Older Yembiyembis reading
Missionaries Tim and Courtney Shontere have been teaching Yembiyembis in Papua New Guinea to read and write in their own language for the past five months.
"These folks are in their 40s and 50s and just now learning to read for the first time," wrote Courtney.
"We had a graduation recently and the whole village showed their support and came to watch as these students received their certificates of completion."
One of the young believers who is training to be a Bible teacher said, "Today we have the great happiness to see our mama’s graduate from this school of reading. You see this? [holding the printed book of Mark] "They are able to read this now. They can study God’s Word for themselves and know what it says."
And when the "Mamas" got up to share their delight in learning to read and write many were overcome with emotion.
"I was like that blind man that Jesus gave sight to. I followed everyone blindly," said one of the women. "I had to follow blindly. But no more. I can read it for myself now and see what thinking is right and what thinking is wrong." Then, with tears in her eyes she shook the missionaries’ hands and received her certificate of completion.
Then Courtney described the testimony of the Yembiyembi woman who was Tim’s tribal Mom. She was overwhelmed with the privilege of reading God’s Word on her own.
"Hear this! I was" she said then started to cry. "I was blind but now I see." Waiting for the tears to abate she continued, "I never could read anything for myself -- and I never knew the truth of God’s Word. I was in the jail of Satan. I am so thankful that the Message of the Bridge Man came and set me free from the jail of Satan. But I realized something: if I could read, then I won’t be pulled every which way again and that’s why I can say I was blind but now I see."
"I was following Satan and you know why -- because I was blind. Well, hear this: No more! No more! That’s why I started this course so that I can know for myself what God is saying to me. Then I realized the blind were leading the blind. I was blind to reading God’s Word, but I can grow from reading His Word now!"
Pray for the six Yembiyembi believers who are now able to read God’s Word for themselves. Pray that they will continue to grow in their walk with the Lord. Pray also for the two in the literacy class who have not yet trusted Christ. Pray that the testimonies of these women will penetrate deep into their hearts and will draw them to Jesus.
"These folks are in their 40s and 50s and just now learning to read for the first time," wrote Courtney.
"We had a graduation recently and the whole village showed their support and came to watch as these students received their certificates of completion."
One of the young believers who is training to be a Bible teacher said, "Today we have the great happiness to see our mama’s graduate from this school of reading. You see this? [holding the printed book of Mark] "They are able to read this now. They can study God’s Word for themselves and know what it says."
And when the "Mamas" got up to share their delight in learning to read and write many were overcome with emotion.
"I was like that blind man that Jesus gave sight to. I followed everyone blindly," said one of the women. "I had to follow blindly. But no more. I can read it for myself now and see what thinking is right and what thinking is wrong." Then, with tears in her eyes she shook the missionaries’ hands and received her certificate of completion.
Then Courtney described the testimony of the Yembiyembi woman who was Tim’s tribal Mom. She was overwhelmed with the privilege of reading God’s Word on her own.
"Hear this! I was" she said then started to cry. "I was blind but now I see." Waiting for the tears to abate she continued, "I never could read anything for myself -- and I never knew the truth of God’s Word. I was in the jail of Satan. I am so thankful that the Message of the Bridge Man came and set me free from the jail of Satan. But I realized something: if I could read, then I won’t be pulled every which way again and that’s why I can say I was blind but now I see."
"I was following Satan and you know why -- because I was blind. Well, hear this: No more! No more! That’s why I started this course so that I can know for myself what God is saying to me. Then I realized the blind were leading the blind. I was blind to reading God’s Word, but I can grow from reading His Word now!"
Pray for the six Yembiyembi believers who are now able to read God’s Word for themselves. Pray that they will continue to grow in their walk with the Lord. Pray also for the two in the literacy class who have not yet trusted Christ. Pray that the testimonies of these women will penetrate deep into their hearts and will draw them to Jesus.