OE Update from Rachel

Oh yeah!  Finally!  An update from Rachel's group.  Thanks for praying.

Update 9

Dear OE follower:

Today’s updates include a message from Group 2 and also Mr. Berg:

OE update group 2 “A.R.M.Y.”  LEADER Rachel Erickson reports:

OE is so stretching for us.  Not to the point of breaking, but shaping us to be more of what God desires us to be.  We are having a great time together as a group to best reflect this light.  God is good – even when we are slipping in the mud, or shoveling gravel.  He is here and we can feel his presence.  Thanks for your prayers.

Helen Smith:  I had a great time interacting with the people in our small village.  They loved to laugh and I enjoyed trying to communicate with them while doing crafts.   My favorite part was listening to the ladies sing and pray for us while we were staying in our honai.

Lydia Ahn:  Pulled out teeth, painted church, dug clay to make road, hiked to small village, did kids club, hiked to small village, did kids club, hiked to church, ate bakar batu, hiked to school. 

Cameron Gordan:  some of us are sick, but overall doing good!  Looking forward to real coffee…

Alyssa Brown:  OE this year has been really fun.  I love doing kids club and seeing them have a great time and laugh.  This year God has taught me patience with the hikes, people and even myself.  I loved our small village, it was so pretty there.  Miss you all back in Sentani.

Megan Brown:  OE has been a huge growing experience, it has challenged my faith in different ways that I am grateful for.  I have enjoyed being with the people not only in Ibele but also in my small village, Sinima.  I found the 5.5 hour hike there challenging but thinking back on it now I found I enjoyed it and was a good test of my attitude.

Jalen Berg:  OE is going well!  The small village was good.  When we got there we got to stay in a church and they brought us food right away.  They were extremely generous.  The next day for lunch we got to watch them kill a pig.  Then we ate pig together.  We are learning a lot from Uncle Dan’s talks on the Ten Commandments.

Now from Mr. Berg: 

A Valentine’s OE update – We have heard from groups 5 – 8 and they have made it to their small villages with some rain while hiking.  We continue to pray for them as they minister there until tomorrow morning and then hike back.  Tomorrow afternoon we plan to have a carnival with as many people who come.  Hopefully it can be a time of fun.  Groups 1 – 4 are working hard in Ibele to get painting and oiling completed.  As well as rocks hauled for a road that right now is all mud.  Currently group 3 is down at the SMP school performing their kids club. 

Last night Todd shared that during the weekend services people came to the Lord.  A kepala desa (village head) of a surrounding area has three wives and two of them accepted Jesus.  The wives would like to be baptized.  Praise the Lord!  The Lord is moving and we get to participate in His work.  What an amazing opportunity.

Doctor Wijnanda from Wamena arrived yesterday and is running clinics for the local people with our students learning beside her.  Again what an opportunity for our students. 

Sick bay update:  last night a couple people began having some stomach issues.  We have a couple students who are taking it easy this morning.  Sore throats and coughing also continue.  But overall it seems like we are healthy and able to continue doing what God has for us to do.

Sun is shining and spirits are up and we hope that some of the mud disappears today!  Thanks for your prayers and Happy Valentine’s Day everyone.  Leaders are missing their spouses today!