Giving Thanks

After Aaron Luse finished teaching evangelistic lessons to 3 groups of Patpatar people in Papua New Guinea, several shared their new found faith with the rest of the group. One old man spoke up saying:

This teaching through God's Talk has led me to praise. It has led me to God's Son. God made Adam and Eve in the garden and restricted them from the fruit. When they sinned a new road was needed to get to God. A new road was needed and God promised it, but it wasn't completed then. That road is this that we believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus. We believe and know that we are not good. I am not a righteous man. But if we know this and believe in Him, God will make us new again.

Another new believer said:

When you wake up in the morning, you can look out on the ocean and see dolphins jumping in the water. That is like the joy that I have. I have joy jumping up and down because of the teaching from God's Word. It is clear to me and the truth has replaced what I used to believe.

At this time of the year I am reminded that we have much to give thanks for. I am very thankful for all those who pray for my ministry. Your prayers on my behalf are much appreciated.

Bob

 

Andrew Murray on "Humility"

"Humility is perfect quietness of heart. It is to have no trouble. It is never to be fretted or irritated or sore or disappointed. It is to expect nothing, to wonder at nothing that is done to me. It is to be at rest when nobody praises me and when I am blamed or despised. It is to have a blessed home in the Lord, where I can go in and shut the door and kneel to my Father in secret, and am at peace as in the deep sea of calmness when all around and above is trouble."

A Church is Born in PNG

Only a few years ago the Busers and Chens were sitting in a phonetics class here at the Missionary Training Center. Now they are working with the Biem people of Papua New Guinea. They recently finished teaching a series of chronological Bible lessons culminating with the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Brandon Buser wrote:

We began today's lesson by acting out the crucifixion. From there we taught: Why did Jesus have to die? What did that mean for us? Why had God the Father forsaken Him? What did He mean "it is finished"? What did the torn curtain mean? How in the world did the thief get saved? From there we acted out the resurrection and then taught on the significance of it. Finally the ascension and some more teaching.

Obviously the reactions were as varied as the individuals that were in attendance… Here are some of the things that a few of the folks said:

"Brandon, it's so clear now. I used to go to church, give money, and do good. All those things I thought would make me clean in God's eyes. But when I slept at night, truly I had no idea where I would go when I die. But now I know! Brandon, I'm not scared of dying anymore."

Another fella just kept saying "Really?! Really!?" Everyone beside the guy kept looking at him like he was nuts, but he was just beside himself with amazement at what Jesus had completed on his behalf.

One friend said, "I've been listening to the whole teaching and I understand this. I believe this. I know Jesus ONLY has straightened my sin pay. Now I understand this and the first thing I'm going to do is tell my family. They need to hear this."

Another said, "We've talked about it already. We're going to be going to the next islands to share this talk (15 miles – open ocean). We'll row in our canoes if we have to. They need to hear. They don't understand this talk at all. None of us did. But us, we need to get this talk to others now."

Wayne Chen also wrote:

A young guy sat next to me, with a biggest smile on his face. He didn't say anything so I asked him, "what's on your mind?" He said, "Wayne, I had a big question yesterday. Why didn't God the Father help Jesus on the cross? I thought about it all night and I didn't know.

But after today's lesson, I don't have any more questions. I got it. I understand it. I am just going to sit here and be happy." He smiled on.

And one young Biem man said, "I know I should thank God for you guys but I want to thank your families for bringing God's talk here." Then we told him that, there are literally thousands of people praying for you guys to understand God's talk all over the world. He then said, "Ok, then you go and tell them, ALL OF THEM, THANK YOU. God's talk has come to our island. THANK THEM for praying and sending you guys here." This young man, along with a few others, began to discuss how they need to take this talk to other islands and even different language groups in Papua New Guinea.

This young Biem believer reminds me that it takes a team to plant a church. Brandon and Wayne needed someone in Missouri to teach them phonetics. And I could not teach phonetics without a partnership team supporting and praying for my ministry.

I am truly thankful for all those who have partnered with me through their prayers and through their financial support.

Bob

Thanks for Packing My Chute!

Charles Plumb was a U.S. Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience. 

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!" "How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb. "I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he might have looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat, a bib in the back, and bell-bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."

Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent on a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know. Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through each day.

In reading this story a couple of things stood out to me.

Before Plumb was shot down his attitude of self-importance demonstrated in thoughts such as: "I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor."

Often we put overseas missionaries on pedestals and discount the role that we have in their lives. We might reason:

"I'm just a fellow in Missouri who teaches missionaries phonetics. My role is insignificant!"

"I'm just a church member who prays for missionaries. My role is insignificant!"

"I'm just a blue-collar worker who supports a missionaries financially. My role is insignificant!"

After Plumb was shot down he realized that this insignificant sailor was "holding in his hands the fate of someone he didn't know." That really put things into perspective.

It has been said that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. There are many links to the chain of reaching unreached people groups. And there are no insignificant links.

   

God has a team of people who are packing my parachute every day through their prayers and their financial gifts to my ministry. I am so thankful for each and every one who take the time to pack my chute.

I would be blessed if you would consider being a part of that team packing my parachute. To learn more, please click here or send me an email.

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

Reach Tribes! Transform Lives!

Muluk said, "Listening to God's Word is so wonderful. My liver (aka heart) is just full. It just feels so good."

A new semester is just beginning here at the NTM Missionary Training Center. Please pray for us as we train the next generation of missionaries to reach tribes and transform lives.

Bob

God Is Building His Church

A new believer from a remote tribal group said, "We are in awe of what we just heard. How He took away our sins and paid for them. That is tremendous. I am just amazed at His love for me."

God is still building His church even in the isolated corners of the world.

Bob

Froggy Research

Leishmaniasis is a disease spread by the bite of the sandfly. It can result in an ulcer that heals very slowly. Dr. Simone, a medical missionary in Brazil, recently treated a patient with this disease. He had a large Leishmaniasis ulcer on his back. He had this sore for a year without going to a doctor. Dr. Simone asked him why he hadn’t gone to a doctor sooner. He responded, “I am doing a very important work in the jungle and I couldn’t leave until now.” He is a biologist and is studying the yellow cane frog. He said that he did not have time to worry about the ulcer, because his work was so important. He had been attacked by jaguars seven times and had many close calls with poisonous snakes. When Dr. Simone sent him to the infirmary, the biologist said, “I hope it doesn’t take long to treat, I have to get back to my work.” This biologist was so dedicated to his task, that he ignored his health so that he could continue researching the yellow cane frog. The dedication of this biologist is remarkable, and yet it seems like there are more noble causes that people can give their lives to. One such cause is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

 

Two thousand years ago, Jesus commissioned the church with a much more important task called The Great Commission. Many have given their lives, faithfully carrying on the work that God has given us to do, because the eternal destiny of countless souls is at stake. What a challenge it is to stay faithful in the face of the difficulties we encounter along the way.

 

As we begin a new semester here at the Missionary Training Center, please pray that we will stay faithful and not waiver in our commitment to the Lord of the Harvest. He is worthy of our dedication and He is the One who will one day say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

 

I doubt very much that the yellow cane frog will laud the dedicated research biologist with such praise!

Bob

• http://www.4himnet.com/bnyberg/Welcome.html

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  Things Which Gracious Souls Discover
by William R. Newell

• To “hope to be better” is to fail to see yourself in Christ only.
• To be disappointed with yourself, is to have believed in yourself.
• To be discouraged is unbelief, -- as to God’s purpose and plan of blessing for you.
• To be proud, is to be blind! For we have no standing before God, in ourselves.
• The lack of Divine blessing, therefore, comes from unbelief, and not from failure of devotion.

Paiye: "We thought we were living well."

Everything that Paiye cared so much about before is nothing now that he heard the Gospel.

This reminds me of something Lance Latham wrote years ago: "The most valuable and sacred commodity, therefore, on the face of the earth is the truth of the gospel. This is a sacred message worth living for, worth sacrificing for, and worth gladly dying for. It is the only real value on earth today; it is the truth of all truths to which the church must be dedicated to propagate and protect."

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

Disable e-Sword Pop-ups

The latest version of e-Sword now has advertising pop-ups. At best, these can be annoying. At worst, you might live in a country which discourages their residents (by imprisonment or death) from connecting to Christian websites.

To my knowledge there is no way to turn off the pop-ups in the e-Sword program itself. However, you can disable the pop-ups by going to Control Panel / Windows Firewall / Advanced Settings. Create a new "inbound rule" and a new "outbound rule." Select Programs and follow the instructions. You will need to browse to the file named e-Sword.exe which is located one of these folders:

• C:\Program Files\e-Sword
  
• C:\Program Files (86x)\e-Sword
  

One benefit of doing this is that e-Sword loads way faster. I thought that the reason e-Sword loaded so slow was because of all the modules I have installed. But that is not the case. Every time you load e-Sword, it makes a connection to the internet. You might say that it "phones home" to see if it should send you advertising pop-ups today. Once you disable its ability to connect to the internet, it loads much faster.

I was afraid that disabling e-Swords ability to connect to the internet would also block the download feature found on the Main Menu. It does not. You can still download modules just fine from the Main Menu.

The whole issue of e-Sword "phoning home" every time you start the program brings up privacy issues — especially for people living in certain countries that frown upon their residents from connecting to Christian websites. One person on an e-Sword discussion board made the following good points:

Some people don't want their computer and IP address being recorded at e-sword.net anytime they are connected to the internet. What if you live in a country where you could get in trouble for that? What if you downloaded and installed e-sword before you arrived in a country to avoid connections with a Christian website? What if you installed from a cd to avoid an internet connection with a Christian website? This is very bad.

Here's a discussion of the privacy issues related to e-Sword pop-ups:

http://www.biblesupport.com/topic/2114-e-sword-101-released/page__st__40

Here's a Youtube video on how to use Windows firewall settings to block programs from accessing the internet:

http://youtu.be/GaK7edQV2UY

Hope you find this info helpful.

Bob

All My Sins! Really?!

Ndaubeo praises Jesus for taking away all her sins.



Yet many professing Christians cannot even fathom this precious truth. Praise God for those who are faithfully teaching new believers such as Ndaubeo about the free gift of salvation purchased by Jesus Christ. Far too often the message of the gospel is tainted by works which, according to the Apostle Paul, is really no gospel at all (Gal. 1:7).

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

What Makes the Difference?

Villagers in Papua New Guinea want to know what makes the difference in the lives of folks from another hamlet who have trusted Christ as their Savior.

The believers in a Mengen village received an invitation to come teach God's Word to another group.

The Mengens have been visiting different villages passing out copies of Mark and Acts as they went. The people were so excited about receiving the Scriptures that they took several days to read God's Word and talk together about it.

But the deciding factor in asking the Mengen believers to come teach is the difference the people observed in their lives after they trusted Christ.

"After our visits there," wrote missionary Laurens Laureti, "they realized that they have no understanding of how to live in peace with God and are concerned about their future after death. They are unsure about how to get their spirits in order with God."

That good news helped Pabiure, who at 87 is the oldest man in the Mengen village, to decide to be a part of the next outreach. So Pabuire climbed into an airplane for the first time and made the trip to visit some fellow clan members.

"He has never flown in a plane before," wrote Laurens. "His son-in-law, sons and grandson are going to visit his fellow clan members and he said he wanted to go with them and give a testimony of what God has done in his life."

This reminds me of Paul's exhortation to Timothy: "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also (2 Tim 2:2)."

Here at the Missionary Training Center we are equipping students to take the gospel to people groups who have never before heard the Word of God. And in turn, those who have been through our training program here are teaching new believers such as the Mengen to reach their own people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

It is an awesome task that needs much prayer. Thanks to all who pray for me and support my ministry here at the MTC.

Please send me an email if you would like to learn more about how you can help to reach the unreached people groups of the world.

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

Paving the way to present the gospel

Imagine what it would feel like to read and write your own language for the first time as an adult. Recently a group of 20 Biem men and women who live in the jungles of Papua New Guinea completed their literacy class. As a result the language that they have spoken all their lives takes on whole new dimensions and possibilities.

Missionary Brandon Buser writes, “One of their greatest satisfactions is when they get a chance to read their books outside of class time in front of their families. The chance to ‘show off their stuff’ is extremely relished.” Brandon adds that this kind of “showing off” is also an effective enlisting tool for future class participants. It seems that no one wants to be left out.

Literacy is one of the first steps in the process of planting a church among unreached people groups. Now preparations for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ can proceed.

With several years of studying culture and language behind them, the missionaries are now able to understand how to move beyond simple concrete subjects and delve into more abstract topics.
Brandon writes, “Those times are fascinating as we get their takes on life, death and what happens when they die (to which the overwhelming answer is ‘I’ve no clue’). It’s great to be able to tell them that there is Someone Who knows these answers. Most of these conversations end with a lot of eager folks saying that they can’t wait for the Bible course to start.”

The task of planting a church in these remote corners of the world is huge and is extremely challenging. The instruction that NTM missionaries receive at our Missionary Training Center helps them to become effective church planters.

Please send me an email if you would like to learn more about how you can help to reach the unreached people groups of the world.

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg  

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The Proper Attitude of Man under Grace 

by William R. Newell

To believe, and to consent to be loved while unworthy, is the great secret.

To refuse to make “resolutions” and “vows”; for that, is to trust in the flesh.

To expect to be blessed, though realizing more and more lack of worth.

To testify of God’s goodness, at all times.

To be certain of God’s future favor; yet to be ever more tender in conscience toward Him.

To rely on God’s chastening hand as a mark of His kindness.

A man under grace, if like Paul, has no burden regarding himself; but many about others.

What Does it Take?

What does it take to plant a to plant a church among unreached people groups? Edaipiya who is a believer in the remote jungles of Indonesia offers some insight from his perspective.



It takes a team!

Like Edaipiya, I am thankful for all those who are a part of my partnership team praying for me and supporting my ministry with their love gifts.

If you are interested in learning more about being part of this team taking the good news of Jesus Christ to the remote corners of the world, I would love to hear from you. Please email me.

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

Fishing According to God’s Word

When I was younger I spent a lot of time trout fishing. I was born and raised in Oregon. On opening day of trout season we'd head up an old logging road and find a spot miles away from anyone else. There's nothing like being alone in the woods with your fishing pole and a bunch of hungry trout.

Fishing in Oregon 

When I moved to Missouri I quickly learned that fishing here is not like fishing back in Oregon. Bennett Springs is a favorite trout fishing spot in this neck of the woods. The first time I saw pictures of Bennett Springs on the opening day of trout season I couldn't believe my eyes. People were literally shoulder to shoulder trying to stake out a spot to fish. I bet they spent more time untangling their lines from each other than they did catching fish.

Fishing in Missouri

Where do you like to go fishing? Where thousands of people are stepping all over each other? Where the fishing hole is fished day after day for years? Where the same bait is thrown at the fish week after week? Where the fish are gorged with bait, and most of them swim apathetically by as hordes of fishermen desperately jockey for position and stumble all over each other?

Or would you prefer to fish where the terrain may be difficult? Where danger may lurk? Where the only way to get to the fishing hole is by strenuous work? Ah, but where the fish are oh, so hungry! Those big rainbow trout are just starving for the bait that you have. Many of them have never even seen the tempting bait you have to offer them!

Trout fishing in Oregon reminds me of the Apostle Paul's goal as a fisher of men. For two years he worked in the area of Asia Minor. In Acts 19:10 we read "all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks." In Romans 15:19 Paul writes, "from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man's foundation." The country of Illyricum is present day Yugoslavia. It's approximately 2000 miles from there to Jerusalem. So what did Paul mean when he said that he fully preached the gospel in this 2000 mile stretch? Did he knock on every door and witness to every man, woman and child? That would be impossible! Paul's strategy was to establish churches in key locations throughout this region. We know that he planted churches in Corinth, Thessalonica, Philippi, Crete, Iconium, Lystra, and Antioch. In turn, these churches had the responsibility of reaching their own area. That's seven churches in a 2000 mile stretch. Yet Paul considered that area to be evangelized. I wonder what he would say about America today? In Romans 15:23 Paul says that there's no place left for him to work in that region. I can imagine him being alive today and taking one look at America he'd shake his head. No doubt he would ask us why we are still hanging around here when there's so much work to be done elsewhere.

If the apostle Paul were a fisherman I'm sure that he would much rather go to the far reaches of the Oregon woods for trout than fish the confined quarters of Bennett Springs.

In 1989 I was in the dense jungles of Papua New Guinea. I met people there that were literally dying to have the gospel proclaimed to them in their language. When it comes to fishing for men, that's just one of the many unreached territories on this vast planet. Too bad so many fishers of men are content to stay in the Bennett Springs of this world!

Please send me an email if you would like to learn more about how you can help to reach the unreached people groups of the world.

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

Planting a Church Among the Unreached

How do you plant a church among tribal people who speak a different language? Who believe that God is some guy who lives up the river? Who have never even heard the name of Jesus?



I would sure appreciate your prayers as we train the next generation of missionaries to take the good news of Jesus Christ to unreached people groups.

Email me if you are interested in learning more about this challenging work.

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

Who Won the Tour de France?

Lance Armstrong won … or did he???

Lance Armstrong was noted for winning the Tour de France. But did he really win? You see the Tour de France is a team sport even though individuals seem to get all the recognition. Lance rode for the U. S. Postal Service Team. His teammates put him in a position to win the Tour de France. To say that Lance Armstrong (by himself) won would be like saying that Eli Manning won the Super Bowl last year.

I remember watching some of the Tour de France back in 2001. The U. S. Postal Team was in the front of the peloton (the main pack of riders). Lance was in the middle of his team allowing them to break the wind for him. Two members of Lance's team dropped to the back of the peloton. At first I thought that something was wrong, but that was not the case. Once they got to the back of the pack, they rode near a U. S. Postal Service car that was following the peloton. Then they grabbed a bunch of water bottles and stuffed them in a pack on their back. After picking up the water, they made their way toward the front again. Once they had caught up to the rest of U. S. Postal Service Team, then they distributed their precious cargo to their teammates. These riders have a special name. They are called "domestics". Their sole purpose is to make sure that the rest of their team has the supplies that they need to carry them through the race.

Who is the most important member?

Many of us have heard the name Lance Armstrong, but how many of us can name even one other member of the U. S. Postal Service Team? Can you name any of the domestics on their team?

Did you know that New Tribes Mission has domestics? There are people living in towns who buy supplies for the tribal missionaries. There are pilots who fly those supplies into the tribal locations. There are teachers here in the United States who train potential tribal missionaries. Which member of the team is more important?

Lance could not have won the Tour de France without the help of his teammates. The domestics were just as much a winner of the Tour de France as Lance was. So too, tribal missionaries could not do their job without the supporting cast of "domestics" behind them.

Why the U. S. Postal Service?

Have you ever wondered why Lance rode for the U. S. Postal Service? Why didn't he form his own team and call it "The Lance Armstrong Team"? The U. S. Postal Service sponsored the team. Without their support, Lance's team would have to turn elsewhere for funds.

So which member of the team is the most important? All the riders have a vital part in the race. However, any individual rider could probably be replaced. But what if the U. S. Postal Service withdrew their support of the team? Lance and his buddies would have been between a rock and a hard place!

If there is one key individual on the team taking the gospel to the remote corners of the earth I would say that it's those people who support and pray for missionaries. As far as I'm concerned, you are the most important part of my ministry. Without my support team who sponsor in this work, I would be between a rock and a hard place!

Thanks to all who are a part of my team!

If you would like more information on how you can be part of my team taking the good news of Jesus Christ to unreached people groups, please check out my webpage for partnership opportunities.

Because of Calvary,

Bob Nyberg

It loses something in the translation

An American visitor in Austria was a bit confused when he read the following sign in a hotel catering to skiers:

Not to perambulate the corridors in the hours of repose in the boots of ascension.

The expression, “it kind of loses something in the translation” comes to mind.

When translating from one language into another language it is important to understand not only the individual words, but also sentence structure (or grammar) and the cultural significance behind the words being translated.

The other day I was reading from my Greek New Testament in John chapter 2 and I stumbled across something rather curious.

Verse 14: And He (Jesus) found in the temple [ἱερός] those who sold oxen and sheep and doves…

Verse 15: He drove them all out of the temple [ἱερός]…

Verse 19: Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple [ναός], and in three days I will raise it up.”

Verse 21: But He was speaking of the temple [ναός] of His body.

Questions immediately came to mind. What is the difference between ἱερός and ναός? Why did Jesus use ναός rather than ἱερός when referring to His body?

So I went to Trench’s Synonyms of the New Testament for an answer. Trench wrote:

Both ἱερός and ναός are translated “temple” in our English versions. Although it is difficult to say how they could have been distinguished, translating them by different words would have clarified the sacred narrative and made it more precise.

He goes on to explain that ἱερός refers to the whole temple complex whereas ναός refers to the heart and center of the temple — the dwelling place of God.

The Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest translates it like this:

And Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found seated in the outer courts of the temple those who were in the habit of selling oxen and sheep and doves… He ejected from the outer courts of the temple… Jesus said to them, “You destroy this inner sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.” But that One was speaking concerning the inner sanctuary, the one which is His body.

Our Lord was saying that God the Father, the first person of the Trinity, resided in the Holy of Holies (inner sanctuary) which was Jesus’ very own body. It is no wonder the unbelieving Jewish leaders went ballistic when Jesus made claims such as this.

Yet most English translations do not attempt to bring out the contrast between these two different Greek words. Although our English Bibles are not nearly as confusing as the Austrian Hotel sign, nevertheless something gets lost in the translation.

When teaching the Word of God or translating the Scriptures into the dialect of native people, it is vital that the missionary has a good understanding of the language and culture of the people that they are trying to reach with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our students are being trained to do just that here at the Missionary Training Center. They are learning the principles of effective communication in a cross-cultural context as they sit in classes such as phonetics, tribal church planting, Bible translation, etc.

Adam and Julie Martin are working among the Akolet people in Papua New Guinea. After they clearly presented the gospel message an Akolet man named Lonsi told them, “Now I understand. For years and years I’ve been trying and trying and trying to make myself right with God, but I knew from the Bible teaching that I couldn’t do it. Only this Rescuer that God was going to send could. And now I understand how all my sin went onto Jesus and then Jesus died. Wow! I believe that. It’s so easy!”

The lights came on for Lonsi as he understood the clear and simple message of the gospel. Why? Because Adam and Julie were trained to communicate the gospel clearly. Not that long ago they were sitting in classes here at the Missionary Training Center. I had the privilege of teaching them phonetics. And God’s children are the ones who have made that possible. I could not be here without a partnership team praying for me and sponsoring me in this ministry. The prayer support of God’s children and their love gifts on my behalf make it possible for the next generation of missionaries to have an eternal impact around the world. I am so thankful for all those have touched my life and ministry by praying and giving. The result is that God’s kingdom is being built in the remote corners of the world.

Bob

Phonetics & Language Learning

We are halfway through teaching our phonetics course. We have 35 students who are taking phonetics and they seem to be doing well for the most part. Some are having struggles saying and hearing certain sounds, but that is to be expected.

It is amazing how making a phonetic mistake when speaking another language can create a world of confusion. One of my coworkers on staff here is from Brazil. He speaks English well, but he does speak it with a Brazilian-Portuguese accent. Once you get used to his accent, you can understand him quite well. But sometimes he might say something which is not quite understandable. For instance, he will often enunciate the vowel “a” (as in bat) when he really means to say the vowel “e” (as in bet). He also has a tendency to go voiceless at the end of words. As a result, when he tries to say a word like “logs” it will come out “locks.” Once you know those tendencies, you can usually figure out what he really meant to say when things don’t quite sound right in his pronunciation of English.

He told me of an experience that he had with an English speaking partner who did not know those tendencies with his accent. My Brazilian friend had just arrived in country and a very helpful American coworker decided to help him out by driving him to various stores to fill his wife’s shopping list. They had most of the groceries purchased and were down to the last item on the list. My Brazilian friend told the American that his wife needed some eggs. The American said that he knew right where to get that. So they got in the car and headed to another part of town. My Brazilian friend was somewhat puzzled why they could not buy the eggs where they bought the rest of the groceries. They pulled up to a hardware store and walked in. Then the American told the clerk that his friend here needed to buy an “axe.” Well, I guess “eggs” and “axe” are somewhat close in pronunciation.

Phonetics is definitely an important tool for anyone learning another language.

Our Spring semester is beginning to wind down. As we near the end, motivation has a tendency to decline. Both our teachers and students need the tenacity and determination to stay strong to the end.

Bob

Moving Into a Tribe

Have you ever wondered what it is like for a missionary to move into a tribal location? Before NTM missionaries move into a tribe in Papua New Guinea they typically go through a process called “bush orientation.” No, they don’t have to learn about all the different types of bushes found in the jungle before they move in. Although having experienced poison ivy the grows prolific in the bush here in Missouri, that might not be a bad idea.

I will let John Michael tell you what “bush orientation” is like in Papua New Guinea. He wrote:

So, now for a quick recap of our “bush orientation” time with the Mariama tribe: Mariama has a strong established church thanks to the efforts of the Woodard and Holmquist families over the last 11 years. This being the case, we were turned over to the Mariama Believers and put into their care, and care for us they did. They spent a lot of time teaching us their way of life which took the form of 12-hour hikes through the jungle to hunt pigs (which also turned up a couple tree kangaroos, a monitor lizard, and many other things,) teaching us how to “pul” a canoe (I promise this is MUCH more difficult than it sounds and I have the wet clothes to prove it,) scouring the jungle to find greens and work their gardens, teaching us how to build various things they use for daily life, how to hunt crocodiles, and many, many other things. Throughout all of these events they used the time to also teach us the country’s national language.

While we were greatly appreciative for all the time and energy they poured into us teaching us these things, I think we are most grateful for the time they spent discipling us and teaching and showing us how God has changed their thinking and their lives as a whole. Many of the church leaders spent time with me to talk to me about the things I need to consider as I will soon move into my own tribal location. They gave us really great advice about how to best reach the people. It was encouraging to have these relationships with Believers from a culture so different from our own. Different language, different culture, different…well, nearly everything, but ONE SPIRIT. It really was amazing.

It was not all that long ago, that John Michael and his wife Jessi were sitting here in phonetics class. Now they are preparing to begin a work in a tribal location in Papua New Guinea. Their learning did not stop when they graduated from our Missionary Training Center. The fact is, it really just began.

Your prayers are much appreciated as we train a new batch of budding missionary candidates who are following in the footsteps of John Michael and Jessi. Phonetics begins in a few days for our first semester students. That class can be a struggle for some. Please pray that we will have wisdom in how to help students pronounce these strange exotic sounds that are found in other languages.

The Wahgi People Hear the Gospel

The North Wahgi people of Papua New Guinea have been patiently listening to NTM missionaries teach through the Firm Foundations Bible lessons.

Missionary Andrew Wilson has been preparing these lessons with the help of a Wahgi man named Gabriel Mara. Gabriel came to check the lesson teaching Jesus’ crucifixion and death. As they were going through the lesson, Andrew came to the point about Jesus dying on the cross and taking our place and buying us back by shedding his blood. While checking this part with his helper Gabriel said: “Now I understand. I’m born in sin and God sent his son to die to take away sin. All the good things I have tried to do, even helping you with translation, I did it thinking that I could make God happy and go to heaven. Now I know this is wrong thinking. I can only go to heaven by believing that Jesus died and took my place and took away my sin.” Gabriel then turned to another Wahgi man and said, “You see. We try to do all these nice things, go to church, stop drinking and smoking and stop doing bad things but that cannot take away our sin. The animal sacrifices in the Old Testament only covered the sin, they did not take it away. But Jesus died and he took the sin away.”

Gabriel was the first to accept Christ as his Savior among the Wahgi people. After the lesson on Jesus death, burial and resurrection was presented several other Wahgi people place their faith in Jesus for salvation.

What a joy it is to be involved in training future missionaries to take the message of the cross to those who have not had an opportunity to hear God’s Word. It always thrills my heart to hear such stories from the mission field.

Bob