Birthday Season

When the birthday seasons arrives at our house…as it seems to every year whether we like it or not <grin>…the most important question is always, “Can I have a party?”

Parties aren’t this mom’s strong suit, but I felt we couldn’t pass up a dream come true for both Claire and Isaiah—not when we’re living next door to so many of their friends.  So we threw a party for both of them.  I wasn’t sure it was possible to combine a princess and race car theme, but strangely it worked well.  The guests, both boys and girls, seemed to enjoy it.  Actually, as long as you have cupcakes and plenty of prizes, you can’t really go wrong….

Waiting for God’s Word…

Tahanuka, an elderly man from Papua New Guinea (pictured right) had been looking forward to reading the Scriptures in his own Yopno language. He was concerned that he might not live until God's book arrived with the complete New Testament and Psalms. When the Gospel of John was published several years ago, he bought a copy and read it frequently. Since he was advanced in years and looked forward to his home with Jesus, he asked translator Wes Reed to highlight Scriptures about heaven for him. Wes highlighted John 14:2 ‘I go to prepare a place for you,’ and other verses that talk about his eternal home. It was with great joy Tahanuka attended the New Testament dedication in August 2010. Tahanuka praised God for the privilege of holding the Living Word.^*

The Yopno people are just one language group, but there are about 830 different languages in PNG alone. Our colleagues are currently working in 175 language programs and there are another 250-300 languages that still have translation needs. There’s still lots of work to do!

Of course, Missy and I aren’t Bible translators, but God has given us skills that support the work of Bible translation.  Click here for more on our roles in Bible translation.  But in order for us to return to PNG, we need 100% of the monthly budget that has been determined by Wycliffe to meet our cost of living. You can see from our little thermometer on right that we’ve got a bit to go.  Click here if you’d like to do something about this percentage.  <grin>

Even Claire and Isaiah feel the urgency to return to PNG. One day they came to tell Missy "good-bye". They were leaving for PNG to teach people how to translate the Bible. Both were toting very full backpacks. Claire packed pencils and paper, and Isaiah packed his piggy bank and a gun! <smile>  We got the feeling that they’d had enough talk about going to PNG, and were taking matters into their own hands!

Please pray that God would complete our team of financial partners so we can rejoin the work in Papua New Guinea.  Click here to let us know you’re praying.  It’s a huge encouragement to know we’re backed in prayer by the family of God.

We keep Matthew 6:33 at the front of our minds. “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” (NLT) God never fails his promises, and if it is his will we will return to PNG. Nonetheless, it breaks our hearts to think there are more Papua New Guineans like Tahanuka who are waiting...waiting for God’s Word in their heart language.

*Photo and story adapted from www.thewordislife.net by Karen Weaver.

Goodbye House

We’re happy to report that the closing on our house went through today without a hitch!  As much as we loved living there, it’s a relief that it is finally sold.  We feel like we’ve just taken another huge step toward returning to Papua New Guinea, and we’re praising God for his awesome provision and for answering our prayers!

Saying “goodbye” to our house was bittersweet, but over the years we’ve learned that it’s OK to feel both sad and excited by change.  Our missionary training has taught us that we need to show our children that it’s OK to mourn loss, and to be sensitive to our children’s need to say “goodbye”.  So in the spirit of “Goodnight Moon”--

“Goodbye house, goodbye mouse.  Goodbye room, goodbye broom.  Goodbye wall, goodbye hall.  Goodbye swing…goodbye everything!”

And I’m feeling just sentimental enough to take the appearance of these crocuses just a few days before we left to mean “goodbye” in return.  <smile>

Honey, I Packed the Kids…

I mentioned in the previous post that we had “Give Away” boxes, “Save for Later” piles, and “Take to PNG” bins.  In light of the fact that things are mysteriously disappearing from our house, Claire and Isaiah have taken measures to assure they will get sorted correctly.  <smile>

Letting Go

My green, pot-bellied teapot with knitted cozy has journeyed from the “Give Away” box to the “Take to PNG” bin and back, with only a brief visit to the “Keep for Later” pile.  Ahhh!  What do I do with it?  I know…put it back on the frig and decide later.

We’ve done this soooo many times now, it ought to be getting easier.  Our house has been on the market for over a year, and we were prepared for its impending sale.  We wanted to make the transition easy, and got by with what we had whenever possible  We didn’t spend money on things that wouldn’t follow us to PNG.  We even told family not to give us stuff they hoped we’d hang onto for years.  It just can’t happen in this lifestyle and sometimes it hurts.

Like now….  Claire’s set of English tea cups from Great Grandma just isn’t going to survive the boat ride across the Pacific.  Isaiah’s bag of homemade Lincoln logs from Grandpa would fare very nicely, but they would probably never come home again—not with the new restrictions on importing wood into the US.  Yes, these are the thoughts that weigh heavily on my brain right now!

There are a number of factors to weigh in each decision:

• “Who gave it to me and how will they feel if I give it away?”
• “If I keep it will it just become a burden?”
• “Is it practical for use in PNG, or just another item that emphasizes our differences with the local people?”
• “If I save it for ‘later’ will later ever come, and in the meantime, how long will it burden someone else?”
• “Will my children be emotionally damaged if they aren’t allowed to keep it?”

After agonizing over many a decision, I often default to giving it away.  My rational is that it will hopefully go to someone who can truly maximize its potential.  <grin>  Besides, God gave us everything we have, and has always provided for our every need.  Why not share the blessing!  But if I sound a wee bit off my rocker, send up a prayer for this slightly frazzled missionary wife and mother who is learning to let go again.  And maybe you’ll want to think twice about giving that set of heirloom, hand-painted anvils to your friend who just joined “Way-Out-in-the-Middle-of-Nowhere Mission”.  <big grin>

PS—If you were holding out for the tea cups or Lincoln logs, they’re permanently assigned to the small but critical “Save for Later” pile.

A Step in the Right Direction

We got some good news yesterday….  We have a buyer for our house!  Hallelujah!  Even our realtor acknowledges God’s hand in this contract, and told us that a recent wind storm convinced the buyers that they needed a home on a permanent foundation!  The closing is scheduled for March 31.  We are very excited, and so grateful to our partners for their “persistent widow” prayers! 

Upon hearing the news from our realtor, I went from being ecstatic to overwhelmed in a matter of minutes.  There’s a lot to do in the coming weeks and at the moment I’m not sure where to begin.  We knew (or hoped) this transition was coming but it’s difficult to prepare for it.  Keep praying through the closing, because we know that things can still fall through.  And please pray for us as we begin packing, and making plans to move…somewhere.  We have options—we’re just not sure where we’ll be going next.  It’s always an adventure, isn’t it?

So the waiting is done for the time being.  Good thing I’ve finished that sweater!  <wink>

Did the Thermometer Drop?

If you’ve been checking in with us from time to time, you might have noticed that our little financial partnership thermometer has dropped since January.  As disappointing as it is, we’re grateful that it does NOT mean our partners are bailing on us.  <wink>

What it actually means is that we have just celebrated the anniversary of our membership with Wycliffe.  And as is the case for all members, part of the celebration is reviewing our ministry budget for the next year.  <I saw you cringe, when you read the word “budget”!>

We have some input when making this budget, but mostly it’s put together by our very wise (and patient) finance people.  When figuring how much we’ll need monthly to live in Papua New Guinea during the next year, they take into account increasing airfare, rises in energy costs, the increasing cost of health care and insurance,  and among other things, the current devaluing of the US Dollar.  I don’t envy them their jobs, especially these days when they must deliver a lot of disappointing news.  We are, however, extremely grateful for their assistance!

It would be easy to blame the economy for the delay in completing our team of financial partners, but in reality our God isn’t affected by the economy.  He’s so much bigger than that.  If he wanted, he could arrange for us to win the lottery, or drop a gazillion euros in our laps or something equally spectacular.  It is pretty amazing that he usually allows his Church to be part of the miracle!  Whatever method he chooses, it will be in his perfect time and to his own glory--as it should be!