Travel Updates
Here in Texas we got snowed in last week, which just means that we got one inch of snow and everything closed! Such a small thing causing so much disruption. That’s how it seems Judson’s visa application has gone. After receiving Judson’s passport in record time we are still waiting, 2+ months later, for his visa to come in. This small thing has likely delayed our departure for PNG until the middle of March. Please pray for the visa to come in soon since we need to have it in order to apply for a final approval before we can buy plane tickets.
Ministry Updates
We’ve seen God’s sovereignty and leading in these delays and all throughout our journey to Papua New Guinea. Our original goal in moving there was to become Bible translators as a part of a church planting team among one of the many people groups of PNG. However, we now believe that God is leading us away from that specific role in the church planting endeavor. Instead, we will be serving at the high school for our missionary kids at the mission center in Papua New Guinea. This center is the location for the school, medical clinic, aviation department, field leadership, central supply, and many other support departments that enables church planting to the unreached.
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD determines his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9
All throughout 2021 God has graciously and slowly changed the plans that we have had for nearly 10 years to do “front line” cross-cultural church planting. Last year we finally got to experience life in Papua New Guinea including life in a more remote setting. Unfortunately Kara Linn’s current health is simply not compatible with the rigors of living remotely and the difficult labor of planting a church. After much prayer and counsel from many who know us, we made the decision to live at the mission center. Our time in the USA has been helpful to recover from a difficult pregnancy, and we hope that by living in a less remote context, we will be able to see further improvement.
Anthony will be serving at Numonohi Christian Academy discipling the students and teaching classes. The school is a huge part of the church planting work in PNG. It allows the church planters, pilots, nurses, and all of the missionaries serving around the country to provide their children with a solid education while continuing in ministry themselves. The school is a blessing for many, in particular those with older children as their education progresses.
God has been leading us all along the way and this change has been no different. There are too many details to share of all the things that God has used to help us make this decision but we are confident that this is what God has for us. We are still blessed to participate in supporting church planting in Papua New Guinea, to expand the reach of the gospel to the darkest parts.
Prayer Requests
- Government paperwork and approvals to be granted
- Transitioning well to new plans and new ministries
- Kara Linn’s health to continue to improve
- The unreached people groups of Papua New Guinea
- COVID not to affect our travel or the ministry around the country
Thank you for all of your ongoing prayers and support of us as we continue to serve God and the church planting efforts He is doing in Papua New Guinea. Please contact us if you have any questions about our ministry change or if there are ways we can be praying for you.
