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Dateline: Papara, Tahiti
Dear Praying Friends,
     Our year began with a significant setback; it ends with remarkable success with all the earmarks of grace blessing and answers to your prayers. January of this year found us without a church home and honestly reeling from watching our home church lurch toward Seventh Day Adventism.  When their decision became shockingly final we had no other option than to leave. A few months of searching led us to old friends at Eglise La Bonne Nouvelle and there we have truly found a home for fellowship, study, worship, and service.  In the new year Rene' will be helping in Sunday school and I will be sharing the Sunday sermon on January 7th.  
     January also found us without significant progress in pastoral training, which was soon changed in February through a seemingly chance meeting at the airport with Albert Richardson, who has blessed us with prayers, promotion, and many opportunities to serve.  He took the initiative, sought us out, and we have gotten to know each other fairly well.  Albert is a true Christian gentleman who loves the Lord and stays anchored in His Word.
     Because of the generosity of donors we were able to hire someone part-time to help develop our organization locally.  A team soon formed, and together we have put together the legal foundation and membership for Institut Biblique de Polynesie (Bible Institute of Polynesia).  Our statutes were capably and wisely written by our vital new team member Nelly Tumahai, and our initial board has been selected and formed.  Our first constitutive meeting will be on January 18.  Through this local non-profit we will be able to function in education, pastor training, athletic competitions, promotion of local culture, and entrepreneurship.  Best of all, it appeals to the people of this country toward participation in our ministries.  It is a significant step in making what we do indigenous, a core value of Evanelia Tahiti.
    This year we were able to minister on five islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, and Tahaa in French Polynesia, and Viti Levu in Fiji. Through our support of Punarii, our trustworthy evangelist, that reach has extended to Amanu, Hao, and Rangiroa in the Tuamotu Archipelago. With Operation Christmas Child here we partnered in sharing the Gospel with thousands of children ages 2-14.  This Christmas season the team of a couple of dozen local volunteers will share with over 12,000 children on several islands.  It is indeed a remarkable time. 
     Meanwhile, the Lord has blessed us with eager students right in our own home.  Our Tuesday morning Bible study finished The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus, an effective and quite exciting survey of salvation through the Old Testament and the Gospels.  We lit candles to commemorate the occasion.  Next will be Mastering God's Message from DM2.  That particular workbook has and will see much use here in the coming year as we focus on training more individuals and groups in bibliology.  
     Our constant, weekly joy is our English Club, with the dozen or so young people of Residence Vaiapoia. Their love, their energy, and their eagerness to learn are imcomparable. Pray for these children as they begin to encounter more and more challenges in their world.  Tahiti is truly challenging for the young.  Every week our kids write out a Bible verse in English, hear a brief Bible lesson, and receive instruction in English.  Thanks to our American schoolteacher friends, Rachel and Amber, we have refined greatly what we do, and the children have been blessed as a result.
     Over on Moorea our steady study group continues to encourage us as we see these ladies respond to the Bible study with spiritual growth, with growing confidence in their relationship with God, and with eagerness to share.  In January we plan to add a monthly training event for Pastor Nicholas and Bible study for his flock on the south side of that island.  Nicholas is a bright man who longs to go deeper into God's Word.  And we will!
     Alongside our year of remarkable change and blessing, there remains some significant unfinished ministry. First, the Roadless Coast remains in our thoughts and prayers, but we have not been in contact with their liaison for several months now.  Please continue to pray for them.  After our meeting with former president Oscar Temaru we thought we would be meeting soon with his son in law, the current president Moetai Brotherson.  While we wait for that rendezvous we have been organizing to offer significant help in general education. The challenge is extreme because the French government seems to control all aspects in this field, from who teaches to curriculum, and much more.  Our proposal to Hao concerning teacher's aides in their classroom has likely been affected by this issue of control.  What can we do but pray?
     What has happened this year is simply this: our amazing network of prayer warriors were heard by our gracious, loving, and powerful God.  It is our privilege to see it unfold on a daily basis.  So, THANK YOU.
    
Our website, www.evanelia.org has a new video, an interview of Rene' and me, and an overview of our ministries here.  Please take a look.  
Regarding Evanelia Tahiti, we remain in transitional status, moving from a non-profit foundation to a regular 501(c)3.  Until that transition takes place, we cannot give a tax break on your donations. Please pray for swift resolution of this transition.
You can still receive the full tax break at Village Ministries.  
Please check out our updated website! www.evanelia.org.  It has pictures, videos of worship, and literary quotes about the islands where we serve!  There will be regular updates as the Lord unfolds our work here, as well as videos of teaching and ministry events, and interviews with the islanders we work with.
Our Local Mailing Address:
BP 121403
98712 Papara
Polynesie Francaise
As always we are grateful for our amazing support organization, Village Ministries International.  If you want to support us beyond prayer, click below:

 FPolynesia - Village Ministries International
Evanelia Facebook Group
Evanelia Instagram
Evanelia Website
Copyright © 2023 Evanelia Tahiti, All rights reserved.


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