Volume 16, No. 1, April 2004
Welcome to the electronic version of "Memo from the Mortensens". We're moving toward doing all our newsletters by e-mail now, even ones with lots of pictures, as this one is. Please share this with people you know who are interested, but may not have e-mail.
Holy Week has passed and we are thankful that we are serving a Lord who is alive, not one who has a tomb that we can go to and visit. "The Passion of the Christ" has drawn great interest here in Panama and around the world and we rejoice to hear how many people are thinking about Jesus' sacrifice for our sins.
Here we go back in time briefly to February, to show you the participants in the translation checking workshop: Left to right (standing): Rogelio, Enrique, Doug, Maximiliano, Chaz, Pacifico.L to R (kneeling): Abundio, Bienvenido.
During Holy Week, the Embera church has a conference each year. They typically have preaching in the mornings and business meetings in the afternoons. This year, people came from about ten churches. We went out to the meetings in order to distribute books of translated Scripture portions from Judges to Jonah. The surprising thing was that all of the books were distributed, exactly the amount the people attending the meetings needed. In the past we have had leftover books. This time we'll have to make more for the people living closer to Panama City.
One missionary, who is retiring, told us that the clear translation of the Scriptures into Embera is not only allowing the Emberas to hear God's message clearly, it is helping them draw correct conclusions, interpretation and application. Please PRAY that people will read the provisional editions and give helpful feedback.
Chaz and Mark chatting with one of the Embera actresses.
Chaz and Danny took another trip up the Chagres River, where there are 4 Embera villages. People from these villages played the roles of the Waorani Indians in the movie "Walk his Trail". We accompanied the casting director to interpret for him as he delivered some gifts for the villages and to distribute some of the OT portions.
Our movie adventure is over now. (Look at www.bearingfruit.org for more info about the movie.) Near the end of the filming we had the extraordinary privilege of meeting a number of people who were involved in the actual events - some of the missionaries' widows, some of their children and even some of the Waorani warriors who participated in the spearings almost 50 years ago. It was deeply moving to see the former killers and the missionary families together, glowing with God's joy and love. What a testimony of God's power to overcome hatred and darkness! Participating in this film is having an impact on many people. Please PRAY that God would speak to their hearts and cause them to turn to him.
A group of Emberas with new outboard motors given to their village by the film company.
It was fascinating to watch all that goes into a movie. Especially interesting is to see all the individuals on the set, each one doing their job, however big or small it may be. Each person knows exactly what to do, and when and where and how. All the little jobs are all done smoothly and together and the end result is a take. All put together it becomes a great movie. It reminds us of the partnership we have with all of you. Many pray, write letters and give while we work down here. The end result is God's Word in the Embera language. Thank you for being on the team!
Our partner Doug Schermerhorn is now on his furlough. Please PRAY for him and his brother as they attempt to repair their elderly parents' house and as Doug shares about the Embera translation project with interested friends.
Melio with little Melio (5) and Merlina (3). Maribel was away at a women's weekend retreat.
Sometimes as you're working on a project, do you feel like it's not making a difference? We felt that way at times a few years ago when we would hold Sunday Bible studies in Gamboa with Melio and Maribel and occasionally a few other Emberas. Doug, Abundio and Chaz took turns leading these studies but many times it seemed people were distracted or tired and nothing really was sinking in. Fast forward now to Wednesday morning. Maribel was visiting us, and when Chaz gave her a copy of the Leviticus-Joshua Scripture portion book, she said, "Oh good, Melio can use this for the teaching he's doing." When we asked her more, she told us that Melio has recently been contracted by Youth with a Mission to do Bible studies with some Embera youths living at their base! So on Thursday and Friday evenings Melio is leading a Bible study with 13 Embera teenagers. He is using the materials that he was learning from in Gamboa! He chose to be baptized last Christmas and now Maribel would like to be baptized as well. We are so happy to see them growing and learning from God's Word in their heart's language. Those Sunday afternoons are now bearing fruit. Please PRAY for Melio as he studies and shares what he's learned with these young people and for Maribel as she goes forward in baptism.
Kirsten
Danny's baptism
Kirsten is busy with school and youth worship band, with a concert coming up in late May. She is preparing for the SAT and 2 Advanced Placement tests, all three in May. She's looking forward to visiting several colleges this summer, as well as a Student Leadership Conference on Medicine and Health Care, held at San Diego State in June.
Danny chose to be baptized recently. The baptism was performed by our pastor Bill Wilbur in the backyard pool of a house in Gamboa, right next door to the house we lived in for 2 years. Danny is currently working on his school's yearbook, and enjoys involvement in chess club and conquering computer games with friends.
Laura with actresses
Laura would rather keep making movies than go back to school! She's in first grade now, struggling to adjust to a longer day and less interesting classroom than kindergarten. She enjoys playing with friends in the neighborhood and going to Brownie Scouts meetings.
We're looking ahead now to our summer furlough trip in the US. This will be very short due to the kids' school schedules. There will be some special times as we have two family reunions as well as visit with many of you again. We look forward to sharing more about the work, showing pictures and copies of the translated Scriptures. Please PRAY for us as we work out all the details, both on this end and for our travels. Especially urgent is our need for a good car in the US, one that is big enough for us and suitcases and can carry us from Texas to California and back. We also have a lot of extra expenses right now with the annual renewal of our visas, both to continue living in Panama and to leave the country legally. Please pray that our visas would be ready by May 11. That would cost a lot less and make the timing of our travels this summer less crucial.
Thank you for your prayers for the work here, for your interest and for your financial gifts.
Serving the risen Lord together with you,
Chaz, Helga, Kirsten, Danny and Laura