We successfully made it back from our big outreach! It was a 5-day trip where we visited two main villages and 4 out of the 5 days we hiked 6-9 hours. We travelled over 50 miles crossing rivers so many times that we lost count, the one day was a total of over 17 miles. Praise God saints were encouraged and we had no injuries or ailments. Nicole was the first female ex-pat to ever make it to the farthest village, and it was the first time women were the emphasis of an outreach.
The Farthest Village: Pastor Jonas
Seth and Pastor Gabbie led the way, carrying the bulk of the supplies in their backpacks, and the girls: Nicole, Pastor Gabbie’s wife-Smiley, their oldest daughter Amber, their sister-in-law, along with 2 other young ladies Nicole is discipling, all followed in a line.
Nicole’s “4-wheel drive”-Sylvian
The Many River Crossings
So Refreshing!
Enjoying the River After a Steep Climb
Both Seth and Pastor Gabbie preached at each village, emphasizing the supremacy of God’s Word and also giving practical applications for the believers to live out their Christian lives. The ladies led the praise music, introducing the Tiale songbook to everyone. The people were so elated to hear songs in their own language for the first time for the entirety of a main service. Currently we are having the first books printed out at Light House Baptist Church in Australia, thank you Pastor Bakss and church family! Whenever that project is finished we will then delve them out to each of the churches.
Leading Worship in Tiale
Arriving in the Farthest Village
The men went around the villages trying to make connections with people, fellowship, and even win people to the Lord. While the ladies brought nail polish (the ladies love their nails painted), and a beaded bracelet project. Ladies are never too tired to not do crafts! All the ladies were so thrilled! It made it such a memorable moment for them all (and yes, Seth carried beads that far). He also agreed to letting the girls carry a bunch of flowers to take back home that they found along the trail!
Traveling with girls is so much different than just with men
Us two couples made it a point to train the women that went with us in some principles for not just womanhood, but also ministry and being godly women for Christ.
Making Bracelets and Making Memories
Hard at Work-Bracelets!
Getting the Nails Painted!
Side point: It was really cold at night in both of these villages! So this is how the girls dressed for church…
We went to the evening church service like this! So cold!
We were able to encourage one of the pastors to come to the Bible school next year and get some; refreshment, encouragement, along with theological and practical training, as he was struggling in his Christian life. He along with his family will be coming next year to be “built up” in the faith. We will be sending two of the young men that we are training as pastors to fill the pulpit, ministry, and even work in his literal garden J in his absence. Our goal is to fully-equip as many as we can, along with equip them the most we can, with the most materials in the time the Lord gives us with each individual. Please pray for this pastor and his family, he is isolated on a mountain battling against witch-doctors day in and day out; his name is Pastor Jean-Marc.
Pastor Jean Marc & Family
And now we are back home and have gotten some good rest after that long trip. Thank you for your prayers for us as we hiked and ministered to the Tiale people far and wide. Stay tuned for a video from our trip.
What a Trip! Thankful to be back home.
Your feet to the unreached, Seth and Nicole Stokes
Stoking The Fires 