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*You may have already received this. We needed to send it out again because there was a problem with the previous batch. Sorry! And we came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were near. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. (Eph 2:17, 18) One interesting thing has happened since returning to the tribe here is that more and more people here are using cell phones in the tribe, yes that’s right cell phones in the middle of nowhere! So wanting to try and save a few bucks, (and fit in culturally) I too have been trying to utilize this new technology here but the signal is less than weak. As I’m out visiting with people I’ve been asking where they can get a cell signal, so they point me to a little clearing on the mountainside and show me how to hold the phone just right to get a signal. When I finally do get a signal it’s weak and I usually lose it quickly. I was thinking about that last week as I was preparing Sunday’s lesson for the Tobo church on Ephesians 2:13-18. Here Paul reminds the believers that we who were once far off from God have been brought near by the blood of Christ and we now have access to the Father. What an awesome blessing that is to know that we don’t have to climb a mountain and stand just right in order to talk with our creator, but we have complete access to Him anytime! Christ through his death has torn the veil separating us from our Father. Since being back here in Tobo we have already gone through some tough and really discouraging times. Being confronted with the hardheartedness of this place, the lack of response to the gospel from the villages around us, as well as the slow growth from the Tobo church itself has really brought us to our knees crying out to God for wisdom and for Him to glorify himself in this place. I’m so thankful that we have that relationship with God and can come to Him anytime and He is faithful to give us wisdom and direction. Over these past few weeks we have been seeing God answer some of those prayers. Many of you have been praying for my old language helper (Unex) for a long time now. A couple of weeks ago I had a chance to talk to him about coming and teaching him and his family through the chronological teaching from creation to Christ starting in January. He said he would really like to hear it from the beginning then he said “I don’t understand this talk you teach to Yesu’s (Jesus) believers, how could God forgive me of all my sins, there are too many. I came in middle of this big talk and I need to go back to the beginning, so please come and teach me and my family”. Unex then later told me that he would invite other people from his village that need to hear this talk. In the midst of such a hardhearted place, to see even just one person interested in understanding God’s story is evidence of answered prayers and God at work here. So we are super excited and a bit nervous at the same time. We don’t know if it will only be Unex and his family or if it will be a large group, so we ask that you join us in crying out to God for Him to bring glory to Himself through this and that we would see these people come to an understanding of what Christ has done for them. As of now it looks like the teaching will start on January 17th and will take about three months to complete, hiking 25 minutes one way, 5 mornings a week. Also be praying for strength and wisdom for me and for one of our Bible teachers Welsin who will also help teach. Another encouraging thing that has happened here is that Nisae has had the opportunity to build relationships on a deeper level with some of the believing ladies here. One lady in particular has opened up to her about how the Holy Spirit is working in her life. This week she told Nisae “I know the Holy Spirit is telling me to stop going to the Wednesday morning ladies meetings (a religious group in the village who teaches the law for salvation). I know that by going I have been covering up the truth of what I really believe. I am showing them that I support their wrong thinking that we can follow the law and be saved.” This may seem like a small thing, however the people here have been taught since they were young that they need to go to church and follow God’s commandments so they will be good enough to go to heaven. She also said “I want God to change my life, I am not satisfied with how I live right now. Please pray that I will lean on God’s strength and stop going.” It has been incredible to pray for these exact things in her life and to hear her say that the Holy Spirit is teaching her and convicting her about them! Please pray that she will stand up to her friends and culture and make the choice to follow God. What an amazing testimony it will be to her community as they see God setting her free and changing her life. Thank you for taking advantage of your access to the Father on the behalf of the Tobo people and for our family’s ministry among them. We know God has the power to shine His light in dark places and expect that He will do just that here in Tobo. Your hands & feet, Jason, Nisae, Kadynn, Judah & Eden | 
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