Listening and hearing.
Tuesdays at 3 pm: fellas come to learn some technical skills. It has been a great thing for the community here.
Careful direction
The other day as I was talking through simple electrical circuits with some Pal friends*, we spent lots of time talking about how to correctly determine which wires should go where in a flashlight. I said to them, “Think first, follow the electricity path through with your finger and then solder in the wires.” Then we all worked on a flashlight together thinking about red wires and black wires, positives and negatives, and the right connections on the switch. “Alright, you guys are on your own now, you fix this next one.”
They bent earnestly over the flashlight, soldering iron in hand, while I stepped upstairs for a quick drink and snack. When I came down, my four friends were puzzling over a flashlight that looked as though someone had just soldered random wires all over the place in it. (Which is in fact what happened). Turns out the philosophies: “Try it there, it just might work” and “All it needs is another wire somewhere” don’t really get us too far in bringing light to the situation.
Not surprisingly, teaching young believers has led to some interesting situations as well. Despite our care and careful teaching, there are so many ways in which rumor, and hearsay (yes hearsay, but it does lead to heresy) creep into our friend’s theology. Today I spent some time with a group of leaders. Some have been community leaders for a long time. Others have only more recently been elevated into that role. These are guys who in the past have expected others to pay them for praying to the spirits on their behalf. One in particular, the chairman of the board as it were, asked me what I mean when I have been telling people not to be like the Israelites on the border of Canaan – “Don’t look back and long for the slavery you left!”
Since he asked, I was able to point out to him the bondage of Satan’s ways. I also was able to (for the first time with this fella) say, “You and Liuk over there, you guys have been putting this heavy burden on all of the men and women here and it is not at all true. It is bondage and it has to stop.” Liuk, a very open and honest fella when it comes to emotions, was laughing (Pal cultural reaction to shame) and reminding Jami (the other guy) of all of things that they had done. Finally Jami said, “I don’t want that anymore. I’m doing that kind of thing anymore.” Please pray for us. This conversation is not done. Jami is known for his deceptive ways and his hypocrisy. We are always praying for wisdom and opportunity to bring people face to face with God’s truth in His timing.
Not anything fancy, but the boys have really enjoyed the ‘deathtrap’ as their mother calls it. (What?... its only 20 feet in the air and the ground is really soft…)
Things.
This is the part of the update where I put in some random stories and points for you to peruse.
· For instance, you may either be part of or had experience with a liturgical church at some point. Well, here in PNG, certain things have been translated into Tok Pisin, the trade language and then spread. Our guys were talking with us today about how they understand a portion of the Apostles Creed… turns out that the Tok Pisin words for group and bone are very similar. So when our guys heard the part about the Holy Spirit joins believers together, they were out right away digging up the bones of their ancestors to have power over the sin in their lives. (Can you say ‘frame of reference is vital’ ?)
· Monday January 5th marks the kick-off of our 3rd session of literacy school. We are running 2 classes simultaneously for the first time. It looks to be a strong team of folks that will be taking on the teaching roles. Please pray that our friends will be encouraged in their support of the community and literacy in order to advance the gospel here in Pal. It is going to be a stretch on us as well as we are providing oversight for more students and training for many new teachers.
· There are many sick folks here right now. One of our new believers, a man who wanted to come to the literacy school, got a very large tropical ulcer (I’d like to call it big festering puss wound because it is much more descriptive) and now is unable to come.
· We are constantly being asked things like: “How do I change my desires? I don’t want to sin!” and “How do I pray when I go to sleep?” “Did God say anything about ________ .” It keeps us on our toes. Please pray with us that we would answer in clarity and dependence.
Alright, you have suffered enough this week, We will inflict further damage on your inboxes next week!
Grace and a very blessed New Year,
Nate for us 5
*Nate has been having lots of requests from guys who want to learn how to fix things so we started Workshop Tuesdays. Guys come and we teach them different skills while fixing things that are needful for like here in the bush. Most of them are so excited about it they come at 11 am even though we don’t start until 3 pm.
O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations. Psalm 77:13-14
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