A lot has gone on while I’ve been reporting only baby news – and now I’d like to share more with you.
Tay New Testament AudiBible
For one thing, the Tay people group now have something called the “Tay NT AudiBible.” Here is a photo of what it looks like. Our translators Steve Hayward and their national team have recorded the New Testament onto this device so that people who can’t read can still hear the word of God in their heart language. How cool is that?! There is also a way to put recordings on SD cards to put into cell phones. What great ideas!
The Book of Luke
Something else that I want to share is that the Sob people now have printed copies of the book of Luke! Chris and Lori Urton have been working alongside the Sob people for years – this is their latest accomplishment. I am very excited for them to arrive from America this week, and take these books out to their village. How cool it will be to see the reactions when people hear the word of God in their own language, their heart language. I imagine it will be like the Tay people; read a little, giggle because they actually understand it, and then read some more… in awe of our Awesome God! Your support of me, whether it be prayers, emotional or financial support, has helped these things to be accomplished. Thank you!!
Commit to the Lord whatever you do and He will establish your plans. Proverbs 16:3
I have a real-life story for you. Near lunch time, I sent several messages and I called Barbara, Clyde’s mama. I wanted to take her some lunch and see how their weekend was. When I finally reached the haus sik with her lunch and a drink, she sat down hungrily on the floor and polished off most of the chicken, chips and broccoli I had brought. Then she sat on the bed with me as I snuggled Clyde. She said, this morning she was sitting on the floor asking God “Do I have a friend? I’m hungry, does anyone care?” She said when she got up from the floor to care for Clyde; she saw my text messages and missed calls. Since her phone is messed up, she hurried to borrow the security guards phone so she could ask me to call her about lunch. She said it increased her faith in God.
I’m so grateful that people sent money with Ali and I’m able to do what God asks for these mamas. I wish I had more (or unlimited!) funds, so when I come across a situation like her phone needing to be replaced, I could go get her one.
Will you consider helping with these needs?
Will you please search your heart and see if God is asking you to start sending $25, or $50 *or more* each month to help these destitute mamas?
We need consistent help… We need your help.When was the last time you were hungry, really hungry?
Matt 25:40, 45
The King will reply “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me ……
… He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for the least of these,
you did not do for Me.
Please go to here to donate. Select “Teams” and “Ministry of Kozar, Sharon.
Please consider making recurring donations, if you are able.
My dear friend Ali Hooper visited me!
She is an introvert and I am … well, not! Ha! Ali hit the ground running here, and “the ground here” is far from the ground in her home country. She’s a trooper though! She never batted an eye when I suggested what we would do any of the days. Some of you were able to read her blog and live vicariously through her while she was preparing to come, was here and even on her way home. This is how she first described where I live.
“People and potholes confetti the roads, cars and buses weaving between. The Pacific’s power bursts the rugged shore, children sprint with laughter, playing tag with the waves. Women carry vibrant woven satchels and scrawny-limbed babies. We pass a field scattered with men joyfully in the throes of rugby. In front of us, the door of a moving car opens, blood red spit splatters the road, the excess juice from chewing betelnut stain pavement and teeth. Everywhere I turn clothing boasts colorful patterns though shoes and hygiene are optional.
This is Papua New Guinea.
It was interesting and fun to see Papua New Guinea through someone elses eyes. So much of my life here is “normal” to me now. Just before her arrival, I actually wondered what she would see/hear/feel/experience that would seem different from America. If you want to read other things she wrote, you can go to alihooper.com
I love the way people here love each other. There are no daycares, no retirement homes, no rehab places and no funeral parlors. If a mama works, family take care of the child, when someone is lapun (old), family takes care of them, when someone dies… family gathers as they did last week and the week before in my neighborhood. They set up a structure called a Haus Krai where family and friends will stream in all week at all times and wail and cry until they are spent. They also spend time doing something called “tok sori” meaning that they search their hearts for anything that they want to say that they are sorry for, to God, their family, a friend… whoever. They say they are sorry and the person forgives them. Then it is done. there is no unforgiveness. They talk about it, and then it goes away; like when God moves our sins as far from the east is to the west. It’s really gone. I think everyone could use a little more of this in their life, don’t you?
Matthew 6:14
“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
Thank you for helping me to stay here and be a part of helping translations get finished, recordings be completed and mamas and babies getting fed and clothed… I appreciate you!
Zephaniah 3:17
“The Lord your God is with you (enter your name here), the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.