Grant and Marianne Bayfield serve among the Tigwa Manobo people in the Philippines. They praise the Lord that recent eye surgery for the mostly blind three-year-old girl, from the village where they live, looks like a success! Her eyes are healing, and she is looking around at the world through her protective sunglasses. They plan to take her next week for a post-op checkup.
Recently, Grant and Marianne enjoyed a brief but good time of fellowship with other missionaries at the regional conference.
Grant is making some headway getting the Bible teachers to teach and not just read the lessons. He’s been challenging them lately to study more ahead of time instead of just trying to wing it, and to engage with their hearers to make sure their message is communicating. The men’s and ladies’ classes both can use prayer to take this next step in their skills.
Prayer points:
A two-year-old patient with malnutrition from a remote village. Marianne has started him on the ‘come back to life’ regimen that they learned from a doctor!
The teachers-in-training are going through the life of Christ in Phase 1 now. Pray for consistency in the teachers – it seems to be an exciting time of year, with lots of village festivals all around, and preparations for their own this month. Lots of distractions! But they do seem to really enjoy it when they do it.
That the young church would catch the vision of taking on the ministry of the Word for themselves personally and corporately.
The high schoolers continuing to lead the kids’ programme in the village where Grant and Marianne live and in the neighbouring one, even as they start a new year in school.
Grant is continuing to translate narratives in Judges as they teach through the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11. He also completed Genesis and is giving it out for personal daily Bible reading.
Wisdom for the team as they continue to discover what direction the Lord desires for their ministries in the Philippines going forward!