Twice Egged

translation project

M&T Updates, News from Pretty Water

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Like cold water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. – Proverbs 25:25

We have been out of the loop here for a while as we have been traveling, sharing at different churches, seeing doctors and cornea specialists, visiting family, and also hanging out with many of you who have been partnering with us in the work. Thanks again for your partnership as we continue to work to provide all the spiritual resource material we can for the beloved P churches in the very deep south.

Proverbs 25:25 in the P language:

My “inner” is as if with great thirst, but when tasty words arrive from a land far away, it is as though cold water refreshingly wakes it up in such a way that it finds pleasant relief.

Câ tjo üdë ui jâbomî darî cjiadique mâê oa târëdëâ oaiä, jabo jachi ârêmê chiriri pio judiri mânâmê mâê goae üdë mânânârâ oaiä, jabechjî ui chjöchja üdë câ tjo oa mâ chjupî bagari bedü tänêmî darî japadique goaerî cjatäcjie jôrêtareâmî darî.

Good News From a Far Country

What a thrill last week to get good news from our country of ministry! Our coworkers, who we’ll call Jack and Roz, had just come out to town from the P community of Pretty Water. They had literally used up the very last of their food supplies, and so needed to get to town to replenish what they could. They hated to leave as they were seeing God do some pretty cool things.

Pretty Water is a bilingual community of P people located along a river system where multiple villages have been established with about 7000 inhabitants. For several years some of these P people have been exposed to Bible teaching in the national language that has pushed a message of salvation by good works. But most who attend have very little comprehension because the Word has not been taught in their heart language.

Then, two and a half years ago when we completed the Bible translation in the P language, some of these beloved bilinguals from Pretty Water also received copies. However, there were problems. The village chief, who had embraced a religion of works, was suspicious of the translation because he thought it had been written with an inferior dialect spoken only by the monolinguals! And others mistakenly thought the Word of God could only be taught in the Spanish language, that God wasn’t interested in their language. Plus they had only been taught to read and write in the national language which didn’t at all enable them to read the many foreign symbols in their own. So even though they now had a Bible in their heart language, they couldn’t read it, and were suspicious of it!

Well, ever since the translation was completed and the P Bibles were distributed, we have prayed daily that God’s Word would go forth powerfully and accomplish all that God had purposed it to do in this beloved people group. Now we hear that there has been a change of heart. While efforts have been made down through the last five years to teach them to read and write in their own language, the investment hasn’t seemed to bear much fruit. However, Roz told us in her text message to us just last week that 18 people came when they recently organized the reading club so that the people there could learn to read and write in their own language. The Scriptures are still being taught in the national language but now several key people have begun reading from the P Bible during their gatherings. They are getting a taste of how much better God’s Word communicates in their own heart language, and this is spurring them on to learn to read in their own tongue! So you can imagine the thrill this news has been to us who labored long hours, days, weeks, months and years to get God’s love letter into the P language and into the hands of the people! It truly is good news from a far away land!

Now just the other day, we were able to do a voice call with our coworkers and catch up on more of the news from the country there. Jack told us that it felt like they were living on the edge of a very high precipice, and that things there can suddenly change drastically from one day to the next. Grocery stores in their supply town have empty shelves. Instead of finding food, there are only rows of soda pop and cheap plastic dishes. Food and medical purchases as well as some of the required legal work must be done thru black market channels at inflated prices. The reports are that things are very bad but still continue to worsen. The whole country continues to spiral downward. Let’s continue to pray!

Teachers

Here below you see a picture of one of the many monoligual P pastors who continue to teach the Scriptures. (they will just hang their hammock up in the middle of a village and just share the Word with people seated all around them) Thanks so much for your continued prayers for them. With the country as it is, they continue to suffer many hardships, but PTL that clear teaching continues among these dear monolingual brethren.

Prayer Requests:

—Please pray the following for the P believers:
1. that they will have a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God
2. that they will be strengthened in their new being
3. that Christ will be totally at home in their hearts, being the captain of their lives
4. that they will know the width and depth and height and length of God’s love for them
5. that they will realize what is the mighty power that is at work within them
6. that they will think on those things that are lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise
7. that they will know what their hope is in Christ, and what Christ’s inheritance is in the saints

  • Pray for our national coworkers that they will be encouraged, have much wisdom, and push on with diligence and a sense of urgency. Pray that God will meet their every need in this context where most everything is no longer available
  • Pray much for Jack that he will really move ahead in the language. He has the gift of teaching but still lacks in the language to be able to clearly communicate….so thanks much for your prayers for him
  • Thanks in advance for your prayers for the people of Pretty Water. Pray that they really move ahead in their reading, and that they would continue to focus on the Scriptures in their own language. Pray too that the marvelous Gospel of grace would become clear to them as the move thru the Word.
  • Please continue to pray regarding a national family living close to one of the P villages that continues to be involved in theft, extortion, rape, and other preposterous things. They have manipulated and abused the P people for years and it only seems to be getting worse. Would you please pray that these people would either come to Christ, or fall into their own nets and traps that they set for others. Thanks so much!!
  • Please continue to pray for our Host Country. Things are increasingly difficult and there is much pain and tragedy. However we praise God that even in this bizarre context, God continues to build his church. Why, even in the last few months several people from a totally different Language Group in our host country have come to faith and have been added to the body of Christ!! So yes, thanks so much for praying for the work in this country.
  • Thanks for your ongoing prayers for Teresa and I as we work on behalf of the P brothers and sisters. I continue to work on the Bible curriculum and Teresa is doing the formatting. Your prayers for sharp minds, strong backs, and much wisdom is so needed!
  • Thanks for your many prayers regarding my eyes. I just saw the cornea specialist and he is very pleased on how the eye looks….and I am very pleased at being able to see so much better. And PTL that my other eye continues to do well, and even improve at times. So the only surgery that I have planned is for cataracts for they are the cause of some problems now. So thanks so much for your ongoing prayers. They are much appreciated!!
  • Please pray for wisdom on our part when to make the next trip to visit with the P pastors and connect with our team

And Thanks Again…..

….for your partnership with us, for your prayers, for your encouragement, for your notes, and for your fellowship in the Gospel. God is working and is building His church among the Unreached People Groups of the world. Thanks so much for being a part of the team!

Desiring to always be strong in His strength,

Merrill and Teresa

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!!

Translation Finished – February 2016

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The Translation for the dear P Nation is now off to the Publishers!!

A big PRAISE to the Lord for His great strength and guidance and wisdom and perseverance as HE has allowed us to cross the finish line on this long project. We are most thankful indeed. And so thankful too for all of you, for your love, your words of encouragement, your prayers, your partnering with us, and so much more. Thanks so much for being such a great team!!

The Holy Scriptures

The powerful truths of the Word of God were first introduced to these dear people back in 1983 when we began to teach them. And right along with that teaching was the translation of Scripture, first just for me since they hadn’t learn to read yet, and then for more and more of them as they learned. So these folks have had portions of Scripture in their hands for years now. The first book they got was of course Genesis, and then Exodus, but then soon it was material from the NT. Well, what a privilege now to give them the whole New Testament, and also many portions from the Old Testament. And as these precious books are distributed, how we praise God that His Word is not chained, or bound up, but rather alive and powerful, accomplishing that which God purposes. And how we thank God for the huge team that has been working together down through the years with us. We have had many dear coworkers, and of course the different consultants and software technicians and pilots and many others who have labored behind the scenes to bring this all to pass. How we praise God for each one!! And as we anticipate the disbursement of the Scriptures among these dear people, how we praise God that His Word is not chained or bound up or boxed in, but rather alive and powerful and very sharp, bringing deep conviction and repentance, accomplishing mighty things according to God’s purposes. No, it will not return unto Him void!!

Praise and Prayer

  • for printing, shipping, the Presentation of the Scriptures, and the distribution….and that the Lord will protect the books from falling into the wrong hands
  • for our trip down as we leave shortly, that God will be wonderfully glorified in all things
  • for a wonderful time of hanging out with the P brethren and that we all learn great new things about our Dad and His wonderful truths
  • for health and strength during this very busy time with the saints and renewing paper work
  • praise God for doors that are still cracked open for ministry in our Host Country….and pray that they will continue to be that way, even with all the upheaval, turmoil and violence that abounds
  • for continued prayer for many ladies to learn to read well and not be too embarrassed to read to one another and their kids
  • for God Almighty to continue to grow the P church, and that He would do the above and beyond stuff….and really give us many grand surprises…for HE IS SO ABLE

Thanks again so very much for your partnering with us. We are indeed filled with praise and thankfulness to our Lord who has enabled us to finish the Translation Project…and we look forward to starting the next projects.