Rain, Measles, & Bible Translation

Love that Rain

Rainy season for us is generally the end of June through August. This year it started in early June, and it still hasn’t ended. Moving our supplies, medicines, and personnel by air has been a challenge. Many bush flights have been cancelled or postponed, most of them after sitting all day in the rain waiting for the clouds to lift. Still, the days aren’t always wasted, because we take along our Kamea videos from the “Jesus Film” and show them to anyone who comes by.

Showing the Kamea Jesus videos in the rain

Next time I hear someone complain about flight delays while sitting in a climate-controlled airport with a Starbucks and a McD’s, I’m going to say, “bless your heart.” 🙂

Loving Others

The measles outbreak that began in June seems to be letting up here at the beginning of November. Some lives were lost due to being unable to get to treatment, but praise the Lord, many others were helped by the care they received from our Kunai Health Centre staff.

A happy patient!

It has been cold and wet, yet those who have come have not only received medicine; they have received hope. Many have heard the Gospel clearly, some for the first time. Just last Sunday we had several visitors who came to church because of the clinic ministry.

Loving the Word

In addition to the Life of Christ series, Ben and I have finished translating up through Luke 12. We have checked up through Luke 8 with our church people and other villagers, and it was understandable for them. Our people are grasping much more of the Word as we work through the passages in their heart language. They are learning Jewish culture, biblical backgrounds, and best of all, the Spirit is opening their eyes to spiritual meanings.

Showing how to use the Kamea Jesus videos

One thing that our people had a hard time grasping: a kiss. To our people, “kiss” is a noise you make with your lips. When they (among the older people) greet each other fondly, they stroke each other under the chin from neck to chin—we call it, “chin-chucking.” They don’t understand why the father of the prodigal would make a noise when the prodigal came home, rather than “chin-chucking” him. I guess Song of Solomon is going to be a challenge to translate…

Kamea Jesus video recording session

Ben is attending a school right now to improve his English skills and to learn how to use a computer. He was able to get a partial scholarship, and the rest we are funding from our support. He and I are scheduled to meet with a translation consultant in a couple of weeks to get an idea of how we can improve our methods, as well as to see how we are doing with the translation.

Serving Him in the Field,

Bro. John & Lena Allen
Galatians 6:9

Recording Videos

Kamea videos produced on installed on smart phones!

Since our last update, Ben Samauyo and I finished recording the last of the Kamea videos. We have them formatted for smart phones, which many of our people in the jungle have—imagine that! Last week we were talking with a group, and when talking about Luke 2, they quoted a scene from the life of Christ from the videos. Wow! Our hope is that the Lord will continue to use this to create a great thirst for His Word.

In our translation of Luke, we plan to have our first consultant review by the end of the year. Right now, Ben has done a first draft through Luke chapter 10. Keep praying with us and for us in this important ministry endeavor!

Resident Visa

After less than seven years in PNG, Lena and I obtained our Permanent Residence visas. Amen! Shorter lines in transit and no renewals are necessary—at least that’s what we’ve heard. Praise the Lord for this blessing!

Reaching All Ages

Starting the new church building

Since Kotidanga Baptist built its church building in late 2008, it has been full most Sundays. So full, in fact, that they had to begin a break-out Children’s Church ministry to fit everyone in. At the end of July, Kotidanga Baptist began construction of their fourth church building—paid for with indigenous funds, built by indigenous men.

Resounding Miracle

In one of our greatest trials here to date, national pastor James Naudi’s daughter became ill with meningitis. For many days our nursing staff and Sarah Glover (our literacy teacher) took turns doing “life breaths” for 16 year old Jemila. She would seize, stop breathing, and convulse; and some of these were lengthy seizures—one lasted over two hours.

Sarah was reading the word to Jemila one evening, and suddenly, Jemila was healed! It was amazing in how it came in response to Jemila’s hearing God’s Word spoken to her. God has used this resounding miracle to speak to many people here. There was a huge struggle among our people to take Jemila to the witch doctor, but Pastor James stood firm. In the midst of a fiery trial and great affliction, God got great glory. (Read the full story.)

View from the clinic porch

At present, our clinic is dealing with our portion of the nation-wide measles outbreak here in PNG. Children have died because of this, and it has been an acute caseload for Lena and the staff here at Kunai Health Centre. We covet your prayers for this ministry! And praise the Lord, in the midst of all the recent trials, just two weeks ago a woman trusted Christ in the clinic. To God be the glory!

Thanks for holding the rope with us. Jesus is coming soon—may we be found faithful telling others about Him when He comes!

Serving Him in the Field,
Bro. John & Lena Allen
Galatians 6:9

Transitions

Lena once wrote that the sorrows, pains, and transitions of this life are like our landslides here in PNG. Though they change the scenery dramatically, sometimes the end result (over time) is a new place for things to grow.

2014 continues to be a year of transitions for our TTMK team. Our last newsletter mentioned some transitions, and we have had more since then. Andrew & Rachel Schellenberger returned Stateside after a marvelous four-year ministry here. How we miss them! John & Marciana Gillispie (and children Nehemiah, Elijah, and Hadassah) arrived in May to begin their ministry here. Recent RN graduate Ashley Norcross has joined us to work in the clinic for the next few months. With the new people arriving this year, we look forward to what the Lord is going to do with them!

Trials

In our last letter we mentioned Jeff, who had been very ill with TB meningitis. Thank you for praying–he has recovered and is living the normal life of a young boy!

There have been more cases of TB meningitis, two of them being Pastor James’ adopted daughter Jemila and her friend Esila. Through this horrible illness, the Lord has done a mighty work in the sight of our people. (See the story at our blog.)

Training

Translation

“Where is your belly button?” was a message I preached in Kotidanga recently; and it’s not what you might think. When Kamea babies are born, their mothers save their, um, umbilical cords—their belly buttons. They keep them in a special place, and that helps to remind the child where he was born. In expounding on Ephesians 2:6 about Heaven being the believer’s home, I shared with the people that if we are born again, in a spiritual sense, we have a “belly button” in Heaven—which means that is our true home. They got the application quickly, and I might admit, with a smile. (And no, they didn’t syncretize it into a weird, new doctrine of heavenly belly buttons.)

Ben Samauyo and I are continuing to translate the Gospel of Luke. To complete the life of Christ, we  translated almost 350 verses into the Kamea language. Then Ben did a great job narrating the videos, and our people love them! Now they have been converted to a format that will play in readily available video phones, and distribution has begun. Pray that we can send the Word throughout the Kamea people via this great tool! Watch an interview with Ben and me, or go here and here to see some of the videos for yourself–and to brush up on your Kamea.

In May, we also had the privilege of having Jon & Julie Limmer visit to see how we produce the videos. Julie is on the JAARS development team for the Jesus video, and she was glad to watch us use the program on the field. It was a further blessing to have Suzanne Olson spend the summer with us to learn first-hand about bible translation and to help Sarah Glover with her literacy program.

With all that is happening in all the ministries of our team, we know that a large part of the team is not out here in the bush—that means you. You are the ones who enable us to labor here, through your praying and your sacrificial giving. It will take eternity to reveal what has happened because you stood with us. May God bless you as you have blessed us!

God bless you as you also strive to know Jesus and to make Him known!

Serving Him in the Field,
John & Selina Allen
Galatians 6:9

Blog       https://johnallen.ttmk.org

                                                 
Helping
This is a big year for our TTMK team! Since our last letter, our co-worker Sarah Glover has returned, and has already started two literacy classes with over 50 students! Also, we have nurse Rachel Wass serving with us for the next year at Kunai Health Centre, and she is doing a great job, too. Then Josh & RebeccaFlorence (and daughters Abigail & Ruth) have joined us out here in Kotidanga for their orientation to the field of PNG. They are learning a lot, and learning fast! Of course, most of you know that Matt & Becky (and Ariel & Hannah) have transitioned to their new ministry in the capitol, Port Moresby. All this has happened in just a couple of months!

Healing
The clinic is busy as usual. Our nurses are on call day and night, and none of us knows what a day will bring. One case is Jeff, the son of one of our church families. Jeff has suffered from spinal meningitis and was getting worse. Recently the nurses tried a new course of treatment, and Jeff seems to be improving. He is out playing with the kids on our property now; he’s a little wobbly, but it’s a big improvement.

We do ask that you pray for Jeff, and for all the patients that our nurses serve. We want all of the patients to come to know Christ, and we want them all to recover from their illnesses and injuries. (Read some of the clinic stories on our blog site below.)

Handling
Our container has arrived, and almost 2/3 of the medical supplies have now been flown in. Thank you again to everyone who had a part in giving toward this great need!

Hearing
My co-worker Ben Samauyo and I are now in our fourth month of Bible translation in Kamea. Ben’s exegesis skills are growing and my Kamea language skills are improving; but God gets the glory for our progress! We have completed a first draft of the Life of Christ, mainly from Luke’s Gospel.

We are now doing back translation checks and village checks on what has been done. So far it has been readable and understandable! Our next step will be to record this in a video format to show our people in their own language. Do pray with us for this endeavor, as we are in awe of handling God’s word to make it understandable for a people.

God bless you as you also strive to know Him and to make Him known!

Sunset over Fairfax Harbor, Port Moresby, PNG

Serving Him in the Field,
John & Selina Allen
Galatians 6:9

Blog       https://johnallen.ttmk.org

                                         Click here for printable copy

We are blessed to have so many who partner with us in reaching people for Christ. If you are not aware of other ways you can keep up with the ministry, here they are:

On the right side of this page you can subscribe to receive this blog as an email
Ask to subscribe to our email updates at   johnallensr@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter  @JMAllenSr
Follow us on Facebook   Lena Allen, Kotidanga, Papua New Guinea
Follow the rest of our TTMK Team through links at   www.ThatTheyMayKnow.com

Our 2013 ministry video is online at           https://vimeo.com/74876798

Sowing the Word

Our last three weeks in PNG were blessed by souls responding to the preached word.

• At our church plant in Ipaiyu village, a couple who had been coming for several services trusted Christ.
• At Doa Rubber Plantation (outside of Port Moresby), Konos Manus and I did a weekend outreach among the Kamea people who work there. Some of those dear people responded after hearing the preaching and personal witnessing, trusting in Christ alone.
• At Heritage Baptist Church in Port Moresby, we had some more come to the Lord!

Sharing the Burden

Our weeks in the US have been busy. Already we have been in two great missions conferences, and those are a tribute to the passion of the pastors and their people. Other one-day meetings have been good too, and we have had so many opportunities to spend time with mission-hearted friends as we travel. Those times are precious and have sharpened our iron!

Medical supplies ready to ship!

Shipping a Container

Between meetings this month we will be loading a 40 foot container with donated medical supplies. God has touched so many hearts, and God’s people have given so much out of love for Christ and for our Kamea people. Literally tons of bandages, medicines, protein supplements, baby milk, and other critical supplies will be sent to PNG.

We leave the US to go home on the day after Thanksgiving. Lord willing, the container should arrive in PNG around the same time as we do.

Kotidanga Baptist Mission at Kunai in Gulf Province, Papua New Guinea

Saying “Thank You”

We never say it enough! You, our friends and supporters, give so much in prayer and finances to allow us to minister in your stead. And so many have given the items we need for our clinic, or donated to purchase them. We are always telling our Kamea people that kind and generous believers in America give so we can live in and serve the people of PNG. God bless you all for faithfully standing with us. The world is ours to reach together.

Serving Him in the Field,
John & Lena Allen
Romans 12:1-2

July 2013                                                                                    Click here for printable copy

Experiencing Our Vision
Kamea Church Planting: It has been my privilege for 2012 and 2013 to watch the growth of our church plant at Ipaiyu. Souls have been saved, baptized, and formed into a body of believers who have stood through many trials.

Nathaniel Moses, Missionary Wil Muldoon, & Benjamin Patrick look at the new church building at Ipaiyu earlier this year

Two of our Bible school students, Jon Nelson and Nathaniel Moses, have been my co-workers this year. They and the church people have grown in the faith and in the word of God through the teaching. The believers have built their own building and are self-supporting.

Kamea Literacy: This school year we’ve been learning how to read and write the Kamea language in Bible school. I’m proud of their progress, especially the wives of our students. 2 years ago, some of them could not read at all!

Kamea Bible Verses: We’ve been doing some translation work since 2010. Now that the students are more literate in Kamea, they are seeing things we need to change in verses that have already been translated. It has been my vision for them to be able to do this, and though we still have a ways to go, we are seeing solid results!

Expanding the Vision

These are exciting days for our TTMK team. In the last few months an incredible open door has been set before our son Matt and his family. With a vision to reach out to the rest of PNG and the South Pacific, God has opened the way to begin a new ministry in Port Moresby, the capitol of PNG. A new church, Christian school, university, and campground facilities are planned. A God-sized vision, worthy of our God! Read about it at mattallen.ttmk.org !

Expressing the Vision

Missionary Interns: We were privileged to host a group from Pensacola Christian College again this year. Three of them, Corey, Christian, and Rachel, stayed behind and ministered with us for a few extra weeks.

Rachel Wass, Corey Pennington, & Christian Malone having fun

As with many of our visitors, it has been the experience of a lifetime! Right now we are blessed to have Faith Hubbard, a registered nurse, serving with us for the next several months.

Interns help with newborn clinic.

Mission Conferences: Lena and I will be in the US for some conferences this Fall. The weeks we are home are already filled. Pray that we will be a blessing!

Medical Container: We are still receiving supplies to send in our container this Fall. At this point we have nearly a 20 ft container full, but we can use much more. See the list of items below that we need for the medical clinic and Bible school ministry.

And I am praying for God to enlarge your vision of missions. May God open our eyes to the needs around us and among the nations!

Serving Him in the Field,
John & Lena
Romans 12:1-2

We need to receive the supplies by the end of September 2013 to be able to pack our container.

Multivitamins w/ iron
Children’s chewable vitamins w/ iron
Powdered milk
Baby formula powder
Naproxen (Aleve)
Ibuprofen (Advil)
Diphenhydramine (Benedryl)
Baby bottles, nipples and rings
Baby bottle brushes
Washcloths
Women’s elastic waist skirts (ladies’ size 10 and under)
Baby shirts or onesies (for one-year-olds and under)
Baby caps & booties

lenaallen@yahoo.com

Some dear friends at our home church (Landmark Independent Baptist in Louisville, KY) are coordinating our supplies.
Shipping address:

c/o Bob & Stacy Norcross
907 W. Palmyra Lake
Palmyra, IN 47164

John & Lena Allen, Missionaries to Papua New Guinea
Sent by Landmark Independent Baptist Church, 6502 Johnsontown Road, Louisville, KY 40272 502.933.3000   www.libcky.com