More Abundantly

Above and beyond…

I cannot begin to tell you how many prayers the Lord answered on this trip! To recap, Jeremiah, Alayna and I came home this summer mainly to meet and welcome our new granddaughter, Jace’s little sister, born on June 29th to Jordan and Sarah. While here for a 6 week visit, I (April) was suddenly diagnosed with stage 3b colon cancer; surgery followed by 6 months of chemo would be necessary. We could not return to PNG for Alayna’s senior year as planned. This also meant no intentional packing, no saying goodbye to her friends and community, no goodbye to the Dinangat church where she had called home from the time she was 1 month old. A trip back was necessary for the closure she would need.

The Lord graciously provided for Jeremiah to take her back for 2 weeks so that she could say a proper goodbye to everyone and go on her class hike to Mt. Wilhelm, which she’d been planning for since 8th grade. Pictured above, you’ll see that saying goodbye in Dinangat was very emotional. These dear ladies have held her since she was an infant. Add to that the fact that they are very concerned for me…there were lots of tears on the airstrip that day. And yet, I praise the Lord for the sweet love that was poured out; though it was so hard, it was also beautiful and cup-filling. Here, she also said goodbye to our long time coworkers, the Schlegels. Talk about gut-wrenching! They’ve been a steady part of our kids’ lives since they were born and a constant source of encouragement and fellowship in the best and hardest of times. Our other coworkers, the Smith’s, had to leave for the States for a different family matter and we long for the day when she’ll be able to hug them and thank them for all they have meant to her!

Mt. Wilhelm is the highest peak in PNG with a whopping 14,753 ft. elevation! Alayna was able to summit with her class (pictured below) as well as go on several other hikes. The missionary community also threw her an early graduation party and the senior class graciously did some of their traditional activities early so that she could participate with them (like putting their handprints on the ceiling of the teen lounge in the pattern of their grad year!) It was a wonderful trip. Take a look at Lam.3:19-24 to understand a little of what we feel. Isn’t it true how the hard times give depth, meaning and richness to the sweet times? She will always miss PNG, but we are beyond grateful for how the Lord has enabled her to say goodbye well.

In Dinangat Please continue praying for Basa as his health continues to fail. The church is also struggling with some things, please pray that they would continue to go to the Word for their authority and hope!
Our Team Please pray for our dear friends and coworkers. The Smith’s had to leave suddenly to attend to a family matter and the Schlegels are in PNG with a lot of responsibility on their plates! We trust God’s sovereignty, timing and sufficient grace for them, please pray with us for them!
For us, we are settled here in the Camdenton area of MO at Ethnos360 Training Center. I’m receiving good care from the Lake Regional Cancer Center and have just completed round 5 of 12 chemo infusions. So far, my side effects have not been awful. The Lord has been gracious and gentle and provided me with so much support and encouragement.
Jeremiah is working part time helping out around the training center, reserving afternoons for working on the translation. Please pray that we could work out details to be able to have translation sessions remotely while we are in the States.
Jordan and Sarah, with Jace(2) and Jubilee(4mos)-  Jordan will be taking his private pilot’s license final check very soon, please pray! They are planning to work with our mission’s aviation department once he’s acquired all of his pilot and mechanic credentials. They are planning to move to MI in August to begin his mechanic’s training. Please pray for them in this huge transition, and that they could raise the support needed for this time.
Judah continues his degree work at LU as well as carrying a part time job in their aviation dept and working as an RA. He loves it there, but definitely feels stretched thin and often doesn’t get much sleep. Please pray for strength and wisdom for him. He needs more flight credentials before going into the mission and is asking for the Lord’s direction and provision!

THANK YOU so much for standing (and kneeling!) with us! The Lord has used YOU, His body, to surround, encourage, support and bless us in this crazy time of our lives, we truly are overwhelmed by His goodness through you all!