Praise and rejoicing...

“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The LORD reigns!” 1 Chronicles 16:31

It was a day of praise and rejoicing when we were released from our 2 week quarantine, along with the other 3 couples who returned on our flight. Since then, 10 more families have been able to return to Ukarumpa, and are currently in quarantine, with the hope of another 7 families returning in November. This has not only encouraged the other missionaries serving here, who now have more colleagues to share to load with them, but also our Papua New Guinean friends and coworkers. Hegio and Nene sat with Kathy and told her how concerned they had been for our safety and health, and how they had prayed for us. They also shared how they had listened to God’s Word in their language, which they had received from us on a solar-powered player before we left, and how much it had encouraged them and their extended family during this pandemic. “We hear the Bible in mixed Tok Pisin and English in church, but when we hear it in Kamano Kafe, it goes right to our hearts and changes us!” they said. Thank you all for continuing to be a part of transforming peoples lives, one heart at a time.

Autumn or Spring?

While we do miss seeing the fall colors in New England, we were also very happy to return to beautiful spring flowers here in the southern hemisphere! It has been lovely to see our hibiscus and bougainvillea blooming, and the red amaryllis are in season. We even have yummy pineapples growing in the backyard! All of this new growth and life has been a great encouragement to us, and reminds us each day that our lives are in our good Father’s hands.

Prayer Points

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

• Bible translation: Praise for the arrival of the completed Gizrra New Testament and pray for preparations for the Bible dedication in December.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise for being released from quarantine and being able to return to our work in security and at school!

• PNG missionaries: Pray for the next wave of families returning to Ukarumpa who are in quarantine and transition.

• God’s provision: Thank you for allowing God to use you as part of our team! Your kindness, faithfulness and generosity have enabled us to successfully return to Papua New Guinea.

Travel Update

It took 72 hours, 5 flights and all of your prayers to get us back to Papua New Guinea— we are so grateful to all of you, and to God's mercy and grace, for allowing us to return.  We have been officially cleared to quarantine in our home in Ukarumpa and will spend the next 14 days cleaning, unpacking and getting reconnected to the community here.  They welcomed us so warmly and we are deeply grateful to be back.

Photo Credit: Paul Stewart

Thank you for partnering with our Wycliffe ministry— you and your family enable us to continue to faithfully serve Bible translation in PNG!

Trusting His Direction...

 “This is what the LORD says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.” 

-Isaiah 48:17

We said last month that His loving plan, in His timing, is the best option and that we would continue to seek Him and His will to be done in all of our circumstances. He has been teaching us greater patience and perseverance, to find joy right where we are, while still seeking to serve and go deeper in relationship with Him and those around us. This is the fruit of the Spirit that He wants to grow in every believer: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control (Galatians 5: 22-23). Much like the wonderful summer fruit we’ve been enjoying while here, it is best when mature, and we’ve all been challenged to grow deeper during this season of waiting. But God not only teaches, He directs the way we should go, and often surprises us. So join us in praise for our new flight with the United Nation’s World Food Programme, via Kuala Lumpur, on September 15! This was a most unexpected opportunity and can get us and another 4 families back to PNG over a month sooner than any commercial flight we’ve found. Thank you for your prayers - they are making all the difference.