There is always wonderful news to share and also some harder things. We have learned that those two things always go together in this life which is okay because we know our God. We know that He is good and that all things work together for good for those who love him. And we love him so we can be thankful in all things whether they are good or feel bad, HE IS GOOD!
5 days before our long awaited break Mimi fell on her knee. A little piece of the bone in her knee broke off which meant she would get a cast for 6 weeks. You can imagine how hard that was for all of us. We have made so many plans for this break. It also was the last one with Naomi and so we were anticipating lots of water fun together. So we just were very disappointed when that happened with Mimi. But God challenged us to trust Him even in circumstances like that…
… and He did give us so much on that break! We did have a great time even with the cast. It was less water fun but more of other things like games, boat rides, swings and good food. Mimi even made new friends and jumped on the trampoline with one leg! We are just thankful for the things God gave us in spite of Mimi’s cast.
After that break in the coastal town we went into Dinangat for the last week of school break. It was the last time for Naomi and she needed to say her good byes to the place and people where she lived since she was 3 years old. Dinangat became her home and yet she knew that she could not stay there forever. The time to leave PNG and to step into a new phase of her life in Germany is coming closer and we are all getting a bit nervous. Good byes, tears, letting go, transitioning into something new… those are things that we are already experiencing now and talking about a lot these days. Saying good bye in Dinangat was very hard and yet it was beautiful at the same time. Naomi has loved growing up there and made wonderful memories that she will take with her as she moves away from the familiar life there. Please pray for her!
While there in Dinangat I was able to join the Ladies Meeting again. The ladies are doing the Bible Studies almost all on their own now. Rowe was leading our time together and did a very good job. I was just there enjoying it and was encouraged myself from what was shared. Please keep on praying for these lovely women that they would grow stronger in their faith and become an inspiring testimony to their families and friends around them.
The post literacy program is going really well and the ones participating in it now are learning so much. But unfortunately there is not a whole lot more interest of other people to participate in the following courses. Please pray that more people would want to practice their reading skill so that they would find more joy in reading God’s Word. Please also pray that someone would be able to continue teaching the next courses.
One of our translation helpers B. lost his second wife last year in the same way his first wife died during the delivery of her baby. Since then B. is not well at all. Many people are talking badly about him and are even accusing him of being the reason why his two wives died. He is therefore not going to church anymore and is very discouraged. Please pray for him!
Bao has a heart for the elderly as many of them are still not clear on the gospel of grace. They are still hanging on to old animistic beliefs and mixing it with parts of the gospel. For a few weeks now Bao is meeting with some of them on Saturdays teaching them the story of God chronologically. Please pray for him for wisdom as he teaches and for those elderly that they would fully understand God’s Word and believe in it.
2 Months In Germany
In about two months from now we will be traveling to Germany. We are very excited and yet also very nervous about it because we will be bringing Naomi there and will come back to PNG without her only two months later. She will live with Elli’s parents and start nursing school on October 1st. How are we doing with all this? The answer for this question would fill another letter but I think you all can imagine that this will be one of the hardest things that we will have to go through. Just thinking about it exhausts me. And yet we have seen God’s help so many times before and we know that He will not leave us alone with this one. Please pray that we will trust Him completely, for HE IS GOOD!
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