Standing Still

These days I feel like things are moving quickly me but yet I am standing still.  We have about a month left in our house.  People are asking if we are having a garage sale.  Yes I answer. However we are running out of weekends.  We just returned from taking Danielle to college.  Next week we have another trip planned.  Our visa papers are being examined.  It is time to write another newsletter.  The number one question is “when do we leave?”  We have no answer for that other than as soon as possible. God has called us to work with Wycliffe. He is making a way for us to go to Papua New Guinea.  We are trying to follow Him daily.

 

I am grateful that I have a Bible to read in a language that speaks to my heart and reassures me that God is with me. …guiding me.  I am excited to go to PNG where so many translation works are occurring.  I will be working in a medical clinic supporting the many translators. The staff in PNG has also been asking “when are we coming?” They are short nursing staff and are anxious to have more help.

Our partnership has to reach 95% before we can purchase plane tickets and 100% before we can leave the country.  We are standing still around 72%. Wycliffe has to know we will have finances coming in to live on while we are there.  The people that partner with us become part of our team and play a role in Bible translation just as we do.  So if missions, translation work, the Bible, or us are a significant part of your life please consider joining us on this adventure. We are excited to have the 45 friends partnering with us financially on a regular basis already. THANK YOU! Feel free to contact us, sign up to give and or pray.  You can use the link on the upper left hand column for giving or email me if you want to join our prayer calendar.

Exodus 33:13

Guide me clearly along the way the way you want me to travel 

           so that I will understand you and walk acceptably before you.                           (Living Translation)

saying good bye to Danielle

 

? Days left

This is a new video that was recently produced by Wycliffe to  explain briefly how the translation work is done.  I thought I would share it with you.

So what else can I share?  Days left?  

5 days until John and Courtney come for a visit

8 days until we take Danielle  to college

32 days until the last shipment leaves for PNG this year. 

?? days until my last day at OSF St Anthony's

?? days until we are 100% financial partnerships

?? days until we leave for PNG

This is our count down.  Not sure of my feelings but I know we are walking in the path God has designed for us.  A friend reminded me again of "joy in the journey".  This is my request...that God will continually grant us joy in these days ahead.  Days of letting go and saying good bye.  Good bye to perishable belongings as well missing the people who we will not physically be with. In the midst of my sadness it comes to my mind that on August 4, in Madang Province of Papua New Guinea, a Scripture celebration took place in honor of the completed Marik New Testament translation. People are receiving God's word in a way they can understand it. That is exciting and brings joy. May God continue  to make Himself known in my life as well as lives around the WORLD!  Thank you for joining me on this journey.

May I take joy in doing your will, my God

for Your instructions are written on my heart.

From Psalm 40:8 (NLT)

Work Permits

Publish His glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things He does” 

(Psalm 96:3, NLT).

What is God doing?  God is moving to advance us in our ministry.  Monday July 2nd we mailed our work permit papers to PNG.  No one one knows how long it takes to get them processed.  Someone said 2 months....Someone else said a few months.  Well we just received news that PNG has our work permits approved.  WOW.  

In my last blog I shared about our house.  It is under contract and if everything goes through the closing date will be September 21st.  Many people are amazed with that news.  If you want to see more of the home I will miss check out- http://www.shorewest.com/homes/1258737_METRO-120_N_5th_Ave-Walworth-WI-53184-9618#

What is next?  Next we send in more paperwork to get  our visas.  And of course we are not going alone.  We have many people committed to coming with us as they contribute financially.  Thank you! But we still need more.  So if you have a heart for missions and want to see lives changed because the Bible is written in a heart language that opens people's eyes to God's saving grace, consider partnering with us.  (See upper right hand column)

 

We are grateful for the many people out there praying.  Be encouraged, keep praying and thanks.  Please feel free to share with us what God is doing in your life.

House for Sale

This summer  along with the wedding we were  preparing our house to be for sale.  It went on the market in May 24th.  We showed the house once before the wedding.  There was another showing last Thursday.  This time they want to see the house again.  The realtor is hopeful they will make an offer.  This brings up many emotions.  Yes we have agreed we cannot keep the house.  It is too hard to manage a home living half way around the world.  Our kids as of right now do not live here. It belongs to God.  It is His.  But what do we do with all the stuff in it.  We have lived in the same home for over 17 years.  We have accumulated a lot of stuff.  What do we store, sell and take with?  It is God’s.  Help us remember and give us wisdom.

We have missionary friends with Wycliffe that state on their blog Matthew 13:44.... 

"selling everything to buy a field"

June 24th

Many things are happening in our lives these days.  The first part of our summer was spent preparing for the wedding.  The beautiful day happened June 23^rd.  Many friends and family celebrated the day with Kristol and Cullen.  It was a grand celebration of God joining two people together who each love Him. Now they are making their home in Minneapolis while Kristol completes one more year of education at North Central University and Cullen completes his 2nd year in a manager in training program at US Bank. It was the day after the wedding watching our daughter pack up and drive off with her husband that I again reminded myself that Kristol belongs to God and He will take care of them.  We are grateful they both love God and seek His ways. 

  Lord, I pray that You will direct their steps, that they will know that You delight in every detail of their life, that even if they stumbles, they will never fall, for You are holding their hands.                       From Psalm 37:23-24 (NLT)

"In a rut"

Today we had the opportunity to share about Wycliffe and our ministry with them at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Nekoosa, WI.  This opportunity was brought about by my cousin sharing our ministry with their Pastor who then invited us to share.  We had 10 minutes during the regular service and 45 minutes for the Sunday school time.  It brings us such joy to make new friends and share the stories of how God's Word changes lives. It makes me grateful that we have the Bible to instruct and lead us down the best paths-the paths God orchestras.  In the sermon the pastor instructed us to stay in God's path...to stay in the "rut". This reminded me of our off road training we had at JAARS in North Carolina.  The instructors had us drive right in the rut.  Do not straddle or try to come out of the rut but to drive right in the rut .  That is how God desires us to follow Him.....go right through the rut staying on the path and walking in step with God.

Psalms 25:4

Show me your ways, Lord,

teach me your paths.

Romans 15:13

I pray that God, the source of hope, 

will fill you completely with joy and peace 

because you trust in him. 

Then you will overflow with confident hope 
 through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

As I was reading emails today I came across this verse from Mom's in Prayer suggesting to pray it for a teacher or staff member at the school your child attends. While I did that I decided I need that confident hope also.  So I am praying it for me this week.  

Our house went on the market for sale last Tuesday. As someone said "it is bittersweet."  The next day we received news from PNG. The administrator there informed us that there has been a further delay to the issuing of my nursing registration. They have been informed of a new requirement for the SIL clinic to be licensed before the nursing council will issue any registrations. The paper work for this has been submitted but they have no idea how long it will take to be processed. My nursing registration is required before the work permits and visas. So along with the prayer need to be at 100% partnership for finances, all paper work needs to be processed quickly. As I continue to be filled with joy and peace because I trust in God. I believe in  God who works miracles and wants His Words spread through nations.  May He be glorified.