Home Assignment Ahead

The countdown has begun!  May is here and we have less than 3 weeks of school left.  In the midst of final exams and end of school year functions, our Lapilo center will be going through a time of transition.  Some are leaving for good.  Many of the seniors will be saying good-bye to a country that is more home to them than their passport countries.  Families, like ours, will be sorting, packing and cleaning in preparation for their coming home assignment.  Those who are staying will be faced with the challenges of even smaller numbers with work that seems to never end.  Even our national friends and coworkers feel the tugs as they work along side us and help as they can.

We thank God for you!

When we last wrote back in February, we were asking prayer for our up and coming 6 month home assignment.  While we still have many things we are praying and trusting God to work out, it has been exciting to see how He is bringing things together.

Thankful for:

• The Lord has provided for our tickets back to the States.
• The Lord has provided the funds for us to purchase a used minivan.  It will be waiting for us when we land in Dallas in early June.
• We have begun to map out plans to see many of you!
• Something we didn’t mention in our last prayer letter was that we were looking into setting aside a time to debrief and “unpack” some of the hardships we, as a family, faced these last years.  We are excited that we have plans to do that in September with an organization called Alongside.  They offer a counseling and care retreat for ministry workers.  (And the bonus is that it is near our dear Skiff Lake Bible Church friends!)
• We are slowly wrapping up things here.  Last week Paul spoke for the last time (this term) at our church here on center.  He shared from Jonah chapter 1.

Still praying for:

• A place to stay in Maryland.   We will get there in early July and plan to use it as a launching place as we go on a few other road trips.
• Wisdom as we plan out how we are going to homeschool Phoebe and Josh for the 6 months we are in the States.
• Continued prayers for the “good-byes” and “see-you-laters.”  We especially covet your prayers for our “kids.”  Transitions like these aren’t easy for any of us but it is especially challenging for them.
• Wisdom as we continue to map out all we would like to get done in our 6 months in the States.  Having a memorial for Paul’s mom is top priority.  We are looking forward to leaving Dallas mid June and heading towards Colorado through Kansas for this time.  We will then slowly work our way towards Maryland.
• And finally, we are praying for more laborers here in Papua New Guinea.  Our mission’s school has recently made the hard decision to close kindergarten and 1st grade next year.  A few other high school classes will need to be offered via online correspondence.

Housekeeping

During our home assignment, we will still be Ethnos360 missionaries assigned to Papua New Guinea.  We will be using our home assignment time that we have acquired in the 2 1/2 years we have been back in PNG.  (We are allotted 1 month of home assignment time for every 4 months of overseas service).   Home assignment is primarily for connecting with churches and supporters, getting caught up on medical needs and preparing for the next term on the field.

Please know that we have three road trips planned over this short 6 month HA. We are over due connecting with the majority of you. We will be reaching out over the next few months to see if we can connect. So, if you want to dodge us, it’s time to take that long procrastinated cruise. :^)