Rated R Version Update.
1) Wayne and Seth Von Borstal were a huge encouragement and did some really powerful training. Wayne is now on trip number 4 or 5 and is getting the place wired. We dealt mostly with money, tithe, family and the God like Characteristics in farmers like tenacity, hope, hard work, long view, etc… Most of it went straight up against what is being marketed to everyone here. But it was done in love and in a winsome way.
2) Coincidence, or God, had it that the mission plane that came in to pick us up brought Ham, who we are praying will have a Damascus road experience, in to Bokondini. Wayne was very intent on meeting him and praying for him, I was very nervous cause Ham isn’t a predictable fella and there were a lot of his armed guys around. So 6 foot 6, 250 lb Wayne and ex Marine Seth (equal in size) positioned themselves in front of Ham’s car and stretched out their hands in greeting to Ham who barely comes past Wayne’s belly button. All went well and he agreed to being prayed for. I apologized for my side of the wrongs last year and asked if we could have a fresh start in 2019. We shall see what happens. It was all smiles and pats on the back but then he immediately blocked off the path for the teachers while he was here. As soon as he left the people opened it back up. This might just be like learning to love and live with that neighbor who seems intent on helping you grow in Christlike character. It was a huge relief to do what was right and I am so grateful for Wayne’s courage pushing me.
3) Again, dealing with the killings was put off, this time till Feb. 10. We again flexed our schedule trying to accommodate but the Eragayam parents had a meeting and are strongly pushing that we have to start a jr/sr high school there as they don’t feel it is safe to send their kids to Bokondini. Eventually we will have 2 kids in a class in 10 villages. Tribalism is always dividing into smaller and smaller segments based on conflict, fear and the desire to make their clan the center of the universe. Tribal people are very easy to divide and conquer. So, less than 1/3 of the Eragayam kids are here for school and who know when this problem will be solved. I am reading a case study of the wars between neighboring villages in the Maluku islands that went on for 60 years with government trying to solve it. Finally it was the pastors and Sunday school kids who brought peace. Please pray for our social studies classes tomorrow as we put this to the kids to come up with a solution to this war since the adults can’t seem to sort stuff out. We have a great ”lab” program for real life issues.
4) On a positive note, we just got our ”Permission to Operate” from the provincial level with signatures from the governor and head of education. We didn’t pay corruption money and got it all in 7 months which is pretty miraculous!
5) Walker and I just rode our motorcycles the 600kms from Sentani to Bok in 2 days and 1 night. We slept in hammocks by the side of the river with 3 gazillion bugs and had a great adventure. We will post a video but we are grateful for so many opportunities for ”life together.”
6) I am not managing the 3 campuses this semester but will be teaching Bible, Social Studies and History for the jr/sr high school while being the principal and director. We are praying for reinforcements but ready to keep putting one foot in front of the other as we are very aware working here isn’t most people’s dream job.
7) Some things aren’t looking good but we have hope. We are going with James 1 for our theme chapter this semester believing that God is going to do His good work in and through us in the midst of trails and difficulty. Thank you for hoping and believing and praying with us.
Thanks for holding us up,
Scotty, Heidi, Walker and Arwen