NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

A year ago, we received an application to study at our institute in Mexico from Vicente Tigre (far left) a young Guarijio man.  His name in English would be Vincent TIGER.  He helped the missionaries learn his language, and had come to know the Lord through their teaching.  When we get this type application, we wonder if their Spanish will be “good enough” for them understand the teaching, or if they would be better off studying with the missionaries in their native language.   We are so glad we admitted him, he is such a blessing.  Vicente not only excelled in the curriculum, he did it while translating Galatians to his own language.  I just received an  e-mail from one of our missionaries who works with a group of Guarijio on the outskirts of Chihuahua City.  They had to move to the city, but continue to reach the Guarijio.  Here’s what he says:

      “But God in His grace and mercy has given us another opportunity with Guarijio here in the City of Chihuahua.  Linda has been teaching some Guarijio Ladies for many months.  Luis, a son of one of the ladies has joined the group.  It is a small group, but I am sure precious in the sight of our Heavenly Father. 

   A young Guarijio believer who started this semester in our Bible Institute took over the teaching.  His name is Vicente.  Vicente was thrilled with the chance to teach someone in his own language.  (He is also a gifted teacher).  We are two lessons away from the presentation of the Gospel.  Please pray as Vicente presents Christ this week.  We will be teaching on the burial on Wednesday the 11^th of May and the Resurrection on Saturday the 14^th.”

   Would you please pray for Vicente right now as he presents the final lessons in this very important series? 

Thanks,

 Virgil and Jeri

 ps.  We’ve become aware that those who have subscribed to our blog (www.ntm.org/virgil_holt) may not be receiving notification of new uploads.  You may need to re-subscribe sorry.

We just started a new Bible Study at church last Friday.  We are looking at the book of Ruth, one of two books of the Bible that bear the names of women.   Ruth was a gentile (Moabite) and married a Jew, Esther was a Jew who married a gentile.  Yet God in His sovereignty used both to save the nation of Israel.  The story takes place during the time that Judges ruled in the land of Israel… that’s NOT a good thing because rather than have God as their king, “every man did what was right in his OWN eyes.”  I made some interesting observations regarding the story of Ruth…

Elimelech, Naomi’s husband means “God is my King.”  Naomi means “pleasantness.”  They were from Bethlehem which means “land of bread.”  Yet, when the famine hit, “God is my king” seems to take matters into his own hands, and left the “land of bread” and went to Moab a pagan worshiping nation to meet their needs.  Isn’t that  what we tend to do?  Like Elimelech, we may bear His name as King, and live in His Kingdom, without really making Him my king.  As children of the King, we have all we need, yet when hard times come we leave the umbrella of His provision and pursue our lack in our own strength.   The result is death.  Elimelech, and his two sons died, leaving Naomi and her two daughters in law with no hope of provision or inheritance.

I’m so glad the story doesn’t  end there, neither for Ruth and Naomi, nor for me when I take matters into my own hands.  God has a beautiful way of transforming our failures into classrooms of opportunity where we can learn to truly make him our King.  “Seek first God’s kingdom… and all these things will be added unto you.” trust Him even more deeply.    The end of the story is that Ruth is named as the great grandmother of David, and consequently named in the genealogy of Jesus Himself.  He has a way of turning our mistakes into blessings.