(Dancers at the Gapapaiwa New Testament Dedication)
The above quote comes from a song. Whenever we hear the song we remember why we came here and why we joined Wycliffe Bible Translators, even though it never gets easier to live and work so far from family and friends. We aren’t living in Papua New Guinea just because we like to live in strange places or because of the great pay :) or because we just love adventure. We live here because God wants us here, supporting the work of Bible translation. We are thrilled to play some small part in getting God’s Word into the hands of some of the “tribes and tongues” we read about in Revelation.
This kind of work has its ups and downs, its mountaintops and its valleys. In August we’ve had some of both. We’ve had intense tribal fighting in our valley, homes and lives in nearby villages have been lost; there has been grieving, funerals and many tears. There has also been much rejoicing as we’ve celebrated New Testaments dedicated into three different languages, all within a few weeks of each other.
(Funeral in nearby village)
We hurt with our neighbors as they begin to rebuild their village and mourn the loss of their family members. Please pray for them as they seek peace, reconciliation and forgiveness. Pray for us as we seek to help them, come alongside them, and be a reflection of Christ.
We rejoice with the Iyo, Gapapaiwa and Minaveha people, who all received God’s word in their language in August. Pray that people would embrace God’s word and lives would be changed.
(The Iyo New Testament Dedication)
Praise the Lord with us:
- For the Iyo, Gapapaiwa, and Minaveha people groups that have received the word of God in their heart language.
- We always praise God for you who faithfully partner with us in prayer and financially.
- For Kurt’s work here in Ukarumpa and the opportunity he has to help those who are translating the Bible into the many different languages of Papua New Guinea.
- For Kurt to have wisdom as he will be helping as the DAS (Director’s Assistant for Security) for 3 weeks starting Monday, September 28th.
- For wisdom, patience, and love in raising Kassia and Luke.
- For our marriage to grow stronger in Christ each day.
- For our relationship with the Lord to become deeper and stronger and that we can be an example to our PNG friends and coworkers.
Johanna (for Kurt, Kassia, and Luke)
