"Oh-see-yoh" from Oklahoma!

Now you have learned how to say "hello" in the Cherokee language!

How to write it? Different story. :)

We didn't write as many blogs about our road trip from Seattle to Oklahoma, mostly because we planned to surprise visit some friends in Missouri as a little fun detour before heading down to OK. The surprise was a success and we enjoyed a couple days in MO, arriving at the camp in Oklahoma last Friday.

We are living at a Christian camp for these 7 weeks, and the facilities are comfortable enough as you can see. 

Noe and the girls are soaking up the fellowship with friends! All of the Ling students have 2-hour language sessions each morning. My language partner Katie and I drive about 20 min away to our language helper's house. She is in her 60's, very kind and sweet, and very willing and able to teach us her language. Oh and she is very patient with us as we have her repeat, and repeat, and repeat. :)

(Learning Cherokee words for numbers)

Why are we doing this?!?! Many have asked. Some have also asked in what part of PNG do they speak Cherokee?

There is no Cherokee spoken in PNG. The reason we are here learning Cherokee is not to become speakers of the language. We are learning to write and "say" several hundred words and phrases so we can determine the sounds of the language and analyze which of them are significant to speakers of the language. We also use the phrases and words to learn the grammatical structure.

These are principles we learned and practiced in the classroom last semester in Missouri. This Cherokee practicum gives us real life practice for entering an unfamiliar language and culture, learning the language, developing a written alphabet, and understanding the grammar.

We will be here for 6 more weeks, studying, enjoying the fluffy pets, and seeing friends out here while we can. 

Naya turns 6 on September 9th! Hard to believe!

Thank Him with us for giving us a safe drive from WA once again, including the blessing of seeing some friends in CO.

Pray with us that the practicum will be a fruitful time of learning and that we will enjoy spending quality time with our girls also! :)

Thank you for your continued prayer and support in so many ways!

-the Martinez family

Off to Ooooooooooo...klahoma ~ Day 1

the girls enjoying time with their Tia Celia and cousins

Day 1 is slightly deceiving as we did spend a few days in eastern Washington with Noe's sister and family. We really enjoyed our time there, reconnecting and enjoying the BEAUTIFUL scenery :) The girls had a blast with their cousin as well.

(majesty)

the beautiful 'mountains' of northern Utah

But Day 1 of the 'real' traveling was eastern Washington to Utah. We drove out just after sunrise (which was remarkable, and uncapture-able by the iPhone of course), and had an uneventful but LLLOOONNNGGG trip to Utah. We arrived after 7, had a quick swim in the pool and shared some pizza.

We are all exhausted. Sitting really takes a lot out of you.... ;)

So goodnight moon. We'll check in again soon. :)
Please join us in praying for continued safety. He has been so gracious to us!

~the Martinez family

Back from Papua New Guinea!

Hello everyone!

I'm back from an amazing 25-day trip to PNG!

If I could describe this trip in one word:

Ineffable :   
"Too great or extreme to be expressed or described in words."

But I'll try my best to walk you through my trip!

The guys and I, including Paul- a friend and representative from one of our home churches in Seattle, had the privilege of visiting three out of the four regions of PNG where NTM serves. After arriving in the capital, Port Moresby, our first main stop was a mature tribal work in the highlands region. Mature? A church has been planted and been discipled unto maturity, with elders established. We had the privilege of visiting at the tail end of an outreach - the outreach was some of the tribal believers and the missionaries visiting a neighboring tribe and teaching through the Bible foundationally (Genesis through the ascension of Christ).



*Note- I received word that the result of this
outreach was that a new church was born, with 35 believers!! The believers in the tribe we visited will continue going to this neighboring tribe to disciple the new believers! This coming Thursday (Wednesday in the USA), will be the first return visit for discipleship. Keep the tribal teachers and the missionaries in your prayers!

After our time in the tribe, we visited three of the NTM centers and had the opportunity to ask questions and meet the leadership in those areas. This includes the region we will be living in for our first 6 months to a year, Madang. Madang is a beautiful region, and it was exciting to see firsthand where we will be!

At this point, Paul flew back to the States, and I continued on to visit a new tribal work. New? The missionaries have recently moved in and are currently learning the tribal language and culture. In the next 1-2 years they will hopefully be able to begin teaching through the Bible foundationally in the tribal language! It was at this leg of the trip that the sobering reality struck me like a 2x4 across the face-

These people are living and dying without knowing Christ. No clear presentation of God's redemption plan through Jesus.

Interacting with these tribal people, knowing they are not believers, really enforced a sense of urgency in me for getting to the field, learning the language AND culture, and presenting Christ to them with understanding. Please pray that these missionaries will learn the tribal language and culture quickly! 

It was encouraging to hear a statement said by one of the missionaries- 'We work hard but we also play hard.' Meaning? Knowing that it will take a lot of hours and hard work and energy to reach the finish line. But also knowing that it's ok to... play a game, or have a movie night, or go swim in the river with the crocodiles... etc... Learning the balance. :)

It was an amazing trip, and I'm so encouraged, excited, and ready to bring my family over to PNG and dive in to this task that the Lord has called us all to. (Yes, you too! You are an essential part of our team, whether you give financially, pray, or encourage us. He asked His Church to be involved in His heart mission, not just the ones who literally go.)

Would you be a part of our team? Find out how you can get involved with us by contacting us directly, or visiting www.ntm.org

Thank you for all of your support!

~Noe