Bush Orientation and Onward (August 2024)

"Oltaim Oltaim, God i save laikim mi moa yet." Buk Song 136:16 (Psalm 136:16)

Hello!

After finishing our two months of bush orientation, we have returned to the New Tribes center in Hoskins. Our family thoroughly enjoyed living in a tribal village environment and building connections with the believers in the Ata tribe! Missionaries moved in with the Ata people in the late 90s and shared the gospel in the early 2000s. The believers we became friends with shared many inspiring stories of how the gospel transformed their lives. It was great to see their desire for personal growth now, 20 years later, and their hearts for sharing the good news in the other villages. During our time in bush orientation we continued learning the Tok Pisin language and we were thankful for the opportunities to support the local church. We are grateful for the ministry doors the Lord opened for us, including Spencer's chance to preach twice. We both had numerous opportunities to strengthen the faith of believers and encourage them in their walks with Jesus. We praise the Lord for the believers' strong commitment to growing in their faith. Words cannot express our deep gratitude for our new friends and fellow believers.

Our proficiency in pidgin will be assessed this upcoming week. Spencer aims to pass the test, while Kayla is expected to have only a few months left of language study. In August and September, we have scheduled survey trips to assess the interest of a specific people group in East New Britain. Numerous opportunities have arisen for us to gather information and survey the area, and we are eager to see how God guides us during our interactions with the villagers. Spencer, along with four other men, recently returned from a brief four-day trip to establish contacts and gather information for planning a people group assessment in September. Are the locals still receptive to receiving missionaries? Where would be the most suitable location to build our houses if we are led there by the Lord? These and other questions will require at least two survey trips to reach a conclusion.

We love you all, and are so grateful for your prayers and support!

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PRAISE + PRAYER:

- PRAISE: We are thankful to God for the wonderful time we had during our bush orientation. Through God's help and strength, our family flourished in the rural environment, fueling our anticipation to live among an unreached people group!

- PRAISE: We are grateful to God for enabling us to quickly grasp this pidgin language! We appreciate the opportunities He has provided us with to spread the gospel and encourage others on this journey.

- PRAYER: Please pray for guidance during the upcoming survey trips, asking for clarity from God regarding the specific people group and village where we should focus our efforts.

- PRAYER:  Please pray for us to persist in our dedication to seeking and walking humbly with the Lord. Pray that we practice and model the character of Christ in our interactions within our family, with our teammates, and with those around us.

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When speaking with believers in Papua New Guinea, a common theme emerges: the significance of spending time together. This has been consistently demonstrated as well as stated plainly during our interactions with them. Simply being present and sharing life with them held great meaning. Their children also face challenges such as fatigue, shyness, hunger, and mood swings. And of course, as adults, we have struggles as well. Nevertheless, they consistently exhibit understanding and kindness. It was touching to observe their care for our family and their dedication to helping one of our children feel at ease. Overcoming my own insecurities has been a part of my (Kayla’s) spiritual journey, but relying on God and choosing to step out in faith consistently has made a profound impact in my heart and mind. It is easy to say "I am not capable of this" or "I lack talent in that area." I am reminded of God's words to Moses when he expressed his insecurities about speech. (See Exodus 4:10-12). God said: "Who made your mouth?" In our family, we have some playful sayings that remind us that it is God working in us and through us. We are not alone, He is working in us and through us as we rely on Him and abide in Him. Reflecting on relationships that have blossomed into friendships, it is clear that being fully engaged and attentive is key, even if it does not involve language learning tasks specifically. Interestingly, God has presented opportunities for learning beyond just acquiring culture and language skills. We now have many friends who hold a special place in our hearts, regardless of the distance between us. My prayer is that all of you, no matter where you are, will do the same. Step out in faith and be a beacon of light, knowing that God has equipped you in Him for your current circumstances!

- With Love,

Kayla