Message from January 6, 2008

Dear Friends and Family:

Wanted to write you another quick one to let you know how things are shaping up as we close in on January 21st.

There are many encouraging talks, discussions, even teaching on various issues (maps, world history, military power of the modern world) that we have had with the Yembi's in the past 2 weeks. Much of this time is being committed to broaden their worldview, and to show them they are a very small part of a much bigger picture (more than they even can fathom right now).

Some updates on individuals (again all the pictures of the YY's are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/yembiyembi/).

Those of you praying for Max, Michael, Sophia, Andrew, Sita, Gloria, Donald and Rueben, be encouraged. These ones in the past days have really stepped up and are excited about what is coming on the 21st (all of them are also outstanding Literacy students, not a coincidence).

Keep praying for Kerobim Manu, he is very scared, nervous and concerned about the coming weeks. Kerobim is the current leader of the “Catholic” church in Yembiyembi, but is an Animist at heart. He is not tremendously respected (because of what he lives vs. what he preaches on Sunday) but he is greatly feared. He is also one of the best speakers (American or Papua New Guinean) I have ever heard. If he were to understand the gospel of grace someday, it would have a profound affect on every speaker of this language. Please put him on your list of people to pray for.

One other issue that we see coming is the issue of getting people to the teaching every day. Nearly everyone (even many from our sister villages) are excited about the coming teaching, and are more curious than anything to hear about the origins of death, pain, the first man, etc… But after that initial hype wears off we are worried that many will end up being sporadic or even drop out all together. As you pray for your people, pray that they would come to the teaching, but also that they would STAY for the ENTIRE time it is going to be taught. It is very un-Yembiyembi like to stay for something past 3 days, and for the teaching they are looking at 5 days a week for 2-3 months (with breaks, but not long ones), it is daunting to them, so be praying.

Finally I want to leave you with 2 very encouraging things that are happening/have happened. One is that we are having our 2nd literacy class graduation in less than 1 week (12th), and these guys can read very well.

2nd is a recent trip I had with one of my tribal fathers (Lawrence) to go night pig hunting. The pig hunt never paid off, but the time talking with Lawrence did. We were talking about death, what happens when we die, and what makes us different from these pigs we were hunting, does any part of us live after death. Lawrence is a sharp guy and came up with this “if the life that comes after is without finish, then this one is very short, and if this one is very short, then money, pigs, bush knives and canoes are not very important, only what straightens my path for death is important”.

Thanks guys for praying, keep it up, it has/is/will be worth it,

Brooks for Nina and Beau

P.S. We finished the first chapter of Acts yesterday, this is what verse 8 sounds like “ Put your thoughts to this, very soon God Spirit will come to enter you. When he comes, then great strength also he will give you, then you will speak carry/spread my good talk to the ground of Jerusalem, the ground of Judea, the ground of Samaria, and to all the ground where people speak languages”.