“Wow, Jesus is live!”

This morning we attempted to explain the meaning of Easter to Jonathan, our two year old. We explained how Jesus died on the cross for our sins and then on Easter He rose again, and came back to life. Jonathan looked up from his cheerios and said “Wow!”. Then he got to work on his cheerios again.

Yes, ‘wow’ is right, and really there are not even words to describe how amazing it is that God sent his Son to die for our sins and rise from the dead. Not only can we now have life eternal with no fear of death, but we can also have an abundant life on earth resting in all Christ has done for us. Even in our daily lives we have the assurance that God is working through us and we get to be a part of what He is doing.

Jonathan might not really understand what Easter is about yet but His response is worth thinking about.

“Wow…Jesus is live!”

-Jonathan Devine

We hosted the Sepik Conference March 19-23. All the missionaries in the bush locations came for a time of refreshment in the Word, encouragement and fellowship. It was a busy time, a bitter sweet time and also a good time. We enjoyed getting to know more about the missionaries that we help in the bush locations. And it was so good to hear so much teaching from the Word about our eternal home where our good friend Toni is now, about unity in the body and giving grace to each other as we work together. Beth enjoyed cooking while Jacob took care of security. Jonathan enjoyed hanging out with the kids too!

Now we are enjoying some time of rest and relaxation here in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, just a 45 minute drive from where we used to live at Interface. We are getting refreshed as we live in the cool climate, eat lots of salads and strawberries, talk to friends and watch Jonathan enjoy playing in the sand box, on the slides and with his new soccer ball.

Praises!

• A God who sent His Son to die for our sins and rose him up so that we could have daily life abundantly!
• The Sepik Conference went very well, many were encouraged and excited about what God is doing!
• Opportunity to relax in the cool Highlands and get some much needed rest and encouragement in the Lord.
• We are all healthy!
• Jonathan is talking a lot… so fun to watch his brain work!
• God’s continued provision for our needs moment by moment!
• Safety at work for Jacob!
• There are 27 students this summer for the Interface program in the Madang region! And we have a full kitchen crew too!
• Jacob’s mom, Cheryl, is preparing to come to PNG this summer to take care of Jonathan so Beth can work in the kitchen!
• God has provided a car for us to use when we are home from Nov 2015 – June 2016!
• We already have some money set aside to help purchase our airplane tickets to head home in November!

Prayer requests:

• Ability to choose gratitude instead of our default of ingratitude in the circumstances of our daily lives.
• Rest in God as we enjoy being parents each day.
• Wisdom as Jacob works each day to repair and maintain the NTM Center.
• Healing of our friend, Elissa, so she can work full time in PNG.
• Jason, Jedidiah and Ella Jo Stuart as they adjust to their new lives without a wife and mum as Toni went to be with Jesus on March 6^th.
• The Stuarts as they plan to return to  PNG in July… provision of a teacher to homeschool Jedidiah and Ella Jo… many adjustments ahead!
• Dorothy Holmquist, mom of Brian Holmquist (co-worker) as she suffered a Hemorrhagic stroke and has been given hours to live due to bleeding in the brain. Brian just left today to head back to the US to be with her.
• Opportunity to help out with Interface – Prayer for Jacob’s mom as she plans to come over to help and take care of Jonathan
• Provision of finances for Cheryl Devine’s trip to PNG at the end of May – mid August! (See below for info on how to give to Cheryl’s trip.)
• Provision of the rest of the finances needed for our tickets and for an apartment to rent while on Home Assignment… leaving mid-November!
• God would continue to raise up more missionaries to come to the Sepik and bring the Gospel to those who have never heard it their own heart language.
• David and Wendy Lee as they pray about returning to minister to the Bena people because the Fosters are unable to return at this time due to health.
• More labors to minister to the Bena people.

 

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 1 Corinthians 4:17