Leo's wife

Dear Friends and Family:

 

It doesn't seem possible that 2 weeks ago we wrote about Tino dying and yet today I am writing again to tell you about the death of another village "Chief".   Yesterday, Leo (Kemua) died when a car taking him to the costal town of Wewak, rolled over and crushed him. Leo had a lot of clout in Yembiyembi, and was a strong "Catholic" influence.   

 

Of all the teaching sessions he was probably only present for 2-3 and would not participate in any of the late night talks that were going on. Leo's wife and their son Dennis, (Dennis-Kolevi and Pauline) are a part of the core 40-50 guys and gals that are truly on fire for the hearing this talk. A few days before Leo left, Pauline told Nina "I need to hear this talk to the finish so I can go and teach it to Leo in Wewak."  3 nights ago Dennis, myself, and 3 other guys were talking over the lessons of Noah and the ark, and he asked me directly "In-law, will you talk to my father and try and get him to come to the teaching, I am worried the spirit of this ground (Satan) has his thinking and he is on the path to the fire". The next morning before I had a chance to talk with Leo he left for town, and the next day he was killed.  

 

Leo's death will definitely stir up the village and once again there are 2 possible outcomes to his death. The village could go into turmoil and fear over loosing another leader (we have been here 5 years and only 4 older men have died, but 2 of them have been in these last 2 weeks) and will try and tie his death to the spirits being aggravated over the teaching.  Or, they could see it for what it truly is, that all of us as sons of Adam will all die, it is only a matter of when.

 

Already many are wondering why Leo was not coming to the teaching. Some are openly wondering if God took him because his being/thinking (heart) was like Cain's, he heard God's talk but turned his back on it. 20 minutes ago as I walked up the hill another one of my brother-in-laws said  "This talk that is coming, it is for these times. Death she lies close to our skin all the time, we never know when God will say our days are enough, only He knows. This talk is not play talk, this talk is preparing us for that day".

 

With the background of Cain and Abel, Noah and the Ark, and last night the Tower of Babel, the Yembi's do have some understanding to lean on in these days, and it has been neat to watch different ones growing in their knowledge of God. The difference between the core group and the ones that are partially understanding (about 100 or so) is significant, but nearly everyone is being impacted in some way by the teaching.

 

Prayer requests for the next few days:

1. That we would be wise in knowing how to handle Leo's passing and when to start the teaching again.
2. That those who are holding to their former teachings as the ONLY way, will stick around to hear the truth from God's Word.
3. That they will understand that Salvation is something they cannot achieve in their own strength
4. As we press into the 5^th week of teaching that their energy, food level, concentration and attendance would not wane.
5. That our team would stay healthy and finish out the next two weeks (up to the teaching of the 10 commandments) strong.
6. That we would always be trusting God for what has/is/will happen here.

 

Thanks guys. Keep praying, keep holding up your individual members in prayer (we will try in the next 5 days to send out an e-mail with a report on different individuals in the tribe) and thanks for sticking with us.

 

Your friends,

Brooks, Nina and Beau