GOOD NEWS! I got a phone call from Stephen last night; they had an awesome day for their aerial survey yesterday.  On their way to the X-ray area it wasn't looking too good.  The whole area was under a thick layer of clouds.   However when they got to the X-ray valley area it was like the clouds had been rolled right back off of the whole X-ray valley basin. AND the rest of the area around it was still under cloud coverage. God is so good! So they were able to pinpoint about ten different areas that looked like possible airstrip sights, and they saw quite a few more huts than what they thought was there (that means more people that have never heard the Gospel!!!).

Stephen said the whole day was so neat and exciting, and you could really see God working and paving the way. Thanks for praying!

Tomorrow they touch down with the helicopter and actually measure out the sights; I'm not sure if the helicopter will touch down in several different areas or just touch down once and the guys will hike around. Today they were suppose to do more aerial surveys but the Lord worked it out for them to get it all done in one day, so today they are in a village about ten minutes away by plane making prep. for tomorrow.

Tomorrow is a big day! Pray for open hearts from the villagers that are probably wondering what on earth the loud mechanical bird was that was flying overhead all day yesterday. Pray specifically that the helicopter won't have any technical problems and wisdom for the pilot as he lands and takes off in complicated landing "pads".

Once again, happy fourth of July and keep praying!

Hi, everyone,

Just thought I'd let you know that we've had radio contact two nights in a row now with Stephen, Dad, Tim, Anderson and the pilot, Nate Gordon. It is so wonderful to be able to hear their voices and know that everything is fine.

On Wednesday, the helicopter was able to land (I think in some garden), and a number of Maniwo people came out to see them. Later kids and women came out too, so the people seem to be friendly and not fearful of foreign faces! They surveyed two possible airstrip sights, but the sights weren't adequate for an airstrip. Yesterday they helicoptered into another location (still same people group), and last night when we talked to Tim on the radio he said that they did find a suitable airstrip sight, although the location wasn't ideal (although it must be ideal in God's view as that's what He provided). I don't have many details, as we couldn't talk long; their trail radio has a limited battery source.

So two main praises the people seemed to receive them well and the is an location that could be made into an airstrip! THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!!!!

Now they'll be building relationships with the people, clearing a heli pad, and clearing a sight for temporary dwellings for us over the next couple of weeks. Looking at Stephen's itinerary, it looks like they are ahead of schedule, so that's pretty neat.

Thanks for praying and standing behind us like you do! Have a great weekend!

HELLO again!

I hope our updates aren't over-kill, but it's all so neat how God is working, that I want to keep telling you about it.

It's been so wonderful having radio contact with the guys in Maniwo (X-ray); every night we've been able to talk to them to find out how their day went. Apparently, today Stephen, Tim, Dad and Anderson hiked around the area where the future airstrip sight is, mainly looking for a place to build our houses and where there is a good water source. Stephen seemed pretty excited about the area they found. This morning our helicopter pilot, Brian Smith flew in some local wood cutters so they could start cutting wood for our houses. The wood cutters are using all our equipment and gasoline, flown in and fed by us, and yet they're charging a pretty high price for each slab of wood they cut, so we're hoping that they will be more reasonable and willing to work something out.

The Maniwo people seem friendly, and are willing to let us build homes with them. It's just amazing to me that they actually trust us! Why did I doubt? They've also been helpful in clearing the airstrip sight and clearing trails. So neat!

We are doing fine back here at the home front. This morning was "interesting" as the local market was burned by some locals who were out for revenge. They had been threatening for a few days, but I never dreamed they'd follow through. Well, they sure did, and we could see the billows of smoke quite clearly from our place. We weren't really sure what to expect after the burning, but thankfully, things just died down, and there hasn't been any sign of unrest besides the burning. Pray that things stay calm. It won't take much more to happen and the guys will have to come out of X-ray because of contingency. Sure a reminder that there is a spiritual battle going on. So many things could bring this survey and set-up to a grinding halt. Keep praying!

Well, that's all for tonight. Have a great Sunday!

Hi, EVERYONE,

HOW'S YOUR WEEK GOING? Wow, it's the middle of July already! Where does time go?

Talked to Steve, Dad and Tim on the radio last night, and things are still moving along so well. The Maniwo people showed them three spots of land that we could build on, and we gave them machetes, axes, pots, and some clothing in exchange! The Maniwo were thrilled with the exchange. Money doesn't do them a lot of good there with no stores around. After the exchange, the family group that gave us the land sent their kin all up to the sight to help clear the land with their new prized possessions - the machetes and axes. Our guys said that the main thing to praise the Lord for today is just the way the people have welcomed us and wanted to have a part in getting us moved in quickly. The other thing that is really neat is that they were able to find sights to live on that were relatively close to a good water source.

Back here at the home front things are pretty calm, in spite of the burning of the big local market close by. The sellers have all started selling their veggies along the side of the main road that goes through town, so it does get tricky driving through that part of town!

Here's a little clip from Kathy's (my sister-in-law) email she sent out a couple days ago, and she mentioned a couple of things I forgot to let you know about that really showed God working in the whole survey into X-ray.

"As Brain was bringing the helicopter in to land so the guys could measure this strip they had a hard time finding a place to land. The land was covered with 2-3ft of brush and the angles in the mountains made it seem impossible. Then they saw it. A burnt area, just big enough to land the heli with the ground clearly visible for Brain to see. Why a burnt area? There were no gardens in the area. The only thing we can figure is that lightening stuck there just a few days before. God was making a way!!!!  Also as the guys measured the sight, they found that it was 1100 meters.  Later they were talking with an MAF pilot who had been over that area before and his jaw dropped at the news. He couldn't believe there was actually a spot like that there.  This airstrip is also almost in the middle of the X - in the very middle of the valleys there. So if the people in the valleys don't get along, we wont appear to be choosing sides at the very beginning. Also it may be the best area to start our teaching if its a central location for the people.  Yes, the Lord had gone ahead and opened the way. Isn't He an awesome God???? Thank-you for all your prayers. These are just some of the answers to prayer. The Lord has also been protecting all involved and giving clear direction in each step."

Thanks for cheering us on like you do, and continuing on in prayer!

Hello!

Stephen comes home in five more days! The last two weeks have gone smoothly here at home for us, and God has really moved things along for the guys in Maniwo so we're feeling like there is so much to be thankful for. (Is it confusing that I always switch between Maniwo and X-ray? Let me explain why both terms are right. ) From what I understand, before any foreigner went in there, the location was given the name Point X-ray because from the air the two mountain ridges were in the shape of an "X". Well, when the guys went in there last year, they met with the Maniwo people there, and so now we're calling them by the people group's name, "Maniwo".)

Things continue to move along in the Maniwo. Our guys are still so impressed with how friendly and welcoming the Maniwo have been. Stephen said it was pretty exciting when one of the fellas showed him an old scar on his foot and arm, and reminded Stephen that it was from the bad infection he had last year when Stephen and Mike Moxness were in there. The guys had just cleaned the sores and given him a course of antibiotics. The guy told Stephen that he would have died if they hadn't come in and helped him out. You never know how God is preparing their hearts to hear the Gospel, and maybe this is one way God is opening their hearts to us and preparing them.

The wood cutter they have in there right now is indispensable because he knows a dialect of the Maniwo, and so is acting like a translator as well as cutting wood for our houses. Unfortunately, it's slow going and the guys are feeling like it would be helpful to have another man go in to help cut wood. Pray that God directs us to the right man for that. The guys have the temporary house framed and have the tin roof put on already. Now they're just waiting on wood to put walls up.

Thank you for praying! Have a wonderful day!