Well another month has gone by in Yembiyembi and things are going well. There have been all sorts of things happening around here and we have seen some incredible growth in the believers so it has felt like a very productive month overall.
Last Friday myself and two brother-in-laws (Job and Pita) and my father-in-law (Edward) returned from having the books of Romans and Ephesians checked by a translation consultant (another missionary who is trained to check the accuracy and clarity of our translations). We were given the green light to print the books so that is a huge hurdle out of the way. Galatians is just about there and we are pressing hard into 1&2 Timothy now. The neat part about having these books done is the volume of information that it opens up to the Yembi's. We recently started a Bible memorization program with them and it has caught on strong. As you walk along at night you will hear house to house the weeks verse being gone over and over. Remember that most of the believers have only learned to read and write (in Bises) within the last year and a half, and dealing with the written word is a real treat for them. My father Robert was talking about this 2 Sunday's ago and he said "Now that this talk (the Bible) is starting to be turned (translated) into our language it is like drinking clean water instead of dirty, I can taste the sweet in it because it is my language, I can see the root of it so clear (the true meaning)".
Ladies and Men's meetings continue to go well, along with the believers teaching a new class on Adam to Christ, and along with the Literacy class and now a new children's Sunday School program. It is too much work for one couple, but Nina and I are not doing most of the work, it is in the believers hands now and they are leading and teaching nearly every aspect of all these programs.
Nina's favorite time of the week continues to be the ladies meeting that happens each Friday afternoon watching them grow and apply the lessons they are learning so well. Parenting, Husband/wife relationships, End times, how to deal with people that are angry, all these topics are being touched on in these ladies meetings and most are doing their best to implement what they learn.
One of the combined meetings (on Saturday nights occasionally the women will be invited to join the men at their meeting) the group was talking about the impact the teaching was having on their family lives and the stories that their children were growing up with now as opposed to before. Nina's father Edward stood up and said this "My children are growing up in this talk so well, but I have a worry. If I die how will I know that my children will continue to get this talk fed to them, who will do it? Tonight I want some to stand up and talk promise that they will teach my kids if Got decides to close his fingers on my time (call him home)". So the rest of the night the believers went around making agreements to each other on who would teach who's kids if their lives were suddenly ended.
Unfortunately we have had a spat of deaths in the village lately and there are others who are very sick and nearing the end of their days. While I was out for the translation check one of my sets of parents (Lawrence and Gloria (both believers) lost their 4 day old baby boy. This was a big blow to them and very hard for Nina as her and Gloria are very close. But the reaction to the death of this child was unlike any that we have ever seen in the village. As they buried the boy Lawrence got up and said this "God Papa you hold all of us in your fingers, and you decided that the time of this boy of mine was only 4 days. Death will take us all someday Papa, it is the promise all the way back to the time of Adam, that is just the way it sits (is). But Papa you know me, you call me child, so I will not let the liver of my stomach turn black (be bitter) over this. You marked my boys days and you have marked mine, but you have put me in the heart of your stomach (love me) and I know there is thinking on this (a reason), you always have thinking for your children (a reason why things happen to believers)". The incredible thing was that a father never speaks at a child's funeral and if he does it is with rage and suspicion over who or what caused the death, so it was shocking to all there to hear what he said. Keep praying for Lawrence and Gloria though, these are tough days for them.
Nina and Beau are into 3rd grade so that has them both stretching more and more. Recently we were able to fly in 2 more big cats and two kittens so to Nina's relief we have been rat free ever since. It is less fun for Beau (not being able to check the glue traps for "catches" every morning) but having Mama happy is far more beneficial for the family entire family. Beau has developed a taste for uwokak (a pod with red and yellow seeds that is made into soup) mixed with grub worms. About every other morning before school he goes over to his Papa (my brother who lives 50 feet away from us) Roger's house and is treated to the lovely breakfast. Nina about vomited when she found out what was going on, but it cut down on our cereal and milk bill so there was an upside.
Unlike most letters there is a hoard of other stuff going on (the believers taking active steps to look after each other in very new ways, teaching being asked for in 3 villages (1 within our language, 2 outside) because the believers are teaching while they are there, Sunday School Bible quizzes put on by the believers with over 80 kids showing up, etc…) but I run the risk of getting long winded so we will wrap this one up. Next letter.
Thanks guys for standing with us and for all you do on our behalf, I know I have said it before but please do know that we could not be out here without everyone of you. Thanks for your support of us and all that is happening in Yembiyembi.
Your friends,
Brooks Nina and Beau
P.S. Chargers anyone for the Superbowl this year??? Sounds like it's the year…..
