You Gotta Meet Philipo & Marta Siasi!

This energetic pastor has been making great use of the two of the tools we brought in June.  He has audio scriptures (from World Mission in Grandville, MI) in 2 languages--Iraqw and Datooga/Barabaig.

With just one of these units in the Iraqw language, Philipo has started 6 listening groups, in which they first hear a Scripture passage and then follow up with teaching or questions for further understanding and application.

That's right! Philipo travels every night to different areas to disciple these 6 groups!

As the pastor of a local Pentecostal church, he has also taken his church leaders (elders and group leaders) as well as other pastors through the Activation International Discipleship Class. And there is fruit!...

Petro Nehu (pictured here on the far right) was originally one of this church's evangelists; however, the church leadership has sent him to live among the tribespeople in a nearby Barabaig village. He has learned the language and has immersed himself there, where he is now utilizing the second audio unit as a kind of missionary tool to the usually-resistent Barabaig.

Petro's strategy is to take the audio Bible to places in the village where people gather, and there he begins to play it out loud. In no time at all, people begin to gather to listen. Oh, they do love a good story! Peter tells us that over time a few have begun to ask questions, leading some of them to convert to Christianity! Praise the Lord! God is beginning to build His church in this "unreached people group."

Though she is quiet and graceful, we came to see that Philipo's wife Marta is indeed a strong and capable partner for Philipo. She also has used the church's audio scriptures among some of the women in Dawari.

She was especially blessed with one of the gifts we brought to them in their home. In addition to a Christmas card bearing the group picture from the discipleship class, I brought in a small paper gift bag containing several pair of reading glasses. I asked whether either of them might benefit from them. The excitement in the room was vibrant!

Quite quickly, Philipo found a pair that would help him very well. Then hesitating, as if waiting for permission, Marta's eyes began to well up with tears. We welcomed her to try them, as well. After trying one pair after another, she finally set upon her specific strength: +2.75. With tears coming down her cheeks, she explained that we don't even understand what a blessing this is for her. She had gotten to the point of being almost unable to read her Bible, except in the very bright light outdoors. She and her husband had been praying earnestly for glasses; yet, out in the remote "bush," she knew that her dreams of ever receiving such a modern, urban blessing were almost impossible.

When we arrived with our seemingly-meager gift of a few pair of reading glasses from the Dollar Store, she knew that we were merely God's delivery service, meant to find her even in her home and give her God's answer to her prayer. She sat there for a few minutes, unable to speak and unable to contain the tears.

As we prayed together for their ministry, for their marriage and family, and for their church's outreach, the Holy Spirit bound our hearts together. Thus, as we were leaving, Marta asked Susan to wait just a moment, as she ran back into the house. One minute later, she emerged dressed in a different wrap, and she presented Susan with the gift of her own special, Barabaig shawl. This prayer shawl, carrying the tears of a true intercessor, is a real treasure to our team.