A Little Context

We can’t believe that we have been back in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for a month.  We are once again blown away at God’s faithfulness in getting us back here.  Many of you are new to our support family so we wanted to take a break from our normal updates and give a little history & context to our ministry.  We believe that the more informed you are, the better you can pray!

Who:  We serve with Ethnos360 (formerly New Tribes Mission)…and specifically with their aviation department.  Ethnos360’s goal is to help local churches train and send missionaries.  Our focus is to help see a thriving church for every people.  Did you know that of the 6,500 people groups on the Earth, 2,500 are still considered unreached? 

Where:  As most of you know, we are in Papua New Guinea.  It is an island nation (about the size of California) just north of Australia.  We live at our mission’s center in the highlands region with about 60 other missionaries. 

When:  Andrea has been in PNG since 2005 and Paul came just over a year later.  (Both of us had been her previously but never at the same time.) And yes, we met and courted in PNG.

What:  What exactly are the Wilsons doing in PNG?  Paul is using his years of aircraft experience to keep our fleet running.  We currently have 3 single-engine Kodiak airplanes and one Bell Long Ranger helicopter.  These aircraft are vital in the church planting effort.    Ehtnos360 has teams of missionaries living in remote jungle places in order to share the Gospel and plant churches.  In order for these teams to function our aviation department is their lifeline for supplies and transportation.  While Paul does that, Andrea is currently homeschooling Phoebe (1st grade) and Joshua (Kindergarten).  Which is a greater struggle, a temperamental child or a temperamental helicopter?  🙂 

How:  How are we able to do this? It is only with the Lord’s power!  Just like you, we need it every day.  We are amazed at God’s faithfulness and how He has provided over and over again.  As we mentioned in our last update we do not get a salary from our mission, but rely on contributions from churches and supporters.  Yes, our God continues to be faithful and by His design He uses the body of believers! Together we will see HIM reach the unreached through the body. For it is in the daily struggles of this task that HE grows each one of us.

Why do we go? God’s Word is pretty clear that He wants us to take the Gospel, His wonderful plan of salvation through His Son Jesus, to all the nations (Matthew 28:19). 

Yes, there are needs in our home countries and plenty of folks who have never really understood or heard the clear Good News of Christ.  The difference between them and say the tribes here in PNG is the availability of the Gospel and the numbers of ministering Christians.  Someone seeking to know more about Jesus has so many avenues to explore in the US… all in their own language and explained within their own culture.  This is not even partially true for many parts of the world, like here in PNG.  So many people groups still do not have a single verse of the Bible in their language nor do they have one, not even one, Christian worker to help them!  We are not trying to downplay the importance of Christian ministries in the US, but rather point out a great need world-wide. Together, in His power, as the body of Christ we can complete Christ’s great commission. 

Praise & Prayer Requests

• Praise: Safe and uneventful (but very long) travels back to PNG.  And we arrived with all our bags and had to pay zero in extra baggage fees!  
• Praise: For the team of supporters that helped get us back over here to PNG.
• Praise: For God’s continual grace and mercy.
• Prayer: That Paul’s allergy meds will continue to do as well here as they did in the US and that we will be able to get them here.
• Prayer: That we humbly serve our Lord and trust Him.