Thank you for praying!
"He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord." Psalm 40:3 ESV
Thank you for praying all week for the Urim music & songwriting workshop! The course ended today (Friday), with some final song recording, sharing, and a graduation & dedication ceremony. On the phone tonight, Neil said that this has been the most enthusiastic course he ever led; people responded excitedly to every devotional, every Bible verse, and the song composition was prolific. As he put it, they were "completely ready" for this course, "on fire," and the "Holy Spirit was really working." All of this is so encouraging, and exactly what we all prayed for. Thank you for bringing this course before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), and Thank You, Lord!
By the time of the ceremony this afternoon, Neil had recorded 63 new songs composed this week-- Bible verse songs, personal testimony songs, and worship songs-- all in the Urim language. In answer to our prayers, there was very little rain on the recording days-- a real help!
Today, one elderly man talked about how when a Christian mission first came into his area many years ago, he felt he could no longer play the bamboo flutes, kundu or garamut (slit log drum)-- but this course has helped him realize that he can worship God with the instruments he loves. He talked about how happy he is to pick up and play the kundu again!
Neil always asks participants on the last day how they will keep up their new knowledge and abilities-- how they will keep the passion for worship alive. They discussed that in Urim for a few minutes, and then announced that they want to continue to meet each Saturday to compose new Christian songs in the Urim language! Wow.
I look forward to reading Neil's blog posts about this trip and course; I feel bad that my updates here are so "second-hand," but we are very thankful for your prayers and encouragement throughout these two weeks. Neil asks that you pray specifically for good weather. On Sunday, at about 3 p.m., he will hike out of the Urim language area. It is not a tough hike, but he's been assured that if it is rainy, the walk will be very muddy, slippery, and messy-- not pleasant. Thanks for praying for dry weather Saturday and Sunday! Neil will hike for about 2 1/2 hours to a PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) stop on the Sepik Highway.
Anytime between 7 p.m. and midnight, PMVs will drive by on their way to Wewak town . . . if one has room, it will stop and pick up Neil. A PMV may be a large truck or pick-up truck with an open back, an enclosed van, or a truck with a cover over the back. Pray for a clear night, especially if Neil is going to be exposed to the elements. The PMVs generally reach Wewak at about 6 a.m. (if they arrive sooner, they park outside town and sleep in the vehicle until everything opens), so Neil will probably arrive at our organization's center in Wewak soon after dawn on Monday morning. His flight to Ukarumpa is on Tuesday.
Many of you have told me you're praying for baby Maila. Today I saw Charlie, her father, and was able to get the whole story . . . When they left my house on Saturday, they walked to the Kainantu Haus Sik (the nearest hospital), but it was closed. So they took Maila home. She did open her eyes and talk (yes!!), but had lots of diarrhea-- and they saw a very long worm, a definite clue as to why she fainted and is weak and sick. So on Monday, they returned to the hospital and were able to get medicine for her to drink every few hours. The doctor wanted her to stay at the hospital, but the hospital has no working toilets at the moment and no clean water-- patients have to bring all of their own water with them (for drinking, washing, laundry, etc.). Charlie and Wendy decided to just care for Maila at home in the village, and they are carefully following the directions for dispensing her medicine. She is improving, and Charlie says "Thank you!" for praying for Maila!
Our boys are happy and well, and I had a good week of work, teaching MKs (missionary kids) and editing for our Branch . . . thank you for your faithful prayers on our behalf. Only a few days until Neil is home! :)
"Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Revelation 15:4 ESV
Thank you for praying all week for the Urim music & songwriting workshop! The course ended today (Friday), with some final song recording, sharing, and a graduation & dedication ceremony. On the phone tonight, Neil said that this has been the most enthusiastic course he ever led; people responded excitedly to every devotional, every Bible verse, and the song composition was prolific. As he put it, they were "completely ready" for this course, "on fire," and the "Holy Spirit was really working." All of this is so encouraging, and exactly what we all prayed for. Thank you for bringing this course before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), and Thank You, Lord!
By the time of the ceremony this afternoon, Neil had recorded 63 new songs composed this week-- Bible verse songs, personal testimony songs, and worship songs-- all in the Urim language. In answer to our prayers, there was very little rain on the recording days-- a real help!
Today, one elderly man talked about how when a Christian mission first came into his area many years ago, he felt he could no longer play the bamboo flutes, kundu or garamut (slit log drum)-- but this course has helped him realize that he can worship God with the instruments he loves. He talked about how happy he is to pick up and play the kundu again!
Neil always asks participants on the last day how they will keep up their new knowledge and abilities-- how they will keep the passion for worship alive. They discussed that in Urim for a few minutes, and then announced that they want to continue to meet each Saturday to compose new Christian songs in the Urim language! Wow.
I look forward to reading Neil's blog posts about this trip and course; I feel bad that my updates here are so "second-hand," but we are very thankful for your prayers and encouragement throughout these two weeks. Neil asks that you pray specifically for good weather. On Sunday, at about 3 p.m., he will hike out of the Urim language area. It is not a tough hike, but he's been assured that if it is rainy, the walk will be very muddy, slippery, and messy-- not pleasant. Thanks for praying for dry weather Saturday and Sunday! Neil will hike for about 2 1/2 hours to a PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) stop on the Sepik Highway.
Anytime between 7 p.m. and midnight, PMVs will drive by on their way to Wewak town . . . if one has room, it will stop and pick up Neil. A PMV may be a large truck or pick-up truck with an open back, an enclosed van, or a truck with a cover over the back. Pray for a clear night, especially if Neil is going to be exposed to the elements. The PMVs generally reach Wewak at about 6 a.m. (if they arrive sooner, they park outside town and sleep in the vehicle until everything opens), so Neil will probably arrive at our organization's center in Wewak soon after dawn on Monday morning. His flight to Ukarumpa is on Tuesday.
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Many of you have told me you're praying for baby Maila. Today I saw Charlie, her father, and was able to get the whole story . . . When they left my house on Saturday, they walked to the Kainantu Haus Sik (the nearest hospital), but it was closed. So they took Maila home. She did open her eyes and talk (yes!!), but had lots of diarrhea-- and they saw a very long worm, a definite clue as to why she fainted and is weak and sick. So on Monday, they returned to the hospital and were able to get medicine for her to drink every few hours. The doctor wanted her to stay at the hospital, but the hospital has no working toilets at the moment and no clean water-- patients have to bring all of their own water with them (for drinking, washing, laundry, etc.). Charlie and Wendy decided to just care for Maila at home in the village, and they are carefully following the directions for dispensing her medicine. She is improving, and Charlie says "Thank you!" for praying for Maila!
Our boys are happy and well, and I had a good week of work, teaching MKs (missionary kids) and editing for our Branch . . . thank you for your faithful prayers on our behalf. Only a few days until Neil is home! :)
"Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed." Revelation 15:4 ESV
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