Year One: Complete - A Special Thanks

Our first year in training has come to a close ɑnd we are reminded of all that God has done! Yes, He has taught us many things both through classes and through life. Yes, He is giving us clearer direction as we continue to walk with Him. However, one of the biggest blessings that God has given us has been through our pɑrtnership teɑm!

In less than two and half minutes we share a glimpse of our first year at the New Tribes Mission Missionary Training Center! Thank you for your prayers, encouragement and support! We hope you enjoy our video!

We have been incredibly blessed at the number of our friends and families that God has raised up to send us out -- some to bless us through financial contributions, others who lift us up in prayer on a daily basis, and still others who have been a huge encouragement.

Caitlin and I just want to say a big THANK YOU to all of you who are actively involved in partnering with us as we train to take the Gospel to an unreached tribe in Papua New Guinea.

To those of you who take time out of their day to pray for us. Thank you!
To those of you who take time to send us a little encouragement. Thank you!
To those of you who work so hard and many long hours so that we can participate in the New Tribes' Missionary Training Center. Thank you!
To those of you who have given us wise counsel and advice. Thank you!
To the small groups who pray for us. Thank you!
To those of you who have put us in touch with others who have a desire to see a people group come to know Christ. Thank you!
To the churches who have given us the privilege to share what God has put on our hearts. Thank you!
To those who pray for us every time you see our prayer card. Thank you!
To those who have never met us but support and pray for us. Thank you!
To those who read our updates and give us feedback. Thank you!
To those who have invested in our lives, mentored us, and modeled Christ for us. Thank you!

We have completed our first year at the MTC but we would have never been able to do it without our partnership team! We have just three more semesters to go with a completion date of December 2016 and then heading over to Papua New Guinea shortly thereafter! We are so excited to take this journey together know that we have a team behind us!

United in Christ,

Cameron and Caitlin

Enter the World of Reading

As we are now a part of the Linguistics program, we are taking classes earlier than usual. During the last part of our fourth semester (Spring of 2016) we will officially begin the Linguistic course. Because of this, we are going to be taking those classes ahead of schedule so we don't miss anything. Therefore, we took the Literacy class last month!

Cameron and I worked with a friend and together the three of us made this primer below for the AEIOU language after a one-week class on Literacy class. You've probably never heard of the AEIOU language and that would be because it's a fictional language and we needed something to work with so that we could practice the principles and experience the process for ourselves. It was perhaps my favorite class and so much fun!

Why teach people to read?

The vast majority of the locations in which New Tribes operates are completely oral societies with no written language. Some have asked why we are going to teach the nationals how to read as this involves time and resources in creating the primers and reading materials for them to practice their reading. One reason is to enable them to become well-informed and educated as they learn how to read contracts and handle money. This will protect them from being manipulated and victimized by the outside world. Reading totally changes a society and changes it for the better because, as the world becomes smaller, they will be able to enter in to it already literate.

With that said, the main reason we are going to teach them how to read is so that they can ultimately become mature believers. Without being able to read, the power of God's Word will be limited to what they can remember and will eventually become tainted by what they remembered incorrectly. However, by reading, they will come to rely on the Lord and His infallible and unchanging Word rather than on the missionary and what we say.

We look forward to the day that we can put these skills and principles into practice and watch as people enter the world of reading!

United in Christ,

Caitlin and Cameron

We invite you to prayerfully consider partnering with us through regular monthly support or a special gift, as we prepare and train to go and share the Gospel with those who have never heard. When designating which missionary you are supporting, indicate: Cameron Neace Account #900458

 

While the Men Are Away, the Wives Will....?

Pine? Party? Pray?

Since Cameron wrote about his time on the Men's Hike, I thought I should write a short summary about my time at home alone.

As one teacher pointed out, it seemed like the ladies of MTC were never so busy with different activities than that weekend in April that the men were gone! We had a movie night Thursday with delicious snacks including homemade pretzels that one woman brought. There was hiking on Saturday afternoon followed by a craft and game night later that evening. Then Sunday I devoted to actually doing homework, cleaning the house until it was spotless, making fresh banana bread and cookies for when Cameron arrived home, and writing some thank you notes - so it was a very productive weekend!

The biggest event of weekend was a ladies' camp out we had across the lake on the other side of campus. We had a dinner of hotdogs, potatoes, mountain pies, and all the fixings. So many people turned it out and it was a blast! Because the temperature for that evening was supposed to reach the low 40s, only a handful of us actually camped out for the evening. Because the guys were sleeping out under the stars, we thought that would be a good idea for us as well. So, with out many layers on, we snuggled down into our sleeping bags for the night under the night sky with no tent. It was cold but we survived and it was worth it. To the right is a picture that one of my friends took of me all cocooned while I was still sleeping!

The next morning, we had breakfast on the fire. Eggs, sausage, biscuits, and potatoes were on the morning menu. After a while, those of us who slept outside, left to go clean up because one of the best parts about camping is the shower afterward!

While I really missed Cameron that weekend and it was the longest we have ever been without any communication (there was no cell service) since we started dating, I really enjoyed the time I spent with the other ladies and the memories we made and the friendships that were deepened!

United in Christ,

Caitlin and Cameron

If you are interested in partnering with us financially, please check out the Support tab at the top of the page.

Men's Hike

Back in April, all of the guys went away for three days as part of the program here at the Missionary Training Center. We left Thursday afternoon and headed down to a State Park in Arkansas, returning at midnight that Sunday having hiked thirty-five miles. We could bring anything we desired as long as we could carry it. Everything, that is, except for a tent!

We got a taste of the great outdoors by sleeping under the stars!

Some may be wondering why a men's hike was made a part of the training program here at the MTC. It is a new addition and we were the first group to participate. It has great significance for what we will be doing in the near future overseas as tribal men, especially in Papua New Guinea, often go on long hikes together. Whether they leave for hunting or fishing, ritualistic purposes, shaman or ancestral worship, the fact is that these men who are important figures in the tribe will often be gone out of the village for days or even weeks.

Building relationships is one of the most important parts of ministry! Not only will going on these
hikes with them help me gain a better understanding of their language and culture but, when the time comes to teach them God's Word, these relationships will have become solid friendships built on trust and mutual respect for one another.

Part of this hike was to give us the experience of hiking a long distance, sleeping outdoors and continuing to invest in solid friendships. But it was also meant to give us an idea of what these hikes will be like overseas so we can prepare ourselves physically in order that we may be effective in  reaching these people with the Gospel of Christ.


The 72-hour hike was an encouraging time but it also brought on many challenges. One of which was to carry a teammate for about eight miles of up and down mountainous terrain to reach our destination for the day. The goal was to foster teamwork principles into our hearts and minds and, while it was difficult, I learned a lot!


Upon reflection, while I enjoyed the hike, it was hard. A lot of it was difficult and painful and just not fun. The weekend was meant to pull us out of our comfort zones and push us to our limits. So yes, it was hard as no one likes to be stretched. But it was very beneficial. I had the chance to see myself and my character from a different perspective in a different environment. I learned how I function on a team and how I can better my functioning on a team. I had the opportunity to learn, be challenged, and stretched to my limits and I thank the Lord for growing me!

God revealed to me just how I still need to grow and He opened my eyes to see things that I need to begin implementing in my own life for future ministry in cross-cultural missions. He continues to grow me and mold me into the image of His Son and for that I would say that this Men's Hike was a huge success!

United in Christ,

Cameron and Caitlin

If you are interested in partnering with us financially, please check out the Support tab at the top of the page.