Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Christmas is rapidly approaching! Living half way around the world hasn't removed us from the hustle and bustle of Christmas! This coming week we have a couple all afternoon rehearsals for the elementary school Christmas Concert that Angie will be playing for, with the performance on Friday night. Saturday is the computer department's Christmas party, and next week is the last of school before Christmas is finally HERE!!! Our family LOVES this time of year as we remember the birth of a tiny baby boy who's life was destined to change the course of history around the world! Our Christmas decorations still feel out of place without the snow to go with it in the background, but the white lights on the tree, and the Christmas music playing from our iPod helps. Just tonight, the kids broke out in "Jingle Bells" around the dinner table, and we had a riot as Titus tried to sing along as well ("Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells...HEY...jingle bells....). Chris's Bible study continues to move ahead. They have moved from the Old Testament, past the Christmas story, and are now teaching in the life of Christ, just recently on the story of Nicodemus. While some of the participants seem to be truly soaking in the truths they are hearing, we remain uncertain of where others are at. A few weeks ago there was meeting RIGHT across the street from us where a self-proclaimed "prophet" came to speak. As the day approached and preparations were made, there was a LOT of curiosity and speculation as to what this man might have to say. The day before the meeting, my work girl (who has also been attending this Bible study) asked for time off the next day so she could attend. She said she just wanted to see what it was all about. While I feared for what she might hear, I couldn't tell her "no". So I gave her the time off. That afternoon was Chris's Bible study, and when she came back from that, she was VERY passionate about what the Lord had taught her. I'm not even sure what the lesson was on that day, but she came back proclaiming that she was no longer interested in attending this meeting across the street. She said, "the time for the prophets is finished! There was a time for them and God used them greatly, but NOW we have ALL of the Bible...ALL of God's word to us. A man who calls himself a prophet from God is lying...the time for that is past". I was moved to tears to hear her profess all of this. She ended up caving to social pressure to attend the following morning though, but sat off to the side and just listened and observed. It was gratifying to hear that some others from the Chris's Bible study were also there, and along with others who know the truth of God's word they were listening closely and holding everything that was said up against scripture...not taking for granted what the man said was truth, but comparing to their source of truth to determine it accordingly! There has also been a big movement lately among the national churches to promote the "Planim Post" teaching. This is the Pigin version of the chronological teaching that we use in the tribes. It starts in Genesis and builds a foundation of WHO God is and who man is, covering promises and the characteristics of God and main themes from the Old Testament and moving into the New Testament to show how these are all fulfilled in Christ. National churches are taking it upon themselves to break out of their geographical circles and go into neighboring areas to promote this teaching. As a result, many new areas are requesting these national churches to send teachers to present the whole of the teaching to them. God is doing a mighty work, and it is most thrilling to us to see Him using now third and fourth generations of national believers to do it! Much work remains to be done though, in the isolated areas where the folks don't speak as much Pigin, or it's much harder for outsiders to get to, be they nationals or expats. There is the ever present need of MORE LABORERS for the harvest! And it's not just tribal missionaries that are needed either! While Chris and the other IT guys in the computer department scramble to continue to serve as efficiently as possible the hundreds of missionaries and departments here on the field, we have also been informed of the URGENT need for more teachers at our MK school. Particularly in the High School, teachers are needed for the upcoming 2011-2012 school year, as many teachers are going on furlough. With the end of the year looming, and the start of a new year upon us, perhaps the Lord might lay it upon your heart to consider serving for a year or two in some support ministry overseas. Teachers and computer nerds aren't the only things needed! Business administrators, accountants, maintenance, engineers, nurses...the list goes on and on. The need is great, and God uses people like you and me to fill those needs and further His Kingdom here on earth. (Go to http://www.ntm.org/go/go_results.php?country=Papua+New+Guinea to see a complete list of career needs in PNG.) We ask you to pray for Jael as she will be evaluated Dec. 20-21. Pray that she will be alert and that she will be able to recall the things she knows. We pray you have a wonderful CHRISTmas Holiday, as we remember the reason we have to be joyful...God became man, and dwelt among us. We beheld His glory...full of grace and truth! Because of Him,
Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker
Chris, Angie, Jael, Baruch and Titus Walker
