M&T Updates: God is doing a new thing! Do you not perceive it?

Isaiah 43:18,19
“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

So Who Are These People in the Above Photo??

Well, God is doing something new, really new! It is the kind of news that makes your ears tingle! It is just like Isaiah the prophet wrote so long ago in 43:18 and 19 when he said:

But forget about all that for it is nothing compared to what I am going to do. For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?

Yes, God is doing something new and wild!!…and we are beginning to see it! So what is He doing? Well, He is bringing in some very special reinforcements to minister to the P church. After hearing of the great need among the P people, some very gifted and unique believers are being led of the Lord to join us in this work to help bring the P churches to greater maturity and independence economically.

So let me introduce you to the Pia people (not their real name). They are another people group in our host country that has been reached with the Gospel. They have some of the OT and all of the New Testament in their language…and they have grown by leaps and bounds in the Lord. And now this particular group is also sending out missionaries to serve in other people groups. Imagine that!! And after hearing all about the P work in a recent presentation that I was able to present to them on-line at one of their conferences, and the needs that we still have there, they responded quickly to the “Macedonian Call” that was given to them.

And so shortly thereafter, a team of 12 Pia (those in the photo above) took off on their motorcycles and entered P-land. They met with our national coworkers and with the P believers as well. They then took back a report to their churches and are excited about getting involved where they can to see the P churches firmly established in the Lord. So far two different families from their churches have come forth to dedicate their lives to work among the P people and are trusting the Lord for one more family to join them. And very soon, many church leaders will be gathering together to talk about how they are going to support these missionaries that are heading out to help us!! Yes, awesome indeed! We continue to marvel at God’s many surprises for us as we continue forward trusting Him in this church planting work!

So why would we need these reinforcements in the P work? Let me reiterate what I wrote in our last update:

1. There is a lot of work yet to be done to help the P churches grow and be firmly established in the Lord. Our national coworkers are getting older and feel overwhelmed with all that is on their plates. They are very excited about the possibility of having some help from the Pia believers.
2. With the on going presence of dangerous players in the area who could threaten the security of our national missionaries, the indigenous missionaries would have a much lower profile and draw less attention.
3. The Pia believers could be a huge help in teaching the people better gardening skills. As you know, the P people are seminomadic and aren’t the best gardeners. Their diet is still often poor, hurting their health. Discipleship in the area of gardening would be a great boost to their quality of life. (We have worked on this for years with temporary success but eventually it fails)
4. The Pia believers have technological knowhow. This particular people group is very skilled when it comes to on-line stuff, including connecting to Star Link and other things. This could foreseeably lead to us having regular conversations with the P pastors and others, as well as teaching the church there via online streaming. Yes, there is lots of potential in this area. They would also be a huge help in guiding the people to better maintain their solar-powered radios.
5. They would be a tremendous encouragement and help in literacy and discipleship.
6. They are perfectly bilingual, speaking both Spanish and their tribal language, and so could help the P people learn to speak Spanish. This would be advantageous for them and would better prepare them for life in a Spanish-speaking country.
7. Many of the Pia believers are trained medics and so could be a more consistent help in meeting the medical needs of the people.
8. They are also quite entrepreneurial and could help the P people in developing marketable products that will help them be more economically established so they can meet their own needs, and also bless others.

The truth is that there is still much to do and these reinforcements will be a huge blessing. Truly this is an amazing thing that God is doing and we are thrilled!!

The boxed new Bibles were shipped by truck over the long route of dusty paths into P-land by some of God’s great servants. They have been handed over and the precious P believers are happy to receive them. The Bibles that were printed back in 2016 have worn out and so this is the second printing. May it last a long time!

Above to the far left is Jacinto, one of our national coworkers, with Hernán, one of the pastors in the middle, and a Pia believer who was present to help distribute the newly printed Bibles.

Newly Printed Bibles

The newly printed Bibles that sat in storage through the Rainy Season on the border of another country have now been shipped and delivered into the hands of most of the believers. This is a huge praise item!! Thanks so much for praying about this. And yes, the believers are very pleased with this new Bible with clearer fonts, tougher binding and a more durable cover. Yes, praise the Lord!!

Prayer and Praise:

• pray for the five ordained pastors, for them to be strong in the Lord, and faithfully continue to teach the different local churches.
• pray for God’s timing on the distribution of all the solar-powered radios to the many unreached villages
• pray for hearts among the many unbelievers to be prepared to listen and accept the Gospel story that starts in Genesis 1:1 and ends with the Ascension
• pray for the safe arrival of additional radios that are presently being sent
• pray for continued open doors in our host country and in the area where the P people live. There has been a lot more suspicious activity recently in the area where our national missionaries are working and conditions seem to be deteriorating
• Pray for encouragement, protection, and wisdom for our national coworkers, and that they would live under a cloud of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
• Pray for God’s direction as the Pia people come to set up their homes. Pray for God’s abundant provision for every need.
• Pray for continued health and strength for us as we continue to edit these many radio programs to prep them for going on the air.
• PTL that the P people are excited about the Pia people coming to live among them and help them
• PTL for all the prayers and love the P churches are receiving from the many Pia churches (over 200!)
• PTL for two Pia families that have already presented their lives for service among the P people
• PTL for the 260 radio programs that were successfully recorded for nation wide evangelism among the P people
• PTL that we have another 235 radios on a boat right now heading to P-land!
• PTL that the newly printed Bibles have been distributed among the saints!
• PTL that all this is God’s work, and that He will indeed build His glorious church, and the powers of hell will not be able to deter Him.

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!!

Excited to have a part in one small corner of the planet as we partner with our great Lord-Owner-Boss, Who is the Builder of His glorious church among the nations. Thx so much for being a part of all this!!!

Merrill and Teresa