| JULY 27, 2026 “For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.” |
| The Last Corner |
“I thought I was going to die!” I said as I recounted the story of our journey to one of the Konomalan believers. If you remember in our last email, we let you know what our journey to Konomala would be like if it went smoothly, and, well, it did not go smoothly. (Unless you ask Matt- he says it went okay). After two flights to get to the city at the top of the island of New Ireland, we woke up at 4:00am to load up the truck and head down to the boat launch spot. A trip that should’ve taken 6 hours took 8, as we drove bouncing down the road, being jostled by potholes, bumps, and basically what felt like off-roading, though technically a road, having to stop multiple times because of rain, refueling, etc. By the time we finally reached the boat launch, the sea was ROUGH. Here we were in a little motorboat, being thrown around in the waves, being soaked with both seawater and freezing cold rain. The boys and I hid under a tarp to try to keep warm, but the combination of not seeing and the smell of boat fuel made us sick. At one point, as I watched people bailing out the boat with a bucket, I looked at our friend, who assured me, “This isn’t too dangerous yet.” Ok, if you say so. The journey back was not much better, between loading and unloading the boat, a canceled flight, and a blown tire, but we made it safely. However, it was so, so worth it. We went hoping that we could be an encouragement to this missionary family who are serving alone right now “at the last corner of the earth.” The village Konomala is actually nicknamed “last corner,” because it is around the last corner of the island as you travel south. We had a great time with them- lots of fun, lots of great spiritual discussions, lots of time talking about life and ministry and God’s Word. However, in addition to us being able to encourage them, they encouraged us by seeing their faithfulness and heart for serving Jesus, reminding us that this is why we are here, doing what we do, so that they and other church planting missionaries can bring God’s Word to the last corners of the earth. In addition, we were hugely encouraged by the church in Konomala. I have had some of the best spiritual discussions I have ever had with PNG citizens. Though in some ways our lives are very different, it was amazing to sit around and talk about how God is working in our lives, which is very much the same. The topic of one Bible study I attended was about how Satan tries to deceive us and convince us to live in our own power rather than following God. Then we each shared a way that Satan tries to deceive us, and we encouraged each other to fight lies with truth. In addition to Bible studies and church, we got to hike with the missionary to an outreach they are doing in a neighboring village, where more people wanted to hear God’s Word. This area is very religious, with a lot of “churches” that have been around for a long time, but are all teaching a works-based salvation, giving people a list of things to do to please God, rather than teaching the truth of God’s free gift of Salvation through Jesus alone, received by faith alone. It was incredible to hear the testimonies of some of the believers in the church planted by the missionaries, part of which I’ll share here. “Before, when I would go to church and hear teaching, I didn’t understand; my thinking was not clear. I would just go to church and do church things, but it was empty and meaningless. Then when I heard Seth and Luke’s teaching, I understood. My thinking was clear. We only have one work we must do- believe on Jesus’ work of dying on the cross and rising again. My family talks badly to me and tells me I am listening to lies, but I know it is true. So I can’t give up.” “Before, when someone asked me if I would go to heaven, I said I don’t know. I don’t know if I’ve been good enough, if I’ve done enough good things. But when Seth and Luke came and taught me, my thinking became clear. Now I know it’s the work of Jesus that makes me right with God. He has work for me, yes, but it’s not my work that makes me right with God. It’s the work of Jesus that made the road straight. I just needed to believe in Christ’s work. And now I must tell others too.” Praise Jesus, who paid it all, and who has made His Word clear to people in the last corner of the earth. Till all know, Matt, Karissa, Ty, and Wyck WHAT ARE WE SUPPORTING? THIS MONTH’S TRIBAL FOCUS: Pray for the Konomalan Church Pray for church in Konomala, that they would continue to grow both in depth and in number. Pray for the current outreach, that people would understand and believe the gospel. Pray for the missionary families that are working there, for encouragement, wisdom, and strength to persevere. Pray for the church family, as they are grieving the deaths of two church members in the course of a few years. Please Pray: For health for our family. We have all taken turns being sick since returning from our trip. For the boys as they start school next week. For Karissa as she starts teaching next week. For the missionary family currently alone in Konomala. Praise God: For an encouraging time in Konomala For safe travels there and back There is a doctor coming this fall to serve at Lapilo for a while |
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