources, ordered these Bible lessons and shipped them all the way to PNG in the above-pictured container, paid in full. All we had to do is pick them up, right? Well they just sat there in customs. And they sat. And they sat. After battling with customs f-o-r-e-v-e-r and getting the stack of legal paperwork in line, we are so happy to see the printed Word of God make it to the Papua New Guineans here who now can read it for themselves!

When the container finally pulled in, our hearts were overwhelmed and we were rejoicing in the Lord for His goodness as we unloaded boxes containing a whopping 25,000 copies. And now you know the rest of the story!

Thank you for battling with us in prayer to overcome Satan’s scheme.  As busy as you are, you take time to stand with us – and it gives us the strength and resolve to stay in the fight when the going gets tough.  Thank you for your sacrificial giving and prayers on our behalf!

Rob and Coco Tallman

Rainy season has arrived and everything is green, green and green! Flowers and trees are pollinating all over the mountains and in the valleys. For the people of Papua New Guinea who survive off the land, it is essential for life. But though necessary and beautiful, for Coco is means the onslaught of allergy season! In this environment, battling allergies night and day is exhausting; please pray for relief.

Plans for school year 2011 – 12

We are in the process of preparing for our niece and nephew (Kayla and Zach) to stay with us during the school year. We are very excited! Previously, they stayed in the dorms for schooling while their parents (Will and Kelly Tallman) were in the tribal village. When we evaluated our housing situation we realized we would need more room and were offered a bigger house – ironically, it was a vacant dorm. We are so grateful for the extra space!

Harvest Mumu (Feast)

A few months ago, Rob was given land across the river to plant a garden. Over the weekend we had a Harvest Mumu in the village to celebrate his first harvest! The mumu was built using rocks heated in a fire, banana leaves and dirt. Veggies from the garden layered with leaves and hot rocks and then more leaves covered the food. All that then was covered over with dirt, like a gigantic pressure cooker – just like in your kitchen – right?! – Please pray that our bodies will remain strong!

Thanks once again for partnering with us in reaching PNG with the good news of Jesus Christ!

We did not know that the price of electric would jump another 10% in January, but God did and was directing our paths and preparing us! Nine months ago we began looking at the power the old walk-in freezer was using. Although it had served us well for 25 years, it could not compete with the efficiency of newer models. Yes, it was time for a change. We ordered the new freezer and have just completed the installation!

Installing the new freezer involved a lot of preparation, such as peeling off part of the roof, knocking down cement walls, and temporarily locating the meat in the old freezer to other freezers. We are glad it’s done!

The benefits are exceptional. First, by keeping the cost down we are using the money wisely that God has provided by you, our wonderful partners back home. Additionally, other regions of Papua New Guinea now are able to participate in the savings by ordering meat from us, since we can obtain meat cheaper than they can when they purchase it locally. With the new walk-in freezer we are able to provide for other missionaries in those regions. These pictures share with you just a glimpse at the outcomes of your prayers and financial support!

On a somewhat sadder note, we had a “death in the family” – our computer has completely and utterly bit the proverbial dust! Pray with us as we consider how to add a new member to replace it.
Thank you again for your prayers and generous support. Without your partnership, we could not do it!

First of all, thank you for a wonderful year!  Thank you for standing behind us in prayer and financial support through your sacrificial giving.  We are grateful for each and everyone of you.  Because you pray and/ or give, you also are part of the work here in Papua New Guinea.  Heva is your new brother in Christ and this is what he said, “From hearing this first teaching (Creation to Christ) my thinking has been opened.  When I keep hearing the next Phases of teaching, my thinking will be so open/full of God’s Word that my head is just going to be HUGE!” – Heva

May God bless you all abundantly in the New Year and may our heads be huge!

As I relax at the end of the day, my back is feeling a bit out of whack and I notice sore muscles I haven’t felt in a long time!  Although it’s partly due to getting older, it’s mostly from unloading tons of goods.  We were excited to see the container finally pull in the morning- from orders place in May!  We spent two hours unloading the container and the rest of the day sorting, counting and straightening all the stock shelves before the next container arrives this week.  Every order placed since May will end up arriving at about the same time.  While that 6-month delay made a rough summer, it’s going to be a good Thanksgiving!  We praise the Lord for His goodness in allowing these containers to come through; many missionaries in Papua New Guinea, whether in bush locations or support roles, are gratefully looking forward to a little bit of home this holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

We find ourselves alternating between sheer exasperation and laughing off our frustration at hearing that our food container is delayed yet again! At its current status, it is due to arrive in just over 10 weeks, late. That’s two-and-a-half months of groceries that need to come from somewhere! We’ve made one emergency shopping trip in Lae to “get us by”, but with the most recent news, we find ourselves scrambling to fill the shelves. One container is delayed so long that we’ll end up with three containers arriving at the same time – a real financial stress to the store’s finances. There is nothing we can do to change the outcome of these everyday experiences but we learn, in the process, to depend on God – Who alone knows all things.

There is a bigger purpose for our presence in PNG. We did not come only to run a store for missionaries, but to ultimately reach out to the people of Papua New Guinea. We frequently are reminded of the spiritual battles.  Many National people in our area are in physical fights over disagreements that often involve dead ancestors and witchcraft.  The fighting is frequently severe enough that some of our National friends cannot sleep for fear that their opponent will sneak into their village at night and wipe them out.

Living in this part of the world is not particularly easy, but we persevere so we can continue to reach out. To all of you who pray daily for our safety and the strength and wisdom to carry on – thank you! We value your partnership as we labor together until the Lord returns and representatives from every tongue, tribe and nation worship together with us in our heavenly home. What a day that will be!

The people here are extremely fearful of snakes.  It doesn’t matter what size the snake is.  They show great emotion when confronted with the creepy crawly.  Their whole body with arms flailing, feet stamping, and voices screeching clearly tells me that they really don’t like snakes!

Some time ago, Rob spent a few nights among the people across the river.  Ever since then the people wanted Rob to bring the rest of his family to stay a few nights.  They wanted to make sure that I (Coco) and the girls felt comfortable while in the village and built us an outhouse!  The outhouse came complete with blinds (walls) and a door.

Three weeks ago, we packed up a few minimal essentials such as a tent and sleeping bags and we made our way across the river to spend time with them.  Jewel brought along her rubber snake to play with.  Being an eight year old that she is, ran around the village with her “pet” snake and scared a few people.  She did get  extra help from some of the people to get a good response out of others.  The picture above shows a good reaction from the oldest lady in the village.  I’m glad she didn’t have a heart attach!

Our ministry in the store is going well.  Rob’s been spending extra time working in the office learning the computer program.  By straightening and simplifying things on the computer, ordering and maintaining inventory will be much easier.  He’s pretty excited to see his hard work starting to pay off.

Thanks to all that have made this ministry even possible.  We have felt your prayers and are truly encouraged by your care in our lives.

Serving Him Together, Rob & Coco Tallman

Rob takes frequent trips to a city five hour bus ride from where we live, while there he cares for store business.  In May he had an opportunity for an in-depth culture and language study.  A local boat driver named Martin invited him to go with him on a four hour boat ride across open sea.  The plan was to stay one night and travel back.  In PNG you can make plans, but it rarely means that it will happen.   Rob didn’t know where he was going to sleep, what he would eat or drink.  He took as many precautions he could such as taking a round of Malaria preventatives, life jacket and a special filter pen to filter unclean water if necessary.

Apparently it’s rare to see a white man in that area of PNG.  Many of the children approached Rob and touched his arm with a puzzled look on their faces, then would touch another man’s arm.  Some children, especially the younger ones were frightened and would cry with shear fear.   Praise the Lord for a successful trip.  After three nights and four days collecting PNG culture and new vocabulary, he has made lasting friendships and has generated a good reputation among the local people in Lae.
On his way home with all his cargo for the store, the bus’s tire fell off.  He was able to call another bus to come out for him and after a short while that bus also broke down.  Our all knowing God brought the third bus along just at the right moment, and he was able to complete his journey home.  We know a number of you are praying for us.  We greatly appreciate your prayers especially for God’s protection on Rob while he is away from home.

Now Rob feels confident he will do well on his next language test.  By completing his third test (four in all), he will be one step closer to being adequate in language and culture and be able to clearly share the Gospel with his friends!

Serving Him,
Rob & Coco Tallman