Great is thy faithfulness, great is thy faithfulness. Morning by morning new mercies I see… I grew up singing this song. It’s about HIS faithfulness, HIS mercies, HIS goodness and care but if I’m honest I don’t always live like I believe it’s true. So often I’m trying to figure out what I need to DO to receive His mercies, what I need to DO to successfully tackle my day, or what I need to DO to have God’s goodness flowing in my life. God has been working on my heart in regard to this. This time in America has been a really hard season for our family, but each day I feel God calling me to just sit at his feet and let Him do the doing. That its not up to me, He already has a plan, and these plans and not just for his glory but for our good. Each day that passes I get more and more comfortable with this new posture, the posture of trusting God’s doing, and I can testify it’s way better.
These next few months of our family being on separate sides of the world, then leaving Nori behind at collage, and learning to navigate what life looks like as a family of 4 overseas are just a few of the transitions we will be navigating. It’s a lot. But I can look back on all HE has done, HIS faithfulness, love and care and I can sit here with joy knowing His plans are good. It's freeing to know it’s not my faithfulness or my goodness that is required.
“He that dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty… He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” Psalm 91:1-4
Thank you so much for praying over our family, and I ask for your continued prayers for this next season to come! Now I want to take a moment to praise God for just a few of the things He has done for our family so far this year.
Furlough can be a lonely time for Millie, missing all her friends and her home in PNG. This time God blessed her with deepening some really sweet friendships here in America. These girls are silly together, adventurous together, and love Jesus together. I am excited to see what God has for them these next few years.
It has been a privilege to visibly see God’s heart growing inside of Banner. He has been blessed with two very different youth groups to be a part of this furlough, and it has been a priority to him to go. He has also been working on the CAM team at JAARS 3 days a week alongside some amazing and Godly men… What a blessing that Banner has had this opportunity as he is stepping into manhood himself and contemplating what living a life abandoned to God really looks like.
A part of John’s job back in PNG has revolved around clean water collection and production… One of his first projects in Ukarumpa was to build two massive rain water collection tanks for our center. In the Fall, John ordered a well drilling rig to dig wells to provide water for our whole center. This drill is currently on the ocean on its way to PNG arriving sometime soon this Summer. God gave John the most amazing gift that he didn’t even know to ask for. He was able to attend a week long well drilling training (right in the mountains of NC!) to learn how to operate and troubleshoot complications when using the new drill. This knowledge is priceless but God blessed him even more. His class of 8 had men from all around the world looking to serve their communities in this tangible way of providing clean water. He was so energized and renewed by the stories of God at work in all the places. I will let John fill you in on all the details from this training… as it really deserves its own post!
John with his “sisters”, sister-in-law-in-law, Christy, and sister, Andrea.
We love our work in PNG but it’s hard leaving friends and family for 3 or more years at a time. Even though we didn’t travel much while here this time, God has showered us with so many unexpected times with people that we love and didn’t think we were going to see again for at least another year. Our hearts are full!
Celebrating Nori’s accomplishment with Grammy and yummy Japanese food!
Nori is going to College!!! Not only is Nori breathing God’s sweet sweet air but she graduated high school a year early (May 8, 2025) AND she was accepted into the honors program at Lee University! She will be pursuing a degree in Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management and she couldn’t be more excited. God has surprised us each step of the way in this process with his boundless generosity and goodness.
If you want to send Nori congratulations or words of encouragement you can reach her via email at noriblythecraig@gmail.com or her address where she will live till August 15th when I take her to college will be:
6622 Old Settlers Rd
Waxhaw, NC 28173
Thank you for praying!
Kristi, for all of us…