EE-Taow! The Mouk Story

This is one inspiring video that I was exposed to in pursuing missions: EE-Taow. This brief video put together by New Tribes Mission captures in a nutshell what we desire to accomplish in the tribes of Papua New Guinea. I would encourage you to make 30 mins of time to watch this video and be encouraged.

  

Published on Nov 23, 2012 THIS VIDEO IS THE SOLE PROPERTY OF NEW TRIBES MISSION AND ALL CREDIT GOES TO NEW TRIBES MISSION FOR THIS VIDEO. THIS IS FROM A VHS RELEASED IN 1999. THIS IS THE STORY OF NEW TRIBES MISSION GOING TO PAPUA NEW GUINEA TO "SAVE" THE PEOPLE OF THE REGION.

Matthew 5

My time in the word landed in Matthew 5 recently.  This section of scripture has been titled "The Sermon on the Mount" and rightly so as Jesus is sitting down on a mountain teaching.  Jesus is speaking to the crowds of people that had been following him from:  Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan (4:25).

You can read Matthew 5 in its entirety just follow this link to Bible Gateway:  Matthew 5

Jesus is restating the law and adding greater clarity to it.  He is showing himself to these crowds as having words equal to God's in the Old Testament.  Look at the way he speaks "You have heard it was said", "but I say to you".  His words are authoritative, and he takes his audience from what was said in the giving of the law by God and increases it.

I was most convicted about my thought life, and heart towards others.  It is not just your outer actions that incur transgression of the law, but what you act on in thought.  This truth (that inward thoughts incur transgression) is sobering if you are not a believer in the gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you are looking to yourself as the means of being right with God it is impossible.  The only person that had a perfect thought life is Jesus, and you must have His righteousness to be accepted by God.

The Gospel is powerful:  Those that turn from their sins and place their trust in Jesus as the all sufficient savior of their soul receive something - His righteousness.   I pray for the day that this message (the gospel) will be spoken to the indigenous tribal people in Papua New Guinea.  How about you - have you heard the message of the Gospel?

Picture taken by: ccarlstead

Betel Nut

You would think a trail of small red splashes on the ground would be clues leading an injured person.  In Papua New Guinea however it is likely Betel nut spit.

Betel nut, lye, and a leaf or green mustard stick.  When these are combined in the mouth it creates a chemical reaction turning the concoction bright red.  The result of chewing it is a mild stimulant that does the following:  Suppresses hunger, heightens awareness, and calms nervousness.  It sounds very similar to tobacco usage in the USA.

Image by:  pierre pouliquin

Know the culture - Final thoughts on CLA

Follow me on a mental pilgrimage...

Jim was a bright average guy who enjoyed eating the best grub in town. One day Jim heard that there was an amazing Mexican restaurant he had to visit. Filled with anticipation he planned to visit the restaurant the following day. Upon his arrival he noticed that there were no signs, and your order was placed at a small window outside. Jim walked up to the small window and the clerk asked "What would you like to order?”.

With excitement in his eyes, Jim said I will take a number 5. This was the number recommended by his friend for the best enchiladas in town. Jim sat outside at a table waiting for his meal to be delivered. Ten minutes passed and the waiter arrived, but he had a turkey club on his tray with a bag of chips. "What?" Jim said loudly. Again Jim spoke to the waiter "This is not what I ordered; I ordered a number 5, chicken enchiladas". The waiter noticing that Jim was upset quietly said... "Sir, you do know that this is a deli shop right...? Jim had gone to the wrong restaurant.

This illustration is a simple way to communicate that even a phrase that two people speak can have different meanings. Ordering a number 5 at the deli shop is a completely different order at a Mexican restaurant. In the same way not knowing the culture of a new land and communicating before you are ready can have disastrous results. You must know the culture as well as the language so you are able to see "through their eyes" not yours. Only then will you be effective in accurately communicating your message.

In America evangelism tends to be a race of points on communicating the gospel. We work through it as quickly as possible because in most cases we may never see the individual again. I am learning that I will have to pace myself in Papua New Guinea. Effective communication of the gospel to others will look like diligent cultural understanding.  The message cannot be lost in translation, or worse, misunderstood and added to their religion rather than being in opposition to it.

Population Information

The total population in Papua New Guinea is 6,431,902 based on the CIA world factbook.  Below are some of the major cities in Papua New Guinea and their populations taken from 2000 - 2013.

Papua New Guinea - 6,431,902
Port Moresby - 314,000
Lea - 120,000
Arawa - 36,443
Mount Hagen - 27,782
Madang - 30,000
Wewak - 25,143
Goroka - 25,000
Kokopo - 20,262
Popondetta - 19,556
Mendi - 17,119

Photo taken by Janelle Zeller Photography

Surrounding Islands

There are several islands that surround Papua New Guinea:  New Britain, The Solomon Islands, Papua, and The Marshall Islands.  Below is a quick explanation of each of these islands.

New Britain

• Population: 513,926 
• Currency:  Kina
• William Dampier became the first known European to visit New Britain on 27 February 1700: he dubbed the island with the Latin name Nova Britannia.

The Solomon Islands

• Population in 2009:  523,000
• Currency:  Solomon islands dollar (SBD)
• In 1568, the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Mendaña was the first European to visit them, naming them the Islas Salomón.

Papua

• Population in 2010:  3,593,803
• Currency:  rupiah
• Part of Indonesia and shares an island with Papua New Guinea

The Marshall Islands

• Population in 2009:  68,000
• Currency:  USD
• Home to the world's largest shark sanctuary:  over 2,000,000 sq kilometers

Photo courtesy of:  Google
Island data courtesy of:  Wikipedia

Revelation 6:16

My bible reading today was in Revelation 6 - The start of the judgement of mankind at the hand of Jesus Christ.  This book is a reminder that time will end, judgment will arrive, and no man will escape.  Reading vs16 is always profound to me:

16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

Unlike all the movies where the world is ending; this judgement is specific.  The judgement that mankind can currently think on:  The world ending itself, or mankind causing the end through poor care of nature.  The end of the world in scripture however is judgement at the hand of a person.  So specific in fact that all mankind in the midst of the initial tribulations will desire to be hidden from the one that is bringing the judgement.  This "one" who is bringing judgment is Jesus Christ, not "God" in a general sense.

What is incredible to me is that the world will know that the Lamb (Jesus Christ) is specifically judging them.  So... All mankind will know Jesus Christ, the question is how:  As judge or redeemer?  In light of this, am I effectively taking hold of opportunities for evangelism?

Scripture from:  Biblegateway.com
image by: elycefeliz