Thank you for your prayers for the entire teaching staff of Ukarumpa International School. We excitedly started the new school year on July 18 and look forward to pouring into the lives of all of our students this year.

Glimpses of God at work in the world...

We know that God is the great orchestrator at work in the world, and that He cares about the details of our lives, but sometimes He allows us glimpses of it in marvelous ways. The Tok Pisin church we attend in Ukarumpa supports a Papua New Guinean missionary named Gabby, who serves along with his family in Greece, where they have been an integral part of an amazing ministry to refugees from many Middle Eastern nations. It turns out, Gabby trained in Sri Lanka with a long-term missionary sent by our home church in Dover, NH. Last summer, Gabby was able to visit and speak at Dover Baptist Church and thanked them for sending us to serve in Papua New Guinea. Then, on our way to the US this June, we met him and his family for the first time while passing through a small guest house in Port Moresby. We returned back to Ukarumpa in July just in time to hear him speak at church on the “ecclesia,” the Greek word used in the New Testament for the Christian believers “called out” from the world and into God’s marvelous light. What a beautiful example of the ecclesia, serving around the world, woven together by God, and what a gift that He would allow us that glimpse of His hand at work!

Above Evie and Gabby Markus with Scott and Kathy, after the Tok Pisin church service in Ukarumpa. 

Prayer Points:

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for the continued transformation of hearts and lives through hearing and reading God’s Word.

• Bible translation: Pray for the upcoming Doromu-Koki New Testament dedication in September.

• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott, temporarily serving as Senior Manager for Regional Centers, while he continues to serve as Field Security Officer.

• God’s provision: Praise for safe flights back to PNG! It was a blessing to empty our storage unit and donate clothes and furniture, but the greatest blessing was to see so many family and friends. We are sorry if we missed you during our brief time in the US, but we will see you when we return on home assignment next July.

Privileged...

Thank you for your prayers for our travel logistics and for us as we attended the Baruga New Testament dedication! It was a privilege to be there to experience their joy firsthand and then continue our journey to the U.S. to visit family and friends. We will never forget the opportunity we had to celebrate with the Farr family and the Baruga people and we thank you all for helping to make it possible!

Celebrating with the Baruga people...

On the 9th of June, the Baruga people dedicated the New Testament in their language. What had begun 29 years ago, when Jim Farr began the translation, now culminated with the distribution of print and audio-Bibles of the New Testament, plus 23 Papua New Guinean co-translators, trained and prepared to continue work on the Old Testament. As support workers, we had the sensation of being metaphorically transported to the top of a high mountain just in time to witness the end of an arduous climb, yet we were welcomed to celebrate with them as a part of the body of Christ, our contributions to the work of Bible translation appreciated and encouraged. Romans 12: 4-6 reminds us, “For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them...” (NKJV)

Above Jim and Joan Farr, translators, with Irene Fumey, Director of Language Services, presenting the Baruga New Testament to one of their co-translators during the dedication celebration.

Owl Fly Away...

Sadly, our friend’s owl won’t be able to, as he has a broken wing, but he is being nursed back to health. We, however, will be flying back to the U.S. on 14 June for a short visit. While there, we will be visiting family, speaking at churches, taking care of stored items and attending to medical appointments. We will then return to PNG on 10 July, in time for the beginning of the new school year. Please pray for our travel logistics and for us as we diligently finish this school year well and prepare to fly!

Adaptability...

Adaptability is a key ingredient for a missionary. I (Scott) have been in the position of Chief Human Resources Officer for six months. Soon, I will assume a modified security role and temporarily become the Senior Manager for Regional Centers. These changes have prompted people to ask “Aren’t these roles outside of your comfort zone?” The answer is a resounding “Yes”! The Human Resources position was well outside of my comfort zone and that is OK. God provided a great team who helped me through unfamiliar territory. What about the new role? It, too, is outside of my comfort zone and once again that is OK. I am here to serve and therefore willing to take on any role for which I am capable. God continues to teach me and use me in unexpected ways. If God has called you outside of your comfort zone, don’t worry. God often equips the called, instead of calling the equipped; what He wants is a willing and obedient heart and a teachable spirit.