Wanted ~ Rigo

Name: Rigo
Family: wife and 5 kids
Village: Dapilu
Stats: Rigo is a great friend of ours. He has been Chad's main translation helper from the beginning, and he has done a super job. But I talked to him a few weeks ago, and he is struggling with the job of translating because he believes one thing, but God's Word is saying another. He is a part of a religion that does NOT believe: 1) that Jesus is God, 2) that God is a trinity, 3) that there is a hell, 4) that Jesus could forgive all our sins, 5) or that God would punish unbelievers to eternity in hell (they would just cease to exist). So he sees that God's Word says one thing, but he is afraid of the leaders in his religion, and what it would mean if he started to or tried to believe something else. For him it would mean banishment and ridicule. Not to mention, he would have to admit that his belief which he has held for many years is false (even though supposedly founded on Jehovah's Word).
Pray: I talked to Rigo and shared the gospel with him as clearly as I could. Also one of our believers, Paulas, came with me, and he too shared many important things from the Scriptures with him. Pray that the Spirit would be working in his heart, and that he would believe the gospel of grace. His heart is in turmoil right now, and we need prayer that he would choose to believe in Jesus' finished work on the cross.

Wanted ~ Yaka Siwia

Name: Yaka Siwia (means "food shavings")
Family: He has two wives, and I believe10 children, and numerous grandchildren.
Village: Dengenu

Stats: Yaka Siwia is just an older man in the village. He is not anyone of great importance, but he makes sure we know which words we say in the language here are indeed from long ago, and which words are new. He had a hard time getting over the fact that the language is "mixed" now-a-days with other dialects and languages... and it is no longer pure. (Sounds like some older folks in my culture:) So at first he was hesitant to come to the teaching because of that. But lately he has been coming everyday and no longer mentions the individual words... mostly because he is into the story, and he is hearing it for the first time in his heart language instead of another language which has been the case his whole life.

Pray: That Yaka Siwia's heart would be drawn to the Word of God. That he would see the power of God through His written Word, and that he would see that the meaning of the words, which convey to us the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, is more important than the medium of the individual words themselves.

This Weeks Teaching:
December 11th: Brazen Serpent
December 12th: Israel Failed but God never left them
December 13th: Israel wants a King
December 14th: Jonah
December 15th: Prophecy of the Deliverer

Wanted ~ Bafi

Name: Bafi
Family: 6 children
Village: Dengenu
Stats: Bafi is a leader in the Lutheran church. His responsibilities include the reading of the Scriptures (in Melanesian Pidgin and another "non-heart" language), liturgical readings, leading in songs, burials, etc. Bafi feels very responsible for the lack of spiritual knowledge that the people have here. He has said numerous times since he started coming to the teaching that he has never heard the Word taught this way, and that he has been doing it wrong for all these years. He is sorry for his "grabbing things out of context" and teaching them falsely to the people. He has been at the teaching every day since the beginning, and he has a hunger to hear the truth. He too is beginning to see his own sinfulness.

Pray: That God would continue to enlighten his soul and his mind to his lost condition. That he would come to believe that even though he has been "in the church" his whole life, he doesn't know the true Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray that the Spirit would convict him of the necessity of believing the gospel, and not just following a religion to gain eternal life.

This Weeks Teaching:
December 4th: Ten Commandments Part 1
December 5th: Ten Commandments Part 2
December 6th: Tabernacle and Sacrifices Explained
December 7th: The Golden Calf
December 8th: Israel did not go into Canaan

WANTED ~ Morisin

WANTED
By the Savior

Name: Morisin
Family: 5 children and one grandchild (and one due in January)
Village: He lives near us on the airstrip.
Stats: Morisin is one of our land owners, and has taken it upon himself to help us with all the physical aspects of living here (cutting grass, firewood, trail maintenance, and any other project around the house). Before a year ago, we hardly ever saw him. He would only come around from time to time... but as we started getting nearer to the teaching, I believe the Lord caused him to take interest in what we were doing. He started to really ask why we were here and then he would think about it instead of coming to his own conclusions. And then he wanted to help in the physical ways so that we could continue translating in the office, and we were more than happy to oblige. Originally, we never thought we would see him at the teaching, but he has been faithfully coming every day, and he is the man that stood up in the center after the story of Sodom and Gomorrah and admitted that he was a sinner and on the road to judgment.
Pray: Please keep praying that God will draw Morisin to himself. That the Holy Spirit would continue to convict his heart of his sin, of the impending judgment, and of the righteousness that can only be found in Christ as He completely frees us from sin, death, and the power of Satan.

This Weeks Teaching:

(Scripture: Exodus4:27-31, 5:1-2, 6:1-8, 7:4-5, 20-21, 8:5-6, 16-17, 24, 9:3, 6-7, 10, 23-26, 10:13-15, 21-23, 28-29, 11:1, 4-7, 12:1-7, 12-14, 22-23, 28-33, 46, 51, 13:21-22, 14:1-31, 16:1-3, 11-16, 35, 17:1-6, 19:1-25 )

November 27th: God displays His power through the 9 plagues of Egypt
November28th: The Passover Lamb
November 29th: God delivers Israel through the Red Sea
November 30th: God provides food and water in the desert for Israel
December 1st: God demonstrates His Holiness at Mt. Sinai

Jason and Kellie Knapp

WANTED: Pot

Name: Pot (pronounced Pote with a long 'o')
Village: Masanu
Family: He is a relation to Tingon.
Stats: Tingon met with Pot awhile ago and was talking to him about all the Christ has done for him. How, although he was one of the worst sinners in the village (in the eyes of others), his sins are completely washed away and he doesn't have to try to be a good person anymore because his sins being washed away has nothing to do with what he does, but with what Jesus did for him. Pot said that he has been searching for many years to hear a message like that, and he wants to know the whole story. He said he could tell that Tingon had changed and he too wanted to know why. So Tingon said he needed to come to the teaching to hear from the beginning, what God has done for him. So every day, Pot leaves his village of Masanu at 6:30 and arrives in Dengenu at 7:00 am, (an hour before teaching) and waits to hear this good news. He has faithfully been there every day.
Pray: That Pot would continue to come every day, and that he would see his sinfulness (which I think he is beginning to understand) and that he would trust in Jesus as his deliverer from sin, death, and Satan's grasp.

Wanted: Helix

Name: Helix
Village: Dengenu
Family: wife and 4 children (some very rowdy boys)
Position: village policeman. He takes care of domestic violence and disputes, and often leads in village courts and meetings.
Pray: Helix is a great guy, but he is quite proud and thinks he knows it all. He uses his position for leverage in the community, and he often quotes the Bible in the pidgin language as "authority" for his decisions, but the verses are often taken out of context and he doesn't understand the true meaning of the gospel. He and I have an interesting relationship, to say the least, since he was in our first literacy class. He really wants to read and understand God's word in his own language. (probably for ulterior motives, but hey, that is ok). Pray that God would grab his heart through the truth of the word in his own language. And that as he sees the unmerited grace and love of God that it would overwhelm his heart, and that he would believe the truth.

Wanted: Sondik

WANTED
By the Savior

• NAME: Sondik
• FAMILY: Wife and one small child. For those of you who keep up, he is married to Tingon's daughter.
• VILLAGE: Dapilu
• FACTS: I first met Sondik when I went down to the big river once to spend the night and go fishing. We had a great time. He was nominated to be in our first literacy class and came faithfully every day. He is one of the best readers of the group and has great aptitude to teach. He will be in the teacher's training class starting on Monday the 15th, and I am going to use him not only to teach in his village of Dapilu, but to help with the oversight of it. He will also be helping me with the checking of the first 6 Bible lessons with our church planting consultant when he comes in at the end of the month.
• PRAY: I talked to Sondik once on the trail and asked him which church he went to and why. He said he went to the JW church, but didn't really know why. "Is one better than the other? I don't know which is the truth," he said. Please pray for Sondik and his young family that they will come to the teaching and come to a saving knowledge of the Lord. Pray that he will hear the truth and understand it. Pray also tat he will be a good and faithful literacy teacher in the upcoming weeks.

Thank you for your prayers, they do make a difference.
His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi

Wanted: Maiyon

WANTED
By the Savior

• NAME: Maiyon
• VILLAGE: Dengenu
• AGE: around 50 probably
• STATS: Maiyon is a single man; they call him “young boy”. He was never married. His house is located in the “center” of the village. He has been sick alot lately; with the flu, colds, coughs, etc. He comes to visit me about once a week in order to get something (he never comes without a purpose)... so our relationship is still in the “starting” stages... even though we have been there for over 2 years.
• PRAY: That Maiyon will regain his health so that he can continue to go to his gardens.
• That the Lord would keep him healthy until the teaching of His word; and that God would work in his heart to draw him to Himself.
• That Maiyon would desire to have a relationship with me not based off of what he can get, but just that he would try to get to know me.

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp

Wanted: Singo

WANTED
By the Saviour

• Name: Singo
• Village: Lives at the end of the airstrip. Not in the village.
• Age: Early 60's
• Family: First wife died years ago; he had two sons that I know of from this marriage. Now he has a second wife and 6 children: Rano, Teo, Oten, Olden, Gengila, and Flola.
• Stats: Singo is one of my favorite language helpers. I look at him like a father; and he calls me his son. This man is heavily into the Jehovah's Witness church. He owns the ground that the airstrip is on, and possibly the ground that my house is on (that one is in an ongoing dispute). He remembers World War 2 planes flying over when he was a small child and loves to talk about the Americans and our way of life. He is an influential man among the Jehovah's Witness group; and also among the main village of Dengenu.
• Pray: The Salvation of him and his family: because he is involved in the JW cult; he believes he knows much of the Word of God; but he still does not understand who Christ is and the grace he can receive from Him.
• Since he is a leader among the JW group; when we do teach the Word of God; that he and others will come to hear the Truth.
• Also pray that he will continue to be open to sharing his culture, beliefs, and language with me.

PRAYER WARRIORS NEEDED!!!
YOUR REWARD:
The Joy of the Lord, and a part in the salvation of precious souls.

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp

Wanted: Committee (Update)

WANTED
BY THE SAVIOR TO GIVE GLORY
TO THE KING OF KINGS!

Meka's, Committee's wife, casket
(Committee was the first WANTED e-mail we sent; for you who keep track)

"Bang", "Bang," "Bang"...I can hear them pounding the boards together for her casket now. Just 4 days earlier Jason was in their house chatting and laughing with her and her husband, a day later the Dr. said she was really sick and we went to visit her. The Dr. had put her on a drip but when there was no improvement decided to save the medicine for someone that it could help. The next day, she slipped into a coma. Yesterday morning, she died. All day yesterday people came from other villages to see her and to grieve with the family. (just a week ago her daughter had given birth to a gorgeous baby girl) That is all we can do, grieve. There is little comfort when she isn't with Christ. God in His infinite wisdom knew she would die and He knows about the others that will die before we can teach them about the awesome hope of eternal life. For us, in our humanness, it is hard to see. I need to go now and join the procession to the burial plot.

Keep praying that God would continue to prepare the heart's of the Tobo people,
His Clay Pots, Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, & Malachi

Wanted: Tingong

WANTED
By the Savior to give glory
to the King of Kings!

• NAME: Tingong or Timson Mama = (Timson's father)
• VILLAGE: Dengenu (a half hour walk from our house)
• AGE: Late 40's
• FAMILY: Tingong has two wives: he has 4 or 5 children by the first wife; most of them are grown and some are married. He now has two children by the second wife (who is much younger). The first born's name is Timson and they just had a new baby, only 4 days after Malachi was born, whose name is Ronald. Tingong lives in the same house as his second wife; but still provides food and "looks out for" his first wife.
• STATS: Tingong is an interesting man, and one of my good friends. He is a regular language helper for me, as well as one of the main men I go to for 'inside' cultural information. He is fairly educated; has been to town; and knows a little bit of English. Tingong was originally a part of the main denomination here in our area; then he switched to the Jehovah's Witnesses. But when he married his second wife (sounds like some "magic" was used on the part of the lady to get him to marry her); they kicked him out of their assembly (his brother is at odds with him over this issue). So now he isn't too comfortable in either "church"; and so has moved his house outside of the village; and will often spend weeks in his garden (an hours walk away), living in his "garden house". Interesting enough, he has a good relationship with both father-in-laws!
• PRAY: I tell you all of this because this man has an interesting perspective on his own culture; and thankfully, I am able to learn a lot from him. As we draw nearer to the time when we will teach literacy, and prepare lessons for Bible teaching, he is going to be one of my main helpers.
• Pray for openness on his part, in sharing his culture and language with me.
• Pray for his salvation, that the grace of God will draw him to Jesus: the one who accepts us no matter what we have done.
• Pray for the health of his new child

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, & Malachi Knapp

Wanted: Nikos

WANTED
BY THE SAVIOR TO GIVE GLORY
TO THE KING OF KINGS!

NAME: Nikos
VILLAGE: Lengbati
AGE: Around 30. He is probably the youngest man who is a leader in the village; and yet he is highly respected.
FAMILY: Wife: Daisa (remember Kellie's letter about her language helper that recently had a baby?... this is her husband). 4sons and one daughter: the oldest son's name isJebin... I remember that because they call each other not by their names, but by the names of their first born kids. Thus Nikos is really Jebin mama... which means Jebin's father. (incidentally, I am Micah mama)
STATS: Nikos is a "songang" which is a leader/"preacher" of the entrenched church in our area. He has a Bible in a language which he does not clearly understand. So you can imagine what kind of doctrine can be "preached" without accurately dividing the Word of Truth. The Word of God is powerful, but if you don't understand it in it's context; you will be prone to error and false interpretation. This is the case with the Tobo.
Some other responsibilities he has: He is the preschool coordinator (I think we explained the preschool in a previous letter); he is a village spokesman, sits in on all the court cases, and village meetings. Again, he is highly respected for his age, which I find fascinating. He is also one of the only men in the village that actually raises sheep.
PRAY:
Nikos is one of my language helpers, and I would like to keep a good relationship going with him... pray that God would allow our relationship to continue to cultivate in spite of the fact that we are both busy men.
Pray that God would be working in his heart... that he would desire to know the TRUTH of the Scriptures.
Pray that we will be able to pick up where we left off with langauge and culture study when we get back.

His Clay Pots,
Jason for the Knapps