Hi everyone!
Just wanted to share a video with you all from the outreach last weekend. This village we visited is about 12 hours hike away but is still part of our language group. Check out the link below to see what it is like to hike through the jungles of Vanuatu. Thank you all for the many prayers for us as we hiked and for Nicole as she held down the fort. We could not do this without YOU!
~your feet to the unreached in Vanuatu
Seth & Nicole Stokes
As we are underway living here in the bush full-time, we are seeing where and how we can assist the “established” churches, as well as our community. Our work is a little different seeing that there is so much potential in both the national (Bislama) language and our Tribal (Tiale) language. Learning how to balance all of this is truly wisdom from above, if we are being honest, we could devote 100% to either language at any time and both would be (in our understanding) equipotent for an eternity.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Nicole has been busy with various ministries along with helping out in the community; she has been visiting the ladies, bringing gifts to newborn babies, tries to be relational, helps in the garden, and even cooks meals for them; community-wise it really never ends. Ministry wise, she has been engaged in starting a women’s Bible and craft ministry; several ladies get together early in the morning, Nicole and another lady prepare a lesson beforehand and then teach it to the group. After that the ladies get together to make a craft, have a meal, and have some fellowship. Nicole is also teaching Bible lessons in the Kindergarten at the nearby school (in Bislama). Nicole is following the chronological approach, making simple lessons, which in turn will be a permanent lesson book for kids here in the country, which does not really exist.
The Kindergarten Class
Making Bracelets!
Women’s Group
Seth got back from his first of two back-to-back long weekends; it is basically a full day hike there and two-thirds of a day hike back (you come down the mountains). He visited a local church to encourage them; he preached specific messages about the purpose of the church, faith and how to live by it, and then also a final message about II Tim 3:1-9, which focuses on witchdoctors, and the remaining chapter of how a Christian lives in a world that is against them. Seeing that we live in a country controlled by fear, it would be a predominantly fear-base culture with a healthy dash of shame base (3 main-stream cultures in the world). All of the messages really impacted and encouraged the believers.
Seth, Kevin, Jeremy
Seth and the two young men, Kevin and Jeremy, he went with ended up going the long way on the way there, the rivers were flooded so that means an extra mountain to climb. Seth has been trying to get in shape but with being really sick last week that set him back. With less than two hours to go his one quad began to cramp, he prayed for a coconut and God was gracious, around the next corner was a coconut tree with their names all over it. They made it in a relatively good time, only to have Seth nearly lose his voice. Seth pushed his voice to preach those 4 messages and share a Bible study; God was gracious again. God provided just enough of his voice to get through each message. Now he does not have much of a voice, he came back with a fever, sore throat, three infections on his leg, and he leaves in less than three days to do it again to a location which is further away. But we are confident God will be gracious, providing… just enough.
Pastor J.M. and Family
The trip was a sweet time; the local Pastor said he was slowly losing “interest” in other churches. No one has visited him in almost 16 months; he said he was feeling “forgotten”. He was elated to receive a calendar of all the dates people are planning to visit him this year (about 6 in total). He said, this planning and calendar has lifted his spirits, and the teaching blessed him and the church. He shared several of his struggles; he has a strong witch doctor presence, he has no help in his ministry, and the fact that he is literally isolated on a mountain does impact the situation. Seth made sure he went to bed late and also woke up early, spending each and every moment trying to engage and encourage the Pastor. Seth used a lot of those points to disciple the young men he came with during their hike, he was really able to engage them and challenge them in their Christian walk.
Seth and the young men came back via the river since it had gone down with it being sunny for two days, but it was still strong. Some parts were up to Seth’s neck; the young men would bob up and down at the deep parts. Praying that it is sunny for the next 5 days, if so, that will make the trek to and from the next village visit much easier, not to mention faster. Seth was also able to get some language study in even while hiking, with so many things pressing on us each and every day, we have to use each moment the Lord provides.
The River
Jeremy about to cross the river
Please pray for the church and Pastor J.M. (to keep it simple), please pray for Seth as he has those multiple ailments and gets ready to leave again in 2.5 days. Please pray for the young men Kevin and Jeremy he is discipling as he goes out on these outreaches. Please Pray for Nicole as she is battling some type of bug as well. Please pray for the women’s group. Please pray for her ministry in the kindergarten, please pray for the several ladies she is engaging with; Judith and Jacquelyn to name a few. Please pray that it is sunny for the next five days, it will make the trip easier, if not, we know God will be gracious in how He provides… just enough.
Your feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes.
Hi there, just wanted to share a few prayer points, we will post a more full update and Newsletter within the upcoming week.
I (Seth) am leaving shortly to go to a village that is in need of encouragement. This will be the first time I leave Nicole (and for 2 nights) since her ailment back in June.
Prayer Points:
1. Please pray for the church in the middle of the jungle. I have printed out several teachings on various topics that I have translated which I hope builds and encourages the existing body of believers.
2. Please pray for the two young men going with me, it will be a sweet time of discipleship. One has shown interest in ministry and the other is already making steps in that direction.
3. Health and safety, the rivers have been flooding for many weeks now. Some have been impassible. Which means, we will have to take the long-er route (can you see the excitement in my writing?).
4. Pray for Nicole as she holds down the fort. She will be with the people in various other ministries while I am absent.
Thank you for your investment in our ministry and we appreciate your prayers.
Your feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole
Verse of the Day
Stoking The Fires 