Greetings from the Sepik. We have been here at the Wewak centre for about 1 month and have been enjoying our time here. It is quite a bit different here as we are at the coast where it is hot and humid. That being said it is beautiful as you can see in the picture above. Another difference is that there are about 5-6 families here as opposed to the roughly 35-40 at the Lapilo centre. Regardless of the differences we find that there are many opportunities to be a help and an encouragement to people here.
One of the differences with being here in Wewak is that we have been interacting more with new missionaries who are planning to be tribal church planters. There are several families here who are at different stages in the process of team development. Most of them are looking to go into a new people group here in the Sepik. One family is just getting ready to move into an existing work to fill the hole left by a family who cannot return due to medical complications. There are two single missionaries who came to the field but are looking to head to the States to get married. In a sense, we’ve been there done that too. Not only can we be an encouragement to them. We can also be encouraged by them and what God is doing in their lives.
During our time here we have also enjoyed some opportunities that just don’t happen up in Goroka. The boys have been able to spend time with Josiah and Owen Hutteman playing baseball, football, swimming at the beach, or cooking with Judith. Judith and I just celebrated our 22nd anniversary with a meal out at a local restaurant. That was a nice change from our normal family meals. Before long we will be back in Goroka and back into our more normal routine.
Let me also say that we have had several good discussions with Stephen as he gets ready for the beginning of his next year at Moody Aviation. He starts up again in about 2 weeks. He saw the surgeon about his leg and everything looks good. He should get out of his boot shortly after school starts. We are still waiting to hear about financial aid and the like so be praying for us in that.
In Him,
Eric and Judith, Stephen, Daniel and Timothy
Prayer and Praise
- Praise that we are all healthy and settled into our ministries here in Wewak for the summer.
- Pray for Eric as he is a few weeks away from beginning the role of Lapilo centre manager. There is a lot to think on as we enter into that new role. Some of it is exciting while some of it is unsettling.
- Pray for Judith as she continues to help with the school but then figures out how she will fit in with my new role.
- Pray for us as we leave Wewak the middle of July and travel to the capital of Port Moresby to get the boys sighted for their US passport renewals. Normally this is pretty straightforward. Some of the computer systems have been down so we are praying that we can get that done without too much drama.
- Praise that Stephen’s leg is healing well. Pray for him as he begins this next year. He will also be in a new house as the resident assistant. Pray also for financial aid to come through. We still have not heard anything in this regard.
- Pray for the invoice to be finalized on the Malaumanda New Testament. We really need this to be printed here soon.
- Pray for the field of PNG as a whole. There are several people who are dealing with medical issues that are taking them out of the ministry. The Lord knows but the holes this leaves are huge.
- Pray for the Gospel to continue to make inroads into the many unreached people groups here in PNG.