Welcome to the Watters Edge

We are David and Robin Watters and we are part of God's Team planting churches among the unreached peoples of Papua New Guinea. It’s a privilege to be a part of the work God is doing through New Tribes Mission in PNG. Find out all about New Tribes Mission at http://www.ntm.org/about

We have served in many different capacities on God's Church Planting Team. Presently David is working in Tribal Supply and Robin is teaching at Numonohi Christian Academy, our boarding school for missionaries’ children. It is a real privilege to serve our fellow missionaries as we buy their supplies and teach their children. As we have served them, it has allowed them to effectively teach God’s Word to many people and see many of them come to believe in Christ as their Savior for the first time.

It has been a joy for us to do whatever we can to serve our tribal missionaries. Without a team around them supporting them, they would lose valuable time in finishing the work God has given them to do.

We have included a number of things on our site to show you how we are assisting our missionaries. Follow these links to find out all about us and our ministries. Don’t miss the video presentations on those pages. Check out Watters Ramblings to read all the latest from us, both updates about our family, as well as articles David has written to encourage and uplift our co-workers in the remote areas. You can read the most recent update below. Don't miss our photo gallery as well as photo albums on Our Family page. Also, check out the prayer page to view updated prayer requests from us and our friends and coworkers in PNG. If you would like to receive emails of all The Latest From the Watters, please subscribe by following the link in the left column. I hope you enjoy our site.

The Latest from the Watters

Joseph's Shepherd

The Scripture

Gen 35:22, Gen 37-39

The Scene

Joseph was the first born son of Jacob’s favorite wife Rachel. Rachel prayed for a son, and while her sister, her sister’s maid, and her maid were all able to give Jacob sons, Rachel could not. When God finally opened up her womb, it was an occasion to celebrate. Joseph was that son.

As Joseph grew, his father favored him over all the others. When he was a little older, Jacob made him a special coat. This made the jealousy his brothers felt even stronger. When the opportunity came, they planned to do away with him. The original plan… throw him in a pit and let him die. But then some merchants came along… plan 2, sell him as a slave.

Off to Egypt he went as a slave. Once in Egypt, the merchants sold him as a slave to Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s army. God was with Joseph in Potiphar’s house. God made Potiphar prosper because of Joseph. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of all of his house. But, Potiphar’s wife decided she wanted him for more than just keeping the house clean. When Joseph refused, she falsely accused him and he was thrown in prison.

The School Master

Psalm 105:17-19 “God had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave. 18His feet were hurt with fetters; his neck was put in a collar of iron; 19until what he had said came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him.

I have been meditating and thinking about these passages for a few weeks now. The more I study the life of Joseph, the more I appreciate him and his example. He is an amazing testimony of faith.

Why did God choose Joseph and not one of his brothers, Judah for instance? Judah was the oldest. Why was he not the one that God chose to send ahead? Then there’s Reuben. He’s the one that planned to rescue Joseph rather than leave him to die. He’s a nice guy, why didn’t God choose him?

Take a look at Gen 35:22 and chapter 38. I have wondered why those verses are recorded. But when you look at it in light of what Joseph experienced with Potiphars wife, they take on more significance.

God’s choice to send Joseph ahead meant slavery, Potiphar’s wife and prison for Joseph. But, in God’s foreknowledge, He knew Joseph would have the faith to endure. What would have happened had Reuben or Judah been in that situation?

What does this say about God’s shepherding of our faith? God knew that Joseph would endure. God trusted Joseph with the challenge, because He knew Joseph would respond in faith. God also knew this would build Joseph’s faith even more. (Gen 45:5-7, Gen 50:20)

How do you view trials in your life? God is the shepherd of our faith! Just as in Joseph’s life, he desires to grow our faith. He wants to trust us with challenges so that we can respond in faith, like Joseph did. But, not everyone is up to the task. What about you? Are you up to the task? Can God trust you with challenges and know that you will respond in faith? How are you going to respond? How deep is your faith?

Latest Updates Email Subscription

Subscribe to The Latest From the Watters by Email

Article Categories

Watters Ministry Fast Facts

David began training with NTM in 1990
Robin joined him after they were married in 1995
David and Robin became missionaries with NTM in 1997
David and Robin began their ministry in PNG in 2003

The Latest from NTM.org

NTM Latest News

Login

NTM PNG Latest News

News!! God is at work!

Hamtais thank Palmers

Next week missionary Tom Palmer will teach a workshop for Hamtai church leaders in Papua New Guinea. Tom and his wife, Corinne, have ministered among the Hamtai people for almost 60 years.

They are now working on the revision of the Hamtai New Testament Recently nine churches in one area asked Tom and Corrine to spend a weekend with them. Local church leaders asked Tom to teach about Jesus' final teaching before He ascended to Heaven.

"Also they wanted Tom to bring a TV and show them some video of the earlier years of the work," wrote Corinne. "However, their main purpose for our coming was to 'farewell' us. They put on several dramas and in various ways expressed their thankfulness to us for the years we spent in their tribe sharing the Gospel with them."

During that time, Corinne was approached by several Hamtai women who were convicted by Tom's teaching from John 13. They said they did not sincerely love their husbands.

"They wanted me to give them some 'steer talk' on how they could love their husbands," Corinne wrote. "As we were asking the leader for a time when we could meet, he suggested we meet with all the women and at the same time Tom could meet with all the men."

The Palmers felt that their time teaching the Hamtais was profitable. They are now making plans to return to the USA for the printing of the revised Hamtai New Testament.

"Monday, Aug. 9, I turned 81," Corinne wrote. Pray for the Palmers as they continue to teach, translate and minister among the Hamtais. Pray also for a safe trip home and the printing of the New Testament.

About Our Ministry

Tribal Supply

Have you ever thought about how missionaries living in remote areas buy their groceries? How much time would it take away from their work? Tribal Supply ensures that our friends can remain uninterrupted and effective, thus speeding the Gospel to those who still need to understand its life changing message.