It is Good Friday as I write this latest update. Life has been very busy here of late as we are attempting to finish up this term on the field. There are many challenges these days and yet because of the Cross and the Empty Grave we always have hope. We have confidence in the end of the story while we still find ourselves seeking His plans for us in the midst of our journey.
During our time here in PNG we have had our parents come numerous times but not very many others. PNG is just not very easy to get to. This month we had some friends that I know from my home church in San Jose come and visit us. John & Linda Scianna and Mark & Jeanne Bryers were with us for 9 days and we had a lot of fun. It was their first time in PNG and they certainly had the chance to see what life is like here.
It worked out for us to fly down to Malaumanda one of the days that they were here. We had planned to all go down, but there were some limitations on the flight so that Judith stayed home with Timothy. It was great to be able to see the believers there again as it has been a while since we have last visited. We should be able to get in again for 3 days right before we head back to the US. It was great to see how the believers in Malaumanda almost instantly had a bond with the Sciannas and Bryers. The Body of Christ is like that.
With our visitors gone we are now very aware of the fact that our remaining time here before home assignment is going to fly by. In two months time Stephen will arrive, Daniel will graduate, we’ll head in to Malaumanda for a Bible dedication and then we’ll fly back to Oregon. And once we arrive in Oregon we will have a full schedule as well.
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support for our lives and ministries here in PNG.
In Him,
Eric and Judith, Stephen, Daniel and Timothy
Prayer and Praise
- Praise that we are healthy and doing well here in PNG.
- Pray for Eric as he is in the midst of negotiating through some challenges in one of the departments here at Lapilo. This seems to be an ongoing issue that is taking a while to find a solution for. Pray also for Eric as he is integrating 4 new members to the management team while attempting to prepare for his departure and some others. Yes, this will be a major transition.
- Praise that the boys are just about done with school for this year. Daniel has 1 term left before his graduation and transition back to the US. He is enjoying these last months of his time here in PNG. In fact, he is currently with one of his classmates in the tribal group that his parents work in. We’ve seen videos of them wandering around the jungle. This is every missionary kids dream come true.
- Pray for Daniel as he would love to apprentice as a finish carpenter or learn construction. He just wants to work.
- Praise that our plan tickets back to the US and our housing while on home assigment are taken care of.
- Pray for a vehicle for our home assignment. This time around we won’t necessarily need as big of a vehicle. We are praying for something that gets good gas mileage as we will probably be traveling a fair bit up to see Stephen in Spokane.
- Pray for the Malaumandan Bible shipment to get to PNG well before the end of May so that we can arrange for them to be flown in the Malaumanda with us.
- Pray for Judith as she will continue to help in the school while also sorting through our things and packing everything up.
- Pray for Stephen as he finishes up these next two months at Moody Aviation. Be praying with us for his next semester. From here on out we will be looking at his schooling one semester at a time.
- Pray for more support missionaries here in PNG. In particular we still have a major need for high school math and science teachers for the next school year. We also need a medical doctor to work in our clinic and tradesman to help with supporting our bush missionaries, support centers and to train our PNG citizen employees.