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| AUGUST 30, 2026 “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” |
| The Trampoline of Theseus |
| Yesterday as I tied on the new trampoline cover and duct taped the old netting to the poles, I asked myself whether this trampoline we got for the boys is better or worse than when we first got it, and even whether it can be considered the same trampoline. As we have replaced various parts over the years, a new mat, springs, and spring cover, it is beginning to resemble the ship of Theseus. The ship of Theseus is the famous thought experiment asking, if every part of Theseus’s ship were gradually replaced on its journey, by the time it arrives, is it still the ship of Theseus? In the nine and a half years since we first came to PNG, I have definitely changed. Like our trampoline of Theseus, some of those changes are for the worse, and some for the better. On the one hand I am less confident- in myself, in my relationships, and in my ability to make a positive difference. On the other hand I am more humble, more gracious, and better at resting in God’s sovereignty. I hope that overall I am growing in Christlikeness, and I trust that God will continue His work in me. Being a missionary is hard. It’s a privilege, yes, but still hard. That’s why we are so thankful that we get to work in member care. We get to come alongside missionaries as they are going through the highest highs and the lowest lows of their lives, and seek to point them towards Jesus, who is working in them, and will continue His work in them until the day that He returns. My answer to the famous question is that yes, I think it is still the ship of Theseus, because it is still built according to the design of its creator. I’m so glad that our Creator has a good design for each of us, and I’m so glad to get to walk beside people that He loves, reminding them of His good design. Till all know, Matt, Karissa, Ty, and Wyck  Preparing a place for the Bible teaching in Kuyu WHAT ARE WE SUPPORTING? THIS MONTH’S TRIBAL FOCUS: Pray for the Kuyu Work After years of preparation, soon the Kuyu people will hear the gospel for the first time in their language! Pray for them, that God will open their hearts and minds to receive His truth. Pray also for the missionaries as they prepare to teach it. Missionary Michael LeBlanc writes, “For years, most of our digging has been figurative— working our way deeper into Kuyu language, culture, and worldview. But now, the digging is quite literal. A couple weeks ago, this patch of ground was dense jungle. Today, the trees are down, the stumps are out, and plans are taking shape for a gathering place where the Kuyu people can hear Phase 1 Bible teaching… There’s a growing sense around the village that something big is coming. After years of preparation, you can finally see it taking shape— and we wish you could be here to feel the excitement with us.”  Our Trampoline of Theseus Praise God: – We are all feeling better after multiple sicknesses. – School is going well for the boys. – Karissa is enjoying teaching her 9th and 10th graders about the life of Christ. – We were able to meet with several missionaries for debriefs after a difficult incident. We were thankful to be able to be an encouragement to them.  Matt preaching at church Please Pray: – For Karissa dealing with a difficult dynamic related to her teaching role. – For several missionaries who experienced a stressful incident. – For wisdom in handling a difficult situation regarding our member care role. – That God would open doors for us to be able to care for people well. |
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