Yes, you heard correctly. We are headed back to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in early March and it feels like it is coming fast. So much needs to happen in the next 6 weeks. Our first big task is getting our future supplies driven to our friends who ship containers to PNG. It’s a crazy mix of contact solution, future clothing for the kids, household items and toys! Depending on the timing of things, we might see these goods by the end of the year!
After that we will focus on all the stuff that we need to buy for immediate use (home school material, laptops, international cell phones, etc.) that goes in our luggage. There are dental and medical check-ups, selling our van and working on our support level (more on this later) still to be done.
The kids are excited, but we wonder how much they actually remember as it has been over two years since they were last in PNG. They were 5 and 3. There will be lots of adjustments for all of us! (“Alexa, play Baby Shark. Alexa! Why aren’t you answering me???)
As most of you know it has been a roller coaster of a home assignment as we attempted to figure out what the Lord had for our future. With the ups and downs of Andrea’s mother’s health we were pretty sure we were needed here and began the process of stepping out of the mission late last year. We praise God that she has improved.
God has supplied and directed in a variety of ways. We are confident He wants us to return to our ministry in PNG with the Ethnos360 aviation department. Obviously none of us know what the future holds, but that is not what the Lord asks of us. He asks us to serve Him now and to trust Him with our future.
Faith Based Support
Ethnos360 (previously New Tribes Mission) is a faith based mission when it comes to financial support. What does that mean? I am so glad you asked. As Ethnos360 missionaries we do not receive a paycheck. We are financially supported by donations from churches and individuals who chose to be a part of what we believe the Lord has for us — mission aviation maintenance. Each Ethnos360 missionary has to raise up a team of prayer partners and financial supporters to join them in establishing Christ–centered maturing churches planted among the least reached of the world. For us that has been and is currently Papua New Guinea.
Our mission recommends $6,259/month for our family size. We are currently at about 70% of that recommendation. Wrapped up in that recommended amount is cost of living expenses for the country of service (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.), health insurance, airfare and retirement. Those are the big ones. There is also support team communications (newsletters, Ethnos360 magazines, and websites) and vacations factored in. Yes, our mission has a recommendation that all overseas members take a two week break every six months. It is healthy to de-stress and recharge to better focus. We are not required to go to Disney World. However, it obviously costs to take the family on the simplest of breaks.
We want to thank all of you on our team. Many of you have been with us for the long haul, some are new. Your faithful prayers and giving is what makes this work. Our Lord is in charge, but by His design we are to work together as a family/team.
Praise & Prayer Requests
- Praise: Return tickets are purchased for March 5.
- Praise: A safe trip out to Kansas. We had break trouble but it showed up the day after we got there AND was easily fixed!
- Praise: We had a great time visiting with family and friends in Kansas.
- Prayer: Wisdom as we continue to supply buy for PNG.
- Prayer: We all need various vaccinations…..mainly polio. (Sadly, polio has returned to PNG). Pray for no negative side effects.
- Prayer: Still so much to do! Pray as we continue to “tie-up” things here.
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