Merry Christmas!

We have so enjoyed spending this Christmas with family. Merry Christmas from Canada!

He's here!

 Meet Kai Derek!

He surprised us by coming 4 weeks early

 Sept. 4, 2013, 3:10am

6lbs 7oz

21 inches

Is Baby #3 a Boy or Girl?

We wanted to find out if we were having a boy or girl, so we decided to reveal the gender to our family and friends with blue or pink balloons...is our baby a boy or girl?

The kids opened up the box and discovered we are having a....

BOY!!! Silas was right! He's getting the baby brother he prayed for!

In Canada awaiting the birth of baby #3!

We arrived back in Canada in March and have settled in our temporary home for the year. 

Sarah has been to see a midwife and received the many test results she had done upon returning. It is confirmed she has gestational diabetes once again, as-well as low iron (not unusual for her as-well). Since she is well acquainted with a diabetic diet this is an easy thing for her to control, but is seeing a diabetes consultant during the pregnancy as-well. We were able to see our baby on ultrasound, and all is looking great!

The kids are enjoying being so close to grandpa and grandma and are adjusting well to life in Canada.

Derek has been speaking at various churches and is working on getting into his role as a missions representative this year. Please Pray for him as he seeks opportunities to share the Lord with others.

Photo: Our first couple days back, Silas got all bundled up (It's cold here!) and enjoyed riding Papa's Berg Buddy car

Little Miracle

Little Miracle
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

Yune is starting to look a bit better. She was sitting up eating a namo (taro) this morning. Thank you so much for your prayers! We are certain that she would have died if God hadn't spared her life! She was just about dead, and our all-powerful God reached down and performed a miracle. This little one has so much potential, and we continue to pray for complete strength for her and for her life to glorify Him. He's got plans, a hope and a future for this little girl. Yune isn't the only little one who's life has been spared here in Dao. Typically, the Dao people don't name their children until they are 2 years old because they are afraid they will die. Some of the believers have begun naming their children earlier now, Yune being one of them.

Thank you for interceding on her behalf!
Derek, Sarah, Silas and Kali

Yune update

Yune update
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

Yune made it through the night, but we are not out of the woods yet. She is still extremely "out of it." She just lays there staring, no crying or moving. She is having a hard time breathing, so we are trying to keep her elevated. Derek just went down to give her, her 2nd shot. Her mother, Paada, is still very sick as-well. Thank you for praying for the Lord to show His mighty hand, if that is His will!

Sarah

Please Pray

Please Pray
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

Please Pray for a little girl named Yune. She is the 1 year old daughter of our friends Paatoma and Paada. Paatoma is one of the men who have been helping Derek teach. Derek just came up to the porch to get some injectable antibiotics to give to her, but the people are all saying she is about to die. Please pray the Lord would spare her little life. She is one of Kali's little friends, and we pray she will grow up to know the Lord and serve Him.

Kali & Kibiwa

Kali & Kibiwa
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

Kali loves her Dao friends, and the love her!

Eternity

Eternity
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

It is with much sadness we said goodbye to our friend Obapui, for the last time. He was the Dao "grandpa" around here. Every time we would bring the kids down to see him, he would say, "Oh thank you! thank you! Thank you for bringing my grandkids to visit!" He called our kids "nimai" which means "my grandchild."

We have deeper sadness concerning his death because we do not know if he truly placed his trust in Jesus for his salvation. He seemed confused about it, and did not give a clear testimony. We only hope that he did finally come to a clear understanding of his standing as a sinner before a holy God and trusted Jesus to save him. We hope that we will see him once again, and get to spend eternity with him in heaven. Only God knows now.

We loved this sweet man and will miss him greatly.

New brothers and sisters!

New brothers and sisters!
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

Thank you for your prayers!
Derek recently sent an update about the final 2 days of the Bible teaching. Here is what he wrote:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Thanks for your prayers concerning the Bible lessons that were taught over the past 2 months here in Dao. My co-worker Scott, initially taught these same lessons for the first time back in 2007, and the Lord saved several of the Dao people at that time. Since then, these lessons and others have been taught several times in 4 different places around Dao. Two of the original believers are named Yoni and Kogepiyaa. Both of these men had taught these lessons before and I was glad that they were there to help me teach them once again. I'm so proud of them and am honoured and privileged to know and serve our Lord along side such men. They sacrificed much to faithfully stay, study and teach over these past 2 months. After each lesson, we tried to ask the listeners questions to determine how well the people were understanding. For awhile, Yoni would sleep in a new hut, rotating between the 4 huts around here, every night just to sit with, ask questions and explain things to the people.

During the teaching allot of people came and went, but 9 people stayed for the duration. Their names are Ikage, his wife Atadepi, their sons Yagekaa and Nedi (along with their two other very young children), Bokoisibo, Kogiyai, Maipiya Maatuku and Amiyoo.

Before we started teaching the lessons it was pretty clear that Maatuku was already a young believer. For Bokoisibo, Maipiya and Amiyoo it was unclear whether they were believers or not. For the others ones who's names are written above, they showed none or little sign of understanding what their Saviour had done for them.

After teaching about the crucifixion and burial of Christ on Thursday, all of them (with the exception of Nedi who is quite young) acknowledged that Jesus was the sent one and son of God. They also confessed that they were sinners and that there was nothing they could do to wash their sin away. Each one expressed that they trusted that Jesus died to completely wash away their sin. Many of the other believers around where we live joined to listen and contribute during the last days of the lessons. They too with joy confirmed that Jesus was their Saviour. A few of the older folks showed up for the final days as well. They too acknowledged that Jesus died for sins, but failed to acknowledge that they themselves were sinners or ever had been. A huge argument broke out and some of the believers here, quite forcibly tried to communicate, "Yes you are a sinner!" It was hard to hear my good friend Paatoma filled with emotion, that materialized as anger, trying to convince his mom of her sin while she said over and over again, "I want to understand, but I just don't."

The next day we taught the last lesson about the resurrection and ascension of Christ. After the lesson, Kogepiyaa, Yoni and I encouraged the believers to pray to God their Father and thank Him for what He did for them. One by one they prayed beautiful prayers of praise and thanksgiving to their Lord. I can only imagine how pleased He was hearing his children offer up praises and thanksgiving to HIm. After we prayed we sang a song which expressed that we are one with Jesus. After singing, Ikage got up and snapped my knuckle and pretty soon everyone was on their feet snapping knuckles and saying, "Thank-you Jesus!"

I praise the Lord that by His power, He reached down once again and saved unworthy people. I'm thankful for the continued work of our Lord who began saving people here in Dao over 5 years ago and has not stopped adding people to His kingdom.

Thank you for your prayers for the Dao people,
Derek and Sarah Grant, Silas and Kali

PRAY!!!!

PRAY!!!!
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

The death and burial of Jesus will be taught tomorrow. Please be in prayer for the Dao people hearing the Gospel. Pray the Lord would open their eyes to hear, understand, and believe!

Faces of Dao - Sekepiyaa

Faces of Dao - Sekepiyaa
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

This is Sekepiyaa. He has been sick recently.
Please pray for him and his wife (Kiki) to return to our area quickly so he can continue hearing the teaching.
We've been told that he won't be returning, but pray that he will anyway.

Faces of Dao - Maipiyaa

Faces of Dao - Maipiyaa
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

This is Maipiyaa. He is from a couple days hike away in an area called Kupe Kuye. He has faithfully attended all the lessons so far. Again, please be praying, as Derek wraps up the teaching in the next week or two.

Faces of Dao - Matuku

Faces of Dao - Matuku
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

This is Matuku. He is a young boy from Upper Dao.
He has faithfully attended the teaching, and we are praying for his salvation.

Faces of Dao - Otomee

Faces of Dao - Otomee
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

This is Otomee. His mom, brothers, and sister are here listening to the teaching. He is still quite young, and doesn't always pay attention, but he does seem to be getting some of it. His older brother is one of our Dao teachers, Yoni.

Faces of Dao - Paina

Faces of Dao - Paina
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

This is Paina. His name means snake. He has been here for part of the teaching, but has heard before. Please pray that he would understand that he is a hopeless sinner in need of Saviour.

Faces of Dao - Pawogaapi

Faces of Dao - Pawogaapi
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

Paawogaapi is the mother of one of the Dao teachers, Yoni. She has 4 boys and 1 little girl. She has heard this teaching before, and we are pretty sure she is a believer. She is a sweet lady, and we pray that she will continue to grow in her faith and raise her children up in truth.

Faces of Dao - Atadeepi

Faces of Dao - Atadeepi
Originally uploaded by Derek & Sarah Grant.

This is Atadeepi and her little girl. Her husband's name is Ikage. This family has been some of our faithful listeners at the teaching. Please pray for Ikage, Atadeepi, their 3 boys and little girl. As far as we know, this is the first time they have sat through the entire Phase 1 teaching.