Seeing God’s Hand at Work in 2017

We have been amazed, again and again, as we have witnessed God’s faithfulness, love and grace poured out on and through His people this past year. There certainly have been challenges, but we have experienced His peace and joy in the midst of them. Scott had spent most of 2017 serving in his 3rd year as Security Operations Manager, when he was given an opportunity to step into a new role. He will be temporarily filling the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) position until April, and is currently learning the details of this critical function. He will be responsible for overseeing the human resources needs of 600 expatriate missionaries and 200 Papua New Guinean paid staff, including working as part of a team on issues from medical evacuations to child safety concerns. Please pray for him as he faces a steep learning curve and is relying of God for strength and wisdom to learn quickly and well while the current CHRO is here mentoring him. 

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Top: Attending a traditional “mumu” feast in a village with our friends was a highlight this fall. Sharing a meal and laughing with their children transcends cultural barriers and is a wonderful way to deepen relationships here in the valley.  

Above: Scott and Kathy also enjoyed the Goroka Cultural show in September and met some wonderful people there! 

The Joy of Serving

It is often said, “tis is better to give than receive” and we have certainly seen the truth of that in our experiences here, especially as we have had opportunities to serve and pray in the local hospital, and in our roles working with expatriates and Papua New Guineans in Ukarumpa. And we love the roles we have been called to, investing in the lives of people from many nations and supporting the work of Bible translation. However, we are also so very grateful for what we have received, both through our partners and through God’s grace. We could not be serving here without our prayer and financial partners who faithfully and sacrificially contribute to our Wycliffe ministry. And currently we have a new opportunity: to purchase a small house here in Ukarumpa. It would allow us to settle in one place and not move every 3-6 months, and to better offer hospitality to others. Please pray with us, that the LORD would provide financially for this home and for all the logistics involved. We would own the structure, not the land, and would be helping the Bible translation team who has owned it since 1972 but are returning home due to health issues. It is another affirmation to us that we have been called to serve here in PNG for this time, for as long as God allows.

The greatest gift we have ever received is the gift of Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for our salvation and reconciliation to God. There is no act of service that we could ever do to earn it, repay it, or try to match it. Christ’s gift is a gift of grace, for the forgiveness of our sins, undeserved and freely given out of love and obedience to his Father in Heaven and the Father’s love for us. This Christmas, take time to reflect and let the joy of this gift bring you deep peace and refreshment, even in the midst of a busy and often hectic season. And if you have never known the joy of this gift, please pray to Jesus and ask for it. We promise it will be the best present you have ever received!

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no-one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2: 4-10 (NIV) 

Prayer Points & Prayers Answered in 2017

It has been a blessing to see God answer prayer as we have served in our expanded support roles. Kathy continues teaching middle and high school classes and serving as Science department head. Scott taught a high school self defense class while transitioning from Security Operations Manager to Chief Human Resources Officer. The fruit of our support work is seeing Bibles, like the Kasua New Testament, completed and dedicated this year. Thank you for your prayers!

Above: We moved into a new permanent house for us on center last week

A Temporary Assignment for Scott

Scott has been asked to serve as acting Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for our mission over the next several months. Scott’s assistant, Ranken Ose, will assume day to day security responsibilities during this time. Please pray for the transition and the new challenges that lie ahead.

Above: Scott and Ranken Ose. Scott is privileged to disciple and train a Papua New Guinean to temporarily serve in his role as Security Operations Manager. Photo credit: Stephanie Tobiana

Visiting the Sick at Kaintantu Hospital...

We recently had the opportunity to go with friends from the Tok Pisin church to pray with the sick at a local hospital, and to meet their physical needs with some clean water, banana bread and baby clothes. Kathy spent her time praying with the new and expecting mothers in the maternity ward, sharing cups of cold water and food. Scott met a local pastor who had lost his eye after being attacked with an axe and shot with both a gun and arrow while trying to keep the peace in his village. The pastor had come to Christ years before while in prison through a prison ministry. One of the men with us had been instrumental in sharing the Gospel with him back then and was able to pray now for his healing. In Matthew 24:36,40, Jesus says, “I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” What a privilege! 

Above: Kathy at the Kainantu Hospital, after praying with the woman beside her who had lost her hearing in one ear. Please pray for her to regain her hearing, and for her baby, Michelle, (on the bed) to stay healthy and strong. And for her mother, who was able to come and help care for them both. 

November Prayer Points...

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for peace in the Aiyura Valley and throughout PNG.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Youth With A Mission “Jesus Video” workshop that was completed last week.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for the busy second half of Term 2 of school and praise for our successful Carnival fundraiser. Pray for wisdom as Scott begins his new temporary CHRO role.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the Logans, who dedicated the Kasua New Testament this month, and are completing 29 years of service in PNG.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through his people- will you consider partnering with our Wycliffe ministry?

Every language, receiving God’s Word...

This was our prayer, as we walked through the Goroka cultural show on Independence Day weekend: that every language would receive God’s Word. It never strikes us more completely than when we see so many language groups together in one place, all in traditional costumes, singing in their heart languages, in a chaotic and visually stunning array. We talked with many of the performers, and when they posed with us for a photo, we told them their picture would remind us to pray for them. It is the individuals we meet who inspire us to serve here, knowing their eternal destiny is at stake. This is why we are excited for the upcoming Bible dedications; knowing faces and names of people in these language groups makes it real to us. And why we were so glad to see many people coming to the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) booth to receive audio-Bibles in already published languages, downloaded to their smart phones. Technology is making it easier to get the Word out, but ultimately it is still the Holy Spirit who is changing and transforming lives.

Above: Kathy and Scott, making new friends at the Goroka show.

Happy 42nd Independence Day!

It was great to see so many students, staff & teachers celebrate PNG Independence Day by wearing traditional costumes and PNG colors. We gathered for a photo and sang the national anthem, and then our PNG staff treated us all to a “mumu” feast of traditionally prepared foods: yum!

Photo credit: Bob Noble (yes, that’s Kathy up in the back row!)

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for a spiritual revival in the Aiyura Valley and throughout PNG.

• Bible translation: Pray for wisdom for the participants in the Discover Your Language course, learning grammar and structure to help them in the translation process.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise that the first term of school was successfully completed. Pray for wisdom as Scott participates in a multi-mission meeting on Crisis Management in Goroka.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the Bruners, who dedicated the Fataleka New Testament in the Solomon Islands this month.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs, even allowing Scott’s computer to be repaired!

Six great reasons to celebrate...

We rejoice with the translation teams who are completing their New Testament (NT) translations and dedicating them within the next 12 months. It is humbling to think of the decades of love, work and sacrifice that have been poured in, and how God will use His Word among these languages to bring more people to salvation. Please be in prayer for the dedications of the Barok NT in New Ireland on September 8, the Fataleka NT in the Solomon Islands on September 16, the Kasua NT in Southwest PNG on October 26, the Menya NT in Morobe on February 23, the Baruga NT in Oro province on June 10 and the Doromu-Koki NT in Central province on September 16, 2018. It has been a privilege to get to know these translators and hear their stories of God’s faithfulness to them and the people they’ve served all these years. This morning, we prayed for our friends the Vargas family, as they were commissioned and are beginning this process by allocating to the DioDio language group near Alotau. God’s Word is still going out to every tribe and tongue and it is an honor to serve Him in this endeavor.

Above  Pat Whitehead and her husband Carl have served for over 4 decades with the Menya people. They were prayed over at a recent church service after revealing the first printed copy of the Menya New Testament. The joy in Pat’s tears as she held the fruit of their labors spoke volumes about the journey God has brought them through. Please pray for the impact of the Word of God among the Menya!

Serving God in IT...

Scott has been dealing with a host of technology issues lately. His desktop computer died and was out of commission for 9 days. In the interim, he used his personal laptop until it, too, stopped working. We often take technology for granted until it fails. Thankfully, God has sent people here with a variety of skills, including Information Technology (IT). Have you ever wondered how your skills could be used in ministry? Pray and ask where God can use you!

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for peace in the Aiyura Valley and throughout PNG.

• Bible translation: Pray for wisdom and understanding for the participants in the Hebrew course currently being held in Ukarumpa until September 12.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise that the new school year is off to a good start, including Scott’s Self Defense class. Pray for wisdom as Scott also serves the security needs in Ukarumpa.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for a good transition for the Vargas family as they begin the DioDio Bible translation in Alotau.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people and thank you to all of our partners!

New Creative Ways to Serve...

Support staff in Ukarumpa can serve in many unique ways. Not only is Kathy back to teaching a new school year at Ukarumpa International School (UIS), but she has gotten Scott to join her! Scott is now teaching a high school elective course in personal security at UIS. The class runs for one semester and covers risk management, combative theory, legal concepts, basic combative skills, how criminals select victims, basic criminological theory, interpersonal violence and stalking, residential security concepts, travel security, campus security, low risk/high consequence incidents and personal emergency planning. Scott’s hope is that his students will use these principles to make wiser decisions, both here in PNG and once they return to their passport counties, and have some basic skills they can use to defend themselves if needed. Many of our students return to their home countries without their families and attend college or university, so empowering them is a blessing. Even a fellow teacher wanted to audit the course, and Scott was encouraged! 

Above: Scott is teaching his Self Defense class at UIS. He is using a combination of both lecture and practice of physical skills to prepare his students for the unexpected. This is yet another unconventional way we can serve in Bible translation and be a blessing to those around us. 

Reading is Fundamental...

It was a great way to spend part of the school break: working with other teachers and students, like the Eirena family pictured left, to assemble literacy books for the Kope people. Overall, 21 titles in 4 languages and 2598 books were made by about 20 volunteers and then flown to the village by the translation team. They are being used in a literacy teacher training course taking place now, which will help to empower the local community to be able to read in their heart language. 

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for a peaceful transition of power following the PNG elections.

• Bible translation: Pray for the 6 language teams currently in Alotau participating in the Translator Training course.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for the beginning of a new UIS school year, and for good health for the teachers and students. Pray for Scott’s wisdom and discernment as he serves the security needs in Ukarumpa, and teaches his new UIS class.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for good transitions for those who have recently returned to PNG from their passport countries.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people. 

The Many Ways to Serve Bible Translation

As support staff here in Ukarumpa, we can sometimes feel removed from the front lines of Bible translation. We know we are serving in critical roles here, and for Scott managing the security program, that role never ends. For Kathy, especially during the school break, though, it is easy to perceive herself as disconnected from the ultimate purpose we are here to serve. So, it has been a blessing to have the time to serve the Bible translators directly in some different ways. Some translation teams with children use this time to go to their remote villages for several weeks as a family, leaving behind homes and pets that need care. Kathy has been blessed to help feed dogs, birds, and even a mountain cuscus (a PNG marsupial the size of a possum but much cuter). Translators often have weeks of preparation before heading to their villages,including dehydrating food and preparing literacy materials. By us helping with the dehydrating process, and collating and stapling booklets, a translator is freed up to continue their language work. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 that we each make up the many different parts of the Body of Christ, the Church, with our different gifts and skills, and all are needed and important members. So use the gifts God has given you to serve Him in whatever way He enables you to serve! 

Above: Kathy with Emerald, a rainbow lorikeet. Just another unconventional way we can serve Bible translation! 

Our New View

We moved to another rental house last week, abutting the back perimeter fence and overlooking the village behind our center. The view is beautiful, but it also reminds us to pray daily for the even more remote villages who have far less access to medical care, electricity or clean water. During this election, many people will walk for many miles to get to their regional polling places to cast their votes. Please continue to pray that all people will be fairly represented and that God’s will shall be done in this PNG election. 

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for a peaceful election time and that God’s hand would guide all involved.

• Bible translation: Pray for the checking of the Odoodee New Testament, which is 75% complete at this time.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise that Kathy finished the school year well, and even stayed healthy! Pray for Scott’s wisdom and discernment as he serves the security needs in Ukarumpa, especially during this election season.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for good transitions for those who have recently returned to their passport countries on furlough.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people. 

We’ re never bored...

The last month has been very busy for both of us, but we are grateful for your prayers and God’s provision through it all. On May 8th and 9th the U.S. Ambassador visited Ukarumpa. On May 18th Scott made an emergency trip to Port Moresby to assist another mission with a significant security incident. On May 25th we paid our respects to a long term missionary who passed away while in country. On May 26th, students from Ukarumpa International School attended their annual banquet, which is a prom-like event held each year. As we approach June, Kathy is preparing her students for final examinations. Graduation will soon follow and then many families will travel with their graduates back to their passport countries. Locally this is known as “Cry Week” because there are so many goodbyes. Missionaries and “third culture kids” are acutely aware of how painful these transitions are, but try to approach them with intentionality, transparency and love. We miss our family and friends back home, but we are grateful to help others going through this process and know that our roles ultimately support Bible translation efforts here in PNG.

Above: Kathy’s 7th grade class with their water-powered rockets, which were successfully launched as part of their Term 4 Astronomy unit. The Grade 10 Biology class also successfully dissected cane toads and rats as part of their zoology unit, but fortunately those pictures are not shown here.

Photo Credit: Victoria Weaver 

Opportunities

It is a blessing that, even while serving in a remote location like Ukarumpa, we still get opportunities to connect with U.S. officials and Wycliffe representatives who are willing to travel here to meet with the expatriate community and hear about our work and our needs. Ultimately, we know it is God providing for us daily and we are grateful that He hears us, no matter where we are! 

Above: Kathy and Scott with the U.S. Ambassador, Counselor Affairs Officer & Assistant Regional Security Officer in Ukarumpa. Photo Credit: Erik Lofgren 

Prayer Points

Papua New Guinea: Please pray for a peaceful election time, that God’s hand would guide all involved. Elections peak in our region of the highlands in June and July.

Bible translation: Pray for the Kamano Kafe translation team who are filming a video about the effects of sorcery. Pray for successful production, and that people’s hearts would be reached with their message.

Our roles in PNG: Pray for Kathy to finish the school year well, and for the graduating seniors to transition well. Pray also for Scott’s wisdom and discernment as he negotiates through challenging situations.

God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people. 

The Land of the Unexpected...

Papua New Guinea is sometimes called “The Land of the Unexpected,” and our experience has proven that title to be true again and again. Last month we traveled to Madang, the coastal city where we did our initial training back in January of 2014. Scott was conducting some site security assessments and training for other missionaries and, since it was school break, Kathy came along so we could visit with friends from another mission. One night after dinner, our friend Joni received a call from a village sister who was going into labor. Since there is no national emergency medical services in PNG, she asked if Joni and her husband, Jim, could drive out to the village, pick her up and take her to the hospital. Within minutes, we all piled into the Land Cruiser and began traveling out of the city and into the jungle. After an hour and a half of driving off-road on small bush trails in the pitch darkness, we picked up their friend and drove her to a remote mission hospital where she gave birth 30 minutes later. It wasn't how we expected to spend the night, but God had much more exciting plans for us in the Land of the Unexpected, and we had the opportunity to be part of a blessing to a national family in need. 

Ministry can take many forms...

“We are never given training like this,”said a national woman attending Scott’s self defense class, “especially not for free!” Scott spent two afternoons training both national and expatriate women on basic self-defense techniques while in Madang. This training was intended to assist them with strategies to avoid dangerous situations and, failing that, to escape as quickly as possible. Their gratitude was evident, as well as their joy in getting to kick Scott around for a bit! 

April Prayer Points

Papua New Guinea: Pray for a peaceful election period in our host country as they go about their democratic process and that God’s hand would guide all involved.

Bible translation: Praise for the completion of the final typesetting of the Baruga New Testament this week!

Our roles in PNG: Pray for Kathy’s strength & endurance as she seeks to finish the school year well, and to support her students and colleagues. Pray also for Scott’s wisdom and discernment as he serves the security needs in Ukarumpa, at regional centers, and at other missions around PNG.

God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people. 

Easter weekend in Ukarumpa began with interactive Stations of the Cross on Good Friday and celebrated on Sunday with a lovely sunrise service lead by UIS students. Worshipping the Risen Savior with our PNG brothers and sisters by placing tropical flowers on the empty cross was a beautiful symbol of receiving life everlasting through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. He is Risen, indeed! 

God’s Word in every language, in every life

“It is Well” was the theme of our biennial Branch Conference this year, and we were encouraged to participate in a week of building unity and catching a vision of what God is doing in each region throughout PNG, as well as a 5 year action plan for moving forward. We laughed and cried, studied God’s Word, rejoiced in what has been accomplished and recognized the challenges that still lay ahead. We tackled difficult subjects, like serving the 300 “bibleless peoples” and language groups remaining in PNG, as well as “peopleless bibles” where translations have been finished but aren’t being utilized without more church engagement and scripture use training in these low education and literacy areas. Please continue to pray for God’s leading and direction in Bible translation, Scripture use, Literacy & Education, and Church engagement here in PNG. And pray for our continued endurance as we seek to further support all of these efforts through our ministries here. 

Above: What a privilege to gather & worship God with our colleagues here at our biennial Branch Conference. Each day began with singing and God’s Word, followed by testimonies and a challenging message, before getting down to reports and governance. We came away inspired and strengthened though it all, with a new sense of awe of all God is doing here in PNG! Photo credit: Susan Frey 

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for God’s strengthening & growth of the PNG church & their engagement with His Word.

• Bible translation: Pray for physical & spiritual protection for the translators completing their New Testaments this year.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for strength & endurance for Kathy as she begins Term 4 and seeks to finish the school year well. Pray for Scott’s wisdom and discernment, as he continues to serve the security needs in Ukarumpa, at regional centers, & other missions around PNG.

• Family needs: Pray for peace and healing for Kathy’s family, in the wake of her Dad’s death.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people. 

Would you enjoy a coffee field trip?

Our grade 7 students certainly did, as did their chaperones! Kathy joined the grade 7 class on a PNG studies field trip to a local coffee processing facility, where beans grown from around the Highlands are purchased, dried, sorted, graded and packaged for export to the roasters who will complete the process. We all gained a fresh perspective on what an intricate process it is and now we have a whole new appreciation for the labor of love behind the wonderful hot brew in our cups each morning! 

Opportunities to work together with other missions

As a missionary and career security professional, Scott has long known that when bad things happen, plans never work out exactly as expected. Still, the act of planning provides a baseline, sharpens our minds, and allows for educated improvisation. Undergirding our ability to plan and respond to critical incidents is the fact that it is God, ultimately, who is in control. Proverbs 21:31 puts it this way, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” We are responsible for our actions or lack thereof and we need to take those responsibilities seriously while remaining cognizant of the fact God’s will is never hampered by man’s actions.

It is in this spirit that Scott recently traveled with our mission's Crisis Management Team to meet with other mission organizations working in PNG. Members of seven different missions, representing five nationalities and various types of ministry, all met to pray and discuss security issues and crisis management plans. It was a great time of sharing and fellowship that not only resulted in better preparedness for our organizations, but also built stronger relationships between fellow missionaries. 

Above: Rainy season here in PNG; the rivers are full and the hills are lush and green. 

Studying God’s Creation

Examining the natural world and seeing God’s creativity in it is one of Kathy’s passions, and she loves to share that with her students. The genius of His creation is evident all around us, if we would only pause to appreciate and enjoy it. It is always a joy when her biology students get to do a lab outdoors and encounter this firsthand. What a privilege to work with such great students, and get to enjoy the beautiful summer weather here in PNG, at least in between the rain storms! 

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for God’s grace and wisdom for all those in government this year.

• Bible translation: Pray for the 3 New Testaments in the progress of typesetting and printing, to be dedicated in their language groups in 2017.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for wisdom as Scott works on strategic security plans and Kathy mentors her students.

• Family needs: Pray for Kathy’s family, especially her mom, as they face the new year without her dad.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people and pray for His abundant blessing on our partners & their families throughout 2017.