12/23/03: Merry Christmas!!

Christmas 2003

“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them..... the angel said to them, ‘I bring you Good News of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord. ‘”

Merry Christmas

I can imagine the Tribal could have lived much like the shepherds of Jesus’ time. Even though they do not shepherd sheep, they live simply off the land, and their gaze is very often directed to the skies. By the sun, moon, and stars they determine the time of day or night, and the times of the month and the seasons. The Tribal ancestors taught them that the skies revealed bad omens. The fear of the rainbow, the full moon, the god of thunder, and falling stars drove the Tribal to piercing their tongues, blowing blood up toward the heavens, and doing combative chants and songs to try to manipulate the bad spirits of these celestial manifestations. If the angels had appeared to the unsaved Tribal like they did to the Shepherds at the birth of Jesus, there would have been great cause of fear, despair, and an overwhelming drive to find a way to manipulate the spirit world to keep a great evil from coming upon them. Could the shepherds of Jesus’ time have had some of the same thoughts when the angels first appeared to them? But this manifestation of angels was different, bringing “news of great joy” not only for the shepherds, but for all people including the Tribal!! Just like He pierced through the night and the darkness on the eve of Jesus’ birth, he pierced the darkness of Tribal souls with the light of this news of “great joy”.

We just returned from our third rendezvous at a safe site with the Tribal church leaders, those who are the “shepherds” of the Tribal flock. This time we met for 2 weeks with 9 leaders, 3 of whom brought their families. We are mentoring them in their job of shepherding to help equip them for this important task. We have gone through I Timothy and Titus, reviewing just what a shepherd of the sheep looks like. We have also talked a lot about job descriptions, team work, leading the sheep with gentleness, family relationships etc. Here is some feedback from Hernan, one of the main shepherds of the flock, as he shares about his work:

“One day God was prompting me to go visit some Tribal believers. I didn’t have any food that day for my family, and I didn’t know where it would come from, but when the end of the day came, God supplied what we needed. But even with not having food, I wanted to go. I feel a strong desire to watch over the sheep and see them positioned as if their roots go way down deep. And those who are living as if they have a broken leg, those who are living as if their stomachs are all shriveled up with hunger, and those who are living as if they never get good green grass to eat, well, I want to be there with them to give them tasty words from above and to give them food for their spirits. But it is true. With my strength I can’t do this important work but living being connected to the One who is like the Vine, ah yes, I work with the enablement that comes from Him.”

A great plus about having the leaders bring their wives and children is it soon becomes very evident how these guys are doing in leading their families. Are they training their children? Are they encouraging their wives? During our first discipleship time, it soon became very evident that Hernan had been neglecting both these areas. After we had several sessions from Titus on the qualifications of elders, he was suddenly made very aware of the needs. But when he began to move in to discipline his kids, his wife Mari Domingi, opposed him as he endeavored to implement changes. He was almost in tears as he shared how he wanted his wife to be involved with him in child training and ministry too. He so desired to minister and use this gift that the Lord had given him to teach and pastor but he wasn’t sure if he would qualify. He stated, “How can I take care of the sheep in the church if I can’t take care of my own family?’ After this 3rd discipleship time with Hernan and his wife, we saw a HUGE difference in the 2 children that came and we both shared that with him and his wife. Hernan answered: “God just keeps on making me aware of my children, and their needs, and prompts me to be faithful to them. I have told my wife that her work is to be at home and take care of the children, and my work is to teach God’s word”. Hernan is now better equipped to shepherd God’s flock! PTL! By the way, Hernan and his wife are expecting there 5th child soon!!

Please pray faithfully for the Tribal pastors and their wives: Hernan and Mari Domingi, Pablo David and Luichji, Pedrotina and Ramona, Dande and Bequi, Donare and Juana, Juan Martin Mari Luichji, and Julio and Diana, and their children. Some of these gals are not standing with their husbands as they desire to lead the flock. And the guys face great opposition from some of their own people because of their stand strong stand for truth which puts them in direct conflict with the old ancestral ways. So please pray that they will stand strong in His grace, and that they can be a spiritual blessing to their own people.

We are excited about Christmas as our daughter Jodi, and my folks from California are here with us! What a treat it is to be together for a bit. Yes, we sure thank God for these special times that He gives us with different members of our family. We would sure love to have Josh and Josie join us too, but it is not so easy for them to get away with their crew.

Trust your Christmas will be special. Thanks for your part in our lives and ministry with the Tribal people, and for your gifts, prayers, and encouragement. We appreciate you so very much and thank God for you. And now we wish you the very best Christmas, and may the Son who was in the manger but who is now seated at the right hand of our Father, be wonderfully glorified through it all. Yes, trusting that your Christmas is one of “great joy”.

Shepherding the Tribal here in Venezuela,

Teresa and Merrill