Let's see, where have we been again?

Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.  Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.  Col. 4:5-6

Do you ever have to scroll back through your phone’s photo gallery to see where you’ve been for the last couple of months? Maybe its just me.

March 24th: Looks blissful does't it. I asked Elizabeth to come along on a 'date' weekend to our training center in Madang. Turns out it was a working date. We spent time caring for new missionaries, our orientation team, and lots of time helping the Mesi church. (In case you are wondering, we did have time for a meal or two out and will take more date time this summer when we come back to the States for June and July.)

 More than anything as I look at the pictures that I’ve taken, I’m reminded to be thankful for the opportunities that we have serving here and the faithful men and women that we serve alongside. Here are a few photos and the corresponding stories. As you read and look, we hope that you will also be prompted to thankfulness and dependence alongside us. 

March 25: After nearly a year of working on logistics, we finally have some metal roofing for the Mesi church and community purchased and set aside at a shuttle point for transport into the bush. This is something that the Mesi church has wanted for a while and they have raised the money mostly on their own. (Praise the Lord!) That said, our plans for helping them with the helicopter were foiled by weather and the need to help another people group transport the body of one of their leaders back into his home area. Because we made the choice to help the other people, doors are wide open to the gospel in their area! (Praise the Lord!) But we (and the Mesi church) are looking at significantly higher transport costs to get the roofing in now. (Pray for another opportunity for them.)

March 28: This is the tuberculosis clinic in Madang. I was there with some Mesi men that were helping a family member get needed medicine. (Praise the Lord for faithful men!) Like many other people from the remote Adelbert Mountains though, the patient had waited much too long to begin treatment for his illness and TB had taken hold of his entire body. He actually died two days after this photo was taken. Illness is a huge issue for us here in PNG.  I had planned a visit into Mesi-land that week as well. Before heading into the bush, I was able to purchase $900 worth of life-saving medicines for the Mesi clinic and take them with me. Even with those medicines, the team there in Musupum has been struggling to help people because they are short handed and constantly trying to take care of their own families as well as others from their own and outside language groups. (Pray for faithful men and women and continued supplies of medicines.)

March 30: Mesi-land! This is Metiu, one of the most keen of our believers. He saved up and bought this phone - he reads the Bible portions in Pal and in the trade language on it, takes notes, and highlights significant portions both to remember and to ask us about. We so appreciate his care for the church and his insight into the struggles that the believers there are facing. Because we support his phone plan, we are able to talk and text with him daily. Metiu helped significantly during my trip into Mesi-land by bringing hidden Mesi culture to the surface and helping me confront it with truth. Please praise God with us and also pray for Metiu, Sidop, Magilat, and others. BTW - Metiu's vanilla is the best! 

April 22: Kora, Eastern Highlands Province. I met another Matyu in a completely different language group. This Matyu has the same passion for and understanding of of scripture as our Mesi Metiu. What a pleasure to fellowship with him and the rest of the Mihi Bible translation team last weekend. Praise the Lord for the 32 translations that are currently making progress here in PNG! Did you know that Elizabeth and I are part of the team that is responsible for oversight of these projects? Pray for us! Also, that other guy photo-bombing this picture is my co-worker Chris Hostetter. He and his wife are key members of the oversight team as well. (Not only that, he is a pretty cool guy.)

Thanks so much for your faithful care for us. Please know that when you aren't hearing from us that is likely a good thing - with so many opportunities to serve and care for believers and the church here, we rarely have a free moment.  We would like though, to do some in-person updates for you all soon. Please let us know if you'll be around this summer and we will try to make a connection work.

Grace and Peace!

Nate for us both.