Our first Christmas in Papua New Guinea was in 1969 and we were up to our necks in culture shock. So many new things to observe and learn. One outstanding thing was that the people let the Christmas season come and go with no seasonal music playing, no gift-giving, no decorations, no big meals, etc. We were in a strange place going through new things.

Now, we are in our own culture and all the things listed above are taking place all around us.

As the old year draws to an end, we are praising God for giving us a home, good brothers and sisters around us, and of course His presence in our daily lives.

We were thrilled to hear about several Bible teachers going out to hold training courses in two locations in Papua New Guinea, with a total of 202 in attendance. We had helped to train a couple of the teachers, but they had gone on to train many others, and they keep spreading God’s Word. After the first course, 50 people remained for teacher training, to equip them to pass on what they had learned.

2Timothy 2:2 says, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Many of those who attended have believed in Christ, and are changed people with new life. Now that’s a Christmas present worth having!

We finished translating the first draft of another Bible Lesson book in plain English this year. It will still take some teamwork to get it ready for printing. Pray.

Thank you all for your prayers and love through another year.

May the God of all grace bless you and give you a great Christmas and New Year!

Much love,

Jim and Kathy Tanner

jim_tanner@ntm.org