| MONDAYJune 24, 2024 |
| No, I’m not just talking about the food we ate on our first day back in America, which was Caribou, and Dunkin’ Donuts, and Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, and Buffalo Wild Wings, and finally Papa John’s Pizza… |
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| “For the despondent every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.” -Prov.15:15 |
| Let me tell you about our trip home. We got some stuff stolen from us. I found out my cat ran away. Our first flight was 9 hours late. We waited in an uncomfortable airport with nothing to eat but ramen and crackers. Our luggage got wet. We traveled for four days. We had a delayed flight, which resulted in a missed flight, which was rebooked for a flight 14 hours later. We were exhausted. Ok, let me try that again. God enabled us to replace some items that were stolen from us. After a couple of days, God enabled someone to find our cat. God answered our prayers, and amazingly our first flight took off even in pouring rain. God provided that the airport which previously didn’t sell anything now sold snacks. God provided a hotel for us to stay in and dry out our luggage. God helped us to sleep better than usual on the flights. God enabled our kids to have great attitudes. God prompted my parents to buy us a new flight, so we were able to get home around the same time originally planned. As we were preparing to leave PNG, I was feeling like every day was bringing a new problem to deal with. God showed me this verse, and I was challenged to change my attitude and reflect on the continual feast God gives us in life. Not only does changing our attitude benefit us, but did you notice another difference between my two stories? In the first one, I was missing how God was showing up, and therefore missing the opportunity to share with others about God and His goodness. Actually, after we got back and we were talking about how God has provided for us, it was Ty who reminded me about how God answered our prayers and the plane took off in the rain, from an airport where they usually don’t. I had forgotten, and I hadn’t shared that with anyone. Thanks for your prayers for our trip back. We are thankful to be back in the US for our home assignment, and God has been so, so, good to us. I hope that you will notice and share the ways that He shows up for you as well. So far, we’ve had lots of fun spending time with family, and yes, eating a continual feast… figuratively and literally. Till all know, Matt, Karissa, Ty, and Wyck |
| Please Pray: -For us as we settle back into life in the US -That we would glorify God in how we spend our time -For Karissa as she cracked a tooth and already has to go to the dentist -For safe travels as we visit family in Missouri next month -For our kids as they adjust Praise God: -For a safe trip home -Things are on track for Matt to start his counseling internship at Bethel University in August! -We enjoyed being back at our home church this week -We have enjoyed lots of good time with family -All of our same neighbors are in our neighborhood. We are looking forward to reconnecting and witnessing to them. -Our kids got to attend VBS   We already had a friend from PNG come and visit us! My sister in law snapped this photo of us excitingly greeting my little brother.  What are we supporting? This month’s tribal focus: Pray for the Wantakia work. In 2020, people in one of the villages of Wantakia heard the gospel for the first time, and the church was born! Pray for the church as they grow and mature, and as they prepare to reach others. Have you ever wanted to see what these villages where our tribal missionaries live are like? This team made a video giving an aerial tour of their village and describing their ministry, which is very similar to most of the villages that NTM PNG works in. Check it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uxlt1umNQRI |