Prayer update time again. It’s Feb 2017! Does this shock you as much as it does me? I still remember Y2K and when the whole world was suppose to shut down… and here we are almost two decades later. The other day Nori was asking me if I would be alive in 3000. I answered that I would not but she very well could be… now that is a wild thought! I wonder what we will all see change in this century? Will we really have flying cars at some point? Will we see another world war? Then I think of our life here in PNG—will we accomplish what feels impossible? Will there be a Bible in every single one of the languages here? Will this land experience a revival? Will I be alive to see these things happen? I pray to the Lord that I will and that I will get to continue to be a part of it even in my own small way.
John: Is still wearing many hats, so please pray that he doesn't burn out. He's recently seen some personnel changes in his Maintenance section in the CAM dept. and lost his PNG foreman. This has doubled his work load and will be a hard position to fill. John is also still managing all of the contract work with the Papua New Guineans here in the valley. This is a very relational role that is as frustrating as it is rewarding. Sadly, one complaining person can quickly overshadow the nine people that just brought you bananas and pineapples in gratitude. It's a totally different culture here, and yet humans are humans all over the globe. Also please be praying for John (and his co-leader Andrew) with their 8th grade boys Bible study on Wednesdays. It's been quite a few months now that he's been doing it and he thinks that God is starting to break down some of those middle school walls to form some friendships; so praise the Lord for that!
Kristi: I am still working with my 7th grade girls. This month we are looking at spiritual warfare and the armor of God. Please remember them when you pray for me, a good number of them are a bit anxious about what is next for their families as they have older siblings they will be sending back home to go to college while they remain here. I am still seeking new ways to continue to invest in the women and children from our village church in Kwina. Pray that I can clearly see how to live out Christ with them. Also a huge praise, our homeschool community here has been continuing to grow here, we are up to 9 families now :) The SIL directorate has asked me to rewrite homeschool policy for the center, so prayers for wisdom over how to handle this.
Nori: Is now taking piano and recorder lessons and loving it. The Lord finally sent a 3rd grade teacher to the school, so when she goes there for her music class the size is a bit smaller. There are 9 kids in her class now, with 5 countries represented. Nori has been pursuing a friendship with a Papua New Guinean in her class named Tessgrace. Please pray for Nori as she misses her friends back home, and as we continue to work on self-control. She also helped facilitate the Vacation Bible School that SIL held for local village communities in January. She was a teacher's aide in the 1st grade class. Nori was born for this life and the more ways we can find for her to serve the better, for that is where her heart is truly joyful. Nori is praying for more opportunities to serve His people here like this.
Banner: Is growing like a weed. I think it is time for new shoes again! He is that kid who can play with anyone; he is a wonderful includer. I sometimes just sit at the top of the steps in our house to hear him play… all the plain noises and explosions mixed in with his funny little commentary. He is a whiz at math, and is looking more and more like John inside and out everyday. He is really looking forward to March when we will be running a regional center in Alotau (in the south-east) for one whole month. He will get to go swimming and eat fish pretty much everyday… or so he says. It will be fun and relaxing for the kids but still a great deal of work for us. Please pray that even in the work we find time to relax with the kids and just have fun.
Millie: She is still our spitfire. Everyone who meets her is totally charmed and she knows it. We adore the kid who still makes up her own words and tells stories with such wit and passion. I think she will be the one that is writing and reading at the youngest age; she just picks up everything so fast. Millie is insistent on having her own school work whenever the other kids are doing theirs! After much deliberation we have decided that she will be doing our homeschool routine full time in the fall for Kindergarten—something she is already talking about, well that and about her dragon princess birthday party that is in May. I'm not sure how I’m going to pull that one off for her. Please pray for her cough. It has been back for about 3 months now, and I am convinced it is from mold. We are looking into some preventive measures for her and the house like flooring to put over the concrete in her room etc. But please just pray that God will heal her little body of this.
Thank you so much for your prayers and support! we love you all dearly are are praying for you too! Please write us back and let us know how we can be praying for you better.
Love,
John, Kristi and the kid