The family, along with a missionary pilot, was invited to a Christmas service in a near-by village with a <em> mumu </em> to follow. A <em>mumu</em> is a traditional feast in Papua New Guinea where meat and vegetables are roasted in a hole in the ground.

Patrick and the pilot were both asked to speak at the service, so Patrick spent many hours preparing to share in Melanesian Pidgin.

The family then gathered drinking water to take with them and an extra change of clothes as they needed to cross a river before reaching the village. Just as they prepared to leave, the pilot called and said he needed to make a medical evacuation flight to Australia.

Patrick made a trip down the road to the village to tell the villagers that their plans were changed and the Eggletons spent a quiet morning at the school while the pilot made the medical evacuation.

Though the school was closed for the Christmas holiday, those still at the school held a Christmas Eve service and several of the children acted out the Christmas story. Patrick then planned a big screen movie night for the students, teachers and parents. This time the plans went smoothly and everyone enjoyed a movie theater-type experience.

Pray for Patrick and Dawn as they minister to the children of missionaries, providing a quality education for the children and enabling parents to minister in remote tribal areas in Papua New Guinea.

He is helping Jason learn the Tobo culture and language. Unex has heard many Old Testament stories but never from the perspective being taught by the missionaries Chad Mankins and Jason Knapp.

Unex has always believed, along with most Tobos, that God is vengeful, ready to pounce on them if they think or do bad things. He believes that if he continues to do good deeds and think good thoughts, his spirit will go to Heaven.

But as Unex hears the message that he can do nothing to pay for his sins -- except believe in Jesus -- he struggles with that concept. Hearing the lessons about God's love and His plan of redemption through belief in the promised Redeemer has really shed light on Who God is.

"He and his family have faithfully been coming to hear the teaching week after week," wrote Jason. "At this point Unex has not yet given us a testimony of salvation, but it's exciting for us to watch as the Holy Spirit works in his life showing him inconsistencies in his belief system."

Pray that Unex will understand the message of salvation and trust in Christ as his Savior. Pray too that Jason will quickly learn the Tobo culture and language so that he can help shepherd and teach the Tobo people.