There have been some real challenges as the works in Papua New Guinea have multiplied. Eric and Casey Zimmerman say the opportunities for people to take part are many and varied because:

Literacy is being taught in 28 people groups in their own heart language.

Bible translation is progressing in 37 people groups.

Active Bible teaching is taking place in 45 people groups.

Surveys are taking place in several locations to assess new people groups.

Four new tribal works are opening up.

Remote airstrips are being built to facilitate and speed the church planting effort.

Bibles and translated portions are being printed and distributed.

Tribal churches are maturing and growing in Christ.

Eric and Casey are thankful to be a part of what God is doing.

You can be a part too. Find out how.

A dreaded illness made its way around and through the Dinangat village where Gary and Esther Smith minister. Tragically, as it ran its course, it claimed the lives of several young children and babies.

Just a few weeks ago, Asa, a Dinangat believer, and his family lost their young son.

Deepening their pain of loss, Asa and his family endured false accusations from other villagers. Still entangled in threads of animism, some claimed the death had happened because he was a negligent parent. He had failed to do things the spirits demanded.

As a result, many villagers did not attend the funeral for Asa’s little boy. In angry protest against Asa, one of his brothers angrily cut down several of his banana trees and an entire sweet potato garden.

The people of the village were hurting and confused during this sorrowful season. Gary shares, “We guided the church through this time and later people publicly apologized to him and promised to reimburse Asa [for his] lost food.”

Then, in a further blow to the little village, another child, an infant, contracted the illness and died. This time it was the child of Mowit, a man who has kept his distance from the Dinangat church.

Esther and co-worker Elli Schlegel went bearing food to minister to the grieving family as they sat stunned in the fresh loss of their baby.

What Esther and Elli saw on arrival at Mowit’s home brought them to tears.

Before them were Asa and his family sitting with Mowit’s family, living out the mercy and love of Christ. Moved by empathy and compassion, they wept openly with the family who had just lost their baby, offering encouragement and support.

Later, Mowit remarked, “I am amazed at this show of grace. I was one of the people who was mad at Asa and blamed him for the death of his child. I did not visit him when his child died. I did not go to the funeral. And in spite of that, now Asa sits here with me and carries my burden. This is amazing to me.”

Gary and Esther are rejoicing to see Dinangat people responding to God’s Word, in spite of obstacles and persecution. Gary shares, “God does comfort us and He uses His church to comfort as well. Asa rose above his pain and became the vehicle of God’s grace in Mowit’s life and family.”

Pray that God will use the bright display of His grace, poured out through His church, to draw more Dinangat people to the hope and comfort of the Gospel.

Thankfully, God has answered the prayers of Dinangat missionaries. A government doctor recently flew into the village to administer the much-needed medicine for this illness.

Flights are a lifeline for missionaries and the people they serve in remote places. You can help sponsor missionary aviation.

The voice of Peotomaa sounded out loud and clear through the ranks of the village Bible class. He was reading the Dao translation of Galatians 5:24-25:

Concerning those of us who now belong to Yesusi, our old spirit along with its desires to only do wrong again and again, has been nailed to the crossed wood along with Yesusi. Just as Yesusi was put to death, so has our old spirit been put to death. So now … we live in the new Spirit of our Creator … let us also be guided by His Spirit and walk along His trail and in His footprints. Let us walk just as He walked!

As Peotomaa finished his reading and sat down, Scott Phillips asked the attentive listeners gathered for Dao Bible study, “What do you think that these verses mean for us people that live here in the Dao valley? If it is really true that the old spirit that once controlled us has really been nailed to the crossed wood along with Yesusi and we have now been set free to live in a new way and walk along a new trail in the footsteps of Yesusi, how will we walk?”

Debatoma was the first to speak up. “Well, if we have been set free from the old trail, doesn’t that mean we have also been set free from the old ways? Doesn’t it mean that we no longer have to listen to the evil spirit Satan that used to control us in the past? I think we are free to walk as Yesusi walked, in a way different than we used to walk.”

Daapoi jumped in and added, “The new Spirit of our Creator is so much greater … no one is greater than Him. It’s like when we go down to the lowlands and see a big string of those nice big ants that we like to eat. There are so many of them, but we are so much bigger and stronger that we just walk over and step on them with our bare feet and they are dead. Then we cook them and eat them.”

His friend, Yoni, agreed and added, “It was as if Yesusi in His death for us walked over His enemies … like a long string of ants and He took away the power they once had … and laid out a new trail for us with His feet at the same time!”

Another student, Uubeo, spoke up. “That’s right! And now because of the work of Yesusi, we are free to walk along His good trail, even though we could not walk along that trail in the past.”

Scott asked in conclusion to the Bible class, “So thanks to the work of Yesusi, we are no longer held captive by the old ways?”

The little gathering of Dao Bible students smiled and nodded in agreement at the awesome truth. A truth they had just heard from Galatians in their own language for the very first time.

Scott shares a favorite quote from Jonathan Edwards: “A new love is stronger than an old habit.”

In Dao lives, there is visible evidence of the new love for God’s Word triumphing over old ways. “God is doing neat things here as we daily study His Word together with the Dao people,” he continues.

And there is another amazing effect. Scott is in wonder of the way that God uses His truth to minister to those who are hearing it for the first time. But equally by His Spirit, God uses His Word to minister deeply to the missionaries as they share it.

“Not only do they seem to be growing in their faith and rejoicing in the new truths that they are hearing, but so are we … as we translate Scripture into their language, study these truths and then teach them to the Dao people.”

The power of God’s Word applied by His Spirit ignites holy passion in its hearers. A new, dynamic, life-changing love that, on many levels, is visibly stronger than old habits.

Just think of stepping on a trail of ants.

Are you in the habit of giving to God's work? You can help provide Bible translations, and tools so people can read and understand them.

Trying to learn this new Asia Pacific language has its challenges. She thought she asked to take a picture of the rooster but got a picture with him.

Her new house was somewhat disappointing but she decided not to despair, expecting a good night’s sleep and the light of morning would bring a more hopeful outlook. With a little rearranging and decorating she is sure she will love it.

Lindsey is told there are two things she cannot live without: a motorcycle helmet and cell phone. Language coaches will help her get that taken care of along with other things she’ll need to buy.

There is a feeling of vulnerability with simple issues like how the hot water works. She’s not sure what to do in case of a fire. If that seems simple, what about the papaya in the refrigerator that she has no clue how to chop up?  The mysterious shock when she tries to change the light bulb and that pile of dust on the floor by the window are baffling her. It would be good to learn where she lives in relation to the whole town. That’s why that phone is a critical need. She can text to ask some of those questions.

The neighbors have been God’s provision for help, a source of encouragement, amusement,and fried bananas. They’ve taken her on outings, Bible studies and church with them.

She has to get used to the water system in the drum underground. A pump sends it inside the house. With the house on a concrete slab it’s hard to fix leaks so a switch was installed. There are two switches that are necessary to remember in order to bathe, launder, flush and do dishes.

When the cows cooperate, milk is unexpectedly plenteous, being delivered to the door as Lindsey gives thanks for the abundant fruit. It’s a pleasure to sleep with temps at 76 in the night as she reaches for one more blanket.

“I wish you could be here, just for five minutes (longer if you like), to experience life here for a moment. The heat and humidity, but also the glorious cool breeze that the rain brings. The feel of life slowing down as people retreat indoors. The muttering chickens, the neighbors laughing in their houses, the sound of the rain on the metal porch, the wind in the trees, the mist that suddenly appears because there is so much moisture everywhere, the kids running in the street, the adults moseying by with their umbrellas.”

Getting acquainted with the folks in the neighborhood as she sits on her porch to watch life happening and making new friends as she learns her way around town is what her time has consisted of. Some formal language learning will be next. Pray for Lindsey as she continues her journey to share the gospel with those who have never heard.

What's your next step in being part of taking the gospel to those who have not heard? Is it time to be trained?

Training and teaching among the Palowanos takes on many creative venues and travel modes.

Elise Long’s literacy program brings opportunity not only to teach the Brooke's Point Palawano people but to teach trainee missionaries who “showed a passion and enthusiasm for giving the ‘key to the pantry’ to spiritually hungry people,” during their training in England.

Very different from when the roosters are the alarm to start the charcoal fire. The boys will be up pumping and hauling water for both the households and the little elementary school. The flag ceremony is bright and early during the week.

Six of these young people then gather up all they need on Saturday to race off on the water buffalo carts to teach in the market. Sunday is a scene of vivid pictures hung around a meeting house with dramas acted out, many taking part so that it is “sure we will teach the Word in just the way that will reach a Palawano heart.”

“It’s a joy to see understanding on the faces of young and old as they hear the Bible taught in the language of their hearts. Story by Bible story, they see the names of those who believed God transferred from the little cart pulled by a little black wooden carabao suspended from the roof, into the cart pulled by the white carabao, signifying that they have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light as they believe God’s promise to send the Deliverer,” Elise writes.

Whether it’s travel by motorbike or real live carabao, the trek is made to yet another village so that they too can be taught the Word of God by a team of Palawano believers whose hearts have been changed by the Gospel message.

In another village, Dave and Julie Ward are holding the first phase of Bible class in their living room. The fan is trying to move through the hot, humid, sticky afternoon air while they sit paying close.

Julie felt like she was the only one concerned with all the interruptions, “An elderly couple from across the river who we don’t see very often turned up on our porch for a visit. What were we to do? We gave them coffee and biscuits, excused ourselves and went on with the lesson. Then seeing the couple on the porch with coffee etc. other neighbors decided to visit as well. One guy liked to stick his head in the window and grin at us while some children were pulling themselves up to look over the bottom half of our door. They were all chatting noisily, seemingly competing with Dave’s voice and at times drowning him out! Not wanting to miss the fun, a rooster and his three wives toddled over and decided to join in by starting a meeting of their own, crowing and clucking right outside the window …”

Whether it’s a 20-minute hike downriver to spend the night in a little house he built to teach one lesson, or the crowd that gathers on the porch or classroom they know that, “This work is impossible for us to do alone and even though we’ve said it many times before we’ll continue to say we really do appreciate your prayers and support.”

Do you have missionaries you pray for and support? If not, you can find some.

It’s fairly well understood that sharing the good news about Christ is the central focus of Biblical missions. Missionary Lynne Castelijn absolutely agrees. “Without a doubt,” she writes, “a large part of missionary work revolves around Bible translation, preaching the Gospel, developing Bible lessons and discipleship.”

“But,” she adds, “it’s almost impossible to live amongst a people group in a developing country without showing the love of Christ in practical ways, too.”

From the very beginning in the 1990’s, when Albert and Lynne Castelijn  joined the Banwaon missionary team, medical work, community development projects and other practical ministries have been essential and integral to their ministry.

And although they have, for many years, been involved personally with material ministry to the Banwaon people, recently the calls for help have been stepped up. In fact, at times they feel absolutely overwhelming.

Each of their recent incoming supply flights has, upon departure, carried a full load of medical patients. Of these patients who are being flown out for medical help, every case has been seen personally by Albert, discussed with Banwaon clinic workers and been the subject of much email correspondence with receiving hospital staff. In addition, there must be letters of reference written and money loaned for the return flight.

In addition to the load of medical needs, there are extensive community needs, like the restoration projects that have followed last year’s typhoon and ongoing water projects for the community.

Christ’s powerful words from Matthew 25:40 urge Albert and Lynne’s hearts toward meeting these practical needs; Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

But there is great challenge in living in a place surrounded by such vast needs.

“There is such a thing as ‘compassion burn-out’ and at times we’ve had flickers of it in our lives,” Lynne shares candidly. The needs are staggering and the resources are limited. This can be so overwhelming.

What can you do? Lynne says you can commit to concerted prayer for the Castelijn’s ministry to the Banwaon people. She urges you to pray for wisdom and discernment to know who to help and how to help them. For insight into the difference between short-term solutions and true long-term help. She asks you to pray for Albert and herself—for endurance, for Christ’s heart of love and His supply of resources and for compassion to minister practically for His eternal glory.

Is God leading you to share your resources with a missionary to help them share God's love with others? Find a missionary to help.

Linda Krieg is rejoicing. This summer, the Lord willing, she will see a day she has long worked for and one she has looked forward to with great anticipation: Nearly 200 completed Siawi Bibles will have safely arrived in the hands of Siawi believers in Papua New Guinea.

It has been quite a journey. A journey fraught with delays and discouragements. A journey God’s grace has kept alive for decades for His glory.

Linda arrived in the Siawi tribe in February 1987 and in the years since then, much of her time has been devoted to Bible translation. Since she also worked assisting other missionaries with linguistics and translation, and because there were always pressing tribal needs to demand her time and attention, it was a long, arduous task.

This paperback edition includes about half the book of Genesis and all of the New Testament. Before this, these Scripture portions have been spread between 15-20 books. “It will be such a blessing to have them all under one cover!” Linda writes.

Through the years, Linda says there were 14 Siawi coworkers who worked faithfully side by side with her contributing to this project.

“The Siawi elders, along with the other Siawi believers, have a strong desire to have God’s Word available in one book, and they are excited to see this done,” Linda writes. “They have been committed, through the last few years of the translation process … because of the strong desire to have it. I know they will be thrilled and delighted!”

Linda plans to travel to Papua New Guinea in July for the dedication of the Siawi Bible. I asked her about her personal anticipation of this momentous event. “My anticipation? My greatest anticipation was to hold the completed, printed Bible in my hands! Now that I have, I am really looking forward to watching the faces of the Siawi elders and other believers as they receive these Bibles.”

“More than anything, though,” Linda says, “I am looking forward to seeing how God’s Word shapes the lives of the Siawi people in the coming years.”

This work of transformation, Linda knows, is the incomparable power of the Word of God. And it’s exactly why she is rejoicing.

You can help more people get Bible translations in their own language. Each $35 pays for not only one verse of Scripture, but for the materials to teach people to read and understand it.

It’s not very often that we would give thanks for a stick. But what the Mois choose to give thanks for often challenges and speaks to Stephen and Carolyn Crockett.

Sniffling from a cold, she is told by a friend, “Hey Carolyn, just take a stick and wipe off your snot; works great.”

Medical help is limited with a small clinic of Moi medical workers who have been trained to take care of daily physical needs. Sickness spreads quickly since hygiene is lacking. Often it’s hard to keep up. So a missionary pilot patiently flies in and out, getting people to the hospital. There is gratitude for the rewired electrical fence that Stephen and his friend were able to work on in order to keep the pigs and dogs off the airstrip.

While one man is thankful for the flight he got for his sick wife, he had gotten angry and said things he regretted. So he hiked eight hours back to the village after the trip. Can we imagine willingly and with thanksgiving hiking eight hours because our conscience is bothering us over our anger?

A recent conversation that clearly depicts the different world but same heart needed to honor God with our gratitude went as follows:

Carolyn: “I got some ‘words’ [email] from my friend in America asking me if I was living well.

Moi friend: “Why would they ask you that?? You always live well!”

Carolyn: “Why do you say that?”

Moi friend: “Well, you’re never sick; your husband doesn’t beat you; you always have rice to eat.”

Carolyn shared how her heart hurts sometimes from missing family and friends. It was hard for the Moi friend to relate since she felt like she really didn’t have any friends that cared.

When Carolyn shared that she missed shopping in the bigger buildings, her Moi friend answered with, “Yes, I don’t like carrying two kids, firewood and a big bag of food up the steep path from the garden an hour away from my house every day.”

Carolyn asked her what she had to be thankful for.

“I have roots to dig up in my garden; my kids aren’t sick right now; I can read God’s Word. Hey by the way, let me tell you about a story I just read in the Bible about five loaves and two fishes …”

This Moi friend’s life is a testimony of joy and thankfulness to Carolyn and Stephen.

There’s great excitement and eagerness to learn to read. Two literacy classes are progressing well. The people express their thankfulness to soon be able to read God’s Word. Four great teachers have been trained and Carolyn has worked herself out of a job. How often have we given thanks for working ourselves right out of a job?

Hikes to other hamlets have been rejoiced over as the Moi Bible teachers return with news that they were an encouragement to others:

 “As I was hiking, I stayed on the trail; I didn’t want to be like Jonah and go somewhere else.”

“It was like planting seeds on fertile soil.”

“I felt like Paul; I have wanted to go over there for so long but I had too much work here to do. But now finally I was able to go and I am so happy.”

“When they laid hands on me in prayer I knew it was a big deal.”

Stephen is thankful for his co-workers who are focusing more on discipleship so that he can focus on translation. He has started Revelation and is finding it a bit easier than the Epistles.

It’s become evident that as God changes hearts more gratitude is heard using Moi words for “good job,” “way to go” and “I’m receiving what you’re giving me.”

Then there was their Moi translation co-worker, Yanepui, who helps check Bible lessons. He reminded her, “Uhh, don’t you ask the Creator to help us with this first?” So they prayed before they began.

What are the kinds of things in your daily routine that might make you feel helpless?

For Brad and Rebecca Howe, it’s not the four-foot long snake they found in the kitchen and had to decapitate in the shower.

Even when malaria hits with no tests or medicine to help the people they’ve grown to love, it doesn’t daunt them from working hard to use all their resources in the jungle.

The termites that eat away at the houses haven’t left them feeling helpless either.

Nor have the fish gnawing at their feet when they take their son for a swim in the river. They continue to go back assuming it’s their unusual white skin that gets mistaken for the underbelly of an old catfish.

When the rainwater that they catch in the tanks dries up, instead of giving up, they pump water to their house from the river. And when the botfly lays its larvae in Brad’s arm, Rebecca just gets it out and stitches him up. No helpless inclinations there.

But after the four-day parties in the village and the deep spiritual darkness that’s evident, what really causes Brad and Rebecca to feel overwhelmed is not being able to communicate the hope of reconciliation.

“We feel very helpless at times not being able to explain well any spiritual truth to these people. I will sometimes try to explain truth to them in Portuguese, knowing, though, that they really aren’t fully understanding what I am trying to communicate to them. One thing we can do, and I try to be faithful in this, is praying for their souls. We know them now and have a relationship with them so the thought of each and every one of them spending a Christ-less eternity in hell can literally bring you to your knees,” Brad writes.

This motivates them to work hard learning the heart language of the people. They are thankful for the help they’ve gotten from those who are more experienced at learning languages. Even though getting evaluated for how well they are progressing is intense, they take their homework assignments and suggestions very seriously.

They count it a privilege to be among these people, invited by God Himself to be His ambassadors with the good news of forgiveness and freedom.

Do you want to be an ambassador of the good news in a place the gospel has not yet gone? Find out how.

Part of the plan to accomplish the vision of NTM to reach the last unreached tribal group in this generation is to assist the local church in sending out missionaries. This is happening all over the world.

In a small community in Bolivia a local church, Iglesia Biblica Misionera, which means Missionary Bible Church, has experienced some of this assistance.

Former NTM members who once lived in the city close by had an influence on this church by sharing the needs of a school nearby. Several volunteers went out from that church to help until the school’s closing.

Upon their return to the local church, the leadership challenged those volunteers, who had decided they wanted to be missionaries, to get more training in order to serve as a team in a tribal church planting ministry.

In 2005 that team left for Santa Cruz, where there is a training facility for missionaries. It assists local churches in Latin America prepare those from their body who have a desire to see tribal people reached with the Gospel.

In 2008, this team graduated from missionary training and with the help of an NTM pilot surveyed an area along the river. God led them to a small community of Yuracare people.

In 2009, the sending church helped them get permission from the community for the team to go and live there.

This team lived in tents and rustic rooms with dirt floors until their permanent homes were finished. They have been there for three years now studying and learning the culture and language of the people.

NTM missionaries experienced in languages helped them determine that this group needs to be taught in two languages, Spanish and Yuracare.

Currently Iglesia Biblica Misionera has another single lady in missionary training to be better prepared to plant tribal churches where there are none.

You can train in the USA to be a missionary to unreached people groups around the world. Find out more.

So what do helicopters have to do with building a house?

If you are Jag and Abby Dunn, who are committed to tribal church planting in a Hewa village where there are no roads, then you are well aware of the connection.

From the time they had to decide whether or not to build with steel or wood, they knew they would need a helicopter to make it happen. Even after deciding on a wood construction, the process doesn’t continue without the helicopter flights with the crates full of their equipment, building materials and living needs.

But even that takes second place to the tractor that requires several flights to get out to the village where they will live.

Before all this can finally come together, someone has to hike 14 hours over mountains to the village to start slabbing wood. The trees to slab are another hour from the village where the men will sleep in tents while they work.

There is concern about malaria and other sickness but the men are strong and trusting God to give them all they need to succeed. They know ahead of time that a lot of the trees that are cut down can be too rotten on the inside to use and this can get discouraging.

Jag and Abby are keenly aware of the children’s sensitivity to any worry they might have as they prepare. They determine to trust the Lord as well. As Abby prepares and freezes food for the building team she tries to remember, “this Gospel message that we are bringing to Hewa is the very message of how I am going to get through every day.”

Jag gets some recycled housing stuff from a nearby village. But it still won’t be built well enough to keep out the rats and termites.

Last preparations of the crates to send out to the tribe are exhausting. Fitting the tractor pieces into the helicopter flights is like putting a puzzle together.

After the whole family arrives they wait and rough it “bumming” off of their partners for things like stove cooking and electricity since all that is in the crates to be flown in eventually.

The children enjoy the adventure for the most part. Kasen isn’t eating the non-edibles anymore and Kirra loves to walk around with her bag like the Hewa and collect sweet potatoes. She certainly doesn’t understand why the other kids don’t realize their noses are running and constantly tells her mommy that they need a tissue. But the mud and bugs aren’t too much to keep them from chasing chickens.

It was the attack of the cassowary bird that made Abby realize she had to teach the kids how to defend themselves against the wild side of things. Rock throwing was quickly learned by all. Jag is proud his boy will have that story to tell when he’s a bit older.

When the house has running water, inside walls, shell and roof it’s time to move from the partner’s home to their own, still somewhat communal environment.

Even before the house is done the airstrip has to be worked on. The helicopter flights are so expensive they want an airplane to begin to supply them as soon as possible. So leveling with the tractor continues until it’s done.

Being a part of funding a project like this would help missionaries like Jag and Abby to give more of their time and energy to language and culture understanding which ultimately leads to sharing the Good News of the Gospel.

Your gifts to the Missionary Flight Sponsorship fund help cut the high cost of all these helicopter flights for Jag and Abby and other NTM missionaries. Every $250 underwrites a typical hour of flight time.

Abigail Snyder is on her way with tickets in hand. She plans to teach in Tanzania at a school where missionaries send their children from several countries.

She has two very large duffle bags to fill with needed items including a mosquito net.

She explains, “According to my online research hippopotami, black mambas and mosquitoes are the three deadly ‘predators’ in Tanzania. This doesn’t really frighten me, though I am certainly grateful for the mosquito net that I was given for my hammock this Christmas.”

A work permit has been granted. Teaching licenses and residence permits are still in process.

She is looking forward to learning the Kiswahili language so that she can build good relationships in the community around her. She will rent a small home on the property of another missionary family.

As God provides all that’s needed to accomplish each little step, Abby is grateful for all who have surrounded her, giving, praying and helping. Other missionaries have played a critical role doing the administrative footwork.

Her desire is to say like John Bunyan, “I have given Him my faith, and sworn my allegiance to Him; how, then, can I go back from this, and not be hanged as a traitor?”

Let’s pray for Abby as she heads out to serve the children of missionaries.

New Tribes Mission has many opportunities for teachers to support the work of reaching tribes and transforming lives, in schools and to assist home-schooling missionaries. See if there's a place for you.

It’s often a mystery to the average person how someone can translate the Bible. Maybe you picture a very studious reserved hermit-type person sitting at a computer all day.

That’s not always so for Cori Gervasi as she works with the Sekadaus to translate the Scriptures for them.

Her day might include helping with a delivery of a baby, holding the flashlight or getting her hand squeezed till it’s numb. Little Hosea was one of those exciting moments.

She might head to a regional conference where she gets to enjoy fellowship and teaching from the Word with other missionaries.

Often going for a walk around the village she gets to see the harvest of rice, vegetables, fruit, eggplant, bananas and pumpkin. It doesn’t take long before she has so many goodies to haul home that one of the ladies has to loan her a basket.

The fun of being involved with the children in a program of games, memorization and study is a highlight for Cori each week.

Recently she got to celebrate the life of Grandpa Happy, who apparently died of tuberculosis. This was a particular joy since many of his siblings and children are believers.

Cori gets to see and take part in more weddings among believers, in contrast to the peer pressure of weddings to whoever comes along at the time.

She loves to translate songs to sing for the people and part of that process is going out into the village to rehearse it. “I’ve only finished translating it and need to run out later today to make sure it doesn’t say anything embarrassing,” she writes.

While there are many diverse and even fun parts about a translator’s job, there is still the nitty gritty hard work and stressful process of poring over every word and phrase and then having it checked and rechecked.

Recently there were 300 verses to check for correction and printing. It was unclear how many or even if any of the Sekadau translation co-workers would make it to help.

Pa’Eta faithfully showed up to work very hard in his own very gifted manner. He was there without any other Sekadau to help for the entire long hard process even though he is, “a very industrious man with a lot going on. His willingness to help is not due to a lack of anything ‘better’ to do,” as Cori put it.

She clearly communicated that partners like him are how God is providing for this long hard process.

Leoni’s Grandpa, Ke’Oni, often helps “with his dogged determination and steadfast desire to serve the Lord,” but wasn’t available this time, Cori said.

Every week Pa’Eta has been reading and recording Scripture which allows greater progress toward the next check.

Cori writes, “We just printed up the first ‘official’ book of translated Scripture. It has portions of Genesis and Exodus that are approved for distribution now. I’m pretty excited about getting those books into the hands of our Sekadau teachers and other believers!”

Each check means more corrected Scripture that can be used by the Sekadau for their own formulation of lessons to teach or study individually. It provides more material for children’s Bible stories to be printed for use by families.

Let’s pray for Cori and her partners as they press on in the exciting life of Bible translation.

Want to learn more about English-language Bible translations? Get the new book by NTM missionary Dave Brunn.

There’s an historical event taking place among the Mwinika people. It’s happening out in the open under the mango trees just about a mile from the home of Francois and Nadia Hattingh.

For seven years they have lived and worked in this area. They’ve built relationships with many but especially five men and their families.

These families know the truth of God’s Word and have been in training to be the teachers to their own people. They’ve helped develop and prepare material, editing and formatting, and now presenting it with clarity.

There are plenty of obstacles to trust God to get them over. One teacher is HIV-positive and another has a wife who’s very ill. The wind can be hard to travel and sit through. And if it rains under the nicely cleared area where the mango tree is it could interrupt the teaching.

The teachers are pressing on though with good skits and clear teaching.

A court case was acted out in order to show the need to hear the entire story before really understanding the situation. This communicated that those hearing need to hear the whole message and the importance of coming every day for the lessons.

Different translations of the Bible were read out loud, none of which were understood. This illustrated the importance of hearing the Word of God in their own language.

Francois and Nadia share how, “One of the highlights for us is to see the men that have been discipled over the last seven years teaching their fellow Mwinikas from the Bible. … Summarizing and making sure that everything in the developed lessons are covered. Amazing to see these guys communicating the truths from God’s Word in their own heart language right into the hearts of their hearers.”

The number in attendance is not only surprising, but the attendees themselves. Moses, attacked by a crocodile not long ago, is there. And a little boy who was dying of malnutrition is there and looking good.

“Today I looked at the people sitting around me on the ground under that huge mango tree, and I can hardly believe the time has finally come for us to be able to teach the Scriptures to our Mwinika friends and neighbors. To see all these loved faces of people with whom we have lived, cried and laughed for the last seven years here at the teaching, listening and understanding … a priceless privilege!” is how Nadia expresses the excitement she feels.

The Hattinghs are also thrilled with how God has used their children in this process. Heidi, Franco and Waldo have all come to the teaching with their friends. Sometimes it’s after a soccer game or picking mushrooms or pounding dried cassava root together.

Recently Franco prayed, “Lord, let our friends who are sitting around us at the teaching continue to come. Please let them come not just for the thrill of the moment, but because they want to listen and hear more.”

Waldo has been good to ride through the wind and sand, eyes watering, for 30 minutes on the four-wheeler with Mom to the teaching.

Francois and Nadia want to say, “Thank you to each one of you who have given, visited and supported us so that we can be here. Most of all thank you for praying. One day we will know and understand the significance and high calling of prayer. Not because of the power of prayer, but because of the power of the One to whom we pray!”

Anyone who plays a sport with any seriousness knows the importance of a good warm up. It might include stretching or breathing exercises. Maybe a short cardio routine to get your heart pumping.

While Kayla Gilley was taught this by her father at a young age, she never expected to use it for learning a language in a foreign country.

Kayla and her husband, Craig, are learning that their performance as language learners is taking a lot of preparation exercises first.

“We are currently in the ‘warm up’ phase of language learning. Our primary goal is to listen and observe. Listen for common greetings in phrases. Listen for how the language is spoken including speed, tone and fluency. We are to observe our neighbors, the market, the public transportation and many other cultural events we may encounter on a daily basis,” they write.

They are ready to study and memorize, learning dialogues and grammar rules, but as any coach will tell you, jumping right in might lead to falling behind rather than getting ahead.

So Kayla and Craig will meet their neighbors as they go for walks or take public transportation. Maybe just saying hi from their porch and keeping track of who they meet and where in the form of a map.

It takes great courage and discipline to go to meetings where there is a lot to observe and listen to in order to learn. Kayla went to a neighborhood ladies meeting recently where she didn’t understand anything besides the friendliness of everyone she met.

They ask us to pray for them as they get ready to begin to learn the language of the country where they have gone to be ambassadors for Christ.

Discover how to learn a language, decipher a worldview and clearly communicate God's Word in NTM's training. Find out more.

What do 51 graduates from a Bible school have to do with tribal people who live in the jungle?

How do Ken and Andrea Jack’s missionary ministry with food service at a Bible institute contribute to tribal church planting?

How are Rex and Shirley Schaffner considered ministers of the Gospel to tribal people in jungles if they are on staff at a Bible school in Jackson, Michigan?

Why do these folks talk about living by faith and introduce ideas to young students about how they would work cross culturally at a Bible school in the USA?

Why does all the staff at both Bible schools rejoice when there are five new Tigak believers in the jungles of Papua New Guinea?

Some of the answers to these questions can be seen at ntbi.org.

NTBI is open to those who have already decided to be involved in some form of mission as well as those who are looking to study the Bible in depth. After seeing God's heartbeat for each tribe, tongue and nation, many students who come for the simple study of the Word of God end up in some area of service that relates to tribal missions because:

“The Bible and missions are one story. That’s why each person on our staff is a missionary. The whole Bible is the story of a missionary God seeking worshippers of every kindred, tribe and tongue. As you study every book of the Bible from this perspective — with teachers who are experienced members of the church-planting team — you sense the urgency and see the purpose of not only growing in your knowledge of the Bible, but also preparing to share your understanding with a dark and needy world.”

“Since 1942, New Tribes Mission has remained committed to its goal of reaching people who have no access to the Gospel. NTM coordinates missionaries, sent by local churches, to take the Gospel to tribal people, but that’s just the start. Missionaries then plant churches. They disciple believers, translate the Scriptures, and train teachers and leaders, who in turn reach out to their own people and to neighboring tribes.

“Hundreds of churches are in various stages of growth in remote villages. Missionaries are experiencing joy as they see God develop tribal church leadership. In some areas indigenous believers are sending missionaries to share God’s Word with their own people and neighboring tribes while many more ethnic groups have yet to hear the Gospel.

“NTM’s training program helps prepare believers for cross-cultural evangelism and church planting.”

You can see how important New Tribes Bible School is for laying the foundational teaching that we are all “workers together with God” in order to see the last tribe reached with the Gospel in this generation.

You can find out more about New Tribes Bible Institute, and apply today. Find out how.

Returning to the Guarijio village where they minister after a long absence made them reflect on how amazing God is to adjust their expectations so they could be truly thankful.

Coming from a cultural and legal expectation in the USA that you only take in your vehicle those who can comfortably fit and definitely wear a seatbelt, their load into the village could have caused a lot of angst.

Instead, Terry wasn’t surprised when some tribal friends arrived at the departure site for a ride in to the village, “They came with a great big load of stuff” to haul back.

After an 11-hour drive with their luggage, their friends and their friend’s belongings, and supplies, they arrived at their village home.

They were served a meal by their co-workers, after which Terry was thankful to hook up to an electrical source that will provide running water and power to that precious fan for Renee.

They are so thankful for prayer on their behalf as they have returned to their village home, reflecting that, “This morning as I sat visiting with Santos and Vicente in Guarijio, it struck me funny that God can take us far from all that we have ever known, place us in a culture and language that couldn’t be more different from our own, and make us feel more at home here, than any other place we have ever lived.”

Let’s pray for the work God will continue to do through His faithful ambassadors to the Guarijio people.

Is God taking you somewhere? Is He calling you to out more time and effort into prayer? To give more than you are comfortable with giving? To go to someplace else, as Terry and Renee have? He is able to make you at home whereever He leads.

When we talk about reaching the lost, it has both a physical and a spiritual reality.

In Mexico, people live in very hard to get to places all over the Sierra Madre. In order to physically reach as well as spiritually reach these folks with the Good News of the Word of God, some creativity and incredible commitment is necessary.

That’s why Clif and Kari Huntting have gone to Mexico to serve the missionaries there with an airplane.

In a recent update the missionary pilot tells us, “Most of the missionaries here in Mexico live and work with indigenous people in the rugged Sierra Madre Mountains. One way travel into these remote tribal locations can take 10 to 12 hours of grueling and exhausting driving. That same trip can often be made in one hour using the airplane.”

Clif is a missionary pilot who was trained at NTM Aviation’s training center in McNeal, Arizona.

That’s where pilots like him go only after going through commercial pilot schooling and getting their instrument ratings. Not only that, they have to have 300 hours of being the pilot in command and be an aircraft mechanic with a year’s experience.  They have to keep up with FAA standards and the standards of the country where they fly.

And now even after getting all that training Clif still has to go through special checks on each airstrip he will serve. This is all part of his flight orientation.

Clif says, “This process of flight orientation is to ensure that I thoroughly know the area in which I am flying, as well as understand each airstrip and its unique characteristics, especially the way wind affects each approach. Also with this comes the interesting paperwork process required for each flight, the different laws that govern flight here, as well as learning how to speak Mexican aviation lingo. It is not a process that pilot newly arrived on the field can just jump into.”

Missionary pilots guide aircraft to a safe arrival at a bush location. They also minister as encouragers to the church-planting teams working in remote areas. Without access to a neighborhood grocery or pharmacy, these teams require equipment, medicine, medical evacuation and mail to be supplied by air.

Let’s pray for Clif and Kari as they go through this orientation process so they can be part of the team physically and spiritually reaching those who have not heard.

You can help pay for flight service for missionaries. Every $250 sponsors an hour of flight time.

So what does it take to teach Mwinika people to read in a village? How about some palm leaves woven into wall-like structures and some mango trees?

That’s what you would see if you went to the yard of the home of one of the leaders in that village.

The developing teacher would be a young man that’s not quite done with 12^th grade. That may sound unusual but that level of education here would be like having a bachelor’s degree in the USA, according to Francois and Nadia Hattingh.

You can imagine the difficulties of this particular learning institution. What happens when it rains? Well, while the palm walls help with some of the distractions, the mango trees don’t keep the rain from hitting the students.

The teacher says he’s “still very nervous with … heart running … legs are shaking when standing in front of the class!”

Nadia says, “In the background the hostess and her daughter are busy plaiting hair.”

The Hattingh family fights malaria as well as spiritual attack as progress is made. The evil one knows that if these dear people learn to read and write, they will one day be able to read God’s Word.

Printing and producing materials can be a huge hurdle for the staff at this little school. The computer and electricity issues can be quite challenging. Perseverance through all these challenges can be an exhausting accomplishment.

It doesn’t sound like anyone is giving up though. The teacher in training is getting instructed by the one qualified teacher. He will also go back and finish school and dreams of going on to teacher’s college, doubling their efforts.

Nadia is the coordinator of all this. She has fought through malaria and motherhood developing a manual for these teachers.  

She tells us, “We have eight students for this literacy class, the limit with only one teacher in training to help. One student was absent here. Students find it hard to set aside their other responsibilities to come to class daily. Pray for their commitment and perseverance!”

One student comes to class after drinking. He can be difficult with his strong personality but he is learning.

In all this it sounds like the teacher in training is doing what it takes to help the students progress in their desire to learn to read their own language.

It is hoped that this will one day lead to the ability to study the Scriptures and know the truth.

You can help provide God's Word in the Mwinika language. Your gift can make a difference today.

Herman, a Guanano believer, is seeing God work in hearts as he teaches on spiritual gifts that God gives to each believer.

Recently he focused on being exhorters, comforters and encouragers, emphasizing that "the primary activity of one so gifted is to urge God’s people to live out the truth of the Gospel,” Lindy and Carol Drake shared,

Some Guanano believers are now challenging one another with forgiveness and consistent fellowship. One believer exhorted another that they were very missed by the church family when they gathered.

This gift of encouragement is often exemplified in the missionaries as they encourage one another in their translation work. Co-workers Barry and Denise Spor will visit and encourage the Drakes, lending a hand where needed while missionary Larry Richardson comes to help give direction with translation. The urging of Guanano translation co-workers and NTM missionaries is invaluable.

Teaching has also motivated some to resolve conflicts. Whether it’s unsaved family or issues over material things, there has been evidence of a clear desire to do whatever it takes to work toward resolution. In one situation a man left the village to travel to another country to talk with someone he had a conflict with in order to respond in obedience to the truth of the Gospel.

There has been true compassion and care for the sick. Even when the direct family members have not dealt with some of these health issues well, the body of Christ has determined that they would be workers together with God to respond to the truth urging others to pray and show compassion and care.

“Mario gathered us together in a prayer circle on Sunday to pray for Marsalene, his sister-in-law, that she would have the courage to trust the Lord alone for her great needs at this time, and that her faith would grow through this difficult experience,” Lindy recounts.

What Godly examples of the Word of God working in the hearts of His people through the gifts of His Spirit to accomplish His work in the body of Christ.

To missionaries, your encouragement in vital, in a remote village or in an often-overlooked support role. Today, will you please call or write to the missionaries you know to encourage them? Or find a missionary you can encourage.

It’s been an answer to much prayer that there would be Higaunon believers sent to other villages to teach the Word of God.

There was news that an interest was expressed so the church leadership took a group of young people to a village five hours hike away. The interest was confirmed and arrangements were made to return once a week to teach.

Even though this village is reportedly very poor and the people work very hard without the modern conveniences, they wanted to hear God’s Word in the evening after work.

“Many Higaunons are used to having kerosene in a bottle with a cloth wick as their light at night. Not this village! They can’t afford it,” write Lance and Laura Ostman.

The first session began with a confirmation that God was moving in the hearts of the people.

Lance and Laura heard the report:

“The group left here early in the morning for the first session of teaching. They spent time visiting and then gathered in a small (approximately 12-by-12) house that has been designated as their meeting place.

"When they started teaching, there was a disturbance in a nearby house. A man had just come from his farm and was rushing around and ran up into the house they were in. Naomi, a young woman who is in the discipleship program, thought that he was angry about their teaching so she was ready to jump out of the window. Come to find out, he was just in a hurry to come and listen; he did not want to miss one word.”

This started with lesson one of the chronological Bible teaching program, Firm Foundations, with at least 10 adults, and lots of young people as well as smaller children.

It could end with those listening, being discipled, and in obedience going to yet another village to teach the Word of God.

Let’s continue to pray for the Higaunon believers as they go as ambassadors of the Good News.

You can teach from the same effective, proven chronological Bible teaching system. Firm Foundations lessons are available from the NTM Bookstore.

“Don’t think that it is from our own goodness that we can be saved,” they sang in the Loron language. “It is because of the grace and goodness of Jesus that we will go up to Heaven.”

It was a time of unprecedented sweetness, Paul and Marina Briggs share. Many of the ladies, who ranged in age from their late teens to early 60’s, walked 10 miles to be part of the fellowship and worship.

They came from eight different villages. The local women provided all the food for the visitors and did most of the cooking: meals of rice, yams, corn/millet porridge and sauce. The visitors slept in the homes of their hosts or in the local church building.

From Friday evening until Sunday afternoon, this happy group listened eagerly to God’s Word taught. Since there was no particular theme for the conference, each speaker (many of them Loron elders and their wives) shared something personal from the heart. Among those who taught was Hovare, the very first Loron believer.

“Eri, an elder’s wife, spoke about Abraham and his relationship with his wife and family,” Paul writes.

The weekend ended in a march of witness for Christ that began at the church and proceeded to the village market, culminating in an open-air event on the edge of the market. The women walked in single file, singing as they walked and circling the entire village before they made their way to where hundreds of people had gathered from surrounding villages to be at the weekly market.

“It created quite a buzz,” Paul says. “A lot of people gathered to see what was happening and to listen to the Bible teaching.”

The Loron ladies were deeply encouraged by their time together.                                                

One remarked, “It was really good to be together with Christian ladies from other villages … to see that we have a unity with each other because of Christ.”

Another observed, “The joyful days that we spent together were a witness to the village that God has changed us.”

The words of a favorite Loron worship song say it all. Filiwa, la boo lo, the ladies’ voices rang out again and again; meaning, “Lord, thank You.”

Your gifts can help translate God's Word, and materials to help people read it and understand it, in tribal languages around the world. Find out more.

One outreach is just beyond the mission center and another is deep in a remote area where two missionaries are isolated from their families in order to assist the tribal Bible teachers in sharing the gospel there.

The people of Papua New Guinea are isolated from one another not only by tall mountains and raging rivers but by language and culture. Yet many tribal believers who have heard the truth are compelled by the love of Christ to go tell others.

There are thousands without a gospel witness in many areas of Papua New Guinea that are inaccessible even by helicopter. They must be reached by hiking over rough and dangerous terrain sometimes for many days. Tribal believers are sacrificing to reach the lost.

Gary Smith, a missionary to the Dinangat people said, “May God stir others to be a part of this kingdom work. It is truth. It changes lives. We've seen it with our own eyes and hearts.”

Will you be a part of reaching those in remote areas around the world who have no gospel witness? You can -- find out how.

As missionary Gary Smith was teaching a lesson about Jonah, a man started sobbing. Afterward, Gary went to his house and asked him why he had begun crying.

“I was overwhelmed, thinking that now as an old man I am able to hear this wonderful truth after believing lies for so many years; and I cried because if you missionaries had not come I still would not have heard. So I am so thankful that you have come,” he replied.

“Tears welled up in my eyes at the weight of his words,” Gary wrote. “May God stir others to be a part of this kingdom work. It is truth. It changes lives. We've seen it with our own eyes and hearts.”

The lesson on Jonah—explaining how Jonah repented of his sin and went to the people of Nineveh, who also repented—is in the midst of Firm Foundation Bible lessons. Pray for Gary as he continues to teach the Dinangats. Pray also for the Dinangats as they continue to grow in their knowledge of God.

May God stir others to be a part of this kingdom work. It is truth and there are many waiting to hear.

You can help take God's Word to unreached people. Find out how.

It’s a joy when we know someone who passes from this life has gone on to be with the Lord. But have you ever thought of rejoicing over the way a burial is actually handled?

In a Prai village, the way that a burial was recently carried out demonstrates the clear understanding the maturing believers have of the truths they are learning from the Word of God.

Dave and Fran Jordan share that culturally, “There is great fear of spirits at the time of a death. ... Prai funerals center on keeping the spirit of the deceased satisfied and preventing any malicious return.”

But the huge expense of “about a month’s salary” in order to hire two lone brave men to bury in some obscure location away from the village where no one else would go is a thing of the past for some of these new maturing believers.

“The first Christian funeral reflected their faith. No feeding of the corpse, no spirit rituals, instead singing, scriptural messages and the joy of knowing our hope in Christ and His death, burial and resurrection.”

“To the amazement of the rest of the village, over 60 of the believers went out together to the burial service. To the Prais this is a huge step of faith, which most will see as a landmark in their lives.”

Let’s rejoice with the Jordans and the Prai believers as God works a great freedom in their lives.