The weather is very unpredictable in the jungle mountains of Indonesia. In Dao for instance, you could see blue skies overhead at ten in the morning but then not even an hour later, you might see tropical rain storms and rain clouds moving in and closing off our little hole in the jungle. Once the clouds have moved in it is unsafe and at times virtually impossible for the helicopter to make it in. So when you combine those unpredictable weather patterns with the fact that the helicopter is stationed almost two hours away, we have got a very good reason to pray hard on helicopter flight days!
 
Recently the helicopter was making a run to Dao at the request of our co-workers and so we saw it as a chance to encourage the Dao people in their faith by once again sending a letter for the Dao believers. Our friend and helicopter pilot Hans-Peter Braun (Top center picture him and another pilot named Guenter with the Heli) offered to print off the letter along with a photo (Top center photo) of us and our new baby there in the city and then hand carry it to the Dao believers for us. On the day the letter was delivered our co-worker Derek read it for them (Top left picture). We decided to translate the letter to english for you so you also can understand what we wrote and hear a bit of the structure of the Dao language and how they talk.-

"Friends, Greetings! At this moment there are only two to three moons left before we we will return once again to your lands.  Our baby child is in this picture and so we are giving this picture to you all! He has the name "Moses". We are residing here in America-land but we keep on constantly thinking of Dao-land. We have heard that many of you have also cut the cords of children (Given birth). Derek and Sarah (Our co-workers) told us of these things. And it is because of these things that we think "Oh, thank you Creator One!"

We have also heard that Debatoma has hiked upwards towards the head of the Dao river and is teaching people there. And so we say "Thank you" because soon the people there will also be able to hear the Creator's big talk. We also have heard that Daapoi is still faithfully teaching the big talk in Kegatabo and so we also say to Daapoi "Thank you" because he is taking part in providing for you the food for your soul. Keep on partaking of that soul food and listening to the Creator’s talk. Then you will continue to live well in the Creators way.

We also, every week here in America-land, gather together with other believers with the intention of hearing the Creator’s talk.
Every day in the morning time we look at the Creator One’s leaf book because we love His words. If it wasn't for those words we Americans would also be as those who live in darkness and would not be able to see because we would be as those with darkness in our eyes. We would not know the way to the good place up above the sky. It is because of these things that every day we think and say to the Creator things like "Oh Creator One thank you because you have given us Your words! We will live in them and we will keep loving you!"

Yesterday, in the leaf book of Acts I read some of what Paul wrote down. In chapter 16 and verses 22-25 there were words that caused me to think. Paul was in the dark house (Prison cell) and the people that hated his words had repetitively struck him but Paul just kept on praising the Creator One by singing and shooting talk (praying) up to Him. Paul was sitting there in pain but he just kept on setting the Creator one apart as his big man and talking about the things Jesus had done for him.

Some of you Dao people have also experienced very hard things that make your hearts hurt. Some of you like Paul sit with heavy hearts and with pain. I encourage you however to do like Paul did. Even in your pain keep on listening to the Creator One’s words. Keep on speaking to others about Jesus. We have heard that some of you are already doing these things and so we say to you again "Thank you". You are doing well! We love you all very much. Only about two to three moons are left before we will be with you again. We now wait for the leaf booklets (Passports and visas) that give us permission to bring our son Moses back to your lands. Our talk ends here. Greetings. Degapiyaa (Scott) & Ugidataauwo (Jennie)

Please continue to pray for the Dao believers.. Pray that they will be faithful in gathering to hear God's Word and teach it despite the many challenges they have recently faced. Pray that they will continue to carry God's word to unreached villages even in our absence. Pray for us as we wrap up our time in the USA and speak at these last eight churches and schools before we go back to Indonesia. (A few of those speaking dates have changed, please check out the schedule below for the new correct dates)  Pray also for our co-workers as they continue to study the Dao language. And finally, please pray for our current "Project of the month" (which we will also attach that to the bottom of this email) that all the necessary funds will come in for that. We appreciate all of you and look forward to spending time with some of you at the upcoming speaking engagements!