Twice Egged

JD

Contrasting Biblical Themes With Cultural Themes In Curriculum

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Contextualizing the Message

As we continue to revise old Bible lessons that were made some twenty years ago and prepare to write additional ones for the beloved P people, we are always reminded of the huge need to make the teaching “scratch where it itches”. Back in the early days of the work when we first began to teach, we sought to contrast the themes of God’s Word with the pillars of their worldview. We discovered that teaching in this way created the needed tension between what they had always taken for granted to be true in key areas of their lives (or/ of their own belief system), and to make them really sit up and take note of what God’s Word was saying. Here are some examples of the huge differences when we contrast key themes from God’s love letter to them with what their cultural pillars are:

 Man is made in the image of God and exists for God’s glory  I’m central and life is about me, my survival, and what benefits me
 The penalty of sin is death  I’m not guilty and will never be ashamed, but will always blame others to show my good standing
 God is holy  I’m acceptable because I don’t do bad things, and besides, sin is never an issue
 Man can only approach God thru His way and plan  The ancestors, shamans, and our dreams have shown us the way, and their way is right
 Man is a sinner and helpless to save himself  I am truly a good person and can do what is needed to manipulate all the gods and save myself

As we taught them up on the sand dunes so long ago, it was so exciting to see the pillars of their worldview slowly be replaced by pillars of truth based on God’s message to them. Yes, Biblical themes replaced their cultural themes that were counter to the truths of Scripture. It was exciting to see them exchange their story or meta-narrative for God’s ultra-narrative. And so, since the Bible lessons have played such a key role in their understanding the Gospel message and growing in Christ, they are wanting more lesson material. And so we continue on joyfully working to provide that for them so they can continue to use it in conjunction with the Scriptures, as you see below.

Praise and Prayer Items

—Praise the Lord that doors continue to be cracked open in our Host Country and so work continues on different fronts. Thanks so much for your ongoing prayers for the work there, and the 33 different People Groups that live there
—we are so pleased that our coworkers down there continue to make regular trips into P-land to hang with the brethren and take them different supplies. How good to hear of their continued encouragement and growth
—thanks for your ongoing prayers as we continue to revise the Bible curriculum. Pray for much wisdom, strong backs, and endurance as we sit and stand in front of our computers
—Praise the Lord for His huge GRACE! Ever since we have had to move away from P-land, we have found a certain emptiness in our hearts as we dearly love those guys and so enjoyed living among them. Praise the Lord for His comfort as we continue to live away from those precious saints. How good it will be to get together in GLORY and celebrate with our LORD!
—some of you have been praying for our son Josh, his wife Josie and their family who have faced some chronic health issues during their third term in the Asia-Pacific region. Well they have decided to return temporarily for a medical break to try to get to the bottom of these issues. Pray that these different medical questions will be resolved.
—Thanks for your prayers for Jodi and Brent too as they continue to labor in their host country. Brent is getting checked out on more and more airstrips, and Jodi is busy being a mom to their new little boy, and also involved in counseling at the Mission School.
—Thanks for your ongoing prayers for all those P. who have the gift of teaching and shepherding. Pray that God will continue to work mightily thru them to tend and nurture the flock.
—Thanks for continuing to pray too for the literacy programs. Pray that they will produce many new readers, including many gals!!

Thanks again so very much for your partnering with us. We are weak indeed BUT HE IS SO VERY STRONG!!!

Pig Illustrations, Host Country Situation, Kids And Coworkers

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Pig illustrations to Communicate Truth

“Just as the Pig Herder gathers his pigs together, so in the same way Christ will come and gather us all together!!!”

When we first moved in among the dear P. nation, they were mainly hunters and gatherers. However, some of them mentioned how they would like to raise their own pigs. So we came up with a plan and helped them get some, and in time many of them came to have their own little herd. They didn’t pen them up during the day however, but rather let them lose on the plains to find their own food. The people had no way of feeding them and there were plenty of wild roots out there for them to dig up. So they herded them out to different spots where there were lots of roots. And it was interesting that as they got to know the characteristics of these animals better and better, the teachers of God’s Word began to use different illustrations about them more and more!

Pigs, and the Coming of the Lord

For example, Doidamo got up one day and was teaching on the return of Christ. He was talking about how there are so many believers scattered all over the earth in many different plains, jungles and woods. And then he said something like this: “Just as the pig herder goes out into different plains and woods to gather all his pigs from all over the place and put them safely in the pen, so also in the same way Jesus will suddenly come with great power and gather all His people together from all the different woods and plains, and put them safely into Heaven.”

Pigs, and Believers being alert

Another time Dago got up and challenged the believers to be more alert in their lives. He told them something like this: “We believers are often just like pigs. And what do pigs do? Well, they go out into the plains and woods thinking only about living and about food. They don’t go being alert. They don’t go being watchful but rather go thinking only about the para and yipe roots. It is like they go without proper thinking. When they ought be aware, when they ought to remember that there are many dangerous cats and venom-having snakes out there, they go like those having no capacity to think. They should eat being alert but no, they go thinking only about food. And so what has happened? Have some of them been bitten? Have some been attacked and killed? Yes, they have. And look, we too can be attacked by the one who opposes us. We too can be as if bitten by sin, for we live in a dangerous place. Therefore we can’t live being like pigs but must live always being alert, living with our eyes wide open, living thinking about the true Word.”

Bible Curriculum

And so, as we continue to work on developing more Bible Curriculum for the P. believers, we want to always contextualize the message and package it in such a way that everything is really making sense to them. Whether it means including illustrations about pigs, snakes, shooting with bows and arrows, etc. we want to put these lessons together in such a way that it really communicates in a meaningful way with them. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”. That is, faith comes by hearing and truly understanding the message. And so we want to do all we can to insure effective communication and deep understanding as we carry on to provide these beloved saints with more spiritual resource material.

A Part of the Team

These four families are just a few of those who make up the pastoral team among the P. people. Look at them! Remember them! And please pray for them!

Here below is one of the many village churches gathering together:

More Praise and Prayer Items

—we did not travel down to our Host Country to see our beloved brethren as things continue to get worse there. However, we are resting in our LORD about this and trusting Him for an opportunity when He opens the door. We’ll see what He has up His sleeve. Thanks for praying about this with us.
—during this past Dry Season, our coworkers were able to get out to see the believers on quite a number of occasions, encouraging them in the Word, and taking them items like soap, fish hooks, fish line, garden seed, and other things that they are desperately in need of.
—thanks for your ongoing prayers for our national coworkers as they continue to live and work inside this broken country.
—thanks for your continued prayers for the P. believers too. Pray that they will continue to walk in the Spirit, and allow the gifts that the Spirit has given them to flourish and blossom for His glory, even in the midst of all the adversity.
—praise the Lord that my new eye continues to improve and that so far there is no rejection of the new part!! Thanks for praying for no rejection!
—praise for God’s provision of a different vehicle for our coworkers who had the car accident.

Thanks again so very much for your partnering with us. We are indeed thankful for the ongoing opportunities to serve the P. believers by preparing additional resource material for them.

Cachicamo Teaching

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The Armadillo

“Let’s not be teaching the true God’s Words like an armadillo!!”

This beloved little animal is all over the place where our dear friends live and make up part of their diet. They are usually easy to get and are quite tasty! The people are always delighted when they come across one as it means there will be something in the pot for their one meal a day. They find them in their holes or running across the plains. They will often shoot them with their bow and arrows, but also try to grab them if they can. However, they aren’t always easy to catch because they run helter-skelter all over the place.

One day as I was meeting with some of the Bible teachers, one of them launched and began saying something like this: “The Words of the true God are truly of great value. And we must be careful to teach these words with correctness. We can’t be teaching them like an armadillo runs, but rather in a very straight and true manner”.

And ever since that time, that has been a common phrase among the teachers in reminding one another to prepare for the teaching and to be on topic, not teaching helter-skelter like the armadillo runs, but rather “straight and true as an arrow flies”.

Bible Curriculum

Since finished the P. Translation Project, we have reset our sights on developing Bible lessons for our dear brethren. While we were living among them, we completed lessons from Genesis to the Ascension of Christ, as well as lessons on Acts, Romans, Ephesians, I Timothy and Titus. However, they are wanting lessons on Thessalonians and the other NT books. So we have our work cut out for us for the next number of years.

And as we develop this curriculum, we are always keeping in mind the challenge of our brethren; to teach in such a way that the words are “straight and true”, and not “helter-skelter like an armadillo!”

Check Out These Important People Below:

Our Dear Coworkers

Since 1988, we have had the joy of working with these brothers and sisters from our Host Country. They have been a great blessing to the work and it’s great to see their love for the Lord and for the P. people. Yes, so glad to have them on board in this ministry. However, things are getting ever more challenging for them as they seek to carry on with life and ministry in a land that is so broken and fractured at almost every level. Please be praying for them.

Here are some specific requests on their behalf:

—just this morning, one of our coworkers had a car accident. We don’t know details, but it sounds like they survived all right even though their vehicle was damaged badly. Without the vehicle, they won’t be able to get to where the P. people are, or to get their supplies. Thanks so much for praying for God to be hugely glorified in all this.
—for wisdom, encouragement, and a sense of urgency as these three families push to see the P. churches grow in the Lord, as well as to keep on target with literacy, gardening, health, and evangelism
—pray for a P. believer whom we call Weeto. Pray that he will be straight on the Gospel and not pay attention to those hounding him to embrace a salvation of works once again. He is a key fellow in the community of Pretty Water, and it would be so great to see him living in and enjoying the TRUTH!!
—pray that our coworker’s children would continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. Most of them are seeking to leave the country for further studies and employment, as these are increasingly hard to get where they are. And four of them desire to prepare for some aspect of Missions!! Pray that God will open doors for these precious young people, and that He will be hugely glorified both in and thru their lives.

And here below is the gang of eight!!


More Praise and Prayer Items

—Praise the Lord that my new eye continues to improve and that so far there is no rejection of the new part!! This is indeed an exciting ride and I praise God for His blessing, and for your prayers….and for the joy of clear sight!! The surgeon says the next eye probably won’t be done until possibly next Fall sometime. We’ll see!
—We are waiting to see what works out regarding a trip down to encourage our dear P. brethren. At this point things are looking very tenuous. Thanks for your prayers regarding this matter.
—we are pleased to report that our coworkers were finally able to get out to where the P. people are living. They were thrilled to see them encouraged, hanging in there, teaching the Word, and living in TRUTH! Thanks so much for your continued prayers for these different village churches.
—Would appreciate prayers too for our son Josh and his family serving our Lord in Asia Pacific. His wife Josie has been sick for a long time and they can’t seem to get to the bottom of it. And their youngest daughter Katrina has been having stomach aches for months and months, and they can’t figure out what is going on there either. They have been to numerous doctors and so are seeking the Lord’s direction in the matter. Thanks so much for praying for them. It is much appreciated!
—Thanks for your ongoing prayers for all those P. who have the gift of teaching and shepherding. Pray that God will continue to show Himself strong on their behalf, and that they would be faithful in preparing and proclaiming the TRUTH!!I

Thanks again so very much for your partnering with us. We are indeed thankful for the ongoing opportunities to serve the P. believers by preparing additional resource material for them. Thanks again for all you do to keep us going!!

Christmas 2016 For The P People & Translations

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Merry Christmas!!

Teresa and I together with Mom Dyck want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas as you celebrate the riches of all that our Great God has done for us!! How blessed we all are because of this marvelous Story that began in eternity past!! So hey, a big hug for you all from us up here in the land of ice and snow!!

Here is how some of the Christmas Story from John 1 and Gal 4 reads from the P. Bible:

Way back in the very beginning, the One named the Word existed. He was together with the true God, for He too is the true God. And since he also is the true God, he was together with him back in the very beginning. And it was through this One named the Word that the true God created all things. For if he hadn’t created, not one thing would exist. For only through him does life exist. For he is the one who is the Giver of life. Only in him did it all begin way back. And precisely the Giver of life is the one who gives illuminating thinking to all people. For He shines brightly right in the middle of the darkness, and the darkness is not able to defeat this Light.

On the appointed day, the true God sent his Son. After being birthed by a woman, he began to live among people. God sent him in order to deliver us that we might not live under the rule of the words that Moses wrote down, but rather that we might be untied and set free, and not be slaves anymore. Its true!! He sent him in order that we become God’s children and that He become our Father. And because you have become God’s children, okay then, he has sent the Spirit of his Son to make his home in your bodies. And now precisely by means of this Spirit, we relate to the true God as Father. We tell him, “Father, you are my Father”. Therefore, I tell you all, none of you are slaves any longer for now you have become His children. You have become children of God. And because you have become his children, you will be ones who receive / inherit. Yes, that which is God’s you will inherit, that which He has set aside safely for his children.

Christmas in the land of the P People:

They don’t have Christmas trees or decorative lights….
….but they know that Jesus is the Light of the world….and that they are now children of light.

They don’t exchange gifts or Christmas cards….
….but they know that they have received the gift of eternal life….and the Holy Spirit as well.

They don’t have a Christmas dinner….
….but they participate in The Lord’s Supper using water and yucca cakes to remember the spilled blood and death of their Savior.

There are no Christmas Carolers moving from house to house to sing the traditional songs or manger scenes….
….but they make up their own songs and sing about the True Son who was sent by a non-stingy Father to this earth.

Report on Eye Surgery

Thanks so very much for your prayers for me regarding the surgery on my cornea. The transplant of the endothelial layer went fine and I had my patch off the next day. There was no pain, even though I still had the sutures in.

Well, after three days, I took a short walk down the trail and when I looked down, I was totally amazed at the clarity of the gravel below. I hadn’t seen gravel that clearly for years and years!! I was thrilled and suddenly had a sweet little time of worship there on the trail to the “God of Eyeballs and Sight” as the P people say. Yes, what a joy it has been to be seeing with steady improvement out of that one eye. Now we wait and see when it will work out for the surgery on the remaining eye. Thanks again so much for your prayers on this.

Prayer Items

—we don’t hear much news from the P believers as they are still cut off from contact with all the heavy rains. So there isn’t anything specific to pass on to you all right now. However, thanks so very much for your prayers for their growth, encouragement, and ministries as they walk with their Lord
—pray for our beloved Host Country that God would wonderfully intervene down there and bring His solution to the many problems that only grow worse as the days go by. We just talked to a couple of our national co-workers down there and they have never seen or imagined that anything like this could ever happen to their beloved country. So yes, thanks so much for praying!!
—pray too regarding the proliferation of evil and controlling men who are really effecting the P believers, as well as many other folks
—pray for our dear coworkers there who continue to labor under extremely trying circumstances that they would truly be Jesus in skin to those around them
—pray for us as we seek the Lord’s direction in making another trip down there to connect with the P. saints
—pray for our son Josh, his wife Josie, and their four children as they celebrate Christmas in Asia, and also for our daughter Jodi, her husband Brent, and baby Hudson as they celebrate in their host country. We miss these guys a lot but we are thankful that we can all serve the Lord during this brief stint on planet earth before the big party and family reunion in Heaven!!

Thanks again so very much for your partnering with us. We are indeed thankful for the ongoing opportunities to serve the P. believers by preparing additional resource material for them. Thanks again for all you do to keep us going!!

M&T

Update On Merrill’s Eye Surgery

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Update on Merrill

Thanks for your overwhelming response of prayer. God has answered!! The doctor said three different times how well the surgery went. God surely did guide the surgeon’s hands! You all were a huge encouragement and blessing!! Thanks so much for praying. And God gave us both such peace, and a spirit of praise and prayer throughout the day of surgery. God is so good!!

The hardest part of the recovery was that Merrill had to lie flat on his back without a pillow for 24 long hours right after the surgery, getting up only for the bare essentials. Well this was really hard on his back and drove him a little crazy! But he survived nicely and now has the freedom not only to move about during the day but also sleep on his right side as well. Now the challenge is simply to keep the three different types of drops for his eyes straight, giving them 1, 4 and 6 times a day.

He had his post op check the day after surgery, and the endothelial graft was still perfectly positioned. Praise the Lord!! Now please pray that this graft will start doing its job. It can take up to 2 months for the endothelial tissue to start properly controlling the amount of moisture to be retained in the cornea! So he will continue to have cloudy vision in his operated eye (left) till it kicks in. And he will also be living under various restrictions for the 2-month period. So anyway, thanks so much for standing behind us.

Update on Brent, Jodi and baby Hudson

As I write this note, the three of them are on a jet plane winging their way back to their host country. They left for the airport yesterday afternoon and if they make all their connections, they ought to touch down in the town where they live at about 9 PM tonight PST, which would be 4 PM tomorrow afternoon their time. Thanks for your continued prayers for them in this long journey, especially with baby Hudson. We had some teary goodbyes yesterday. Sure do miss them already, but we are thankful that they want to serve our LORD and we cheerfully release them for His Glory.

Thanks for your awesome support in prayer!
Teresa for us both!