Saying Goodbye...

Part of being a missionary is learning to say goodbye and to live in transition. Today I said goodby to my “PNG mom” and we cried and promised to pray for each other while we are apart. We exchanged Christmas gifts and I was humbled to receive two cucumbers from her garden- literally her “first fruits” harvested since the drought dried everything up. She explained that she gave her very first to the pastor of her church, and then wanted to share the next with us, because God had blessed her through us during the drought and she now wanted to bring an offering in return. It is wonderful to see how the Holy Spirit is working in the lives of the beautiful people of Papua New Guinea, to see God’s Word being taught to the next generation and Jesus Christ being proclaimed! -Kathy

Things for which we are Thankful

For the rain: the drought seems to be lifting; pray people’s gardens would begin producing food again

For our colleagues: pray for those who continue to serve in

PNG while we are home on furlough

For God’s protection and provision: Pray He would continue to

meet our needs here and while on furlough

For our PNG friends: pray they would trust God’s provision

for their needs and comfort while we’re gone

For our US family & friends: pray we can be an

encouragement and have opportunities to visit everyone

For all of our faithful prayer & financial partners: we thank

you for making our service in PNG possible 

For reaching 42% of our Wycliffe budget: if you would like to

become a partner, or give a year-end gift, please see below,

thank you! 

For Kathy’s students: they have worked very hard this

semester and been a great blessing to her

For our Lord Jesus Christ: He is working in mighty ways in

PNG and around the world!

Scott is thankful for...

God’s provision in moving the security program forward. Our mission’s relationship with our contract security provider has improved, operations are running more smoothly and we are working more closely with the local police. We are also about to hire two Papua New Guinean men to assist me with daily operations. Hiring these men will not only help to cover things while I’m back in the U.S., but will allow me to focus on more long term projects when we return to PNG. Finally, two of our fellow missionaries have stepped forward to cover my role while we are on home assignment. The last two years have been challenging, but God has provided abundantly.-Scott

Kathy is thankful for...

...her students! It has been a wonderful semester at Ukarumpa International School, and a blessing to get to know these students better.  Serving with them at the ice cream booth during the UIS Carnival was a special opportunity, as we served the community together.  The Science 7 & 8 students have worked diligently, producing the cell models you see on the left.  The Biology students are wrapping up an entire year’s curriculum this semester, having met twice every day, and have shown perseverance and a good attitude throughout.  I will really miss these students next semester, but trust that God’s timing is perfect, and if He desires, we will be back in July just in time for the new school year to begin. The need is great, and I want to follow wherever God leads- would you pray with me for His provision of new partners so that we can return to serve in Papua New Guinea?-Kathy

Thankful for the last two years...

At a recent church service, we celebrated the Bible translations that have been accomplished during the last two years; it was especially meaningful to us since that is how long we have been in Papua New Guinea. Thirty New Testaments, revisions, Scripture portions, audio-Bibles - all in different languages, being used to bring the hope of Jesu At a recent church service, we celebrated the Bible translations that have been accomplished during the last two years; it was especially meaningful to us since that is how long we have been in Papua New Guinea. Thirty New Testaments, revisions, Scripture portions, audio-Bibles - all in different languages, being used to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to the people of PNG! -Kathy

God’s Sovereignty and Our Duty...

Early in my career I was blessed to work for a large financial services company with a very well developed corporate security program. My time at that firm changed my outlook on a great many things and helped to focus my corporate career. One of the lessons I learned was expressed in the frequently heard phrase “sense of urgency”. Since big goals rested on many smaller, less glamourous, accomplishments, there were no unimportant tasks; everything was done with a sense of urgency. I bought into that concept and it helped me immensely in the corporate world. In fact, it still helps me as a missionary, but I’ve found that there are limits to this kind of thinking.

As a missionary, I’m ultimately working for God and, unlike when I worked for corporations, my failure to meet certain goals doesn’t even slightly derail His plans. It is not as if God is surprised when something doesn’t work out the way I had intended. On the other hand, the fact that God is sovereign is not an excuse for inaction on my part. We all have to use our God-given talents to the best of our abilities in advancement of His Kingdom. So how does one learn to relax in the knowledge that God is sovereign and still keep that sense of urgency? I still don’t know the answer to that question but I take solace in knowing that He is not done with me yet. -Scott

Relationships

So much of what we do here is dependent upon our relationships. Scott has been slowly developing a better relationship between SIL and the local Police in the Aiyura Valley. Please pray for a highly productive partnership that will be mutually beneficial for the missionaries in Ukarumpa as well as the people of the valley and ultimately glorifying to God. 

Responding to El Nino...

Matthew 25:37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?” (NIV)

As a science teacher, I have conceptually discussed with students the periodic warm water current event in the Pacific Ocean known as El Nino, and the resulting extreme global weather patterns it can trigger. What I never expected was to be living in the Pacific during one of the strongest on record. In 1997, the strongest El Nino recorded caused flooding in some regions and extreme drought in many Pacific island nations, including Papua New Guinea, ultimately deemed responsible for over 20,000 deaths in PNG alone. Only God knows how strong this current climatic event will be, but we will trust His sovereignty in the midst of it. 

What I do know is this is an opportunity for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to people in need. I can be a good steward of the resources I have been blessed with, conserve them, and share them with others. I can give a bottle of clean drinking water to a woman who now has to walk increasingly long distances to unreliable sources. I can bless a family with a kilogram of rice to help feed their children and grandchildren. I can spend time praying with people and share the hope that I have in Jesus Christ, no matter what the circumstances. Thank you for your prayers for us, and for the people of the Pacific, during this challenging time. I thank God that He is bigger than El Nino and will use this for His Glory, working both in us and through us, to accomplish His purposes for building His Kingdom. -Kathy