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!