precious cargo

In a few short weeks, even as we will be traveling enroute to the US, our partners the Knapps and Williamsons will be returning to Toboland bringing with them cargo--more precious than the cargo cult can imagine. That is portions of God’s Word to them in their own language!! God has so much more to offer in His Word than all the physical cargo on this earth put together many times over.

From the first stages of studying and rough drafting these portions all the way to proofing and printing them, many long hours of work and lots of prayer have gone into these precious booklets, which contain consultant-checked portions of Genesis, Exodus, Acts, and the book of Mark. How awesome is it that the God of the universe loves us so much and desires to communicate his special Word to us on this planet, even in remote corners like where we serve. God has given us the incredible privilege of being part of the team who are working together to share that message with the Tobo people and also to be part of the team—including some of our Tobo friends-- that has worked to get these scriptures into their hands.

Don’t forget that you too have played your part in seeing this happen—be encouraged and let’s all praise our Lord for this. Let’s also pray that the Tobo believers will take the contents of this precious cargo from God and use it for His glory as it grows them up in the faith and is used by them to share that faith with their friends and family.

Pray also for the future months and years as much work remains to be done to see more of the life-giving message of the Bible translated into this language.

Thanking God for His Word, which WILL NOT return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11),
Chad, Janeene & Elijah

PS - The coke boxes in the picture contain 50 copies of God’s Word in a semi-permanent form until the entire NT will be published. It has comb binding so that we can continue to add on translated portions of scriptures into one book, making it easier for the Tobo to handle and read.

a time to remember

Our last believers’ meeting before leaving the village this last week was truly one to remember. Not just for us to remember the time together, but also to remember the Lord Jesus Christ and his life-giving death for us. No Western formalities here--we cooked a few sweet potatoes over the fire, Tobo-style, and passed around that and some water as the ladies beat their wooden drums and we sang praises to God in Tobo. We partook of the sweet potato and water and thanked Yesu for taking our place and dying for our sins. It was a precious time with our brothers and sisters as we partook of the Lord’s Supper not as a ritual to please God or get into heaven, but as a way to remember what Yesu has done for us.

Tears were shed as we left the next day on our mission’s small plane to head for town and then in a few short weeks, our second furlough. One of our friends while weeping, said “God’s Word has broken my heart” repeating it over and over. She was so thankful that God’s Word had come to Tobo and she now has life. So this time leaving was different than last time, as we both shared and said that we could pray for each other to the same God and he will take care of us while we are apart.

We have been busy out here in town printing and binding the Bible portions that Chad has translated, so that the fledgling Tobo church will soon have more of the Word of God into one book to read and study. This is exciting! More on that soon!

Elijah is slowly adjusting to life out here. Some of his favorite things include: cars, ice cream, and the ocean. Things he’s not too crazy about so far are: the heat, the ceiling fans (not too sure why?), and all the strange new white people out here. While in town, he was greeting every national person he could see, but once out at the mission’s property, he became very shy and unsure of the new white faces. He should adjust in the next few days, though. Ah, the joys of the ever-changing life of a missionary kid…

So next time you partake of the Lord’s Supper in your church, remember that you have fellow brothers and sisters in a very different setting who are remembering our Lord right along with you!!

Thanks again for all your prayers for us and for the Tobo people! We appreciate you!
Chad, Janeene & Elijah

Elijah and Daddy enjoying the ocean together in Madang

Tobo ladies enjoying great fellowship

These ladies are new believers and it has been a joy to watch them grow and want to know more about the Lord. Lately, we’ve had lots of discussions about prayer, fellowship and giving, sickness, the Lord’s Supper, and baptism. Here are just a few comments from them:

“We are free now. We don’t have to be tied up following all the laws. We are free of all that, because Yesu has died for us and carried all our sins and it is finished!”

“We can pray anytime all the time. We can talk to God even about everyday things, carrying our string bags on the path, digging up the ground, planting taro, and at home cooking food.”

“When we share our burdens, it is like all of us trying to carry a heavy pig, not just one person by herself-that’s impossible!”

Even though these women come from different clans and some from different villages, it’s been great to see how God has brought them closer together during the course of the last several months as we worship God and study his Word together.

Please pray for them, that they will continue to grow in grace and that they will be a light in the community here!

Janeene for the 3 of us