Times and Seasons

The boys have been having fun this last week as we set up the badminton court for the first time ever. (It also serves as the soccer field and play place for several other groups of kids… I think we’ve invented a new sport – Dodge-Badminton)

Happy New Year

We are now more than a week into 2014 and are hoping that your new year is shaping up to be a fine one. As for us, we’ve seen lots of good progress on the work side of things – we are gearing up to check at least 500 translated verses with consultants at the end of February. Have to say that there is never a dull moment here – with community events happening almost non-stop over the last week as well as a few other interesting visits.

For instance – there was the dad who came to our offices twice to ask us to respond to the letter he had buried with his recently deceased son. I know it may be a new idea to most of you our friends, but in his mind, a letter sent via coffin would generate a response coming from the spirit world and ending up on our computers.  Talk about a need for delicacy, how do you show genuine care for someone over the recent loss of his child while dealing with the myth that you are withholding communication from that same child.

We celebrated 13 years of marriage on the 6th. With no restaurants around to take care of cooking, we were thankful to take our Mountain House backpacker’s meals out to our favorite vista and watch the sunset.  (Thanks Mom!)

Or for instance – I got a call on the phone today from a friend who broke an arm over his wife (yes I meant to say that). He is not able to return to his home from town yet because he removed the cast that a clinic worker had applied by himself… with a kitchen knife… weeks early. The bone has not set. He wanted me to tell his nephews to make an offering/meal to show their unity of mind so that his arm should heal quickly.

Or for instance – on Friday, we had a mid-level (read – very important) government official come to our house from a day’s hike away to ask for help in developing a school in his place… and to check to see if an odd stone that they found is precious ( [Au] on the periodic table, for those who are wondering).

Ah well, such is the life that we have been given. It surely is nice to know that we can trust the Lord in all of this.

Leaky roof got fixed on a beautiful day. This panorama is a little more than 180 degrees of our view from the house.

Please pray with us:

- Continued interest in the post-literacy program. There is need for lots of growth.

- Interest and fitness for helpers for office work – lots to do these next few weeks

- Care and time for community and for family in the midst of other things.

Thanks a ton for partnering with us,

Nate for us 5