Praying for more workers for the harvest...

“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” -Matthew 9:37-38 KJV

Over the years, we have seen fewer missionaries coming to the field from traditional sending countries. Financially speaking, fewer personnel means that less funds are available to run Bible translation programs. Fewer missionaries also means that those who are here end up doing more work. It is not uncommon for someone to hold one major role and one or two secondary roles. Add to this unexpected departures for medical or other reasons, and continuity becomes a significant challenge. One may come to the field to perform a certain role and find themselves the head of another department because they were the most qualified person available at the time. In other words, faith, flexibility and grace are a necessity to continue the work of ministry. Since this personnel shortage is a world-wide trend in missions, we are not alone. Here in Papua New Guinea, we are addressing this issue by going into deeper partnerships with local Christian organizations, as well as with other missions that lack the level of infrastructure we have in place. As the head of Human Resources, Scott has been part of a team working out agreements with other missions who want to co-locate a portion of their staff here in Ukarumpa. In addition, we are continuing to actively recruit Papua New Guinean citizens to assume more leadership roles. We know that God is the Lord of the Harvest and that He will provide the workers. We also know that every Christian is called to the Great Commission, whether serving in their home country or overseas. So, if you have ever wondered if you are “called” to missions, the answer is yes. If you believe that God calling you to leave your home country and serve overseas, we’d like to hear from you and pray for you as you seek confirmation of your call.

Almost normal...

It has felt good at school to see normal activities taking place beyond the academics: sports, dress up days (like Twin Day in the picture), pep rallies, the Uka from Scratch Craft fair, and so many others. After a very long season of not being able to do so many of the things that make school fun, we are thankful for every opportunity. It is easy to take things for granted and only appreciate what you have when it is gone. In this season of Thanksgiving, what are you thankful for today? What blessings has the LORD poured

Prayer Points...

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace and an end to tribal conflicts in the Aiyura valley.

• Bible translation: Pray that the successful Trauma Healing workshop in the Nek language area continues to bear much fruit.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott as he continues interviews for a PNG Chief Human Resources Officer, to fulfill localization in that role. Pray for Kathy and all the students as they finish Term 2 at Ukarumpa International School.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for God’s provision for families who continue to try to return to their roles in PNG.

• God’s provision: We thank God for this season of Thanksgiving - we are thankful for you!

Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you.

Praising God for His provision and protection...

 "We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

                                          1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (NIV)

On the morning of September 11th, a 7.6M earthquake caused significant damage to our center. Several water storage tanks ruptured and some header tanks, including ours, flew off of roofs. A couple of chimneys collapsed and there was damage to both personal items and departmental supplies. Many of the families here had no running water or propane gas for cooking. Over the following two weeks, we and others obtained clean water from vacant homes with intact systems. Also, the undersea cable which provides our fiber optic internet connection was severed, making communications and even day to day work problematic. Yet, through it all, God blessed us as our community came together to serve each other, and as you were praying for our needs. Almost as soon as the shaking ended, people began checking in on friends and began assisting with the cleanup. Many of our support departments were overwhelmed with calls for service, but with that increase in work came a flood of volunteers from the community. We are now a month out from the event and significant progress has been made toward recovery. On a personal level, we are so thankful to now have running water, gas for cooking, and minimal damage to our home. There have been two new satellite dishes installed to provide additional internet bandwidth until the fiber optic cable is repaired as well. Most of all, though, we are thankful for God’s provision for our community. Miraculously, no one in Ukarumpa was injured in the earthquake, and the work of Bible Translation continues. Thank you again for your faithful prayers on our behalf. And it is good to have our header tank back on our roof where it belongs!

What do teachers do between terms?

God has been teaching us to continue to faithfully serve in all circumstances. During her break between school terms, Kathy was able to participate as part of a team to check the typeset New Testament before it is sent to Korea for final printing. Without speaking Lokep, she could still use her teacher’s eyes to catch formatting errors, punctuation mistakes and pagination issues. A team of 15 people were able to scan the entire Lokep New Testament in half a day! It is a rare treat as a teacher to be so directly involved in the process of Bible translation, and a blessing to be a small part of the Lokep people receiving God’s Word in their heart language. It is another example of ‘many hands making light work’, where serving together as a community involves many people pitching in to do their part.

Prayer Points...

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Praise for PNG lifting all Covid restrictions for international travelers entering the country.

• Bible translation: Pray for the dedication of the book of Luke in the Kope language to be received with joy and to bear much fruit.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott as he continues the search for a PNG Chief Human Resources Officer, to fulfill localization in that role. Pray for Kathy and all the students as they begin Term 2 at Ukarumpa International School.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for healing for those impacted by the earthquake and other traumatic events in the last few months.

• God’s provision: We thank God for regaining running water in our home and for His protection of us and others during the earthquake.

Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!

September Note...

 As many of you are aware, on September 11th, 2022 we experienced a 7.6M earthquake here in Ukarumpa. Thankfully, none of our staff were injured and recovery efforts are underway. We were about to post the following three articles the day of the earthquake and were delayed until now. Our October newsletter will contain more information on the earthquake.

Thank you,

Scott & Kathy

Praying for God’s leading and provision...

 "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest".  -Matthew 9:37-38 KJV

As support workers, we help provide the infrastructure and processes needed to facilitate long term Bible translation projects in Papua New Guinea. We don’t do this alone; there are many local staff members and partner organizations whose work is critical to making Bible translation happen. While fewer overseas workers are coming to the field, there is much that still needs to be accomplished. In order to meet this challenge, our mission is endeavoring to build capacity among our citizen staff by localizing positions where possible. Earlier this year, Scott found a local man to take over his former role of Field Security Officer. Now, a similar search is to find a qualified PNG citizen to take over the role of Chief Human Resources Officer. Over the next 9 months, leading up to our home assignment, Scott will be recruiting, on-boarding and training his replacement. Upon our planned return to PNG in January 2024, Scott will assume a new and, as yet, undefined role. While Scott enjoys the Human Resources role, it is personally rewarding and organizationally important to build the capacity of our citizen staff and partners in Bible translation. Please be praying for this project.

Break out the Bunsen burners...

Teaching requires many hours of training, mentoring, and ultimately building trust. We are half way through Term 1, and the Grade 8 students have mastered enough basic lab techniques to be trusted with Bunsen burners (and they did a great job!). So it is in our spiritual walk, as we are mentored by more mature believers, and have the opportunity to pour into those who are newer to their Christian faith. God also trains us each up through our various life experiences, some enjoyable and some very difficult, and as we experience Him working in our lives, our trust in Him grows deeper. Whatever the LORD allows you to go through, seek Him in the midst of it and learn what He is teaching you!

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace and joy during PNG’s Independence Day celebrations on September 16.

• Bible translation: Pray for peace and spiritual protection during the Culture Meets Scripture workshop in Nukna.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott as he begins the search for a PNG Chief Human Resources Officer, to fulfill localization in that role. Pray for Kathy and all the students at UIS, and for them to go deeper in their faith at the Encounter spiritual retreat on September 23-25.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the Oral Bible Storytelling workshop taking place in Gulf province, for many languages to be impacted.

• God’s provision: We thank God for providing the rain for our water tank, as we come out of a very dry, dry season.

Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG.

We could not continue to serve here without you!

Praying for a nation in transition...

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays... says the LORD Almighty.” 

-Malachi 4:2-3

 

Papua New Guinea celebrates a national holiday called Repentance Day each year on August 26. It is a time for coming together as believers and praying for God’s forgiveness for the wrongs that are happening in the nation. Prayer services will take place in churches throughout the country, as people repent and seek the LORD. This is especially poignant this year, as we pray for the national elections continuing to take place throughout PNG. Election-related violence has occurred in several parts of Papua New Guinea in recent weeks, including the Aiyura Valley around Ukarumpa. Please continue to pray for an end to the violence, and for opportunities for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in villages who have lost homes and belongings. We are also in the midst of a very dry season, with close to drought conditions. Please pray for rain to water the gardens of our PNG neighbors, who are subsistence farmers relying on their crops to feed their families. And pray for us as well, as the rain water is needed for the water tanks that provide running water in our homes. The beauty that we see in creation around us testifies to God’s goodness, especially when the circumstances are challenging. May we all search our hearts this Repentance Day, seek His forgiveness, revere His name, and trust that He is good and is still in control. And may God bless the nation of PNG as they move forward in a spirit of repentance and humility.

School has begun!

Photo credit: Susan Frey

The new school year at Ukarumpa International School (UIS) has begun, and both Scott and Kathy are excited. Scott is teaching an elective class in Self Defense, and Kathy is teaching Grade 8 Science, Biology and Chemistry. Please pray for this team of wonderful teachers at the middle and high school to love their students well this year, and to stay healthy and strong. We all desire that our students not only learn about our subject areas, but more importantly, that they know and love the LORD who created all of it. May our love for Him, as well as our subjects, rub off on our students this year!

Prayer Points...

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace and wisdom during the national elections in PNG, and an end to violence. 

• Bible translation: Praise for the Nobnob Old and New Testament sent for printing in Korea, and for the Bible dedication later this year. 

• Our roles in PNG: Praise for the new school year getting off to a good start. Pray for balance for Scott as continues in the Chief Human Resources Officer role, Crisis Management Team leader, and teaches Self Defense at UIS. 

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the translation teams to have safe travels as they move around the country during this election season. 

• God’s provision: We thank God for providing for our needs through His people and for keeping us safe during this election season. 

Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!

Praising God for the gift of visitors...

“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers.”-1 Thessalonians 1:2 

We are so thankful for the gift of technology, which allows us to stay in touch with distant loved ones via email, video and chat. It is one of the biggest challenges of serving so far away from the USA. One thing we did not expect was to have anyone make the trip here to visit with us. So we were very excited when our friends from NH made the time, effort and expense to fly for several days to spend time with us here in Ukarumpa! Their desire to be able to pray for us with insight and empathy, having seen where we live and work with their own eyes, means so very much to us. We had the opportunity to take them to visit with PNG friends in their village, so they can also have a deeper insight on how to pray for this country. Continue to pray for peace, as we are in the midst of national elections this month, which often triggers violence. We thank God for bringing the Eisners to visit, and for the lovely holiday they took us on to Madang by the ocean. We are refreshed and ready to continue to serve Bible t r a n s l a t i o n here in PNG though our support roles. Our prayer is that everyone will hear the good news of s a l v a t i o n through Jesus C h r i s t i n their heart language and b e t o t a l l y transformed!

Meet J.C.

People often come and go from Ukarumpa, and one of the challenges here is taking care of pets. Dogs are valuable, both for security as well as for companionship. We first watched J.C. for his owners back in 2015 when we were renting their home and now, seven years later, we’ve adopted him permanently since they’ve left Papua New Guinea. He is older and slower (much like us!) but is such a good dog and we are blessed to be able to help both him and his owners to finish well. It is fun to have a walking buddy again, too, and he’ll help us to keep in better shape as we enjoy cooler winter days here in the Southern Hemisphere.

Prayer Points

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace and wisdom during the July national elections in PNG

• Bible translation: Praise for the opportunity for Kathy to assist checking the Sudest Old Testament panorama before its publication.

 • Our roles in PNG: Pray for preparations for the new school year and for some rest during the break. Pray for wisdom for Scott as he learns his new Chief Human Resources Officer role.

 • PNG missionaries: Pray for the families trying to return to PNG for the new school year to receive their visas and work permits, and to have safe travels.

 • God’s provision: We thank God for His love and grace, allowing us time to spend with good friends and to continue to do ministry here. 

Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!

Praying for our future leaders...

Kathy and the graduating community group girls and leaders. 

Photo credit: Jonathan Federwitz

 “... Live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” -Ephesians 4:1b 

Thank you for your prayers for the students at Ukarumpa International School (UIS) this year. It has been challenging, with many restrictions and two waves of Covid variants causing illness and quarantines, but we finished in-person this week and thanked God for the return of many normal activities during our Term 4. The students enjoyed a track and field Sport’s Day, sports tournaments, a theater production, Banquet (similar to prom for juniors and seniors), band and choir concerts, Awards Night and Graduation, each without limits on attendance and with a grateful Ukarumpa community supporting them and cheering them on. Kathy was able to participate in designing one last Amazing Race-style scavenger hunt for the seniors, with a life skills theme to help them transition to their bright futures back in their passport countries. As each of these students leaves Ukarumpa, they will be saying goodbye to the place where they have grown up, the friends they have known since kindergarten, and the teachers and community group leaders who have poured into their lives for years, pointing them to Jesus and helping each one to make their faith their own. It is Jesus who goes with them now, and we trust in Him to guide, protect and comfort these future Christian leaders as they bravely go out into the unknown, to become the men and women God has designed them to be, and to live lives worthy of the calling they have received

Biology Lab Finale

Photo credit: Becky Harber

It is always a joy to give students hands-on learning opportunities. In Biology, students dissect preserved pregnant rats and learn about each organ system over three class periods. A few were quite tentative at the beginning, but by the third day, they were all involved in the process and marveled at the way the systems were designed and compactly networked. Finding over 30 rat fetuses was an extra bonus! 

Prayer Points:

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace during the upcoming national elections in PNG. 

• Bible translation: Pray for the PNG Translator Training Course graduates to use their new skills in Bible translation back in their local language areas. 

• Our roles in PNG: Praise God that we completed the school year at UIS. Pray for wisdom for Scott as he learns his new Chief Human Resources Officer role. 

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the many families leaving PNG this month, either on furlough or permanently, and for healthy and positive transitions for them back to their passport countries. 

• God’s provision: We thank God for allowing us to continue to serve faithfully in our roles, to remain healthy, and to recognize His love and grace through it all.

 Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!

Praying for Wisdom: a New Role with New Challenges

Photo Credit: Steve Johnson

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  -James 1:5 (KJV) 

Missionaries, particularly in support roles, will often say that they are trying to train up and equip nationals to assume their positions. After a little more than 8 years, Scott has succeeded in doing just that. On April 29th, Scott’s former Assistant, Mark Oboko, assumed the role of Field Security Officer (FSO). Mark has 22 years of security and corrections experience, and over the last year he has proven his ability to run Ukarumpa center’s security operations. Mark works well with the local police and has already added valuable expertise and cultural insight to the security team. With Mark assuming the FSO role, Scott has transitioned to the role of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). He will also still continue serving as the Crisis Management Team Leader and as an occasional teacher at Ukarumpa International School (UIS). As some of you may recall, four years ago Scott briefly served as interim CHRO. So, while the role is not entirely new to him, there will still be a significant learning curve. Prayers for both Mark and Scott would be appreciated as they navigate these new challenges. Please also pray for Kathy, as the school year wraps up with many “last” events for her senior girls, like AP Exams, Banquet, Awards Night and finally, Graduation. Transitions are never easy, but with Jesus as their sure foundation, each one can step out into the unknown in faith, knowing He is with them

Celebrating a baptism

Few things are more encouraging than seeing individuals make a public declaration of their decision to follow Jesus Christ through the act of baptism. It was particularly gratifying for Kathy to witness one of her senior girls make this commitment recently at the Ba’e river. Each student must make their own decision to follow Jesus, even though their parents are missionaries, and it is a privilege to speak into their lives and point them to the truth of God’s Word. And how many girls get to say they were baptized in a river in Papua New Guinea? :-)

Prayer Points:

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Praise for a decrease in Covid measures and restrictions in PNG.

 • Bible translation: Pray for the language teams working in remote villages, for safety, productivity and positive relationships. 

• Our roles in PNG: Praise God that Term 4 at UIS is half-way over and we continue to teach in-person. Pray for wisdom for Scott as he serves in all of his various roles. 

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the new members who are beginning a 3 month PNG orientation course this week, to be good learners and gain useful language skills and understanding of PNG culture. 

• God’s provision: We thank God for allowing us to continue to be flexible in our roles, to remain healthy, and to serve in whatever capacity is needed, for such a time as this. 

Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!

What a privilege!

Photo Credit: Pat Whitehead

We celebrated the Bibles and Scripture portions that were translated, dedicated and distributed in the last two years, including audio Bibles and dubbed Jesus Film videos. The dots on the map represent the language areas continuing to receive God’s Word throughout PNG, as translation teams faithfully continue to serve. Even a pandemic could not stop God’s Word and His work from continuing to reach every language and every life!

Conference 2022- See what God has accomplished!

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17

Once every 2 years (3 years in this case, due to Covid), all of the translation teams and people serving in the various regions come to Ukarumpa for a biennial conference. The theme of stewardship this year was fitting, as translators and support workers alike recognized all that the LORD graciously allowed to be accomplished since 2019, as each person sought to innovate and continue to move forward in the work. And the results have been amazing: 4 full New Testaments (NT) dedicated, 1 NT revised, 8 Scripture portions published, 13 audio Scripture portions distributed, 4 Oral Bibles translated and 7 Jesus film videos dubbed - that is 37 different language groups being impacted by receiving God’s Word since 2020. As language teams from each region reported on all the trials and triumphs of the last two years, we prayed together as a community of believers who are dedicated to seeing every language group receive access to the same hope and truth of God’s Word that we often take for granted. We were also given the good news that Bibles are being typeset in 20 more languages in 2022-2023, so more dedications are on the way. Our times of praise and spiritual emphasis were the most sweet, singing and worshipping together as a diverse community of believers in Jesus Christ from so many denominations and countries, but all unified in one purpose. Please continue to pray that this amazing work will continue and that we will serve faithfully in our roles to support this effort, all for God’s glory.

Photo Credit: Lynda Wick

Prayer Points:

  • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Praise for a decrease in cases of Covid Omicron variant in PNG.

 • Bible translation: Pray for the language teams meeting at Interact this week to be encouraged and equipped to renew their work.

 • Our roles in PNG: Praise that Term 4 begins this week and we have remained in-person all year so far. Pray for wisdom for Scott as he serves in his various roles. 

• PNG missionaries: Pray for encouragement and safe travels as translation teams and regional managers travel back to their language areas next week. 

• God’s provision: We thank God for His continued grace and mercy in keeping us healthy, providing for our needs and allowing us to continue to serve each day in faith. 

 Thank you for continuing to hold us up in your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!

Managing Risk in the Land of the Unexpected

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” 

                                                                               -Psalm 20:7

Scott serves in many roles here in Ukarumpa. His primary job is Field Security Officer but he also serves as Crisis Management Team Leader, Covid Response Team Member, Critical Incident Debriefer and an occasional teacher at Ukarumpa International School. As you might imagine, no two days are exactly alike. On any given day, Scott may meet with village leaders, the police, other missionaries, business people or local government officials. He might be investigating a security incident, organizing an event, posting travel advisories, reviewing the government’s latest pandemic measures, providing training to new people, conducting a security assessment or facilitating training or a crisis management meeting. This means that Scott is on call 24/7/365. Thankfully, he has been blessed with a solid team. Our Center Security Manager, along with three contracted Gurkhas, run the day-to-day security operations of the Ukarumpa center. On the Crisis Management side, Scott is blessed to have a diverse team composed of other missionaries and Papua New Guinean staff who work in Translation, Medical Services, Aviation, Staff Care and Communications. The days go by quickly in Ukarumpa as projects and emergencies flow into one another, but God is gracious and gives Scott and his teams the strength and wisdom to manage risk in the land of the unexpected. Sometimes, this even leaves him with the time and energy to offer a women’s self defense class for the community!

Happy Birthday to Scott!

We are always grateful for the ability God has given to us to serve here in Papua New Guinea, even though it comes with its challenges. But we recognize that it also comes with many great blessings as well. We actually get to spend more time together here than we ever did when we lived and worked in the USA. Living and working in such a small community can also be a challenge, but it means there is no long commute at the end of the day. After a 15 minute walk or 3 minute drive, Scott is home from work and Kathy gets to see his smiling face as he walks to their home. There may not be anywhere to go out to eat, but with fresh market produce and some time, a home cooked meal is ready for supper. Celebrating annual events like birthdays may mean baking from scratch, but the important thing is being able to celebrate together. So, happy birthday, Scott! Cheers for 54 years of life, for our 30 years of marriage, and for choosing to obediently say yes when God called you to PNG- what an amazing adventure!

Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for continued protection as the Covid Omicron variant surges.

 • Bible translation: Praise for audio recordings of the Bible being widely used in languages where translations are completed. 

 • Our roles in PNG: Praise that school has remained in-person so far, even with many students out sick with Covid. Pray for wisdom for Scott as he serves in his roles.

 • PNG missionaries: Pray for peace and a speedy recovery for all of the families living in Ukarumpa who have been affected by the Covid Omicron variant.

 • God’s provision: We are still so thankful for God’s grace and mercy in keeping us healthy, providing for our needs and allowing us to continue to serve each day in faith. 

Thank you for continuing to hold us up in your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!

Where does your hope come from?

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13 

We are so grateful for each one of you, for being a vital part of what God is doing here in PNG. Your prayers continue to sustain and protect us, and we are privileged to have you interceding on our behalf. Our prayer for each of you is that you continue to remember where your hope comes from, and to keep your eyes “fixed on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Admittedly, there are times we have been distracted by the surrounding circumstances - sickness, death, crime, constant change and transition - and hopelessness crept in. But then, again and again, we have thankfully been reminded of all that God continues to do here in PNG - allowing school at UIS to remain in person for the last year, allowing teams to continue Bible translation in villages and language areas throughout the country, allowing departments from Ukarumpa to partner in practical ways with local hospitals, from delivering vaccines to installing solar power systems. We can honestly say we have been filled with His joy and peace as we have kept our eyes fixed on Him and trusted in Him. And we will strive to continue to do so, regardless of what the future may bring. In the face of the coming Omicron variant of Covid, we will continue to faithfully serve, teach, mentor, and overflow with hope to those around us who desperately need it. On a recent stormy day, we stopped to notice a lovely hibiscus flower. The gloom and the rain did not keep it from blooming, right where it was planted, and its bright beauty shone all the more against the drab gray sky behind it. Please continue to pray for us, that we will be like that flower and continue to bloom right where God has planted us. And we will pray the same for you, that He will allow you to bloom as well, and overflow with hope to those in your sphere of influence. May the LORD continue to bless you and keep you, make His face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you peace.

Pray for our Senior class

We praise God that the Ukarumpa International School (UIS) senior class was able to go on their senior retreat to Madang at the end of last semester. It was a privilege to accompany them and make more memories with them. Please pray for wisdom for them as they complete their final semester of high school and seek God’s leading for which college or university they should attend. Also pray for upcoming transitions and difficult farewells as they leave PNG, which has been home for many of them since elementary school.

Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for protection as the Covid Omicron variant begins to surge.

• Bible translation: Pray for the Culture meets Scripture team’s workshop in the Amele language area to be successful and impactful.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for school to remain in person for the rest of the semester. Pray for wisdom for Scott as he serves on the Crisis Management Team and Covid Response Team.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for peace and health for all of the families living in Ukarumpa as they anticipate the coming Covid Omicron variant.

• God’s provision: We are so thankful for God’s grace and mercy in keeping us healthy so far and even allowing us to obtain our Covid booster shot.

Thank you for continuing to hold us up in your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!