Betty

The daughter of our friends, Orava and Leah, from Papua New Guinea went to be with Jesus on Sunday evening.  Betty had struggled with a heart condition for many years, but you would’ve never know by her faith, love and bright smile.

We miss you, Betty, but we’re so glad you are completely healed and at home with Jesus.  We look forward to seeing you again one day!

The Kodiak

Almost a year ago, the aviation department in Papua New Guinea started using a new type of aircraft, the Kodiak, to service translation programs within the country. This airplane, specifically designed for missions work and rugged environments, is quickly proving its worth.  Eventually the PNG branch would like to utilize several Kodiaks to fly the majority of the workload. The current “workhorse”, the Cessna 206 airplane, requires Avgas, a type of fuel that is expensive and easily contaminated. In June, the price of Avgas went up 25%. The Kodiak, however, uses a less finicky fuel (Jet A) which actually decreased in price!

In May, I spent a week in Sandpointe, ID at the Quest Aircraft manufacturing plant getting some maintenance training on the Kodiak.  At the time, the frame of the PNG branch’s second Kodiak was still being built.

Now that airplane has left the factory and sits in the hangar at the JAARS center in Waxhaw, NC. Our family will spend the next several weeks at the JAARS center while I help to install some modifications on the airplane that will suit it for its particular work in PNG. The goal is to have the airplane finished by October in time for its ferry flight.

I thank God for the opportunity to support Bible translation in PNG now by using my recent Kodiak training; even as we continue preparing to return to Papua New Guinea ourselves.

Coming Home

After a 3 1/2 week trip to some of Great Lake States, we came home to find our yard rivaling the grasslands of the Serengeti.  Our “lions” thought it a great place to prowl around and stretch legs too long cramped in the car.

It’s good to be home…for a few days anyway.  The reunion with toys and books is like Christmas all over again for the kids.  I’m happy to mess around in my own kitchen, and hang clothes on the line again.  But as much as we enjoy our house, it’s starting to feel like a burden…or maybe an anchor—holding us back in our plans to return to Papua New Guinea.  Maybe it’s necessary for me to feel this so I don’t mourn the loss of our home when we do eventually get back to PNG.  Maybe God has other plans for it…or us for that matter.  I don’t know, but in the meantime our house is going back on the market to see what happens.

God Speaks Yopno

A colleague from Papua New Guinea recently sent us this photo.  Last week the Yopno New Testament was dedicated.  Now these young ladies can enjoy reading God’s Word in their heart language.


"I saw a vast crowd, too great to count, from every nation and tribe and people and language, standing in front of the throne and before the Lamb.  They were clothed in white robes and held palm branches in their hands.  And they were shouting with a might shout, 'Salvation comes from our God who sits on the throne and from the Lamb!'" Revelation 7:9-10 (NLT)

“Pure Michigan”

Despite the misadventure of getting rear-ended in Gary, IN, we finally made it to Grand Rapids, MI to spend some time with Missy’s parents.  Grammy and Papa only recently moved to this Great Lakes state and we’re discovering some of its many treasures.  The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park is definitely worth a visit.  Just make sure to set aside the whole day and wear good walking shoes.

 

 

 

 

 

It’s a very friendly place.  We even got to hang out with Mr. and Mrs. Meijer…

…and Fluffy the fire-breathing dragon.

 

 

Claire egg sat for BIG momma robin, and filled in as a human sundial.

 

 

 

Isaiah found his avatar… 

 

 

…and before we left, we tried the floating salad and rock candy on a stick.

EAA AirVenture Oshkosh

Jon recently had the privilege of representing Wycliffe Bible Translators at the world’s greatest aviation celebration in Oshkosh, WI.  A team from JAARS (an organization committed to providing technical support services and resources to Wycliffe) had a booth at the air-show and brought a couple of their aircraft for display.

Jon was on hand to answer questions about the aircraft, but his favorite part of the experience was being able to talk to so many people about the ministry of Wycliffe and explain how the aircraft help make Bible translation possible.

Just the Right Bible

We’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately so my access to the internet has been sporadic, but I’ve been meaning to post a video that a friend brought to my attention a few months ago.  It was made by some colleagues in Papua New Guinea and is a great reminder how blessed we English speakers are to have the Bible in our own language—a gift we too easily take for granted.