Resilience and obedience in 2024…

It has been a year since we returned to Papua New Guinea from our 6-month home assignment in the USA, and 10 years since we first arrived in PNG. The year has been very productive, as we have continued to seek to be obedient to serve in the ministries God has called us to here in Ukarumpa. Kathy still serves at the Ukarumpa International School Secondary Campus (UISSC), teaching various science classes and working with her team as head of the department. Scott has worked in many roles; serving as a security consultant advising the Field Security Officer, as a teacher at UISSC, as the Crisis Management Team leader, as the secretary on the SIL-PNG Executive Committee, and as part of an international Human Resources team dealing with child safety, mediation and workplace inquiries. Scott even had the opportunity to preach two sermons at our English Sunday church service. We have been overjoyed to see eleven Bible dedications celebrated this year, and to be a part of Scripture checking for upcoming New Testaments that will be dedicated next year. We have also been sad to see colleagues and friends end their time in PNG and move on. PNG is one of four countries with the highest remaining need for Bible translation, and we need more workers to come and to serve alongside us. We have relied on the LORD for strength, endurance and resilience in times of sickness and in good health. We continue to pour into those around us, seeking to be light and salt right where God has planted us. We desire to continue to serve obediently for as long as the LORD has us here, and we are thankful for each and every one of you; your prayers and partnership have enabled us to serve here these last 10 years and we are grateful! Ask God for resilience and obedience, right where He has planted you; whether you are serving overseas or in your own community, reaching out to friends, family, coworkers and neighbors, God will use you for His glory if you are willing. Please continue to pray for us, and know that we will continue to pray for you as well!

Celebrating…

 the 11 New Testaments that were dedicated inPapua New Guinea in 2024!

Kaluli

Meramera

Nalik

Yale

Enga

Uare

Feni

Tabo

Nara

Saliba

Label

May the Word of God dwell in each of these language groups richly and bring great repentance and revival

God is still working…

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Revelation 7: 8-10 (NIV)

Progress; it seems so slow sometimes. Translation teams may start a New Testament in a language, only to see it finally printed and distributed 20 or 30 years later. When we arrived in Papua New Guinea 10 years ago, there were 2,200 languages around the world with no access to God’s Word. Today, that number is 980 — what remarkable progress! However, 250 of those remaining languages are in PNG. Join us in continuing to pray for more workers to support and begin Bible translations in these remaining languages. We also want to rejoice with the eleven languages that dedicated the New Testament this year. They not only received printed copies of God’s Word, but also have access to solar-powered audio Bibles, SD cards and mobile phone apps, so they can take the Word of God in their heart language with them wherever they go. Wycliffe has been committed to a vision that seeks to see a translation program in progress in every language still needing one by the year 2025, and that vision is becoming a reality. There is still so much work that needs to be done, as communities also need literacy teams, Scripture Use teams and all those who support them, to be able to apply God’s Word to their lives. God is still at work, and so are we — thank you for your faithful partnership with our Wycliffe ministries!

God bless you,

Kathy & Scott Watson

Changing seasons and consistent service…

“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”                                              Acts 14:17 (NIV)

As the Southern Hemisphere transitions from spring toward summer and we move from dry season to rainy season, we are reminded of how dependant we are on God’s mercy, sending the rain for our water tanks and for the crops grown by all of the surrounding villages. The rainbows we have enjoyed recently remind us of God’s promises, and His consistency, to be with us and provide for us. It fills us with gratitude, that we can continue to serve here in support of Bible translation. This year, we have seen so many New Testaments dedicated, the culmination of decades of faithful service. This makes a total of 229 New Testaments that have been dedicated, and the work is not finished; there are 136 languages currently engaged in translation and more that are still waiting to begin. Our number of workers is smaller now than it was when we arrived 10 years ago, but God is still using those who are faithfully serving to accomplish His purposes. Please continue to pray that God would send more workers to the field; the harvest is ripe and there is much to do. Thank you for praying for us and all of our colleagues faithfully continuing to serve here, for good health and strength to continue the work until it is complete.

Ubuvala checking party…

One of the direct ways we can invest in Bible translation is to help check the proofs before they are typeset and sent to the printer. Even though Kathy doesn’t speak Ubuvala, she could still contribute by looking for correct formatting of footnotes, pagination, illustration captions and quotations. It was a great opportunity to spend part of her break between school terms serving directly in Bible translation, and it is exciting to know that another New Testament will be sent to the printer soon. Pray for the hearts of the Ubuvala speakers to be joyfully open to receiving God’s Word in their language!

Prayer Points...

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for wisdom and discernment for government leaders and peace throughout the country.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Nara and the Saliba New Testament dedications this month. Pray for God’s Word to transform lives and hearts in these language groups.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott, the Security team, and the Crisis Management Team, for wisdom and safety. Pray for Term 2 at UIS to continue well, and for healthy students and teachers.

• PNG missionaries: Praise for the PNG Orientation course participants completing their village living experience, and for having new families here to invest in Bible translation in PNG.

• God’s provision: Thank you all for your faithful prayers, love, partnership and support- we couldn’t serve here without you.

Be a part of an amazing team…

Photo credit: Anita McCarthy

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

When you give yourself fully to the work of the LORD, you need to know what you are striving towards. The goal of our organization in PNG is to see God’s Word available in every language, in every life. At Ukarumpa International School, we invest in our students, seeking to develop Godly learners for life (learn more at ukarumpainternationalschool.org). These goals intersect when translation teams, pilots, doctors, managers and national workers rely on the school to provide a high quality education for their children, so they can continue in their ministry work. These goals overlap when we get the privilege of witnessing our students choose to be baptised and make that public declaration of their faith in Jesus Christ and the power of God’s Word to transform their lives. Serving with such a dedicated team of like-minded people, passionate about seeing both of these goals achieved, has been a privilege and a blessing to us. Please pray for our team of talented faculty, staff and administrators at UISSC, that we would stand firm and continue to serve faithfully. Please pray that God would send more teachers and administrators to serve our many needs for next year. We know that our labor is not in vain!

Grateful for community…

We are so thankful for the diverse community of people that God has brought to serve together here in Ukarumpa. Representing many countries, languages and denominations, we live, work, pray and worship together as part of the body of Christ, seeking to do His will in this place. We’ve been blessed to be a part of people’s lives during the season that God has placed them here, and many have poured into us spiritually. Thank God for the community He has blessed you with and let them know you are grateful!

Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for wisdom and discernment for government leaders and peacethroughout the country.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Feni New Testament dedication on 16 September and pray for the Tabo NT revision dedication on 28 September. Pray for God’s Word to transform lives and hearts in these language groups.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott, the Security team, and the Crisis Management Team, for wisdom and safety. Pray for Term1 at UIS to finish well, and for the students as they prepare for their Encounter Spiritual Retreat.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the PNG Orientation course participants while they are living in villages in near Lae, for safe travels, good relationships and good health.

• God’s provision: Thank you all for your faithful prayers, love, partnership and support!

Know God by knowing His Word…

 “In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.” Judges 21:25 KJV

We are privileged to be a part of a weekly Bible study in Ukarumpa and are currently working our way through the book of Judges, an Old Testament history of ancient Israel before the establishment of the monarchy under Saul and then David. The book follows a cycle: Israel is at peace with God, but over time the people walk away from the covenant to pursue their own way, God then punishes Israel, often by an invading army and Israel calls out to God, who raises up a leader (Judge) to deliver them out of chaos. Then, in the absence of an existential threat, the people once again forsake God, setting up the next cycle of peace, folly, crisis and deliverance. As we reflect on the Old Testament history, we see that not much has changed in human nature. We have better technology which makes our lives easier, but we are still in rebellion against our Creator. People still want to have their own way, even when that way leads to their own destruction. We still have idols, which often take the form of money, power and popularity. We try to solve our problems through external systems while ignoring our own sinful natures. We are under the mistaken impression that electing this or that person to office, making more money, getting in shape, or getting a better job will somehow make things right again. It won’t. Our broken condition is spiritual and ultimately requires a spiritual solution. If you have never read the Bible, in its entirety, we encourage you to do so. We’ve read the Bible multiple times and try to incorporate it into our daily living, through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. There are reading plans to help you complete it in a year or less and God’s Word will change your life for the better if you let it.

A new school year…

Thank you for praying for UIS as we begin a new school year. Students and teachers have returned to Ukarumpa, and we are able to offer all of our core subject areas in the high school, through God’s provision. Please pray for the continued health and strength of all our teachers and students, and we are so very thankful for a positive start to Term 1. We will be short of both teachers and administrators next school year- is God calling you to come and teach with us at UIS? Even coming for one semester would be appreciated!

Prayer Points...

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for renewed progress in resolving the ongoing aviation fuel shortage. Pray for peace and wisdom for government leaders.

• Bible translation: Pray for the preparations for the Uare New Testament dedication scheduled for September 7 and pray for

• God’s Word to transform lives and hearts in this language group.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott and the Security team, for wisdom and safety. Pray for the new school year at UISSC, that we would bless our students and teach them well.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the translation teams going to and from their villages, for safety and flexibility amidst the fuel shortage. Pray for wisdom for our Aviation department to continue to provide the flights that are needed.

• God’s provision: Thank you for your faithful prayers, love, partnership and support!

His way is not our way…

                                               Photo credit: Adam Boyd

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8 NKJV

Thank you to all of you who have reached out to us, after hearing the news of the tragic landslide that buried a village in Enga province here in the highlands of PNG. The event would be tragic anywhere, but it is especially challenging in a place where there are few accessible roads for the heavy equipment necessary to excavate the debris, and little access to health care, clean water or other services following a natural disaster. The PNG and Australian governments have been working together to bring aid to those affected in the area. The translation team that has been working on the Enga New Testament was in Ukarumpa when the landslide occurred, planning for the dedication of the Bible this July. Though heartbroken by the tragedy, they are carrying on with the dedication plans and trusting in the LORD, that He will use His Word to minister to those who need hope and healing. The people in Enga are hungry for the Word of God and almost 1,000 installations of the Enga Bible app have already been accessed, before the printed copies will even arrive in July. They have also recorded the New Testament on solar powered MegaVoice players, so those who haven’t learned to read can still hear the message of hope and salvation. Pray for the team as they work through the logistics for the dedication, and for those who will travel to Enga to be present to support them. Most of all, pray for the Enga speakers to receive hope, healing and salvation through God’s Word.

Practicing hospitality…

The end of a school year is an opportunity to prepare for next year’s classes, clean up from this term, and get more organized at home. We hit the ground running back in January when we arrived in PNG, so there was unfinished unpacking needing to be completed. It has also been a time to go for longer walks with our dog, J.C., enjoy some beautiful sunsets, and spend time with people. We live and work in a lovely community of people from many, many countries and cultures, and it is a privilege to spend time with them. Over a meal, we hear their stories and how God brought them to PNG and is working in their lives, and we learn how to better pray for them and their family. What a blessing!

Prayer Points...

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for renewed progress in resolving the ongoing aviation fuel shortage. Pray for peace and wisdom for government leaders.

• Bible translation: Pray for the Enga New Testament dedication taking place on July 2 and pray for God’s Word to transform lives and hearts in this language group.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise for a successful finish of Term 4 at UISSC, and for preparations for the new school year starting in July. Pray for Scott as he takes on the additional role of Executive Committee Secretary in July. • PNG missionaries: Pray for all of the families traveling now, and for those who will be returning to PNG for the start of school.

• God’s provision: Thank you for your faithful prayers and partnership. We are grateful to be serving in PNG and could not be here without your prayers and support!

Thanking God for relationships and His perfect ways…

“As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him. For who is God besides the LORD? And who is the Rock except our God?” -2 Samuel 22:32 NIV

It is a privilege to serve here in PNG, working alongside so many other faithful men and women who have been obedient to God’s call on their lives. Each one has an amazing story of how the LORD brought them here, and each one has a passion to use the gifts and abilities they’ve been blessed with to further God’s kingdom on Earth and to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those in their spheres of influence. We all believe that His Word is flawless, and are grateful to support the work of Bible translation here in PNG. We have all experienced Him as our Rock in whom we’ve taken refuge, and we desire that others who do not yet know Him will do the same. As we cling to that truth, we still experience seasons of abundance and seasons of change. God calls people to be here for a time, and it is always difficult to say goodbye when they are called to move on, even as we rejoice with them in their new opportunities to serve elsewhere. We were grateful to take an excursion to a waterfall in Lae last weekend, to celebrate one of our friends and colleagues who will be leaving us here soon. We know that God’s way is perfect, and we trust He has her future in His hands. And that is our prayer for all of you as well, that you would trust His way and timing, and take refuge in His Word. We can trust that He will use us, wherever He plants us, as long as we stay connected to Jesus, our source of living water!

Come teach with us!

We are enjoying the end of the school year activities and events, tournaments, sports day, and friendly competitions between classes. These also come with more challenging days, like final exams, AP exams, and beginning the process of saying goodbyes. Our seniors will leave shortly after graduation, and are saying farewell to friends who are more like family, and their childhood homes. Others will leave for home assignments and return in 6-12 months to a different mix of students. It has been such a blessing teaching these kids this year; please pray for them in this season of transition. And pray for our school, as we face many staffing needs- or come teach with us!

Prayer Points...

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for renewed progress in resolving the ongoing aviation fuel shortage. Pray for peace and wisdom for government leaders.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Yalë Scripture celebration that took place recently in Sandaun Province and pray for God’s Word to transform lives and hearts in this language group.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for the end of Term 4 at UISSC, as students finish the school year and many prepare for big transitions. Pray for Scott and the Security team, for wisdom and safety.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for all of the families leaving PNG to go on home assignment, or with graduating seniors, or finishing their time here, that they would have smooth journeys and peace in their transitions.

• God’s provision: Thank you for your faithful prayers, love, partnership and support!

Different missions serving together as one body…

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11 NIV

Papua New Guinea is the most linguistically diverse place on the earth with over 840 languages stretched out over a geographically varied area the approximate size of California. Our mission, and others, focuses on translating the Bible into local languages, which includes literacy development and Scripture use among many other tasks. Other Christian missions focus on transportation, church planting, technology, medical care and economic development. While we work for different organizations, we have more in common than one might first think. Ultimately, the goal of every Christian and every Christian mission is to bring glory to God, so we communicate and cooperate with one another to advance the gospel in our various ways. Kathy teaches at our mission’s school, but she has students from several other missions, as well as local residents from the surrounding communities. Scott often communicates with and assists other missions to monitor and manage common security and safety risks. In the PNG trade language Tok Pisin, the word for agreement is “wanbel” (pronounced“one bell”). We all work for different organizations, with different focuses, but we are “wanbel” about ourultimate purpose; to bring glory to God as a body of believers.

A cuscus named Peanut…

One thing we missed about being in Ukarumpa was the opportunity to spend time having a cuppa with friends, and sometimes we even get to meet their interesting animals! Cuscuses are native marsupials, related to Australian koalas and North American opossums, and are found in most parts of PNG. Normally they live in trees, but occasionally orphaned ones show up in our fruit and veggie market for sale and become pets. As a biology teacher, Kathy always appreciates the opportunity to interact with local wildlife and get to know more about the species found in PNG and nowhere else. And this mountain cuscus (Phalanger carmelitae) was adorable!

Prayer Points

 • Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace and wisdom for all of the government leaders and an end to the aviation fuel shortage. Pray for the end of the conflict in Enga province.

• Bible translation: Praise for the dedication of the Kaluli New Testament and pray for God’s Word to transform lives in this language group.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for us as we serve in education at UISSC and in security.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for safe travels for everyone moving around the country on the roads, by boat and by air.

• God’s provision: Thank you for your faithful prayers and partnership. We are grateful to be serving in PNG and could not be here without your prayers and support- you are an important part of our team, and we appreciate you very much!

Grateful to be back in PNG…

“Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.”  - 1 Corinthians 12: 12 NIV

We arrived back in Ukarumpa on January 4, and have hit the ground running as we have transitioned back to doing life here and to our roles in teaching and security. Scott has taken on the role of Security Consultant, supporting Mark Oboko, our Field Security Officer, and Nellie Tabie, our Chief Human Resources Officer. He is also teaching Self Defense for the high school students and will be involved with the Crisis Management Team. Kathy is teaching a block schedule of Biology, so her students can complete the full curriculum in one semester and is teaching elective classes in Marine Science during Term 3 and Astronomy in Term 4. It is easy to get caught up in all of the busyness, but we wanted to stop and just say thank you to all of you. We were so blessed to spend time with each of you while we were in the USA, to share our prayer card with you, to hear your stories of how God is working in your lives, and to give you additional insights in how you can pray for us. It was such a perfect picture of the body of Christ, having many parts, but each one serving faithfully, right where it is needed. Thank you for being a part of our ministry here in PNG, and for letting us be in prayer for you as you serve right where God has placed you. We love you and miss you and thank God for you all every day!

Thank you for praying!

We know that people were praying us back to PNG; our travels went very smoothly, and we were blessed with no significant delays or lost luggage, which is pretty miraculous these days. We had planned extra travel days in case of weather delays leaving Philly, but instead got to spend those days in Singapore. This gave us the chance to start getting over our jet lag and to spend time with a colleague and good friend who didn’t have to travel alone. We had the opportunity to worship in a local church on New Year’s Eve and it was a real blessing to praise God for what He has done with Singaporean brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer Points...

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray forpeace throughout the country and wisdom for all of thegovernment leaders.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Nara New Testament being completed and pray for the printing process in South Korea to go smoothly and for the books to return to PNG quickly and safely.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for us as we transition back to our roles in teaching and security.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the Scripture Use team on Tami Island as they facilitate the Bible Background workshop, for lives to be transformed, and for the village to have enough fresh water for all.

• God’s provision: Thank you for your faithful prayers and partnership. We are grateful to be back serving in PNG and could not be here without your prayers and support- you are an important part of our team, and we appreciate you very much!