Report from Nakui

Greetings from Nakui village!  If you are reading this, that means the HF airwaves have successfully carried this posting to you.  After email problems for our first five days and now horrible atmospherics, we are again reminded this is not a given!  Yes, after a week of moving out of Lapilo and another crazy couple of days in Wewak getting organized, we arrived in Nakui last Friday.  We were soon reminded that life in Nakui is no less crazy!  Although the challenge of getting our house livable and all systems up and running was a major effort, we seem to have won the battle at least for the time being.  Besides getting unpacked and organized, we have built a new front door, fixed a leaky roof, fought off lots of termites and plumbed in a new water pipe to the Greenlaws house.  Having Josh in here has been a big help.  I'll have no problem keeping him busy for four more days until he leaves.  The Nakui village these days is consumed with politics and money making schemes and is now an important destination for outsiders with motivations of all sorts.  Our first night one particular group deemed untrustworthy was "escorted" out of the village after dark.  The Nakui church is going through a bit of a rough time.  Yes, they are meeting and opening up God's Word together, but a number of unresolved conflicts are hindering them.  One in particular involving Tuti and his wife Abelo has caused Tuti to withdraw from the church body altogether.  Diana and I both spent time trying to encourage them yesterday, and will continue to try and help see this situation resolved.  The good news is there are a number of people wanting to be baptized, and we are making plans to hold a baptism class and then baptize these ones within the next couple of weeks.  That will be a lot of fun.  Whenever possible, I am also trying to steal away time in my office to work on translation.  I would really like to have Galatians ready for Greg to teach from later this year.  Health-wise we are all doing pretty well ... Bri is nursing a nasty sore on her foot but otherwise we’re surviving fine.  All for now … thank for your prayers.