Isn’t it amazing how often the Scriptures instruct us to be grateful? As I grapple with the disciplines of joy and gratitude, I’m always reminded how desperate I am for the Holy Spirit’s power to strengthen my inner being. Gratitude overflows from our confident hope of what is to come and our trusting perspective of what has been. There is no better precursor to the season of Advent.

Aaron and I travelled to Kokopo early in November to meet with the Catholic leaders as well as other denominational leaders in the province of East New Britain. We were glad to be joined by SIL-PNG’s Director of Strategic Relations, Steve Johnson.

Thank God with us for the Craig family, who took all of our children into their home during our absence.

Highlights from the trip included going to two nearby villages:

Warangoi, where we met up with some of our Mamusi family that live close to Kokopo

Gaulim, where we were blessed to deliver the first audio New Testament on a solar powered device, called a Mega Voice, to the Ura people.

Other highlights were meetings with local college, seminary, and denominational leaders, as well as the chairman of the East New Britain Council of Churches. The days were very full, and we were so grateful for the many connections made. Since SIL-PNG had to close our Kokopo Centre, we haven’t had many opportunities to connect leaders in the area with SIL’s resources and opportunities. Our staff numbers might be going down, but our shareable resources are growing. Communication is still a huge hurdle here in PNG, so it was a gift to be able to sit down and talk in person with so many key people who are needed to keep Bible Translation work going.

We did meet with the Vicar General of East New Britain at the Catholic Archdiocese in Kokopo. He told us he would make sure a letter of blessing came from the Archbishop to our village priest for the translation work to continue. And he did! The letter went out early December, and the translation team is excitedly making plans for 2024. Thanks so much for your prayers over this issue that brought Mamusi translation work to a halt for nearly all of 2023. Two members of the translation team will arrive in Ukarumpa in just two weeks to attend a course called Basic Exegesis. May God receive all the glory for His timing and provision.

In family news, Evie and Abel played Lucy and Linus in their musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. They were so good, and it was wonderful for our hearts to watch the two of them have this experience together. Many people in the community have told us how blown away and blessed they were by their performance.

Aaron had a great birthday while we were away in Kokopo!

December brought fantastic memories, concerts, and times of reflection in Ukarumpa. We always enjoy the slower pace of a PNG Christmas. The Messiah’s arrival so long ago gives us much to ponder and consider, even as we wait for His final arrival. May God stir up anticipation and hope for all He will do in and through each of you in 2024! We praise Him for your care and prayers over our family.