As many of you are aware, on September 11th, 2022 we experienced a 7.6M earthquake here in Ukarumpa. Thankfully, none of our staff were injured and recovery efforts are underway. We were about to post the following three articles the day of the earthquake and were delayed until now. Our October newsletter will contain more information on the earthquake.
Thank you,
Scott & Kathy
"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest". -Matthew 9:37-38 KJV
As support workers, we help provide the infrastructure and processes needed to facilitate long term Bible translation projects in Papua New Guinea. We don’t do this alone; there are many local staff members and partner organizations whose work is critical to making Bible translation happen. While fewer overseas workers are coming to the field, there is much that still needs to be accomplished. In order to meet this challenge, our mission is endeavoring to build capacity among our citizen staff by localizing positions where possible. Earlier this year, Scott found a local man to take over his former role of Field Security Officer. Now, a similar search is to find a qualified PNG citizen to take over the role of Chief Human Resources Officer. Over the next 9 months, leading up to our home assignment, Scott will be recruiting, on-boarding and training his replacement. Upon our planned return to PNG in January 2024, Scott will assume a new and, as yet, undefined role. While Scott enjoys the Human Resources role, it is personally rewarding and organizationally important to build the capacity of our citizen staff and partners in Bible translation. Please be praying for this project.
Teaching requires many hours of training, mentoring, and ultimately building trust. We are half way through Term 1, and the Grade 8 students have mastered enough basic lab techniques to be trusted with Bunsen burners (and they did a great job!). So it is in our spiritual walk, as we are mentored by more mature believers, and have the opportunity to pour into those who are newer to their Christian faith. God also trains us each up through our various life experiences, some enjoyable and some very difficult, and as we experience Him working in our lives, our trust in Him grows deeper. Whatever the LORD allows you to go through, seek Him in the midst of it and learn what He is teaching you!
• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace and joy during PNG’s Independence Day celebrations on September 16.
• Bible translation: Pray for peace and spiritual protection during the Culture Meets Scripture workshop in Nukna.
• Our roles in PNG: Pray for Scott as he begins the search for a PNG Chief Human Resources Officer, to fulfill localization in that role. Pray for Kathy and all the students at UIS, and for them to go deeper in their faith at the Encounter spiritual retreat on September 23-25.
• PNG missionaries: Pray for the Oral Bible Storytelling workshop taking place in Gulf province, for many languages to be impacted.
• God’s provision: We thank God for providing the rain for our water tank, as we come out of a very dry, dry season.
Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG.
We could not continue to serve here without you!
“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays... says the LORD Almighty.”
-Malachi 4:2-3
Papua New Guinea celebrates a national holiday called Repentance Day each year on August 26. It is a time for coming together as believers and praying for God’s forgiveness for the wrongs that are happening in the nation. Prayer services will take place in churches throughout the country, as people repent and seek the LORD. This is especially poignant this year, as we pray for the national elections continuing to take place throughout PNG. Election-related violence has occurred in several parts of Papua New Guinea in recent weeks, including the Aiyura Valley around Ukarumpa. Please continue to pray for an end to the violence, and for opportunities for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those in villages who have lost homes and belongings. We are also in the midst of a very dry season, with close to drought conditions. Please pray for rain to water the gardens of our PNG neighbors, who are subsistence farmers relying on their crops to feed their families. And pray for us as well, as the rain water is needed for the water tanks that provide running water in our homes. The beauty that we see in creation around us testifies to God’s goodness, especially when the circumstances are challenging. May we all search our hearts this Repentance Day, seek His forgiveness, revere His name, and trust that He is good and is still in control. And may God bless the nation of PNG as they move forward in a spirit of repentance and humility.
The new school year at Ukarumpa International School (UIS) has begun, and both Scott and Kathy are excited. Scott is teaching an elective class in Self Defense, and Kathy is teaching Grade 8 Science, Biology and Chemistry. Please pray for this team of wonderful teachers at the middle and high school to love their students well this year, and to stay healthy and strong. We all desire that our students not only learn about our subject areas, but more importantly, that they know and love the LORD who created all of it. May our love for Him, as well as our subjects, rub off on our students this year!
• Papua New Guinea (PNG): Pray for peace and wisdom during the national elections in PNG, and an end to violence.
• Bible translation: Praise for the Nobnob Old and New Testament sent for printing in Korea, and for the Bible dedication later this year.
• Our roles in PNG: Praise for the new school year getting off to a good start. Pray for balance for Scott as continues in the Chief Human Resources Officer role, Crisis Management Team leader, and teaches Self Defense at UIS.
• PNG missionaries: Pray for the translation teams to have safe travels as they move around the country during this election season.
• God’s provision: We thank God for providing for our needs through His people and for keeping us safe during this election season.
Thank you for your prayers, and for your faithful financial support of our Wycliffe ministry in PNG. We could not continue to serve here without you!
