Saying goodbye…

Photo Credit: Amy Evers

 

We are in a season of goodbyes right now, as the school year comes to a close in three weeks and many families leave, either for a home assignment or to finish their time here in PNG. We also said a sad goodbye to our dog J.C., who would have been 16 years old in July. We have loved having him as our own these last three years since we adopted him from his original family, but we’ve known him since 2015. He was a beloved part of our lives here and will be so sorely missed. Thank you for praying for all those saying goodbye this month and the heartache that causes; we’re grateful that our God knows all about grief and will always comfort us in the midst of it.

Finishing our tenth year teaching at Ukarumpa International School…

Photo Credit: Ken Nelson

 

“That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” 1 Timothy 4:10-11 NIV

It has been a blessing to see another year at UIS nearing completion, with all of the joy and excitement that brings. Our students love to learn, to have fun and to engage with each other and their teachers, making this a special place to teach. It has been a privilege to educate them this year, and to see them grow in their understanding of God, His creation, and themselves. Whether Kathy was helping the Grades 6 and 7 classes launch water bottle rockets (pictured below), dissecting cane toads and rats with the Grade 9 students (not pictured :-), or performing experiments with the Grade10 Chemistry in the Community class, it has been a full and fruitful year. Pray for Scott’s Self Defense class as they complete their scenario-based final exam this week, known as Club Mayhem; it’s an opportunity to put all of their knowledge into practice. Praise for Sports Day taking place last week, and for good weather for the event. Pray for upcoming semester exams, as the students strive to finish the year well and to demonstrate their knowledge in all of their rigorous academic subjects. Praise for our graduating class and the ways the LORD is guiding their steps and providing for all of their needs. Psalm 150:6 (ESV) says, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD” and we will praise Him and be thankful always.

Prayer Points...

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for all of the language groups who do have access to God’s Word to be faithfully using and applying it in their daily lives.

• Bible translation: Pray for the Nobonob Bible dedication in early June to bring glory to God and be well received by the community.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise for a few more teachers in the pipeline for next year. Pray for everyone at UIS to finish strong. Pray for Scott, the Security team, and the Crisis Management Team, for wisdom, discernment and safety.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the families who will be leaving PNG within the next month, for good closure and peace as they transition back to their passport countries.

• God’s provision: You’re such a blessing from the LORD in our lives and we could not serve here without you - thank you for your prayer support & encouragement!

Celebrating Resurrection Sunday…

 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:26 NKJV

We are a community, with each family serving alongside of us in Papua New Guinea for the same purpose - that every language group might receive God’s Word in their heart language, the language that they understand best. But why is this so important? It is because we believe that Jesus is exactly who He claimed to be in the Gospels: the Son of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life, and the only way to God the Father. We are privileged to have several translations of the Bible at our fingertips, but many language groups here in PNG still only have access to the Tok Pisin Bible, written in the primary trade language, and no access to God’s Word in their heart language. As it says in Romans 10:14, “And how can they believe in Him of whom they have not heard?”. Our desire is for all people to hear the Good News about Jesus, so they can choose to believe and be saved from their sins. Please continue to pray for everyone engaged in Bible translation here and around the world - until all have heard and Jesus returns!

Easter sunrise…

One of our most favorite traditions in Ukarumpa is the Easter sunrise church service, followed by a hot brunch with friends. It reminds us of many years of wonderful sunrise services at our home church in NH, though admittedly the weather is typically much nicer here. We gather together with our family of brothers and sisters in Christ to celebrate Jesus’ death and resurrection and the hope that we have in His salvation, a future together in eternity. While we do miss gathering with our families in the USA or with our church family in NH, it is such a blessing to know that we are all celebrating the greatest gift ever given, regardless of the miles that seperate us.

Prayer Points...

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for repentance and revival in the Aiyura valley and throughout PNG this Easter season.

• Bible translation: Pray for the Culture Meets Scripture workshop coming up in Tami, for people to engage with God’s Word and find healing through His peace and truth.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for a good finish to Term 4 at UIS and for more administrators and teachers for next year. Pray for Scott, the Security team, and the Crisis Management Team, for wisdom, discernment and safety.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the families of our Grade 12 class who will be leaving PNG on either furlough or permanently, for good closure and finishing strong.

• God’s provision: You’re such a blessing from the LORD in our lives and we could not serve here without you - thank you for your prayer support & encouragement!

Continuing to pray for more teachers and administrators…

 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”  -Proverbs 3: 5-6  NKJV

Thank you for continuing to pray for the needs of UIS. This school is a blessing to the families of translators and support workers from 20 different countries and serves local families from the Aiyura valley as well. It is an amazing place to teach, alongside gifted colleagues who love God, their subject areas, their students and each other. We are so thankful for returning teachers, filling the needs for high school English, Computer and Social Studies for next year. We are grateful for the incredible administrators who have supported and encouraged us this year, but some are leaving permanently and some are going on home assignment for 6-12 months. So, there are still many needs at our school for next year. Please continue to faithfully pray, and even consider if the LORD could be leading you to come and serve with us!