Taking One for the Team...
Howdy All,
Just wanted to let you in on some of the many happenings this week as they affect the Claasens here in Papua New Guinea…
We have been in intensive talks with leadership and our partners about what kinds of tribal ministry would be a good fit for us. At this point we are exploring something almost without precedent here in NTM PNG – assisting a tribal church in reaching out cross-culturally to surrounding people groups. Our thinking is that much of what we stand for as missionaries is building a reproducing church and we see this as an opportunity for further discipleship as we co-labor with the indigenous outreach team. We would assist the church in Bible translation and discipleship as they teach in the next language group.
With this ministry in mind, we are heading into the bush (to a village called Mibu) for two weeks (April 22-May 6) to meet with the tribal church and the missionaries currently teaching and discipling and get a feel for the task. We are still early in the process and are not sure how or even if it will play out. We'll keep you posted. Please be praying for these meetings and for our families as we will be living with our co-workers in one house (4 adults and 6 kids).
We have also been asked to teach at the NTM high school here for the 08-09 school year. We have decided to accept the ministry for several reasons. First, there is a real need. Although the school began this year with 4 High School math teachers, they will end it with none due to sickness and family emergencies. (They are also short a Science teacher, English teacher, and Social Studies teacher.) There has been no one to step forward to fill this need from the U.S. and now it is too late for anyone to begin the paperwork process for coming over. Secondly, teaching missionaries kids mathematics is a doubly critical role. Math is a subject that many parents (wherever they are) are intimidated by at the high school and Advanced Placement levels. Also, teaching missionary children directly supports the tribal church planters as it offers respite for teens who are in danger (often girls as young as 11) or teens who are feeling trapped in a tribal setting. Several families currently in the bush have confided in us that without the ministry of the school, they would be forced to abandon their works for a time. If another missionary were to take on this teaching job, it would directly and negatively impact the progress of one of the church plants. We have wrestled with this one extensively and are confident that God could have provided another person had He chosen to do so. So, we have committed for one year only, after that, we are planning on joining our partners in the work that is described above. We are trusting God this year that He will raise up others to teach at the school when we leave.
So where does that leave us? We are currently making plans for our meetings in Mibu and for our move to the school base 5 hours away. Nate is still working in the Finance Office here in Madang but will transition over to preparation for school ministry after our trip to Mibu. Elizabeth is going to be sorting and packing, schooling our boys, and trying to maintain some semblance of sanity over the next couple of months of transitions!
Yours in Grace,
Nate for the Claasens
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