August has snuck up on us as we have been recovering from jet lag, completing house projects, and hunting rats! We are mostly settled back into our home now… still washing the mold off of everything, but down to the last few boxes left to be unpacked. Thankfully we are now rid of all the rats, and just diving back into friendships, school, and work.
Nori has really loved going to school so far, and we have enjoyed hearing her stories of learning to navigate this new world. Please keep praying for her, as we know this kind of transition can take time and will have many ups and downs.
Some fairly big news to report is that John has been given a new assignment here in Ukarumpa. It won’t be replacing his role in the Construction and Maintenance department, but will be in addition to it. For the time being, he will also be managing the facilities and PNG staff at the Ukarumpa Training Center. Also known as the Pacific Institute of Languages, Arts, and Translation (or PILAT), the Ukarumpa Training Center is dedicated to training Papua New Guineans for Bible translation, literacy and other language development work. You can check out more about PILAT here: http://pngtraining.sil.ac.pg/
Please pray for John as he straddles two departments and engages many more relationships.
Our biggest concern for prayer though is that our community has just suffered a great loss.
The day before school started, the father of one of Nori’s best friends collapsed and died while playing soccer with many from our community. This Papua New Guinean was a kind godly man who served faithfully in our Aviation department for many years. Death is a part of all our lives but somehow it always seems just a little more in our face here. Please pray for Hadassa and her family (she has 5 siblings); please pray that God meets them in a powerful and comforting way as only He can through such loss. Please pray for Nori as she leans into loving her friend.
Somewhere close to the start of our first term here another godly PNG man died leaving heartache on our center, and shortly after that his daughter joined my community group (she was just starting 7th grade at the time). I am now leading the 6th grade girls (Nori’s class) and Hadassa is walking through this most painful of times. Needless to say, I’m feeling inadequate for the the task that He has called me to.
Thank you for your prayers! please let us know how we can be praying for you too!
Kristi for John and the kiddos