Thank you everyone for your prayers for Seth and the guys hiking! They made it back safely with no issues. We appreciate you all back home thinking about us and praying for us. Stay tuned for more about the trip and other exciting news here.
Your feet in Vanuatu,
-Seth and Nicole Stokes
Part of the road
View from the trail
The past few days have consisted of lots of lesson writing for the Bible College and now the next thing on the agenda for Seth is three day trip to a village about nine hours away. I (Nicole) will be staying back and having my young girls Bible study and holding down the fort. 
Please pray for Seth, Daniel (Bible school student), and Patterson (pastor in training), as they have a long road to trek. Patterson will be taking his turn in this village to cover for their pastor as he has been studying here at the Bible College. Isaiah (Pastor in training) has been up there for the past few weeks and now it’s time to switch one last time before the school year ends. Please pray for Patterson during this time as he leads Bible studies, church services, youth events, and more during these next four weeks. Continue to pray for all of the students as the end of the school year can be a time where “senioritis” can set in; we want them to continue to be fully engaged in the lessons and glean as much as possible before they depart.
Your feet in Vanuatu to the Tiale people,
~Seth & Nicole Stokes
We wanted to share some highlights and testimonials from the marriage seminar, we are still hearing many positive testimonials from the 15 couples. Continue in prayer that all of the teaching and counseling will impact not just the families that were involved, but also other families and communities by proxy.
The group that helped cook
The Marriage Conference Group
One of the men in attendance said; “its like heaven came down to us”, he said that because now he better understands “how to love my wife…and how to train my children according to God’s Word”. He continued, “I have been saved for years, I have heard various teachings on this topic, but they always felt as if it was a hawk flying high above my head, I could see it, but it never came down to me. Now, it is as if the teaching came down and walked on the earth with me, now I can see it, touch it, and understand… now I know what the teaching is actually and how it applies to my life”.
Another man said; “the teaching made me have a feeling of refreshment, now my marriage has a chance to go on the proper path that God wants for my family and I”.
Another man stated, “now 15 families have the opportunity to reflect God’s purpose in marriage to all of those around them”.
While Seth was reflecting upon some of the teachings with one of the men, the man replied; “now I want to focus on training my son to be a godly man, I see now that it is my job to do so”. This is a very encouraging perspective and revelation, many of the people here, Christian or not, a church member or pastor; have a very mystical approach with God. They believe that God will move and do everything, and they themselves do not need to do anything in the process. One man once said, “I pray that God will teach my children”. Seth replied, “why don’t you teach them”? The shock on his face, the surprise, the realization that he was missing ‘his opportunity’ with his kids, because now all of his children are grown up and out of the house. This is a very real truth we continue to see here; their animism greatly impacts their Christian walk. This mystical approach to God hinders them, and they forget (or don’t know) how to apply their personal responsibilities that God has commanded them to do.
The following Sunday of the seminar at church, a man stood up during “open time” and said this to the congregation; “the marriage seminar encouraged me because I know now it is not too late to start anew in my marriage. God is like a source where water comes out, it has no end. He can make anything become fresh again. While I was in the study, it made me feel like a mango tree (a very seasonal tree, which is a special treat here) was nearby, and all of the fruit ripened at the same time. I looked at the tree and realized I would not be able to eat all of the fruit at once, but I enjoyed what I could eat, I left full and happy”.
Continue to pray that God changes people more into His image, one at a time, family by family, village by village. All for His glory.
Here are some photos from the past weeks…
A new addition to the Bible School Students… a new baby!
Ladies Bible Study
Digging new holes for toilets for the Bible School
Rainbows in the sky… reminds us of Gods promises!
Seth and Nicole Stokes, your feet to the Tiale People and to the country of Vanuatu
Verse of the Day
Stoking The Fires 