About

Kakuna Tribe 1996 – 2002
 
God clearly led us to join the existing (as of 1994) Kakuna work and start learning the Culture and Language of the Kakuna people. There are around 1500 – 1700 Kakuna language speakers in 12 different villages. They live in the rugged mountains of the East New Britain Province. We used a helicopter for transportation in and out of the tribe.

Our co-workers taught chronologically, creation to Christ (phase 1) in 1997. They had a years furlough and taught phase 1 again in 1999. Through both times we believe there were several who trusted Christ for Salvation.

God led them out of the work in 1999; the same time we were going on furlough. In 2001 we returned to Kakuna and started working with the believers. We found that there was some interest in those who had not heard the phase 1 or were still interested in hearing it again.

 
In October of 2001 we started phase 1 for the third time. The sad end was that most of the ones who expressed a desire to come to the teaching, did not attend 99% of the time. There was 1 man and his wife who did and we believe they are saved.
Challenging Move
 

In 2002 God made it clear to us that we should move out of Kakuna until we received an invitation to come back in. Since that time we have had a little contact with those in the tribe. Our heart is still to see them hungry for God’s Word. Be praying for them today.

They have the entire Phase One and Phase Two lessons in book form. Portions of scripture were also translated and they have that as well.

The Future For Kakuna
 
There are two languages nearby the Kakuna people that have strong churches in them. They have invitations to come and teach some of the other Kakuna villages that we were not in. If there is a church established the church leaders want us to come and do the Bible translation while they do the church planting. This is very exciting!
Support Center Life
We moved to the NTM regional support location in October of 2002. Aaron immediately went on a week long language and culture consulting trip to be trained as a Culture/Language Acquisition (CLA) consultant who evaluates missionaries in their language proficiency in the particular tribal language they are learning.
Since then Aaron has functioned in that role for NTM in the Islands Region.

Between language evaluations, Aaron worked in many different capacities. Carpenter, Finance officer, Regional Administrator, Business Manager, Government Liaison, and our mission’s store book keeper.

Erika is a busy mother of 4 children. There is a school for the children to go to. She has been a hostess for many families coming and going from the mission field.

We departed for our furlough in February 2005.

Current Information

We furloughed in Camas, Washington and made several trips to Canada to visit Erika’s family. We applied for Erika’s US Citizenship in July 2005, and May 1, 2006 she was sworn in as a US Citizen in Seattle, Washington.

We returned to PNG June 11, 2006. The main ministry for Aaron is to be the Islands Region Consultant Coordinator and the full time CLA consultant for the Islands Region.

Aaron has been on several CLA trips getting people started in their language study for the first time. He will be doing several evaluations in the coming weeks and months. Check out the schedule below.

Aaron is also working with the Orientation program for our new missionaries arriving to the field. This involves teaching them how to learn the trade language, Tok Pisin, and teaching them much about the general PNG culture.

Erika’s ministry is in the housing department. She, along with 2 other ladies set up houses with furniture, appliances, and basic household necessities for new and returning missionaries coming to the field.

Rachel is in 6th Grade. Micah is in 4th Grade, Joel is in 1st grade, and Grace is in preschool. Erika feels like a free mom all the sudden.