Blessings in the Hard Times

2023 has been a very busy year so far and we appreciate you taking the time to read and pray for the needs mentioned.  This year has already been filled with challenges (some new) but also many blessings from the Lord.

Ministry:  Paul has been kept very busy helping maintain the training campus here.  A big project they completed was a culvert across one of the main runways so it will not flood out during monsoon season.  Hopefully this will prevent days of washout repairs in the future.  Yes, it rains in the desert.  Actually it is more like localized downpours. We had a good group of SOWER snowbird volunteers to make this large project manageable.

Here at the Ethnos360 aviation training center we are about to say “see you later” to this year’s group of trainees.  We are thrilled to know that three of the families are preparing to head to Papua New Guinea.  It is exciting to see the next wave of missionaries head out to help the team spread the Gospel!!

And speaking of heading out… just last week Andrea and the kids got to watch the next new Robinson helicopter leave our center and starts its journey to Papua New Guinea.  (That’s way more fun than working on schoolwork).

Family:  Phoebe continues to improve.  While she is still walking with a limp, she is able to walk for slightly longer distances.  We are thankful for the warmer weather which allows her to almost daily swim in our therapy pool (thanks SPC VBS).

Paul is almost done settling his brother’s estate.  The paperwork process has not been the smoothest and he looks forward to having it completed!

You might notice that there is a extra child in the picture at the top. Caleb has come to live with us for a few months while his mom, Andrea’s sister, fights breast cancer.  He has joined the Wilson homeschool and we have so enjoyed having him here.  Please pray for Caleb during this separation time.  Also pray for his mom, Michelle, as she is scheduled to have surgery later this month.   We would appreciate your prayers as we disciple young Caleb and do life as a family of 5.

Paul’s parents continue to struggle with health issues.  His dad has been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure and has undergone a few preliminary checks and tests. He has to decide soon if an intravenous heart valve replacement (IHS) is worth the risk.

In all of these hard times, it is so clear that the Lord has been preparing, going before us and walking with us.  While we would love to be back in Papua New Guinea, we see that we are needed here for this season.  We are so thankful that we can remain a part of the worldwide team that is spreading the Gospel to the unreached.

More Blessings

Recently we “lost” a sizable amount of our monthly support.  We honestly didn’t know how we were going to meet our basic monthly needs without this amount. Was this the Lord directing us to leave Ethnos360?  We firmly believe that the Lord’s work NEVER lacks the Lord’s supply. Well, we mentioned that Paul has been painstakingly working on settling his brother’s estate.  We got word last month that we are partial beneficiaries of one of Dan’s retirement accounts.  For the next 5 years, we will receive $75 MORE a month than what we recently lost.  We write this, fighting tears, as our God ALWAYS meets our needs.  We pray this testimony encourages you as well!  We thank the Lord for you, our support team…who pray for us and give towards our ministry.  We humbly accept this as from the Lord and continue moving forward through this foggy stage of life. Why foggy?

Well, with Michelle having cancer surgery in mid-May, her son Caleb living with us and Paul’s dad possibly having IHS soon, it is difficult to make any real plans. When we do volunteer for things (IE: preaching, VBS or AWANA) we make sure folks understand we may need a substitute, short order.

Please do pray for us as a family to be united and humble before the Lord, willing to obey HIS direction.  Living in transition has its own kind of stress, one which we are getting way too familiar.  I say transition because most of our belongings are either in Papua New Guinea or Maryland in storage.  We still long to return to PNG.  Pray we have hearts to hear, discernment, kindness and patience. Waiting on the Lord and trusting that HE will make our path clear.  Thanks.

Praise & Prayer Requests

• Praise: Andrea has healed from gallbladder surgery and a frozen shoulder.
• Praise/prayer: Phoebe continues to improve but needs to lose the limp.  Thanks for praying for her health.
• Prayer: Andrea’s sister, Michelle, as she has surgery for breast cancer mid-May.
• Prayer: Wisdom as we look to our future plans.
• Prayer: For Paul’s mom (89) and dad (93) as they struggle with health, chronic pain, possible heart surgery and being shut-ins.