Many Blessings - Can you find out how many new believers gave their testimonies this week?

 For we know, brothers and sisters, loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

At the bottom of the valley between our place and our outreach literacy school, there is a very lovely spot to enjoy a snack and a drink (and rock skipping if you are so inclined).

Home turf

Elias and I (Nate) hiked over to support our literacy school teachers in our outreach village. It is such a blessing that our kids consider Mesi-land as home base. They enjoy the hikes and even helping where they can with the work. During our time in N village at the school, Elias learned about how we grade and mark the literacy school homework. Because he understands the trade language (Tok Pisin) I was able to take him through the details of grading and encourage the literacy teachers at the same time. We are thankful for the growth that we are seeing in our kids - and thankful that they are willing and wanting to be helpful.

Heading down the hill to go home. It's a steep and slippery trip.

 Working together

Our Bible teachers had a disagreement about how to distribute the workload. Here one of them is apologizing to the others for his divisive comments. We thank God for good resolution for them.

 As the Mesi church grows, we are seeing men and women who are committed disciples coming together to meet the needs of the church. They are teaching the Word, leading meetings in their various hamlets, helping to resolve conflicts in the community, and working with us to produce clear and accurate written materials. 
As you all know, working together requires gentleness, love, and humility. Our guys are learning to love the way that the gospel produces those things in their hearts. They've seen in very real ways how the truths that they are teaching play out in their lives together. Honest and quick apologies, assuming the best of each other, and being willing to be wronged without expecting strong justice are just a few of the fruits that we've seen in these faithful folks. Please pray for them as more and more they see themselves as our co-workers, not just spiritual babies.

Mesi teachers have just finished a 74 lesson evangelistic Bible program for others in the Mesi community. We've had about 100 folks who've listened to all of the lessons.

 Growing more and more...

More than 100 Mesi men and women gathered last Sunday to share with us that they are new believers in Jesus! One of the things that we do in Mesi-land is ask new believers to share their testimonies with us. This has two benefits. First, it encourages the new believer to share his joy over his new life. Second, it helps us identify those who are excited about Jesus, but didn't really understand the gospel (they need more teaching!). We are working with our Mesi Bible teachers and their wives to listen to all of the testimonies and it is a slow process. Last weekend we heard 18 testimonies - 15 of which were pretty clear on the gospel. We expect to continue to listen to new testimonies on weekends for the next month or so.

Medical needs

One of the other ministries that we have right now is caring for the medical needs of the Mesi people (and others from surrounding language groups). There is no other medical aid for them within 2 days' hike. Recently we've had two extreme (even for us) cases. One was a compound fracture that a young boy suffered. He had to be flown out to a hospital in town for surgery. The other is the woman pictured below. She had an accident while chopping firewood and her right eye is completely infected. We've been treating with shots and oral antibiotics, but the infection is still not completely gone. Because of the proximity of the infection to her brain and because it is hard to get at (it's inside her eyeball) she is probably going to have to go out the hospital in town to have her eye removed. 

Each time we send a patient to town we have to carefully count the cost for them. Not only do they not understand town life very well, sometimes they have a difficult time getting the care that they need. One family that was sent out to take care of their severely-burned daughter went hungry in the hospital for 2 days before checking themselves out.

Please pray for us as we help and encourage our friends. We are not experts in medical care, but we are the best they have right now. Please pray also for the supply of a permanent medical aid post for the Mesi folks.

 

Our co-worker, Sandra, explains the dosage of oral antibiotics for our friend with the infected eye.

Our shots laid out... our friend, the grandma, has had 6 of these shots. They have helped some, but she is not out of the woods yet.

 Thanks so much for praying for and giving to this work. 
Nate for the family.