April 2006 Update

Dear Loved Ones,

Praise God for His sovereignty and faithfulness in our lives. We recently found out that Kurt’s mom has lung cancer. She was in the hospital for a week but is now back at home. We thank God for taking care of her! She will be starting chemotherapy this week. Please pray for her as she begins her treatment.

Kassia and Grammy (Kurt's mom) looking at the flowers

We would like to thank all of you for praying for us and encouraging us so faithfully. Also thanks for those of you who are supporting us financially. You are so important to us! We feel such gratitude to the Lord for the way He touches hearts to be a part of this ministry. Please let us know how we can pray for you!

As you all know, we are prayerfully hoping to go to the Pacific Orientation Course (POC) that Wycliffe offers in Papua New Guinea (PNG) this August. After the fourteen week course, we will travel to Ukarumpa, Wycliffe’s center of operations in PNG where we will be working as support personnel for Bible translation. Kurt will be working with the Communication and Technical Services Department helping with computer hardware repair. We are truly excited about this opportunity!

In December, Kurt applied for his work permit to be able to work in PNG. In March the work permit was granted and for that we are very thankful. We are currently working on gathering and filling out the required paperwork for our visas so that we will be able to travel in August. We were notified this morning that our visas have already been granted. Now all we have to do is submit the paperwork required for obtaining the visas.

Papua New Guinea (red dot is approximate location of Ukarumpa)

This Friday we will be leaving on a partnership development trip. We will be visiting and speaking at several churches in Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. We will be gone through the end of April. Please pray for us during this time. Pray specifically so that God will touch the hearts of those who He wants to partner with us. Also pray for Kassia during the trip as she will need to adjust to a different routine and will most likely not get the same amount of rest as she is used to getting.

In the next several months we need to raise our financial support level to 100% of the approximately $2,900 per month quota that Wycliffe has calculated we will need to live and minister effectively in Papua New Guinea. We will not be released to take a full time assignment unless we are assured of that amount. The following two graphs show where this money will be used and our current support level.

Will you pray about partnering with us so that the 500+ Bibleless people groups of Papua New Guinea will soon have God’s precious Word in their heart language?

Now a few words from Kassia…

Kassia’s Korner

I would like to announce that I am walking now! I began walking when I was 14 months (about two weeks ago). Today I turned 15 months old. I love reading my books, playing with “papa” and “mama”, playing with my toys, but most of all I love playing outside on the swing set! Today while “mama” was at the ladies bible study, I spent some time on the playground with the people from our church’s nursery. While I was outside I ate some sand…funny ha? I love sticking pretty much anything into my mouth, yummy!

In Him,

Johanna (for Kurt and Kassia)

Posted in: ministry update