Sunday, October 11, 2009

Titus, trip to Iteri, and co-workers back

Dear Friends and Family: 

I blinked and all the sudden we are a week and half into October. Things have been non-stop here (probably where you are at as well) but we have continued to see the church grow, the crossers (believers) mature, the translation move ahead, so we are encouraged.

Three weeks ago our co-workers (the Sutton family) made it back into Yembiyembi and it has been great to have them. The Yembiyembi's welcomed them with the usual volley of mud, coconut milk, flowers and running the gauntlet of sweaty smiling faces wanting to get a piece of you, even our pilot did not escape, it was fabulous. They have settled back into the rhythm of life here and their 2 clans (we were all divided up at the beginning into clans) are especially glad to have them back.

Nina and Beau are doing well, working like crazy on 3rd grade, but doing well. Beau is elated to have his best friend Logan (Sutton's boy) back and catching him up on all the delicacies (various YY foods) he has been missing. Nina is plugging along at content checking 1&2 Timothy and Titus, keeping ahead of Beau in school and keeping us alive (malaria meds, parasite meds, tropical ulcer meds, etc…), without her we would be hurting.

Last week myself and my father (Robert and uncle (Zaccheus) were able to fly to the village that I grew up in (Iteri) and encourage the church there for 3 days. The Iteri's are economically much worse off than the Yembi's but spiritually much further along, so it was a neat exchange. We were able to be there for the Sunday gathering and 3 late night meetings with all the believers.  Our guys (my father and uncle) were struck with how bad things are for the Iteri's here on this earth, but how good they will be for them in eternity, it was a great lesson for them to see "the least of these" in person.

Robert said this as we were boarding the plane to leave Iteri: "I don't know if I will see any of your faces on this ground, but I call out to you (refer to you) as brothers now because of the talk of Jesus, so I know that I will see your faces when we meet at His ground (heaven) someday. We won't worry about shorts (clothes), food, we won't worry for anything, we always be full".

Because of the radical difference in culture and language between Iteri and Yembiyembi (remember that Papua New Guinea has the highest number of distinct language and culture groups of any country in the world) there were 100's of questions each day from eating styles, dress, language, understanding of the Bible, exposure to the outside world, etc… They Yembiyembi's were blown away by the clear memories some of the Iteri's have of cannibalism and pre-European days. The Yembis too were able to catch the Iteris up on national politics, errant doctrines that were making their way through the town, and the best kind of newspaper to smoke these days. Funny stuff to watch and be a part of.

Guys, I usually have waaaay too much to say but I will cut this one off and save a few recent highlights for November. However I can never say enough how thankful we are for the part each one of plays in keeping us out here, keeping us encouraged, and praying this work through the ups and downs that it has faced. We are grateful for you.

 

Thanks so much,

Brooks for Nina and Beau Buser

P.S. Charger nation, looks like it is going to be a typical year. If they happen to start looking like the Chargers of 06-07 then somebody tape the games if they can, if they lose, save your postage.