Bob and Cheryl Yarnell Assisting Tribal Church Planters in Papua New Guinea February Update – Finishing Well
Dear Partners, Family & Friends,
Finishing Well:
With a bit over 3 months left here in PNG, it is Cheryl and My heart’s desire to “finish our time here well”! We want to guard our hearts from the “drop and run” kind of thinking that can so easily take over as we come to the end of our time in this ministry. With this in mind we ask your prayers that we may be able to finish up a number of projects that we had on the “planning table” before we made the decision to return to the U.S. Most are maintenance type projects such as repainting and redecorating. The major one though is the construction/addition of a screened in porch onto the rear of one of the guest apartments. Most of the supplies are already purchased; we desire to see it completed before we depart.
GMS:
Global Ministry Supply – That is the name the Lord has given us for this new missionary purchasing/shipping ministry that he is leading us into upon our return to the states. The Lord continues to lead us down this path with encouragement from our co-workers and others. There is sooooo very much for us to believe the Lord for, to see him make this ministry a reality. Of course there will be finances for month to month operation, but on top of that will be all the paperwork to get 
<a incorporated and registered; a Board of Directors to organize; the Lord’s provision of warehouse space, initial set up costs & equipment; Legal and accounting help/advice that we will need so as to comply with all the Gov’t rules and regs; and the list goes on. When you start to simply think about it, it all seems very daunting! Yet, the Lord knows all this, none of it is a surprise to Him or beyond His ability to provide! Hebrews 11:1 states “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see” It is by faith that we move towards the goal of establishing GMS; believing that God will actually make it happen! Please pray with us for the Lord’s provision in all this as well as for new ministry partners; individuals, churches, and Christian Businesses, to who’s hearts the Lord will give a desire to be a part of this ministry to help bring it into being. Only the Lord will bring Global Ministry Supply into being! If you wish to contact us about this new ministry, you can write to globalministrysupply@zoominternet.net or to our current NTM address.
Us and NTM:
As you remember from our last letter, we stated that to start up this type of ministry would require our leaving New Tribes Mission. After all these years, the idea of this has been difficult. In talking with NTM-USA headquarters, they tell us that we will have approximately 6 month time that we will be able to remain with NTM before a decision must be made to terminate our membership or to remain with NTM in some stateside ministry. We are asking the Lord to clearly get GMS “off the ground” within that this time frame. We appreciate your patience and prayers r as we proceed in this direction upon or return to the USA.
PNG News:
Dinangat: In contrast to other past confusing “religious teaching”, Dinangat believers have come to a true understanding of Ephesians 1:3 and what it means to be sealed (or marked) with the Holy Spirit. It was time of great joy and rejoicing as they came to understand this truth and all it’s ramifications on their lives. You can read the whole story at www.ntm.org/news/11813
Siar: Evangelistic Bible Teaching is set to begin among the Siar people on July 4th. In the mean time there is lots to do. Seventy Bible Lessons need to be written and translated along with all the corresponding Bible portions. Please be praying now that the Lord would be preparing hearts to hear and believe His word and that these people would be freed from the Satanic lies and darkness that now enslave them.
Finally:
A final prayer request that we have is in regards to transportation. When we came home on furlough in 2009 the Lord supplied a really great Chrysler Sebring for us through one of our ministry partners. It was our original hopes to keep it for use our next time home. However, since that time, Leah’s Ford Taurus developed transmission problems so she is now driving our car. That leaves us short one vehicle upon our return home. We can not very well just take it back from her and leave her with nothing as she also needs transportation at college etc. Please pray with us for the Lord’s answer/solution/provision for this need.
Until ALL have heard,
Bob & Cheryl Yarnell
Tags: changes, Global Ministry Supply, Gospel, new ministry, shipping, Yarnell
January Update -Changes Ahead!
The ringing in of a new year in and of itself is a change. Often times with a new year many people make resolutions regarding some type of change they desire to make to their life. In Ecclesiastes 3 Solomon wrote about there being a time for everything in life. In Verse 1 he writes “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”. This denotes change itself.
As you know from our last few letters I, Bob, have had some ongoing issues both physically and with functioning in PNG since our return last March. These had led us to question how much longer the Lord would have us to remain here. Then, around the first of December we received and email from one of our daughters requesting that we come home. While the needs at home are not of emergency proportion, these family needs are not something that we can, before the Lord, ignore. Couple these with the struggles I have been having and there you have it. After talking with both our girls and with our field leadership we have made the decision to return to the US. At this point, the exact timing is uncertain. The biggest issue is that of the field getting someone in place to take over the guest house from us. This ministry is vital to field operations and cannot simply be closed down for any period of time. Tentatively, it could be anywhere between March and June, most likely towards June.
What’s next?
The Lord appears to be bringing several things to a confluence at this time to give us direction. A ministry that has always been on my heart if we were ever to have to return home is that of a supply/purchasing/shipping type ministry to serve missionaries on the foreign field. While many live in countries were most things they need are readily available at reasonable prices that is, as is the case here in PNG, not true for many. NTM-PNG has been blessed for years to have a couple in California provide this service as an extension of their business. However, the field has known for a while that they would be discontinuing this service in their retirement, and that time has now arrived. Along with this S.I.L. (Wycliffe) here in PNG is having to discontinue their shipping services to all but SIL members due to a shortage of personnel. This has left other organizations like A.B.W.E. wondering what they are going to do to meet their supply needs here in PNG. At this point, we believe the Lord is directing us home to fill this need. While I have been able to do a little research on the subject, when we arrive back in Pa. we will be moving towards setting up a separate non-profit organization to purchase and ship supplies for missionaries; be it small items that can be set via the mail, or large shipping container size orders like what is done for PNG. While the initial goal will be to get online as soon as possible to meet NTM-PNG’s needs, the service would by no means be limited to NTM or even to mission agencies in PNG. Rather, we desire to serve any/all like minded organizations anywhere in the world.
You may have noticed that I wrote “separate non-profit”. That is correct; we would have to leave NTM. That would, be a BIG change for us, to leave the NTM family that we have grown to love. That is however what will need to take place if we are to go in this direction we believe the Lord is taking us. At this point, we have no idea as to just how this organization would all look, function, etc. Those are things that have to be sorted out once we return home. It is our desire to keep it as low, to NO COST, beyond what the actual purchase and shipping expenses are as possible. How will the Lord provide finances for start up, continuing operations, our continued support etc. we do not know. There will be other details such as legal issues, warehouse space, equipment, a vehicle, and more that do not even come to mind at this point. We do believe this is the direction HE is leading us in at this time, and with that we KNOW He is faithful and will provide if that is truly the case. It will be a MAJOR change in our life and not without its uncertainties, and quite honestly, fears. Yet we know the Lord is faithful, He does not take you where he will not provide! If this is truly the direction he has for us, then we wish only to walk the path he takes us on.
It was 1984 when we first stepped out in faith believing the Lord would have us involved in missions. Now, nearly 27 years later, that vision has not changed, only the place of service will be changing. We wish to thank each one of you, or ministry partners. Some of you have been with us since the beginning of this journey with the Lord; others of you are fairly new to our family. We do wholehearted thank you all for your investment in the Lord’s ministry through us as his vessels for whatever duration you have been involved. The Lord has touched your hearts on our behalf, on His behalf, to join with us in seeing the world reached with the Gospel.
Upon our return home, we will have a period of transition time in which we will be able to remain with NTM while we research this all out and so on. We wholeheartedly request your prayers on our behalf for the Lord’s direction, leading and undertaking associated with this potential new ministry. If the Lord so leads, we look forward to your continued partnership with us thorough your prayers and financial gifts as we enter this new chapter in our life. As things progress and we have a clear date for our return to the U.S., we will certainly keep you informed. In the mean time we thank you in advance for your standing beside us these next few months as we seek the Lord in it all. Once we get home, we will be contacting you all to visit with you and to share more on this exciting new direction we believe the Lord is taking us in! We will also be looking to the Lord to provide other new partners; individual, churches, and Christian business persons who hearts the Lord will move to be a part of this ministry if it is to go forward. It is all still about REACHING THE WORLD WITH THE GOSPEL!
Tags: changes, hospital prayer request, new ministry, shipping, Yarnell
October update
Dear Ministry Partners & Friends,
Last we wrote you back in August, we had told you that we had to fly to Australia so that I (Bob) could have a sleep study done. The result of that study was that I do need a CPAP machine to help me breath more regular during the night so as to rest better. We would ask you prayers as we work out the details with our insurance so that we can get a machine over here to us as soon as possible. We have a co-worker coming from the states the first of November who is willing to carry the CPAP if we can get everything worked out in time. We spent three very restful weeks in Hervey Bay Australia. Our sincerest thanks go to Kay Butler for her fantastic hospitality and help while we stayed with her. Naturally we did get in a bit of tourist and beach time along with sufficient “retail therapy” We went whale watching, spent a day on Fraser Island, went to a Heritage Village, toured around the Historical part of the town of Maryborough (birthplace of PL Travers- Author of Mary Poppins), got in some time on the beach, and don’t forget the shopping (and for Bob- Bunnings – The Australian equivalent of Home Depot). All in all it was a 
very restful and de-stressing time for both of us. Bob was also able to get in several visits to the Chiropractor and got all “realigned”. We do ask your prayers for continued healing, encouragement and strengthening for Bob as we get back into life and ministry here in PNG.
Since our return, things around the guest house have been getting going again at a slow pace. The second term of school started up this past Tuesday so Cheryl is back at her art classes in the afternoons. Bob has been working on relocating our standby water tank. The center does have well water, but we maintain a rainwater tank for backup purposes just in case. In case you are wondering, yes we have used it in the past In our August letter we shared that the missionary team to the Uriay people would be presenting the Gospel there on September 8th. We rejoice to tell you that about 30 of these folks have trusted Christ as their personal savior . !
These young babes in Christ are already hungry to know more about the Lord and are also expressing a desire to tell others about their Savior. If you wish to read more about the Uriay work then check out www.uriay.blogspot.com . Thank you to each of you that have given and prayed on our behalf so that we can continue to minister to our co-workers here in PNG.
Until ALL have heard,
Bob & Cheryl
Tags: Australia, Bible, CPAP, fly, Gospel, Hervey Bay, Mary Poppins, PNG, Sleep study, Uriay, Yarnell
August Update
Dear Partners, Friends and Family,
If you are a sci-fi lover you should be familiar with the term “changling”. In other words a creature that constantly changing it’s features, it’s appearance. That is one way to describe the center where we live. Every June/July the center goes through this process of change as some personnel leave and other new folk and those returning from home assignment arrive. After 16 years here; out of 63 households, there are only six that have now been here longer than us. Nearly half of those 63 are new to the center in the last year. The center is constantly in a state of flux. Why you ask? There are many reasons, sickness, burnout, family issues at home, retirement etc. However, one the biggest reasons is in regards to our school, Numonohi Christian Academy. While the school desires to have full time, “career” teachers, NCA functions to a large extent with short term teachers that come to help out for a year or two. While we praise the Lord for these folks who give of their time to come and fill in the gaps, often created by other issues I have mentioned, it would be great to have a full complement of career teachers. The students adjust very well to the yearly changes in teaching staff, but how much better would it be if they were able to have a consistent staff! If you are a certified teacher, have you ever thought about teaching overseas………………….something to think and pray about hey? Last month I told you about some of the struggles I have been having since our return in March. We will be flying down to Australia on September 19th so that I can be tested for Sleep Apnea. Due to having to wait on test results, we will be there at least three weeks. Our plan at this point is to return to PNG on October 9th. That could change if further testing is required. We probably will not send out another letter until after we return in October. The Lord has provided a place for us to stay with the mother of one of our co-workers. We are looking forward to a needed break away from the busyness of our ministry and the stresses of PNG that I have been struggling with. For the present, a couple other fellows are taking over most of my airport/ town trips squeezing them into their schedules so as to give me a temporary break from the craziness of the Highlands Highway and all. We ask your prayers for all the details involved and for the Lord’s strengthening and healing for me.
Uriay Tribe Update: Last month we shared a bit about the Uriay work. The final Bible lesson with the Gospel presentation is scheduled for September 8th. Please be much in prayer for this day; that blinded eyes and hearts would be opened and many would come to understand their lost sinfulness and their need of Christ as their personal Savior. Thank you for your continuing part in our ministry so that tribes like these here in PNG can have an opportunity to hear the Gospel.
Until ALL have heard
, Bob & Cheryl
Tags: Australia, Bible, Gospel, hospital prayer request, sci-fi, Uriay, Yarnell
July 2010 update
Dear Partners, Friends, and Family,
2Co 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
As I have considered what to share and even “how much” to share this month, I have found the Lord drawing my heart to verses above. Honestly, since our return to PNG in early March I (Bob) have been having a fairly serious struggle mentally, emotional and physically. To start with, I have always struggled with PNG culture, dirt, and other things. However since we got back it has hit me much, much harder! Along with that goes some medical issues, some low counts, maybe some sleep apnea and possibly some genetic issues. Suffice it to say that I have been feeling weak, shaky, excessively tired, depressed, etc.. All in all it has been a very difficult four months for me.
I find that at this moment I am writing as much to myself as to you. The Apostle Paul was a man that experienced more than anyone’s fair share of difficulties in life. Yet The Lord tells Paul that HIS grace is sufficient and that His strength is made perfect in Paul’s weakness. Paul says when he is weak, then is he strong, strong in Christ’s power in his life. The Lord gave him the grace and strength to face all that he did, no complaining! He totally relied on God’s strength and enablement in all things. Yet, I find that in myself that has not been the case these past months. I ask your prayers that I might find rest in the Lord’s grace, encouragement, and strength for each day; and for his healing if that is what the Lord has. If not, then that my heart might be the same as Paul’s. How about you? Are you facing some “mountain” physically, emotionally, spiritually? Will you seek the Lord’s grace and help as well, or will you try to muddle on in your own strength? Seek His help today!
On the PNG front:
The start of the new school year has had to be delayed by one week. That has put some “kinks” in our schedule here in the guest house. Yet, the Lord always works it all out. Cheryl is using the extra week to get some last minute prep before for the start of her art classes on August 4th.
The exciting news is that Chronological Bible Teaching has begun in the Uriay tribe. This is the first time for the Uriay people to hear God’s word in their Language! This week the missionary team there will be teaching on Abraham & Isaac, Jacob & Esau, Joseph in Egypt, the birth of Moses, and Moses and Pharaoh. The Lord’s word is beginning to impact the Uriay’s lives as they begin to grasp their sinfulness. The team asks prayer that their sin would weigh heavy on them, that they will realize that they can do nothing in their own strength to be right with God, and that will see their need of a Savior!
Thank you all once again for your faithful prayers and financial gifts that enable us to be here in PNG as part of the team reaching tribes like the Uriay with the Gospel message!
Blessings in Christ,
Bob & Cheryl Yarnell
Tags: Gospel, hospital prayer request, PNG, Uriay, Yarnell
We’re back!
Dear partners, friends, & family,
You may be wondering ………….did the Yarnells ever arrive back in Papua New Guinea? I can categorically answer that question in the affirmative. We arrived back in PNG one week ago today. Our flights all went well, were very nice, smooth, and uneventful. We would have to say though that the 15 hour 39 minute trip from Chicago to Hong Kong was a “LONG DRAG”!Our biggest concern was if we had enough time to clear PNG immigration and customs in Port Moresby and still make our domestic connection to Goroka with less than a hour and half. We praise the Lord that all went well, our NTM government rep was at the international terminal to meet us and hustle us through to the domestic terminal and through check in. In the end, we actually had about 15 minutes to sit in the domestic departure lounge before our flight departed five minutes EARLY! All our luggage came through, no lost bags, nothing broken; another praise to the Lord.
How has it been since we arrived? Busy and sleepy if you can imagine trying to put those two things together! Getting over the long trip and adjusted to the 15 hour time difference has been an ongoing process, the end of which now seems in sight. Add in unpacking, getting our house sent back up once again, taking back over the management of the guest house, and dealing with some repair issues that just could not wait, and you get how we are feeling at the moment……………busy & tired. Actually though things are leveling off and we are pretty well readjusted and can start getting back into a routine now.
Leah will be off to Turkey on March 12th for a 10 day trip as one of her college courses. Her group will be visiting several sites including four of the seven churches of the book of Revelation. Please pray for safety, good health, open hearts, and teachableness for all.
Erin writes that she is enjoying the nice spring like weather at home in Conneaut Lake, Pa. It has been a long, snowy winter for her. The Lord is taking her through some growing times at present. Pray for her as she learns and grows in the Lord.
With thanks to the Lord for His great faithfulness,
Bob & Cheryl
Time to Fly!
Dear partners, Friends, & Family,
Almost Time to Fly!
The time has nearly come for us to board the airplane and return to Papua New Guinea. Our tickets are purchased and we depart the U.S. on March 1. After some 27 hours of flying plus three layovers we will arrive in Goroka, Papua New Guinea on March 3rd. We request your prayers as we leave our families behind here at home. Our tentative plans at this point are to do another two year term with a six month furlough once again sometime mid 2012
Furlough flashes:
If you were to ask us how this furlough or home assignment has been, we would have various answers. To start with, we were fairly busy with visiting and updating most of you our friends, family and partners. We drove over 8,700 ministry related miles in about 6 months time. We thoroughly enjoyed and were blessed by our time spent with each and every one of you! We praise the Lord for all you folks, you each have a special place in our hearts and in our ministry.
We enjoyed our times with our daughters, Erin and Leah! However, it has been too short! Along with that, Leah has been away most of the time since mid August in college. While we did have a bit more time with Erin, it too has been far to short.
The major issue of our time home was the 3 month illness and then home going of Cheryl’s father on Christmas Eve. During that same time, Cheryl’s mother was also recovering from Ankle surgery and unable to do much herself. Cheryl and I spent a large percentage of that time apart as she stayed with her mom to assist her. October through December are pretty much a blur in our hearts and minds.
One thing we asked the Lord for on this home assignment was a $500 / month increase in our support level. Honestly, we do not know for sure what to report on this issue. The Lord has indeed blessed and added new partners, both individuals and churches to our support team. Some are monthly, some are quarterly and so on. There are also some potentials which we are unsure of at this time. It will probably be a few months before we have a clear picture of how the Lord has worked in regards to this issue. The one thing that we can say is that we truly believe the Lord has, is and will faithfully supply for all our needs. If we were ever to wonder about this all we need do is look at the past to see His faithfulness. We have been so blessed this furlough with the Lord’s provision of a car, a new computer, and new camera, sufficient funds to purchase our return tickets, and the list goes on! Please praise the Lord with us for His wonderful care of us!
PNG Awaits:
We know that when we arrive on March 3, we will pretty much need to hit the ground running. Carl and Donna Sheets, who were our replacement while we have been home, had to depart PNG the end of January. One of the ladies on the center has been filling in since their departure keeping the Guest house operating. Yet, she has her own family and other ministry things to care for. The past couple weeks we have been made aware of some issues, among them a malfunctioning oven, that will require our immediate attention upon our return. Cheryl will also be teaching elementary art once again for the last term of the school year. Thankfully, the school break between the third and fourth terms will just be starting as we arrive so she will have about three weeks before her first class. I will have various maintenance tasks awaiting me. Of course we will also need to get our own apartment set up and functional upon arrival as well.
Most of all, many many tribal groups in Papua New Guinea, await the Gospel in their own language. Pray for our many co-workers who labor in villages around the country to help make this a reality. Yet the laborers are few…………………………………………………………………………………………….. How about you?
Until ALL have heard,
Bob & Cheryl Yarnell
Tags: airplane, fly, furlough, Gospel, home assignment, PNG, Yarnell
Schedule Changes
Dear Ones,
We trust that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and we wish you all a wonderful a blessed Christmas. As wonderful as the time with family and friends can be; be sure to focus your mind and heart on the true gift of Christmas this year. It is God incarnate, the birth of the babe Jesus that is the true meaning of Christmas.
Schedule Changes:
After a good bit of prayer and seeking counsel, we have made the decision to remain in the U.S.A. until the end of February. It was a difficult decision to make but the Lord has given us peace in it all. There were a couple personal factors involved in the decision, however the prime issue remains our financial support level. We have been asking the Lord for an additional $500/ month. At this point that stands at $80 increase. Please pray with us for the Lord’s provision of the balance by the end of February. We must return to Papua New Guinea at that time in order to be back in the country before our visas and work permits expire in March.
In the mean time, we are asking the Lord to fill up our schedule with opportunities to share our ministry and the Lord’s work in PNG with as many churches and individuals as possible. Would your church, Sunday school class, youth group, or just a group of friends of yours be interested? Please give us a call or shoot us an email at the address on the bottom of the page! We would love to arrange a time to share our heart!
Family news:
Cheryl’s father continues to recover in our local hospital’s Transitional Care Unit from his surgery nearly eight weeks ago. It continues to be a very slow process regaining his strength and stamina. We are encouraged though that he is making a little progress each day. Cheryl’s mom had a walking cast put on a week ago. Now she needs to learn to get around on it until she is scheduled to have it removed in mid December Please pray with us for both of their continued recoveries.
We, along with Erin, were able to celebrate Leah’s 24th birthday with her over Thanksgiving weekend while she was home from College on break. It was a special time for all of us!
A praise on Leah’s behalf is that she found out she will be considered a Junior when she returns to Lancaster Bible College in January. This is because of all the transfer credits from her two years at New Tribes Bible Institute. She would appreciate your prayers for her summer plans also; to work or to take an internship overseas. Pray too for the Lord’s pro-vision for her school bills as well.
We look forward to spending the Christmas holiday with Erin and Leah and other family members. We even hope for snow (only for Christmas mind you). Green, 85 degree Christmases in PNG somehow just do not seem right to us as Pennsylvanians!
Tags: Christmas, hospital prayer request, Lancaster Bible College, Yarnell
leahs student aid
Since our missions school in PNG is not yet acredited the state of Pennsylvania would not accept her diploma and allow her student aid. After a long process of review and evaluation of Leah’s high school diploma from NCA by a certification/evaluation organization, and them subsequently verifying her diploma, she has been granted her PHEAA student aid for College! Praise the Lord! This is a major answer to prayer for her. Please continue to pray for Leah as she majors in Women’s Ministries at Lancaster Bible College. Pray also for the Lord’s provision of additional finances so as to help her reduce her need for student loans.
Tags: Lancaster Bible College, major, Womens ministies, Yarnell
Cheryls father in hosptial
It has been a hectic few days. Cheryl’s dad, Ken Burns had been in the hospital for a while with breathing difficulties. Then on Tuesday night he began to have sever abdominal pain. It resulted in emergency surgery Wednesday morning. It was discovered that he had an infection in his intestines due to a blood clot. He had a second surgery yesterday to finish up things. Praise the Lord he is now recovering.
Tags: hospital prayer request