Summer 2013

We spent this summer in the Sepik of PNG helping out with the Interface program.  We had 6 countries being represented. Out of the 16 students we had 1 from Australia, 5 from Germany, 1 from Ireland, 6 from America, 1 from Canada and a NTM rep.couple from New Zealand.  We enjoyed our summer getting to know the students as well as the NTM staff in Wewak. Most days included classroom time in the morning, village exposure, lunch, a trip to the beach in the afternoon then back in time for dinner along with a few evening classes. We were so encouraged to hear the hearts of these young students who have a passion for missions. I believe 6 are looking into bible colleges now to further their education!  I took many pictures to show you what our summer looked like.

We got to see many kids on the beaches and it was a great time to work on more language.

Brooke with her friend Sharla

It is amazing to see the beauty under the sea

Brooke getting ready to take her first jump

Check out these starfish!

Sierra looking after little Levi

Sierra catching some sun

Travis and I at the waterfalls in Wewak

Nikki after jumping from the falls

ITF Team in Wewak Summer of 2013

Sierra at the falls

Brooke enjoying the falls

Sisters

Nikki at the falls

This place was like paradise!

ITF students 2013

Brooke and Sierra with their friend Savanah

Brooke catching some waves with mom

Travis with our friend Samson

TrANsiTiOns

What comes to mind when you hear this word?  Hurt, Excitement, Overwhelming, Adventure?  We have had many emotions come and go since all the transitions God has allowed in our life.  Some of it was fun and adventurous but some was not so fun and I wouldn't want to go through it again but one thing is for sure, when you go through it with God he has your best interest in mind!  We have officially moved off the Interface property and we are now living at another NTM base.  We are still in transition and can't get to comfortable before we leave again to the Sepik region of PNG to help out with the Interface program, after that then we move to our new location of ministry here in the Highlands.  We as a family are looking forward to a little break in the coastal region before the Interface students arrive. It does seem that when it rains it pours, so I would ask you all to pray for Travis' mom who has Parkinsons, she fell a few weeks ago and broke her hip.  She is in rehab at a care center but it is very hard on our end to not be there to help.  It looks like the recovery could be 3 to 4 months. I think we are all trying to go through processing everything that went on these last few months. It has been emotional and frustrating, eye opening and encouraging all at once.  It is neat to look back and see God in it all and how he has had a plan for each family that had to move. Transition isn't always easy but remembering that nothing goes past God into our lives and with that if He allowed it, he has a greater purpose in it that we may not see at the time!  Thanks for keeping our family in your prayers!

 Below are picture of the Big Move.

For many of you who haven't heard, we are going through a bit of a transition right now.  We came over to Papua New Guinea to work with a program called Interface with New Tribes Mission. We had planned on staying with our ministry for 5 years until it was time for our girls to graduate and go back to the states, God had other plans though.  Within our first year of being on the field it was apparent that God was doing some major things.  He was not only working in our hearts as we were experiencing a whole new way of life, living, etc. but he was showing us that it is not about a location where we serve Him, it is us allowing God to grow us no matter where we are at!  With that being said we were told a while back that it was looking like Interface may change locations taking it to another region within PNG.  Just when my girls and I were starting to settle and feel like we were home!  I have had many tears over this as it is not easy to move when your starting to feel comfortable.  I keep reminding myself that God used many people in the bible to relocate to different regions all for His Glory and he continued to bless them and He himself was glorified.  I think that is the Key to it all, that we would not put ourselves on a pedestal and make it all about us but keep the focus where it needs to be, On Him.  Well, we are officially moving, but staying in the Highlands of PNG.  Travis took a ministry position within New Tribes at another facility (about 25 miles from here) where he will head up/coordinate tribal bush builds.  He is very excited about this new role where he gets the opportunity to go into remote locations and help new missionaries build their future homes!  I will be for the first few months getting settled in our new location, house set up, etc.  I will then have a future ministry that will be similar to what I am doing now, working in the finance dept. Our girls will still be able to attend their same school so they won't have to have another transition there.  I wanted to include some pictures of this huge process of pulling out of this location.  This facility is quite large and it has been a process to get everything lined up as to where it should go within the mission as well as pack our personal items up!

Coming for the first load!

We started with the kitchen first

It was a process to box everything up and organize for shipping out to other facilities in the mission.

The guys did the heavy stuff like moving the big stoves.

This is a picture of the dinning hall where the kids also played their basketball.

Me with the staff and their kids busy at work.

Yes we even put the kiddos to work!

Brooke and Sierra helping with the spices.

Travis had the German guys and his national friend Jeremiah helping him move the big stove.

Praying it all goes well!

ITF work shop

Travis preparing for the first container to be moved out.

Pete driving the tractor

Travis and the guys discussing how it should be done.

This is a typical day for Travis, even while he is working he continues to work out issues on the phone as well!

I think they did it!

Bobbi Scholl helping pack things up in the office

Julie Koop my office buddy!

Lesley Doerksen helping with a little filing!

Me busy counting.

We went through our medicine cupboard and I found this neck brace! I thought it might help out on the ITF Road!!!

Wow, it's been a long time since I have blogged!  It's a new year now and as I look back on 2012 I am amazed at all we have experienced.  Never did I think growing up that I would become a missionary, move to a foreign land and learn another language.  I don't like creepy crawly bugs, snakes, spiders, being dirty, living like your camping, eating unfamiliar foods, etc. but things didn't happen over night. God knew I was going to be a work in progress! LOL When we finally decided to take the leap of faith and go to PNG we had a peace about going but many "unknowns" started filling my head. Nothing could or can prepare you fully until you just trust and go.  God did not allow me to know more before coming over because this is where He was going to work on me.  Many times when I look back on my life I think...if I had know this before hand I would not have gone, but that is the great thing about walking with the Lord because He knows what you need and when you need it. We often miss out on the very thing God wants to teach us because of fear or stubbornness. I would not trade 2012 for the world and I am excited to see what 2013 holds. Travis and I are still in our language learning and will be until we leave.  It has been neat to see progress but we are not at a teaching level so we continue to push forward as we would like to have more in depth conversations with our village friends. We have had a lot of rain lately and although it is good for the gardens it has been to much at one time.  Many of the people are loosing their gardens, all their hard work and only source of food is being washed away. There are many people in our village who depend on their gardens not only for food but to sell at market and make money to buy other things they need. Please pray as we face this together with them and help each other out. Today we are going to work in our garden and see if we can salvage any food we planted to give to those who lost theirs. We are also dealing with a huge tree that fell over in our back yard due to all the rain. It not only was uprooted but when if fell over it broke a fence and landed in one of our village friends gardens taking out several of his banana trees. Travis and the guys started cutting it up a few days ago but Thomas (one of the German interns) cut his leg with his machete knife and so he was taken to the Dr. to get stitched up.  There never seems to be a dull moment here but that is ok, I think it is what keeps us going!