(That’s actually the title of a good book by Eugene Peterson, but it also describes this newsletter well.)
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
Those of you who have known us for a while know that it has been a long journey of preparing to serve church planters here in Papua New Guinea through aviation. The light at the end of the tunnel is finally within reach. Becky passed her language evaluation in mid-September. Travis had what he was hoping was his last evaluation this past week. He didn’t quite pass, but he was given a short list of things to work on and told to re-test in two weeks. We are encouraged that he will hopefully be starting work in the hangar relatively soon.
At the same time we have been studying language and culture to prepare for our support role here, church planting missionaries have been studying the national language and culture to prepare to move into unreached bush locations. As a field, NTM PNG has three teams who have either recently completed or are currently carrying out surveys, which will ideally lead to work starting among more people groups! (photos below)
In the Eastern Area, the islands of PNG, the Ewert, Poulsen, and Shaiebly families have teamed up to survey a people group in East New Britain. Since these people have not had contact with NTM missionaries before, the survey group has been able to share with their villages along the coast what NTM PNG does and that NTM has a missionary team ready to live with them if they are interested. Pray for open hearts among this people and wisdom for the team in discerning where it would be best for them to live.
In the Western Area, the Doerrs, Islamajs and Van Der Deckers will be moving into Mian, a widespread people group of over 5,000, living near the western border. They have already been able to explain to the Mian people what NTM does and propose to them that they will come live among them for the purpose of sharing the truth of God’s word. The whole village has given their approval and even cleared out an area where they’ll be able to build their houses. Pray for the team as they look for good solutions for the especially challenging logistics of housebuilding in this truly remote location.
In the Central Area, the Clonches, Fitzpatricks and Sanfords have formed a team and are surveying two different people groups. Pray for guidance in which people group the Lord would have their families live and work among.
Also, in East New Britain, the Hughes and Pav families hope to complete housebuilding among the Mamusi in 2025.
Other happenings…
In the last two months we were able to participate in a few other activities in addition to language learning. In September our center celebrated PNG Independence Day by hosting a carnival for the extended families of our national employees. The next week Travis was able to spend 8 days in a village about a 4 hour drive away for a time of language immersion. Then the following week we were able to join our neighbors in traveling to an event at a local Christian Teacher’s College celebrating receiving their government accreditation. (photos below) We don’t have any events coming up in the next two months, but we are hoping to be making the transition out of full-time language learning and into serving through aviation.
Thank you for being a part of this journey, your prayers and support enable us and others to be here bringing the truth of God’s word into new people groups.
Praises
- Travis had a great 8 day bush trip in September for language immersion in North Waghi
- Good Health the last few months
- Becky passed her language evaluation in mid-September.
Prayer Requests
- For Travis to pass his language evaluation that’s coming up in about a week.
- Health and safety in this tropical climate where pathogens abound.
- Wisdom in parenting our children.
Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support as we prepare to serve church planters is PNG through aviation!
Love,
Travis & Becky
Join our Facebook group for more frequent updates, search “Lesickas in PNG” in the FB search bar.
We have an e-mail prayer request group where we send more frequent, short prayer requests. If you would like to join this prayer group send an e-mail with the subject ‘prayer’ to Travis_Lesicka@ntm.org
