Latest update on the situation in Mibu...

Sesi and Joseph were able to get a helicopter back into Mibu. After many weeks away from their families and community, they were very eager to return even while having some concerns about their own safety. We're concerned about Sesi specifically being a target. He was already a target which is what resulted in him being injured and then medivacked. His recovery still isn't 100% and so he has some limitations he's still experiencing. Regarding the risk he's under Sesi has said, "If God wants to take me to heaven, I'm OK with that. And if God has more work for me to do here I'm OK with that." His quiet confidence in his Savior is both convicting and encouraging.

 

Two police officers have joined them from Madang and are staying in Mibu. We're thankful for the extra protection they bring for the moment. Their main intention is to gather more official reports about all the havoc this gang has caused. They've met with leaders from all the major places of attack and have taken reports of the many atrocities committed by this gang, including theft, abduction, rape, murder, arson and more. There is uncertainty about what plans come next, but it sounds like more police may be gearing up to come in and facilitate whatever measures are needed to rid the area of the gang.

 

Even in the midst of all this, God's church continues to grow! One recent outreach resulted in about 80 more people placing their faith in the work of Jesus on the cross! God is at work in other areas too. We found out that the family of the young gang member who was executed by police will NOT be seeking retribution as is the cultural norm, but rather have expressed their belief that the young man was clearly at fault and had it coming to him.

 

Many leaders from different areas have been in or are currently in Mibu, and if the church in Mibu is doing what they already have a pattern of doing, they're seeing this as an opportunity to shed the light of the gospel. It's more and more evident that the activities of this gang come from a cult belief rooted in a completely misguided understanding of a single story they've read in a hard-to-understand trade language Bible. This highlights the need for the gospel message to be brought to these other areas around Mibu. Indeed this very area has been asking for the Mibu church to bring the gospel, but because translation and literacy support needed for that effort we've been unable to find needed team members to partner with the Mibu church. So they continue to live and operate in darkness.

 

PRAISE:

- For Sesi's recovery and his and Joseph's return to Mibu and their families

- For the positive response of the executed gang member's family

- That the police maintain a presence in Mibu

- That plans to resolve the issue with the gang do continue to develop, though they may seem slow

 

PRAYER:

- For the current plans of getting more police out there, and for an effective strategic response to the gang

- For further recovery for Sesi and safety for him and his family as well as others

- For the power of the gospel message to continue to spread and change people's lives