Dear family and friends,
“Cemeteries interrupt the finest families. Retirement finds the best employees. Age withers the strongest bodies. With life comes change. But with change comes the reassuring appreciation of heaven’s permanence. “ Max Lucado It’s Not About Me (2004)
Recently 3 dear saints have left us and gone on to be with Jesus. In just 11 days we have celebrated the lives of Dean, Dee, and Gideon, with their families and our mission family here at NTM Homes. They served the Lord with New Tribes Mission a combined total of 129 years (as near as I can figure). Hearing their stories brought encouragement to all who were in attendance. One verse that was shared – “Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. “ (I Corinthians 15:58) Another verse – “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus . . .” (Romans 3:24) All glory to God for lives lived in the light of eternity!
Even though this is a retirement community, there are many who continue to serve the Lord in various ministries. Jack and Edna are proof reading Bible translations from Mexico and Papua New Guinea in preparation for the printing of the New Testament. They do not know the language that they are checking. They have a long list of things they look for. Is there the right number of verses in each chapter? Are the footnotes on the same page as the notation? Is there a quotation mark at the beginning and the end of each quotation? I think you get the idea. It is quite a challenge for a 78 year old and an 85 year old, but they have volunteered to put in long hours looking over the pages of scripture as part of the process to get the Word of God into the hands of believers. Two other retirees are working on Bible lessons. These lessons will be checked by teachers and elders in the Siawi and Hamtai tribal churches. Once they are printed, they will be distributed to godly men who will then use the notes to share with their congregations. These retired missionaries are 73 and 84 years old. They have a heart for people and are devoted to those that they lived among for so many years of their lives.
As you know, last year New Tribes Mission (NTM) changed its name to Ethnos 360. Our leaders here at NTM Homes have asked us for suggestions as to a NEW NAME for our retirement community. Our administrator suggested that we think about our character and consider a quality that defines us as a group. So far, I have not been able to come up with anything. Do you have any suggestions? Just let me know if you think of something that would be a good way to identify who we are.
Nahuatl Update – (NaWatt) in Mexico
The missionaries to this people group were away for a couple months. They were not sure what they would find upon their return. Would the new believers hold fast to the truths that they had been taught, or would they fall away? I will quote from a recent letter from one on the missionary team. “We were excited to find out that the believers have been continuing to meet twice a week for prayer and reading Scripture. “We didn’t sing, because we couldn’t remember the music, but we read the words to the songs,” one lady told them.” The team will continue to teach the new believers, so they will be well grounded in the Word.
Praise:
Dean, Dee and Gideon are with the Lord. Their lives have been a blessing to many.
God is faithful! He continues to meet our every need.
We have been given everything we need for life and godliness.
The Nahuatl believers met for fellowship, prayer and scripture reading while the missionaries were away.
Prayer:
The four retired folks as they work on getting the Bible and lesson notes to our brothers and sisters in remote locations around the globe.
The Nahuatl believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.
Brad and I will be faithful with the tasks the Lord gives us each day here at NTM Homes.
By His Grace,
Wanda (and Brad) Hull