It’s been just over a month since we moved our family to the island of Papua. We are finally to the island where we have been hoping to have our long-term ministry!
Currently we are living in a small city. It is here we will be finishing up our national language and culture study. We are estimating we will be here for 1-2 years. During this time we will also be putting together a team of co-workers as well as scouting out a tribe to work in when we are done here. But for now much of our focus will be on learning the language well and being effective in communicating.
We will also be focusing on attending and participating in local church services and events. There is much to adjust to living here as it is very different than where we lived in central Java. It’s exciting and stressful as culture shock can be quite an exhausting experience.
Please keep us in prayer in these specific ways:
- For a faithful and strong relationship with our God as we desire to serve and glorify Him.
- For patience, love and humility with our family. -For good communication. It is very hot (90+ degrees added to awful humidity) making good communication under stress difficult.
- For Bethany as she balances time language learning, mothering and schooling the kids.
- For a good testimony to our neighbors and church as we seek to make deep and long-lasting relationships.
Your prayers are so valued to us and we appreciate all you do to encourage and support us in our endeavor to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth. As we see it, you are as much of a part as we are in carrying His Name forward! Thank you for getting us this far and for your encouragement for us to press on!
A few glimpses of our life here in Papua:
