Description of our service in PNG

We are working in Papua New Guinea (PNG) with Wycliffe Bible Translators. There are over 800 different languages in PNG. In PNG, members of Wycliffe have finished translating about 160 New Testaments and are currently working in partnership with over 200 communities throughout the country. The work demands versatility and creativity.We want the people of PNG to know what Jesus has done for them in paying the penalty for their sin (death) and in offering them the gift of Eternal Life instead.

We trust for God to change and empower people's lives as He speaks to them through His written Word. We aim for everyone to read and understand the New Testament in a language that they know very well.

Our role in Wycliffe Bible Translators

• Supporting Bible Translators and Literacy workers through:
• Technical assistance telephone system, computer and electronic equipment repair.
• Training local workers to do the above tasks.
• Teaching the children in High School.
• Teaching local children in Sunday School.
• Practising hospitality in the home.
• Praying.
• Talking and encouraging on the radio.
• Buying some food supplies and sending it out to the village on the plane.

Our children and what they are doing

Our children are all allowing God to lead their lives. We are very pleased about this.

Joy, aged 25.

Joy is married to Bryce Morden.They live in Eastern Victoria at Maffra with their 2 children, Emily (aged 3) and Rachel (aged one).

Lydia, aged 23.

Lydia is working as a Nurse in the Royal Children's Hospital. She lives with her Grandparents (Cleve and Barbara Lyster) at Reservoir. She is looking toward being involved in Bible Translation in the future.

Mark, aged 21.

Mark is studying Myotherapy at Batman TAFE and Christian Counselling at Tabor Bible College. He and Joshua live in Mitcham and they open their home to people in need.

Joshua, aged 21.

Joshua is working in Rowville in a warehouse of musical instruments.

David, aged 10.

David is being home schooled while we are in Australia. He is particularly enjoying spending time with his big sisters and brothers. It will be hard to say 'Good-bye' in late June

Oct 06

25 October 2006

Dear friends,

This morning my Papua New Guinean friend, Margaret came and told me a little of their time in the isolated village. Margaret tells of the ladies being anxious that they did not have any medical facilities nor stores anywhere nearby. They do have garden food and are completely dependent on what they grow. Margaret encouraged them to pray. They can depend on God. She has a burden for them. She sees that they need to be taught in prayer and in faith in God. She would like to return someday to do some of that teaching. The students doing the PNG exams seemed to take it in their stride. We will not find out for a while how well they did. My classes are going well so far.

Last Tuesday night we watched a video of the Post Modern Worldview. This worldview is basically that "everything is true. If it is true for you, if you think that it is true, then it is true. There is no absolute truth. We need to be tolerant of other religions, which includes accepting other religions as equally valid as Christianity and even celebrating them." On the contrary, Jesus said 'I am the Truth'. 'You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.' What a privilege and responsibility we have in knowing the Truth. As part of our teaching in school we are encouraged to help the students have a Biblical worldview, so they can resist the non-biblical one that is prevalent in their home cultures.

Part of the worldview many PNG people around here hold is similar to a 'worldview' that many Australians had around the 1900s. This was that 'if everyone gets an education then that will solve our problems. Science is the answer.' Many PNG people around here think that if their children get an education then they will be able to get well paid work and life will be easier. They don't want their children to be subsistence farmers. That life is too hard. Many parents and relatives work really hard and sacrifice in order to pay the school fees. Unfortunately, there are many school leavers already who have been unable to find such work and they are disillusioned.

I have been struggling this last month with a particular relationship with a PNG woman. Jesus said to give to those who ask, and she is always asking. So how far do we go? Jesus did not set a limit. I realise how far I fall short of loving with God's everlasting love. I also realise that my faith is weak in the area of expecting to see God work in healing people. Several of my PNG friends are seriously sick. I want to see God working physically as well as spiritually in their lives. I know that nothing is impossible for Him. I don't know His will in these situations. I want to be more in tune with Him and may He be given the glory.

I have been enjoying doing some sewing. We were given some scrap material for use in Sunday school. Some of the scrap is in largish pieces big enough to make garments out of. I have decided to use them to help some of the Sunday school children make clothes for themselves. The girls are sewing by hand as that is what they are able to do in the village. They also have more patience to sew by hand than most Australian children have as they are more used to things taking time to do them.

With love, Valmai for us all.

Sept 06

September 26, 2006

Dear friends,

Laurie's knee is continuing to improve little by little. He is able to walk almost normally down a set of stairs now. We continue to be thankful to God.

I mentioned last time that we had four extra children staying with us. It turned out to be five more and they stayed a week. We enjoyed having them but it was extra work, as you can imagine, and I was tired by the end. We have not had much let up since, however, as the family continue to spend time here. At present, they don't have any ripe sweet potato (their staple) in their garden and, as they don't have money to go to the store or market to buy food, they would be hungry if they didn't have help. They do have a few beans and carrots but the mum wants to sell them at the market so she can get the money needed to fulfil an obligation that she has to provide meat for a big feast to close the mourning time for her father-in-law next week. I have been daily providing food for the family. We don't realize it in Australia what it means to 'pray for our daily bread'. Last Friday night, at Bible Study, we read where Jesus asks Peter: 'Do you love me?.......feed my sheep.' I am feeding some of God's sheep in response to my love for Him.

We are on school holidays now but life continues to be full. There is usually someone here for one reason or another. We have a number of needy friends.

We have been reading Daniel, Ezra, Haggai etc. in the last month. I have been impressed again at the control God has of non-godly governments even when it does not seem to be so. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I think that it is important to remember these things especially when we hear of various things happening in the world today.

Let me share a couple of encouraging comments that we have had regarding Laurie and his work. Before last weekend, we had a brown out that caused the air-conditioner in the server room to shut down. The temperature soared to 560 and 'cooked' the 2 power supplies for the 32 modems in the server room. Laurie was involved in restoring the telephone lines after one of the other men fixed a power supply which enabled them to get half of the modems on line again. We had an encouraging note from one of our colleagues saying how much she appreciated having the guys work to get us back up and running.

A couple of weeks ago, I was stopped in the street by the acting manager of the clinic. She was telling me how pleased she was that Laurie was able to think 'outside the box' and to do something with the telephone system in the clinic that was out of the ordinary and yet suited their needs perfectly. It is good to be able to help in this way and that people express their appreciation. We want to thank again those of you who support us financially or in prayer. You enable us to be here to help.

May God bless you.

From Laurie, Valmai and David.