Dear Friends and Fellow Laborers, February/2024
On February 15th, 2023, we stepped off a plane into a whole new world. Well, it’s the same world, just the other side of it! So many new things to hear, to see, to learn, and to experience. It has been quite the experience indeed. Almost a full year in Indonesia, and we have seen God work in our lives, in our family, in our health, in our language ability, and so much more! Thank you so much for your faithful prayers for God’s wisdom, protection, and guidance in our lives.
A quick update on our language school: Gina and I both have begun our next semester of language school. This should be the last semester of language school for me, but if there is one thing I remember hearing dozens of missionaries say, it is “You never stop learning the language.” Please pray for my continued growth and learning of Indonesian. I have also heard Gina’s growth in Indonesian over the last few months. She is working very hard to be able to communicate well, and I cannot wait to see how God uses her in the lives of young ladies all over Indonesia! Please pray for our continued growth in the Indonesian language.
While we are in this period of learning, we are serving alongside veteran missionaries Josh and Elizabeth Ewing. Please pray for the growth of Segala Bangsa Gereja Baptis (Every Nation Baptist Church). Please pray for Josh and I as we try to find the best ways to reach out into the community and share the Gospel with those around us. Pray that we have boldness to share the Gospel and that God would work in the hearts of those who hear it.
Thank you so much for praying for our family's health. As we are learning Indonesian, often times our brain just gets tired of learning new ways to communicate. Other times we find that we temporarily forget how to say something in English. There is a word in Indonesian “Capeh” (Chŏ-Peh) which translates as “tired”, but it speaks of a mental tiredness. As I think of how we have often felt ’capeh’ over the months, I am certain that each pastor at each of our supporting churches has also felt ‘capeh’. Please keep the health of our family in your prayers, and please keep the health (mental and physical) of your pastor in your prayers too!
Thank you for being faithful to pray for us, and for our prayer requests. Pray for us to have patience and wisdom to deal with the trials that God allows to come our way. Pray for our children that we may teach them about the Lord so that they may one day have a personal relationship with Him. Lastly, pray for us as we continue to grow together as a family.
With Love in Our Hearts,
In Service to the King,
Jens, Gina, Thalia & Inara Looney
Your Missionaries to Indonesia