NTM - New Tribes Mission | Planting Tribal Churches

        If we are all honest, there are times in our lives where we don’t understand what God is doing and all we can do is ask why?  Why This?  Why Now?  Why Me?  Aren’t I trying to be godly and aren’t I following your will and direction in my life, then why is this so hard?

  “Oh, the depths of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable are his ways!”  Romans 11:33

        God has brought us across the world to serve Him as missionaries in Papua New Guinea.  We have left our home, family, and friends behind to do what we know is His will for us.  The transition was difficult but filled with God’s grace.  Finally, we made it through language learning and were excited to begin the “Dorm Ministry”.  We did not expect to spend our first term helping Ellaina struggle through schoolwork, making visits to the medical clinic, staying up in the night with Katelyn in pain (suspected appendicitis), Ben having breathing problems, two with conjunctivitis, a staff infection on Ellaina’s leg, removing a bead stuck in Chloe’s nose, and having Katie not physically able to help because of back problems.

        In the movie Evan Almighty God says, “Remember that whatever I do, it is because I love you.”  After a series of trials and difficulties Evan replies, “Can you love me a little less?”.  We will never fully understand the wisdom and purposes of God.  We don’t have the knowledge or foresight to even question His ways, but we may think sometimes: “God, love me a little less!”.  Wouldn’t that be easier than trials?  

        Thankfully, God is not able to love us any less than His best even though it hurts sometimes.  What would I be like today without His work in my life or without His loving hand allowing difficulties and at the same time carrying me through them when I am unable to stand on my own?  Would I really know God without the difficulties, without having to place my Trust & Faith in Him when nothing makes sense at all?                 

Josh & Ellaina

 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see”  Heb. 11:1  

God, help us all to walk by faith!   Heb. 11:1

Please Pray with Me for my brother James, his wife Becky, and their 11 year old son Joshua.  After a few intense days in the hospital they have just learned that He has Leukemia!

*God, please give the doctors wisdom!

*God, strengthen and guide James and Becky with the many difficult decisions.

 *God comfort them when they see their son in pain and help them Trust You through the Trials!

Girls Shoes for 4 Years!

 Twelve pens have gone missing (We always seemed to misplace pens, markers, or packing tape.)

Eleven columns filled on spreadsheets (11 columns x 789 items =8,679 possible entries)

Ten thousand pounds of lifting (We had to weigh our supplies for shipping.  It was 2520lbs and I moved everything at least 4 times.)

Nine days by truck to California (The truck should arrive in California Jan. 17 where it will be loaded into a container to travel by ship to PNG.)

Eight days of babysitters (A friend and both grandparents took turns caring for the kids.)

Seven hundred and eighty-nine items (Each item needed a quantity, description, category, value, etc.)

Six-ty six inventoried boxes (Mostly large storage tubs, some boxes, and individual items like the kids bikes & matresses)

Five pounds gained from Chocolate (We survived on leftover New Years buckeyes, chocolate chips, caffinated tea & Mountain Dew.)

Four crazy kids (They were actually really good but always full of energy and needs to be met. We’re so thankful for the help with them!)

At the Loading Dock

Three a.m. bedtime (The night we finished the spreadsheet was the latest but we were rising earlier and going to bed much later than normal all last week.)

Two exhausted missionaries (We crashed Friday after finishing the paperwork, ran errands, went to a friends basketball game, came home and went to sleep! Saturday –  back to work!) 

And One great God who carried us through! “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen!”  Ephesians 3:20&21

THANK YOU for praying for us as we took one step closer to PNG last week.  It’s exciting, but reality is also setting in! 

PLEASE PRAY ALONG WITH US ABOUT:

• BIG ONE: Choosing our departure date!  (We would like to make the deadline of February 28 for dorm parenting but don’t want to step ahead of God or go underfunded!)
• 19% support left to raise (about $1000 in monthly support)
• Wisdom in decisions about how to handle finances overseas, switching to New tribes Insurance, and many little details!
• Keeping our kids on schedule with the PNG Missionary school they will attend.
• Sharing memorable moments with family and friends as we prepare for the soon coming goodbyes!

My eye problem or infection came back again this weekend while we were away in Rothbury, MI.  At first I was frustrated and mad about it.  It was painful, uncomfortable, and inconvenient for the things I needed to do.  The Lord reminded me how Paul had a “thorn in His flesh” that He had asked God to take away and God replied:  “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9

How could Paul rejoice in his sufferings and find contentment in any situation?   His focus was not on His circumstances but on His Savior and on the Goodness of God.  As I began to look around and see the beautiful fall colors (as best I could), enjoy the loving church family and friends God’s given us, and the goodness of God I no longer noticed the discomfort in my eyes.  Even though I am thankful the eye infection is gone again and would not wish it to come back.  I am more thankful for how I felt God’s love through many people while it hurt and how I was able to let go of the (this isn’t fair attitude) and find joy in Christ despite the circumstances.   I hope you can relate to this and find encouragement to keep your eyes on Him instead of what you are going through!

Answered Prayers & Requests:

1. We’ve gained 3 more supporters this week and are now 60% Supported!  (Praise God)
2. While in Rothbury we had a great time with our host family, enjoyed participating in a Missions Conference, spent time with friends, and enjoyed activities.
3. My eyes are feeling good now after using some special drops.  Pray the infection won’t come back again
4. Pray for wisdom in scheduling our limited time available (so many people and some churches we would like to spend time with before leaving in January)
5. Pray for efficiency with the many decisions to make, communications and relationships to maintain, things to organize and pack or junk, homeschooling, etc.
6. Pray that the Lord would lead more churches & individuals to support us by the end of November so we can move forward with shipping and buying tickets.

*Click on the “Photos” tab above to see more recent pictures from our travels!