Future Travel Plans

This photo was taken last time we were in the USA:

That was way back in 2011.  Clearly it's time to start planning another Home Assignment, so we're working on booking a trip to our home countries next year. In March 2017 we'll travel to Brisbane, Australia, where Eowyn has a check-up with the kidney specialist.  From there we'll fly to England, where we'll be based in Haslemere, Surrey, from April - July.  From August - December we'll live in North Carolina (where our organisation has housing), making sure we fit in trips to Tennessee and Florida.

We're looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible during our time away from PNG.  We'll also have the chance to take some training courses, have health check-ups, and make the most of opportunities for spiritual and emotional refreshment.  The children will get to attend school/preschool in their passport countries for the first time. (The little baby in the photo above will be in year 1/1st grade in 2017!)

Levi says he's most excited to see grandparents, while Heidi's aim is to ride a toy chicken on a merry-go-round!

If you would like to see us, please let us know!

We would appreciate your prayers as we start to plan and book our travel for next year.  There are so many things to think about including tickets, visas, clothing, speaking engagements, road trips, health insurance and preparing our house here.

On a different note, thank you for praying for the staffing situation at Autoshop.  We are very relieved that Andrew now has a temporary manager, and that the permanent manager is on schedule to return after Christmas. 

High School Graduation Day

In the 2005/6 school year, I (Clare) taught grade 2 at Ukarumpa International School (UIS):

Tonight, many of those students will be graduating from UIS.  This is what they look like now:

It has been wonderful to watch these children grow up into young men and women.  It's also very rewarding to think of all the ways their parents have been able to support Bible translation in the eleven years that I've known them.  Some did this by being directly involved in the completion of four New Testament translations.  Others supported the work in other ways: Planes that carry translators to remote locations were flown and maintained, students were taught, cars were fixed and the infrastructure of the Ukarumpa centre was maintained. 

Next month Heidi will begin Kindergarten in the classroom shown in the top photo.  Levi will move to grade 2.  Just like the parents who have gone before us, Andrew and I will continue to support Bible translation in Papua New Guinea, knowing that our children are receiving a great education at UIS.

Thank you for the part you play in helping us to continue serving here.   

Our Work

 

Sewing Assistance

I (Clare) have been assisting a Papua New Guinea lady, Betty Orami, who runs a sewing class here in Ukarumpa for people from all over the local area.       
        

Betty (wearing the apron in the photo above) was employed by our organisation for several decades before retiring five years ago; when I first met her she was the cleaner at the high school here.  Towards the end of her time in that role she was asked to be one of the teachers at a sewing club for women from the surrounding villages.  Sewing machines were sent out to these villages, and one woman from each village was trained as a teacher.

These days, Betty runs and manages the sewing classes by herself.  She does this as a volunteer, believing that God has given her this work to continue.  To help support herself, Betty takes on paid work from members of the Ukarumpa community, such as sewing curtains or mending clothes.

I've been helping in a few small ways, such as bringing Betty sewing jobs from people in the community and producing the certificates for the 2015 graduation ceremony:

*Please pray for Betty as she runs these classes, and also that God would provide all the resources she needs.  Pray too for the people attending, that they would benefit both spiritually and practically from their time at the sewing class.

*From 9th - 14th March, Eowyn and I will be in Brisbane, Australia, so that Eowyn can have another ultrasound scan and see the paediatric kidney specialist again. Please pray that all the travel goes well, and for good results from the scan of her kidneys and urinary tract.  We praise God that Eowyn has had a very healthy year :-). 

*Andrew has branch Executive Committee meetings from 4th - 10th March.  Please pray for wisdom for him and the rest of the committee during that time as they discuss various issues.  This will be an especially busy time for Andrew as he will be looking after Levi and Heidi while I'm in Australia, and also helping to hold things together at the Autoshop!   Please pray for stamina and encouragement for him.