Ewus slumped down beside me. "Nate, I have a concern," he said. "I missed work on Friday and on Monday again because of a situation involving my (great) uncle. Some people, you know how people are, were jealous of him and they left something, you know, in the trail. They left it in the trail and he must have stepped over it because his leg is big and swollen. I was up there in his village with my family trying to understand how to fix him," he said.
In case you missed it, my conversation with this new believer included a very pointed reference to sorcery. When Ewus's uncle's leg swelled up, neither he nor the people around him first thought of a physical medical explanation. Nope. They immediately interpreted the painful and dangerous condition as a spirit-realm attack with physical consequences. Imagine always having grown up and living with insecurity - be driven to not stand out from the crowd so that you don't risk secret jealous attack.
Let me help you understand the urgency and presence of this insecurity in the minds of our friends. In these strange days, how many of us are now constantly aware of and taking careful precautions against an invisible (yet very real) and seemingly all-pervasive foe. Even if you personally are not worried about COVID and it's consequences, there are likely many around you who are. For many of our friends here - that is what it always has been like.
Now, imagine with me the feeling of relief and relative confidence that you will have when a vaccine for COVID is ready. That is what the Gospel is doing here! Not only is God's Word giving people eternal hope, it is unlocking a whole new joy, engagement, and freedom for their on this ground present. It is in the Gospel that Ewus finds the answer to his worries and fears.
6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
Colossians 2:6-10
Friends, we are working away each day, not because we are the answer to the needs around us, but because we have found the answer to our own deep need and we are sharing that. Will you please pray for us as we:
- Love and minister to our flock of 40+ missionary families and the churches they represent.
- Seek to support and engage with the PNG churches.
- Continue to work with the Pal people to see them grow further toward maturity.
- Help administer our local mission support center.
- Look at opportunities for the gospel work in PNG to increase.
I (Nate) recently took a trip with our co-worker Chris Hostetter to come alongside the new missionaries in the Kovol language group. This is the one that is next door to our work in Pal. The Kovol missionaries are working hard to learn the culture and language of the people around them. We remember those days - always trying to make wise decisions with lots of people around and not really knowing what is right in awkward and new situations. Here are some pictures of that time. Please note - we have been extra careful to be aware of and conform to hygiene and other restrictions.
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