Christmas, a time of worship for Siawis
Christmas may look different among the Siawi believers in Papua New Guinea but the meaning is the same.
There are no Christmas carols to be heard or decorated trees or bright twinkling lights. There is no holiday baking or last minute sales, nothing that - in the American culture - signals Christmas is near. Not a single Santa Claus, or any of his elves and poor Rudolf is unknown out here.
Instead you can hear people praying, thanking God for his gift of salvation.
"I see brothers and sisters in Christ loving one another. I see husbands showing love to their wives in ways never manifested before," wrote missionary Linda Krieg.
"God’s present, those many years ago in Bethlehem, was a gift of love. ’For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.’ For the first time [in 22 years here], I’m seeing an understanding of that love shining through Siawi lives."
A series of ten epistles translated into Siawi arrived on a plane flight recently. So that the people would realize their value, the booklets were to be sold for 1 kina each (about 38 cents US).
Money is scarce among the Siawis and many did not have 1 kina for a booklet. Men have been cutting grass and doing other jobs to buy two Scripture booklets, not one just for themselves, but also one for their wives. Others, who have finances, have bought Scriptures for those who cannot afford them.
"Not only are they buying the books," Linda wrote. "They are reading them, discussing them and asking questions. God’s Word is making an impact on lives."
For Christmas day there are plans for a Christmas potluck. Not a big feast, but something simple as the believers want to keep this a time of thinking of God’s gift to mankind, and for thanking him. There will be no exchange of gifts, probably no Christmas carols or songs; but there will be hearts filled with gratitude to God for loving us enough to make a way for our sin debt to be paid. And that is what Christmas is all about.
Pray for Linda as she continues to translate the Scriptures into the Siawi language. Praise God with us for the way God is changing hearts and minds of the Siawi believers. Pray that they will continue to grow in their knowledge of Him.
There are no Christmas carols to be heard or decorated trees or bright twinkling lights. There is no holiday baking or last minute sales, nothing that - in the American culture - signals Christmas is near. Not a single Santa Claus, or any of his elves and poor Rudolf is unknown out here.
Instead you can hear people praying, thanking God for his gift of salvation.
"I see brothers and sisters in Christ loving one another. I see husbands showing love to their wives in ways never manifested before," wrote missionary Linda Krieg.
"God’s present, those many years ago in Bethlehem, was a gift of love. ’For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.’ For the first time [in 22 years here], I’m seeing an understanding of that love shining through Siawi lives."
A series of ten epistles translated into Siawi arrived on a plane flight recently. So that the people would realize their value, the booklets were to be sold for 1 kina each (about 38 cents US).
Money is scarce among the Siawis and many did not have 1 kina for a booklet. Men have been cutting grass and doing other jobs to buy two Scripture booklets, not one just for themselves, but also one for their wives. Others, who have finances, have bought Scriptures for those who cannot afford them.
"Not only are they buying the books," Linda wrote. "They are reading them, discussing them and asking questions. God’s Word is making an impact on lives."
For Christmas day there are plans for a Christmas potluck. Not a big feast, but something simple as the believers want to keep this a time of thinking of God’s gift to mankind, and for thanking him. There will be no exchange of gifts, probably no Christmas carols or songs; but there will be hearts filled with gratitude to God for loving us enough to make a way for our sin debt to be paid. And that is what Christmas is all about.
Pray for Linda as she continues to translate the Scriptures into the Siawi language. Praise God with us for the way God is changing hearts and minds of the Siawi believers. Pray that they will continue to grow in their knowledge of Him.