Urgent Prayer Request

Since our April update, we have been busy with lots of “end-of-school-year” activities that tend to have our support center here in Papua New Guinea going a little bit in overdrive. Tribal flights are still happening and we even got to see another team of missionaries allocate to a new tribal work in the village Yawen. Phoebe made the amazing choice of getting baptized and was finally able to do it here in PNG!  Now we’re into the summer mode where our center population is dramatically decreased, we are taking a break from homeschool and the flight program keeps going.  We were looking forward to a more relaxed summer, looking after a friend’s cuscus (see picture below), helping cover a few other “minor” ministries (like helping to make sure our center water is safe to drink…yes a “minor” ministry) and preparing for the arrival of several folks to the field in late July.

“Our” plans for the summer have changed.  Paul got word that his Dad, Marvin Blackburn, has taken a turn for the worse.  When we left the States in January, his mom and dad were settled in a nursing home as his mom was starting to recover from her broken hip and surgery.  Sadly, since then, they both have been put into hospice care and continue to decline.  Earlier this week we got word that Marvin was declining rapidly and showing signs of near death.  After talking with the aviation team here, we decided that it would be best if Paul head back to Kansas as quickly as possible. (Quickly here still means several days).

So many things to pray for and our heads are swirling.  Once again we are faced with unexpected changes which can frustrated and discourage.  But we are constantly having to remind ourselves that this is not unexpected to our God.  He is working in this and will not only use this for His glory but also for our growing.  Pray for us stubborn sheep.

• Praise:  A new tribal work has been opened up in Yawen.  Pray for the salvation of the Uruwa people as the missionaries study their

  

  language and culture so that they one day can teach them from God’s Word.

• Praise:  We thank the Lord for you — your prayers and support especially in challenging times… like now
• Praise:  Paul’s knuckle is healing nicely. Thank you so much for praying. It is still stiff and he has to continue doing exercises, but he was so glad to get out of that cast!
• Praise:  Phoebe got baptized!!!!!  (And she got to do it here in Papua New Guinea…a long-time desire of her heart).
• Prayer:  For Paul’s dad as it appears he is reaching the end of his life.  We are thankful he is a Believer.  Pray for Paul’s mom during these days too.
• Prayer:  For Paul as he travels back to Kansas.  He has a couple of tight connections and the fuel crisis here in PNG is still an issue.  Pray for no canceled flight and smooth transitions.
• Prayer:  For the aviation program.  Not only will they be down a mechanic during Paul’s absence but he is currently the only licensed mechanic in our shop.  (Another mechanic has been waiting for several months for his paperwork to be approved and his PNG License issued).
• Prayer:  For our family during this time of separation.  This isn’t the first time we have had to be separated but it really doesn’t get any easier.  It does help that the kids are older and it is summer break.  (But summer is a mixed blessing of less school but also less friends as many leave for home assignment or breaks).