The Menti Palawano are now hearing Bible lessons!

The Menti Palawano are now hearing Bible lessons!
Praise the Lord, for the first time in history, the Brooks Point Palawano in Menti are now hearing Bible lessons in their own language! Our partners have started teaching, and below is a copy of the email we received to describe how things are going.

We appreciate your prayers for us, our partners, and the Palawano as they continue to teach the lessons. This is why we labored in the tribe for so long, and why we are continuing to work here in the Philippines!

Here is the email from our tribal co-worker Elise:

Dear Partners in the Gospel,

On Monday morning, I said to my literacy class, "This is a day we've been waiting for. This is the reason God sent us here. Today, Dave will start telling God's story to all who want to listen. We have lots of fun in our literacy class, but it's a really serious and important thing that you are learning to read. Yes, anyone can listen to the teaching of God's Word, but you will be able to read it for yourselves. For others, they have to wait to be given God's Word like a child being given a drink from the hand of their mother. But you are like one who has his own cup, and can drink from it whenever you want. The ability to read is like having that cup".

So on Monday afternoon, the public teaching of God's Word finally began. In all 22 adults gathered, and some children, in various different family groups. They listened intently.

Dave began by telling the people that in the beginning, there was no one and nothing, only God, and that God was always there. As he described the character of God, eveyone was listening intently and heads began to nod in agreement.

"God had no source, and will have no end. He didn't suddenly appear. He always was. He needs nothing- not food, or air, or water. He is Spirit. In the beginning, there were no stars, no sun, no moon, no earth. There were no trees, no ocean, no rivers, no animals, no air, no people. Only God. And He was always there."

Pilno said, "Banar! That's true!"

Showing them a jar of rice, Dave said, "How many grains of rice do you think are in this jar? That's right, you don't know unless you count them. God doesn't have to count them. He knows how many grains of rice there are in every legkew (rice storage house) on Palawan! He knows how many hairs there are on every head! He doesn't even need to count them! He knows everything! Wherever you go, He is there. He is with our family in Australia. He is in every cave, and in the sky. You couldn't hide from Him. He knows everything, even what you are thinking."

"Banar!" said Pilno again.

As the people left to go home, we encouraged them to come to each teaching time, so when we got ready for them again on Wednesday, we were discouraged that of the first group of eight, only Pilno and Mulok came. Another eight came in the next group, with a couple of new listeners. So they heard the second lesson, and were amazed that God's Word was written by so many people over such a length of time.

It turns out that this week, the lowland town leaders have called various meetings that some of the Palawanos are expected to attend. And not only that, but many of them are preparing for a rice festival at the chief's village, and so when he says it's time to pound rice, then that's what you have to do.

Pilno, and also Tossito, one of Dave's language helpers said, "We are going to tell people they need to come! This is really important!"

Over lunch today, Tossito and Lito, one of the other language helpers, said to another guy, Pitio, "We all need to know what God says. Palawanos and white people. We all have the same original grandparents, and because of their sin, we are all separated from God. We are like the Israelites trapped at the Sea that's Red. Only God can make a way for us to be saved. It's very dangerous if people don't listen! They need to know the way back to God or they are lost!"

The two of them went over to Dave and Julie's place after that, where Mulita, a lady, was telling Dave she didn't want to listen to the teaching. Dave said, "Cousin, we aren't going to force anyone to listen." Tossito promplty said to Mulita, "You know, you really should listen! There is a second death and only God can save us." She looked right at him..."Oh?!" she said. "Hmmm. I'm going to think about it."

We talked with Pilno and Mulok, and decided to wait to carry on the teaching till next Wednesday when some of the distractions are out of the way. Meanwhile, we are taking every opportunity, over meals, sitting on the porch, hanging out at people's houses, to talk over what the people have heard. Some seem like they couldn't care less, while others are gripped by the truth. Tossito and Pilno said they are going to be telling people they need to listen. Pilno said, "We need to listen together, so that we can be of one mind. This is truth!"

Pray that the spark will become a flame, and will fan to life and sweep through this place!

Thank you for praying for Lupis! The tribal leaders met about his divorce, and told his wife she has to stay with him. So they are both here now, and both listening to the teaching. Praise the Lord!

Thank you for praying for the literacy teachers! The are doing REALLY well, and we are planning to buy a computer for them and Ludi to learn how to type. They are very excited! Today they went down to the market place, where just a couple of months ago, they would go to get drunk almost every week. They said, "We don't want to do that now. We have changed." Please pray for a total heart change, not just a change of behaviour! Tabung says that he prays to God every night, and hasn't had one of his "seizures" (or possible demonic attacks) since. He said after the first lesson that he was turning over the new thoughts about God in his mind all night!

In a week or so, I have to go to Manila for an immigration interview, and as I explained to the class this morning that I'd be away, Nurnito said, "Egsa (cousin), you just show us what to teach, and Tabung and I will keep teaching while you are away!" I was so encouraged!

I'm writing this from Philippino pastor's house down river. He and his wife minister to a mixture of lowland Palawanos and other lowlanders on the edge of the jungle. As I passed by one of the homesteads on the way here, I talked to a Palawano family who just lost their 17yo daughter, 7 months pregnant, to leukemia. She left behind a young husband and a 3 yo boy.We talked about why there is death and suffering, and about God, about how He loves the people He made, and wants them to be restored to Him. The mother said, "Egsa, you can come and tell us when my husband gets back from the next valley!" Pray for this hurting family!

Please go to battle on your knees for all these precious souls! Please ask God to give them a desire to listen to His Word that is stronger than the desire to make money downriver, stronger than the excitement about feasts and festivals. May the rice festival they are preparing for be the last one in this place where the spirits are thanked for the rice, instead of the true God.

May He soon receive the reward of His suffering (Isa. 53), the souls and worship of a people Christ died to save.

Please pray for Dave as he prepares and teaches the lessons to many groups. Pray for his health especially.

Please pray for the NTM UK Bible School graduates, Denis and Ella, who are proving to be a GREAT help here. They have both been battling sickness, but have done so much to help with repairs and producing literacy materials.Please pray for Pastor Job and Anna as they preach the Gospel in the lowlands.

Please pray for a solution for our communication issues, that somehow, we can get internet again in the village. We are greatly hampered without it.Please pray that an upcoming Immigration interview will go well so that my visa can be renewed. I have to go to Manila in a couple of weeks to do that.Please pray for the literacy curriculum I am preparing for teaching in the UK next March, God willing.

Again, thank you so much for standing with us. You are a vital part of the team!

Trusting Christ for a harvest of Palawano souls in His time!
Elise

end of our co-worker's email

Keep in mind, that because we have lost internet connection in our village, Elise has to hike downriver 2 hours to get to a location where she can connect by her cell phone to the internet. We hear from her about once every 2 or 3 weeks. Thank you for your continued prayers for the teaching!

Please pray for my upcoming trip next week! I am going to be traveling to 3 other new tribal areas to help the new missionaries with their language and culture studies. One of these already has a small group of believers, but the other 2 have not started the teaching yet because they are still working up to the language level! My job, in company with our consultant coming from the States, will be to coach and assess the progress of the missionaries in their tribal language studies, so that those areas also will soon be able to hear the Gospel!

Pray also for Ginny and the kids at home while I am gone!

We are thankful that God allows us to be involved with what He is doing in the Philippines!

George for all of us
George, Ginny, Isaac, Sarah, & Abby