No way to know, unless…?
Imagine if there was no way to know, unless you learned a foreign language - or two!? The Yi Nisu and the Nung, like many of the unreached people groups of Mekong Springboard, do not have the Bible in their own language. They can only read or hear the Bible in the national languages of the countries in which they live – China and Vietnam, respectively. 

 

The 6 Yi Nisu Mekong workers and the 2 Nung Mekong workers must learn two languages – the national language and then the minority language of their people group – before they can understand or communicate in these people’s heart language.

 

• Pray for these 8 people and the rest of the over 170 Mekong workers – most of whom are in language study.

 

Yi Nisu
“Last month, we visited an isolated village where 4 or 5 believers have been trying to stand strong for the last 4 years. They have no Scripture in their language and since their Mandarin is very poor the Chinese Bible doesn't help them. We felt impressed to share with them the simple truth that God expects us to extend forgiveness to those who wrong us, just as He forgives us when we sin against Him. This idea blew their minds - they really didn't believe us at first, but we assured them that Jesus commands us to forgive people. They were also shocked to hear that they could actually pray and sing songs to God in their own language - as opposed to trying to communicate with Him in standard Mandarin.”

 

• Please pray that God will send workers to translate His life giving Word into their language.
• Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the Nisu so when they hear His Word they will ask Him to be their Lord.
• Pray for the family who will be joining the team in February.

 

Nung
“Look there they are!” I recognize them from the pictures I saw on the internet.”“Here is the Nung village” our driver said with no enthusiasm whatsoever. If only he knew that this moment is what this whole “backpacking tour” was about! We stepped out of our vehicle into a world very different from the one we were familiar with and instantly were greeted by the local Nung villagers. Our driver, not amused, provided very little translation help as we attempted to converse with the Nung locals, who, for us, until this point, only existed on a computer screen. Of course we stopped back at this village on our return trip home. Different Nung invited us into their home. We spent much of the time speaking through hand gestures and pictures while our driver slept in the car. One team member picked up an English school book and began working with enthusiastic children. What a hospitable people! As we said our goodbyes and loaded back into our vehicle, I wondered when I would return to this land. More importantly I wondered when these Nung would hear about the Lord Jesus. When will they hear God’s message in their own language? When will they have a copy of God’s Word available in Nung?”

 

• Pray for God to give the Nung people a discontentment with their current worship practices and a hunger for the Truth.
• Pray for a radio ministry to the Nung.
• Pray for an indigenous church planting movement to begin among the Nung.
• Pray for workers – one couple is soon to arrive to work among the Nung.