“But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22 (NKJV) 

Easter in Ukarumpa is a special time. We start the day by attending a sunrise service, where we worship and pray for our community, the surrounding villages, Papua New Guinea and the world at large. Afterwards, we invite some close friends over for breakfast before attending the morning church service. It is a great time to connect with likeminded people and celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the tomb and His victory over sin and death. In fact, Easter is the core of our faith and, ultimately, the reason for our missionary service here in Papua New Guinea. While it is true that every day we see fresh evidence of a rapidly deteriorating world, we are nonetheless confident in the ultimate outcome of history. This confidence is not a result of our own talents, but of our faith in Jesus Christ. You see, we know that Jesus is exactly who He says He is in the Bible. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Good Shepard that lays down His life for the sheep, the Son of God and the King of Kings who will return again one day in glory to set all things right. Every Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the fact that He has risen from the dead, is interceding at God’s right hand on our behalf, and will come again- this makes all the difference! Thank you for enabling us to share this Good News with others.

                                                        Photo credit: Leah Rigsby

Practicing hospitality...

                                                               Photo credit: Amy Evers

It is a blessing to have Ukarumpa family to spend holidays like Easter with while we are in PNG. Everyone shares the challenge of being thousands of miles away from their birth families, so it is extra special to have people with whom you can celebrate Jesus’s death and resurrection, worship at church, and, of course, share a home-cooked meal. It is so easy to take family for granted until we are far away, but we are so grateful to have brothers and sisters in Christ right where we are called to serve.

Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for wisdom and integrity for those in leadership positions, and for peace in the Aiyura valley.

• Bible translation: Praise for the completed checking of the Meramera New Testament and pray the final edits and printing go smoothly.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott as he transitions into his role as Security Consultant. Pray for Kathy and all of the students at Ukarumpa International School to have a healthy and productive Term 4 and finish the year well.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the families of seniors at UIS to finish well and experience God’s peace as they transition back to passport countries with their graduates.

• God’s provision: Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful partnership with our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We are very grateful and we could not continue to serve here without you. We look forward to reconnecting with you while we are in the USA!