Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray against the spread of COVID-19, here in Ukarumpa and throughout PNG.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Halia New Testament revision being dedicated in Bougainville this month!

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for school to remain in-person for the rest of Term 4. Pray for wisdom for Scott’s new role on the COVID response team.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for wisdom and knowledge for new missionaries taking the PNG Orientation Course in May.

• God’s provision: We are so thankful for God’s grace in keeping us healthy so far; please pray we would be able to continue to stay healthy and keep faithfully serving here!

Preparation...

 “The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the LORD”

-Proverbs 21:31 KJV

Each week, we go to our local fruit and vegetable market to stock up on fresh foods that are not available in our center store. Before we eat them, we must prepare them by soaking them in bleach water. The ability to prepare is a gift from God, but we never forget that ultimately all things are in His hands. Kathy is busy preparing a new elective class in Marine Biology for Term 4, and Scott prepares for his new advisory role on the COVID response team. Ukarumpa prepares for new government requirements regarding mask wearing, temperature checks, and limited gatherings of people. The PNG government prepares for its first real surge in COVID patients across the country. As Christians, we prepare ourselves this Holy Week to remember the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We fix our eyes on an eternal perspective, our preparation to spend eternity with Him because of His mercy, grace and sacrifice. But until that day, we continue to serve those in our spheres of influence, knowing that, ultimately, the battle belongs to the LORD. May you be blessed this week as you prepare to celebrate Easter with your family, and we trust that Jesus is working in you and through you as you seek Him this Easter season!

It takes a team…

It is a joy to serve our students during Soul Purpose, the weekly youth group meeting, and with the Grade 11 girls during our community group Bible study. Team-building games encourage them to work together to reach common goals. At school, we also often have group activities that build community as well as develop learning. But we will need more people on our team for next year. Please pray about how God might use you to teach and serve these wonderful young people!

http://teachbeyond.org/PNG

Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray against the spread of COVID-19, here in Ukarumpa and throughout PNG.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Old Testament being completed in Kamano Kafe; now they will have the entire Bible in their heart language!

• Our roles in PNG: Praise for a successful end to Term 3 at school. Pray for Scott’s search for a new a national assistant.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for a good transition for another flight of families who returned to Ukarumpa last week.

• God’s provision: We are always thankful for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and it is a blessing to be here in Papua New Guinea this Easter to celebrate His sacrifice for us all.

Chosen...

“I lift my eyes to the mountains; where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” 

-Psalm 121:1-2

We celebrated the start of 2021 here in Ukarumpa, and marveled afresh that God would have chosen us to serve here in Papua New Guinea 7 years ago. That time has flown by and has included many joys, challenges, triumphs and tears. The one constant through it all has been our God, who is faithful and loving, and our ever-present help in times of trouble. We often look at the beautiful mountains that surround the Aiyura valley and pray Psalm 121, acknowledging that we don’t often have the strength we need, but we do serve Jesus, who walks with us and helps us to carry each burden. He reminds us to “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Our prayer this new year is to take these words to heart and learn from Him. Has He chosen you for something bigger than you think you can handle? We pray you will take Him at His Word, learn from Him, and find rest for your soul this year. And thank you again for continuing to pray for us and our ministries here in Papua New Guinea!

Reasons to Celebrate

As a teacher, Kathy loves getting to go to her student’s weddings! We went to our first PNG wedding last weekend, and it was a blessing to watch a lovely couple commit to each other and to God, especially after enduring so many hardships last year. We enjoyed a beautiful day outside (with lots of sunscreen) and reflected on how Christ’s love for His church is mirrored in marriage (see Ephesians 5:22-33). We will celebrate our 30th anniversary later this year and pray God will bless this couple with the joy and love we’ve experienced.

Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray against the spread of COVID-19 throughout PNG and pray for peace and wisdom.

• Bible translation: Pray for the literacy and education teams working alongside the Bible translation teams.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise for a successful start to Semester 2at school. Pray for Scott’s search for a new assistant.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for a good transition for another flight of families returning to Ukarumpa this week.

• God’s provision: Would you consider becoming a part of our team? Due to the pandemic, we have lost several partners and need $875 per month to meet our budget. Please click the link below- thank you!