Hello all! So settling into a whole new world does take a lot of time and energy… We have finished our POC training course and have moved into Ukarumpa, where we are currently renting a home that’s owned by some translators that are home on furlough. We have been truly blessed by the home we are in; it’s surrounded by dear friends (some old and some new) and we can start each day watching the sun fill up the sky over God’s beautiful mountains from our porch.
John has been working at the CAM (Construction and Maintenance) department for over a month now and really enjoying the challenges that it has brought. His current role is as the Building Section Head and he has six Papua New Guinean guys that he works with every day to complete projects all over the center (and a few out in the bush!). John was excited to find out that there are over 50 Papua New Guineans in the CAM department as a whole, so plenty of opportunities for relationships. He was also overjoyed to discover that out of all the international staff in his office there are actually two other NCSU alums as well. He has had his hands on so many different projects so far from erecting a battery storage building (to store power for the center, not AA’s and 9-volts) to working out the logistics for a large foundation repair at a helicopter allocation for a translation team.
The kids have jumped right into school with both feet. We are still homeschooling and I think just having a routine to the day again has helped so much with transitioning into life here.
Millie is attending a preschool class 2 times a week just to give me some more intentional time with the older kids. As soon as the school fence came in sight on the first day of school Millie grabbed my legs, kissed them, said goodbye, then started off toward the school on her own! Needless to say, I did walk my sweet independent girl the rest of the way to her class.
Banner was born to live here. He just embraces everything he is learning in this new culture. I’m still not sure if we will ever get a shirt and shoes on him again!
Nori is making friends everywhere she goes, and is still learning the language here so quickly. We’ve also been working on cooking skills and last week we had some company over to the house and she cooked the whole meal for them. She is growing up right before our eyes.
As for me, I’m still learning how to live here well and care for everyone. In addition to navigating that, I am co-hosting a women’s bible study once a week.
Please pray for rain! We are in a drought right now and this becomes a hardship for everyone. The Papua New Guineans are losing their food and their livelihood as things dry up, our rainwater tanks are becoming empty, and even the river next to Ukarumpa is dwindling, which is a lifeline to the entire community around here.
Please pray for us as we continue to settle into this new life here. That our hearts will be open to what God has planned for us that day.
Please pray for us as we look for a local Tok Pisin church (instead of the English service here at the center) to be a part of. We hope that God can use this church relationship to give us deep roots in the local community here.
Please pray that God will provide a home for us to own, as this will give our family long-term stability here as well as help out our budget.
Please pray for health and safety. As I write this two kids are sick with colds and I have strep throat.
Please pray for wisdom as we navigate new relationships here with other missionaries and with nationals. Let us be salt and light for God’s glory alone.
It’s still so hard to believe we are actually here. We praise God for his abundant provisions and mercies. And we are so thankful for you and your prayers! Your notes of encouragement over the past few months have been treasures to us. Keep them coming as we love knowing how to pray for you better.
Love,
John and Kristi
And here is some recent answered prayer!...