Working Together

At least once a year, representatives from various missions in Papua New Guinea gather together to discuss shared security and crisis management issues. These meetings help us to forge better working relationships and increase our understanding of one another’s context. This year’s meeting was particularly poignant because it took place against the backdrop of the recent 7.5 Magnitude earthquake and over 100 aftershocks that have impacted the Southern Highlands region. We heard from a guest speaker, conducted a joint risk assessment and discussed response strategies for a variety of potential loss events. Following the main meeting, Scott helped to facilitate an exercise that he and a colleague from another mission had previously designed. Kathy also participated by serving as a role player and assisting in the after-action debriefing. The various missions all have slightly different focuses, but ultimately, we are all work together to advance the Gospel here in PNG.

Above Scott, with colleagues at another mission where he assisted in designing and facilitating an exercise for their Crisis Management team. Kathy also assisted as a role player.

Full Potential

As autumn moves toward winter here in the Southern hemisphere, the poinsettias are turning red, a truly meaningful and wonderful sight for Easter, instead of Christmas. Here they reach their full tropical genetic potential as trees covered in brilliant flowers, instead of stunted potted plants. Has God planted you where you can reach your full spiritual potential? Pray this Easter that the One who loved you enough to die for your sins would show you how and where you can have the most abundant life in and for Him!

Prayer Points

Papua New Guinea: Pray for revival in the Aiyura Valley and throughout PNG this Easter.

Bible Translation: Pray for the Orthotech course in April, as translation teams learn to help language groups who do not yet have a written alphabet.

Our Roles in PNG: Praise for a successful school Term 3 and student mission trip to Enga. Pray for wisdom for Scott to complete his time in the CHRO role well; he will return to a revised security role in May.

PNG Missionaries: Pray for the Whiteheads as they discuss beginning the Menya Old Testament translation.


God's Provision: Praise for our ability to attend the Baruga Bible dedication in June!

A Standard Tablespoon?

Why is my coffee too strong or too weak sometimes? One cultural lesson we have learned is that Australian and American tablespoons are not the same standard measure! The Australian is 20 ml, or 4 teaspoons, and the American is 15 ml, or 3 teaspoons, which makes a noticeable difference in our morning coffee. We are so grateful that God’s standards always stay the same....

Training in Ukarumpa...

We continue to be amazed by the scale of what is needed to successfully support Bible translation. It is not just the skill of expatriate translators that is required, but also the commitment to training by their Papua New Guinean co-translators. The Training Centre in Ukarumpa exists to provide those opportunities, with boarding facilities available so the national co-translators can learn alongside their expatriate teammates, in an environment designed to facilitate their ability to focus without the added responsibility of their home, family and garden. National translators take courses in basic computing, translation training, Greek, Hebrew, and how to develop a written alphabet for their language. Pastors receive basic exegesis courses to help them to preach and teach the Bible accurately and effectively. And both expatriates and nationals are learning to teach adult literacy in Tok Pisin (the trade language) as a precursor to literacy training in the local language. These are just the courses that are currently being held at our training center between March and April this year, and will involve Papua New Guineans from many languages groups, and from around the country. Please pray for these upcoming courses, that God would be glorified in the diligent work of His servants!

Prayer Points

Papua New Guinea: Pray for church growth in the Aiyura Valley and throughout PNG.

Bible Translation: Pray for the checking of the NT books of Mark and James in 9 languages in the Aitape West multi- language translation program.

Our Roles in PNG: Pray for the third school term to finish well. Pray for wisdom and discernment as Scott continues temporarily in the Chief Human Resources Officer role.

PNG Missionaries: Praise for the Whitehead’s successful Menya Bible dedication in Morobe on February 23rd!

God's Provision: Pray for our ability to attend the Baruga Bible dedication in June - will you consider partnering on-line with our Wycliffe ministry?

An exciting year ahead...

We are grateful to be starting 2018 in our own home here in Ukarumpa; thank you for all of your prayers for that transition. It has been exciting to see God at work in so many lives, bringing friends back to Ukarumpa after furloughs, and hearing more about upcoming Bible dedications that will take place this year. In church this morning, two New Testaments (NT), just arrived in Ukarumpa from the printers, were prayed over and will be dedicated in their language communities in 2018. The Binimarian NT is a second edition, and will include 5 books of the Old Testament. The Baruga NT was begun in 1988 by Jim and Cindy Farr, after having completed the Karafe NT. Jim persevered in the work after Cindy’s death, and God eventually brought him and Joan, a single translator, together in marriage. They have completed this work of bringing the transforming Word of Truth to the Baruga people. Our friends Jim and Joan exemplify trust, love, endurance and faith and they have

been a profound encouragement to us these last 4 years. Please join us in praying for all of the details that still need to be arranged before they celebrate the Bible dedication in June, and for spiritual protection for them and the Baruga people. Also pray that we would be able to attend the dedication and celebrate with them the joy of seeing decades of labor come to fruition as the Baruga receive the Word of God in their heart language. What a blessing to be a partner in this legacy!