A Temporary Assignment for Scott

Scott has been asked to serve as acting Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for our mission over the next several months. Scott’s assistant, Ranken Ose, will assume day to day security responsibilities during this time. Please pray for the transition and the new challenges that lie ahead.

Above: Scott and Ranken Ose. Scott is privileged to disciple and train a Papua New Guinean to temporarily serve in his role as Security Operations Manager. Photo credit: Stephanie Tobiana

Visiting the Sick at Kaintantu Hospital...

We recently had the opportunity to go with friends from the Tok Pisin church to pray with the sick at a local hospital, and to meet their physical needs with some clean water, banana bread and baby clothes. Kathy spent her time praying with the new and expecting mothers in the maternity ward, sharing cups of cold water and food. Scott met a local pastor who had lost his eye after being attacked with an axe and shot with both a gun and arrow while trying to keep the peace in his village. The pastor had come to Christ years before while in prison through a prison ministry. One of the men with us had been instrumental in sharing the Gospel with him back then and was able to pray now for his healing. In Matthew 24:36,40, Jesus says, “I needed clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you looked after me. I was in prison and you came to visit me... Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” What a privilege! 

Above: Kathy at the Kainantu Hospital, after praying with the woman beside her who had lost her hearing in one ear. Please pray for her to regain her hearing, and for her baby, Michelle, (on the bed) to stay healthy and strong. And for her mother, who was able to come and help care for them both. 

November Prayer Points...

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for peace in the Aiyura Valley and throughout PNG.

• Bible translation: Praise for the Youth With A Mission “Jesus Video” workshop that was completed last week.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for the busy second half of Term 2 of school and praise for our successful Carnival fundraiser. Pray for wisdom as Scott begins his new temporary CHRO role.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the Logans, who dedicated the Kasua New Testament this month, and are completing 29 years of service in PNG.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through his people- will you consider partnering with our Wycliffe ministry?

Every language, receiving God’s Word...

This was our prayer, as we walked through the Goroka cultural show on Independence Day weekend: that every language would receive God’s Word. It never strikes us more completely than when we see so many language groups together in one place, all in traditional costumes, singing in their heart languages, in a chaotic and visually stunning array. We talked with many of the performers, and when they posed with us for a photo, we told them their picture would remind us to pray for them. It is the individuals we meet who inspire us to serve here, knowing their eternal destiny is at stake. This is why we are excited for the upcoming Bible dedications; knowing faces and names of people in these language groups makes it real to us. And why we were so glad to see many people coming to the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) booth to receive audio-Bibles in already published languages, downloaded to their smart phones. Technology is making it easier to get the Word out, but ultimately it is still the Holy Spirit who is changing and transforming lives.

Above: Kathy and Scott, making new friends at the Goroka show.

Happy 42nd Independence Day!

It was great to see so many students, staff & teachers celebrate PNG Independence Day by wearing traditional costumes and PNG colors. We gathered for a photo and sang the national anthem, and then our PNG staff treated us all to a “mumu” feast of traditionally prepared foods: yum!

Photo credit: Bob Noble (yes, that’s Kathy up in the back row!)

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for a spiritual revival in the Aiyura Valley and throughout PNG.

• Bible translation: Pray for wisdom for the participants in the Discover Your Language course, learning grammar and structure to help them in the translation process.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise that the first term of school was successfully completed. Pray for wisdom as Scott participates in a multi-mission meeting on Crisis Management in Goroka.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the Bruners, who dedicated the Fataleka New Testament in the Solomon Islands this month.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs, even allowing Scott’s computer to be repaired!

Six great reasons to celebrate...

We rejoice with the translation teams who are completing their New Testament (NT) translations and dedicating them within the next 12 months. It is humbling to think of the decades of love, work and sacrifice that have been poured in, and how God will use His Word among these languages to bring more people to salvation. Please be in prayer for the dedications of the Barok NT in New Ireland on September 8, the Fataleka NT in the Solomon Islands on September 16, the Kasua NT in Southwest PNG on October 26, the Menya NT in Morobe on February 23, the Baruga NT in Oro province on June 10 and the Doromu-Koki NT in Central province on September 16, 2018. It has been a privilege to get to know these translators and hear their stories of God’s faithfulness to them and the people they’ve served all these years. This morning, we prayed for our friends the Vargas family, as they were commissioned and are beginning this process by allocating to the DioDio language group near Alotau. God’s Word is still going out to every tribe and tongue and it is an honor to serve Him in this endeavor.

Above  Pat Whitehead and her husband Carl have served for over 4 decades with the Menya people. They were prayed over at a recent church service after revealing the first printed copy of the Menya New Testament. The joy in Pat’s tears as she held the fruit of their labors spoke volumes about the journey God has brought them through. Please pray for the impact of the Word of God among the Menya!