Jones’ Clips - May 2018 - The Lord’s Purpose . . . You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail. -Proverb 19:21 What comfort we should take from the knowledge that the Holy Spirit does not depend on us and our works to accomplish His purposes! We are called to be faithful and obedient to God’s Word and commands. We are to join Him in the work He is doing to bring about the Kingdom of God on earth. This brings glory to His name, but at the same time God does not need to wait around for us to act in order to make His kingdom come. Sometimes we live in obedience for years and years and just don’t see the fruit of our efforts when we expect them. Joan Farr began working with the Kombio people in the East Sepik Province of PNG in 1987. She spent years learning the language, developing an alphabet to make a written form of Kombio. Decades were spent on the translation and literacy work, but she was met with challenges and apathy time after time. Finally, in 2010, after 23 years of work with the Kombio, the lack of interest in her work and the Word of God led to a tearful farewell as she went to join her new husband, Jim, in his second Bible translation elsewhere in PNG. As I flew away with them in the helicopter years ago, I was saddened by what seemed to have been so many years of wasted work. Little did we know what the Lord had planned. Despite the lack of interest in the Kombio Bible, Joan has remotely continued the work with Jonathan, one faithful Kombio co-worker. A few weeks ago, Jim, Joan, Jonathan, and I were privileged to travel in the helicopter throughout the Kombio language area. Joan and Jonathan had recorded the books of Matthew and Jonah as well as other Bible stories onto Audibible audio players and wanted to see if there was any interest in them. Joan had brought 100 Audibibles and dozens of SD cards, which also contained the Jesus Film. Admittedly, she was not expecting much response, just hoping that she might have interest in at least one. At the very first village we visited, there was palpable excitement and 13 Audibibles were sold as well as a bunch of SD cards and many of the different Kombio books that she had published. As the trip continued, we visited 12 villages and saw interest in each place to hear God’s Word! At the end, there were pre-paid orders for dozens more Audibibles and SD cards, since the supplies had completely sold out (100 Audibibles, 100 SD cards, and 84 additional orders)! And ALL the books that were put out sold, probably over 200! One woman said to me, “When you come back, make sure you bring many more! Bring hundreds!” Hearing the Word of God is one matter. Understanding and obedience are the harder step, especially in a culture that has so many opposing beliefs. Please pray for the Kombio people! Pray that the Holy Spirit would use these audible and printed Scriptures to bring change in their hearts and minds individually that would lead to changed community for the glory of God!
Above: Jim and Joan Farr being welcomed to the Kombio area (a common way to welcome visitors is to throw flower petals into the air onto them - they are in the air in the picture). Right: This woman was walking to her garden listening to her Audibible the day after she bought it. The boy was so excited to hear his language coming out of the little solar player. Lower right: Jonathan, Joans’ Kombio co-worker in the helicopter.
Love in Christ, Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones Blog: gavincarrie.blogspot.com - Facebook: Jones 8 in PNG TO GIVE TO THE JONES' MINISTRY - Wycliffe website: www.wycliffe.org
Jones’ Photo Booth
Gavin finally got a chance to take the rest of the kids for a flight in the helicopter!
Just last week I climbed Mt. Wilhelm again with several friends. The summit is at 14,783 feet, over 6000 feet higher than where we started! Isaac with his close friends Matthew (middle) and Isaac Crosland.
Carrie and Will at a friend’s birthday party
A full load of happy quintuplets! Well, ok, 4 out of 5 are happy. Marcie is just scared.
