We
were at the Perth Zoo with Jubab a couple of weeks ago and saw these two giant
tortoises. There was an interesting fact we learnt about these guys:
“The
tortoise likely would not beat the hare, but when strongly motivated these
big fellows can hike right along. They have been known to travel 3 or 4
miles in a day on rugged terrain.” The two of us
are sort of like these old tortoises, we’ve been on the road for a long time,
wouldn’t likely beat the hare, but we can hike right along when strongly
motivated and the Lord has put a huge motivation in our hearts.
Please
pray for us as we fly back to Mindanao on Saturday (Oct 19) evening, that our
hearts will stay captivated with our Lord Jesus and focused on Him right to the
very finish line! He has given us a job and we are so grateful for the part He
has given us in his great work – that of planting churches in Mindanao and spreading
the Gospel – and we want to hike right along doing as much as we can before He
calls us home.
Deb’s
shoulder is doing much better since her surgery, Paul’s leg is getting stronger
with the physio and we have had a beautiful time of spiritual refreshment here
in Perth and very special family times. Our hearts are being wrenched at the
goodbyes and separation we will endure again, especially leaving Jubab here in
Perth, but we are grateful beyond words that we can serve our Lord Jesus in
Mindanao.
We
are so excited that our Talaandig New Testament is finished and the time is
fast approaching when we will distribute it (hopefully coming off the printing
press the end of November). So much effort and years of work are finally being
paid off and such joy for all our Talaandig and Higaonon brothers and sisters that they will
soon be able to read the word of God in their own tongue! We know without doubt
that it will grow their faith even more and that many others will be saved!
Our
new focus on our return is going to be developing new Evangelical materials.
This includes producing these materials in both Talaandig, Higaonon and English, putting
them up on the web and having downloadable study notes for people who want to
use them. We would love prayer for this, that God will give us great wisdom. We
believe that these materials will not just be greatly used by the Talaandig and Higaonon speakers but
we feel that they will be used also greatly by English speaking folk.
Please
pray also for 2 church conferences that will be held in the next months – one in
Ricodo one in Lapoc – We will be at both. Another big prayer point is a new work just opened
up in the region of Baungon. It started with a few families asking to be
taught and within a couple of weeks, more and more people were being added to
their number. We are asking God if this is the next area that He would like us
to put full-time workers of the Gospel into.
May
our GREAT God who is the source of all our hope and life, bless you amazingly!
