Well, we have been in Papua New Guinea for over 8 months now. We have had our entire perspective of life as we knew it turned upside-down in that time. We gave away most everything that we had previously toiled to collect, and transplanted our family to the other side of the globe. Many of you got excited with us from the start, and many of you struggled with "Why?". Well, here is a small glimpse at what I (John) have been up to, and why we jumped through all the hoops that we did to be here.

A lot of what I do entails fixing buildings and houses that are a part of the big Bible translation picture in some way. This started as a clogged toilet (I think...). This is at one of our many regional centers that support translation teams close … — A lot of what I do entails fixing buildings and houses that are a part of the big Bible translation picture in some way. This started as a clogged toilet (I think...). This is at one of our many regional centers that support translation teams close to them.

This is my department at CAM (Construction and Maintenance) in Ukarumpa. We hail from many cultures, but we are mostly Papua New Guinean and conduct business in Tok Pisin, Gadsup, Tairora, and English. Needless to say, you learn something new every … — This is my department at CAM (Construction and Maintenance) in Ukarumpa. We hail from many cultures, but we are mostly Papua New Guinean and conduct business in Tok Pisin, Gadsup, Tairora, and English. Needless to say, you learn something new every day!

One of my first projects when I hit the ground running was finishing this battery house which currently services half of our mission center. Don't quote me on this information that I'm publishing on the internet, but Ukarumpa generally has anywhere … — One of my first projects when I hit the ground running was finishing this battery house which currently services half of our mission center. Don't quote me on this information that I'm publishing on the internet, but Ukarumpa generally has anywhere from 300-500 people stopping in, that are translating or supporting the translation work of hundreds of language groups in the country.

One of the things that I love most about being a missionary is that I have to be prepared to build or fix pretty much anything with usually limited resources. I quit Cub Scouts as a kid because it was the same night as Macgyver. I think that I made … — One of the things that I love most about being a missionary is that I have to be prepared to build or fix pretty much anything with usually limited resources. I quit Cub Scouts as a kid because it was the same night as Macgyver. I think that I made the right choice. This is a new radio tower that allows us to communicate with aviation better.

A couple people stepped out of the office and suddenly my cumulative 10 minutes behind the wheel of the front end loader made me most qualified to go rescue the dump truck. I love my job!

Other things I love driving... Usually one week out of the month I am "on call". Not only do I get to cruise around in the Land Cruiser, but sometimes you get to go out at night in the pouring rain to troubleshoot a power outage, plumbing leak, or s… — Other things I love driving... Usually one week out of the month I am "on call". Not only do I get to cruise around in the Land Cruiser, but sometimes you get to go out at night in the pouring rain to troubleshoot a power outage, plumbing leak, or something exciting like that.

I got to design and build this hauswin (think "House Wind") with my CAM guys which resides at the high school. The schools here in Ukarumpa allow hundreds of Bible translators to continue their work as their kids reach school ages. We built benches … — I got to design and build this *hauswin* (think "House Wind") with my CAM guys which resides at the high school. The schools here in Ukarumpa allow hundreds of Bible translators to continue their work as their kids reach school ages. We built benches into the perimeter of this hauswin so that it would serve as a hub for community on campus.

This picture and the one below are from a trip to another regional center on the coast. We put a new roof on one of the main buildings. The salty breeze came night and day, which was wonderful to cool off, but corrosive to most construction material… — This picture and the one below are from a trip to another regional center on the coast. We put a new roof on one of the main buildings. The salty breeze came night and day, which was wonderful to cool off, but corrosive to most construction materials. The new roof that we put on had a special painted finish that will hopefully withstand these elements for years to come.

The reflection of the sun off of this radiant barrier was like working right over a campfire.

We made a family decision to go to a village church close by. I just realized the other day that I can finally understand the sermons. That felt great, because we really want to invest in this community, but it's not always easy. Overcoming the lang… — We made a family decision to go to a village church close by. I just realized the other day that I can finally understand the sermons. That felt great, because we really want to invest in this community, but it's not always easy. Overcoming the language barrier has been a big challenge.

Before I could understand the sermons, I would usually stare up at the roof and pray that it didn't fall on us all. It still needs to be replaced soon, but we made a few repairs before the big Christmas service so that it would at least be safe for … — Before I could understand the sermons, I would usually stare up at the roof and pray that it didn't fall on us all. It still needs to be replaced soon, but we made a few repairs before the big Christmas service so that it would at least be safe for now.

Just for fun, I've broken out my Glasses for Missions kit (thank you to all of our Hendersonville, NC family!) in my "free time". This literacy class was the perfect setting: here's the Bible...here's how to read...now you can see!

Why else are we here? Meet Steven. I met him over a frisbee break during our initial training. He has given up everything to translate the Bible into his native language for his people group of over 30,000. He and his wife and 4 kids are living on f… — Why else are we here? Meet Steven. I met him over a frisbee break during our initial training. He has given up everything to translate the Bible into his native language for his people group of over 30,000. He and his wife and 4 kids are living on faith that God will take care of their needs. Now we (and you our partners!) have partnered with him to see this through. This was a solar light that you helped get him so that he could work after his kids went to sleep at night. And it also charges his phone! That's right, many people have no power and live in bush houses, but they will surely have a mobile phone!

As a coffee lover, I feel blessed to live close to so many coffee plantations. Steven taught me how to roast green (coffee) beans over an open fire. I buy my coffee from some Papua New Guinean translators (that's right, all proceeds go to their Bibl… — As a coffee lover, I feel blessed to live close to so many coffee plantations. Steven taught me how to roast green (coffee) beans over an open fire. I buy my coffee from some Papua New Guinean translators (that's right, all proceeds go to their Bible translation project!) at our local market. It regularly says on the bag that it was roasted yesterday. It's okay if you are a little jealous, I understand :)

So getting back to Why #2: relationships with our Papua New Guinean brothers and sisters. This is actually my susa (sister) Suzanne. They were our wasfamili (think "watch family") for the village stay portion of our initial training here. They are w… — So getting back to Why #2: relationships with our Papua New Guinean brothers and sisters. This is actually my susa (sister) Suzanne. They were our wasfamili (think "watch family") for the village stay portion of our initial training here. They are wonderful! This picture is from last week when we went to visit them again. As you can see, Millie was quick to put on her village attire.

Drum roll please...Banner meet Baby Banner! As PNG families go, he would be considered my grandson, but he is more or less my great-nephew. Remarkably, he is only 3 months old!!! — Drum roll please...
Banner meet Baby Banner! As PNG families go, he would be considered my grandson, but he is more or less my great-nephew. Remarkably, he is only 3 months old!!!

And lastly, what are we doing here? Supporting Bible translators all across Papua New Guinea. I am building and fixing things so that they can focus on getting God's Word out to all the people that have never heard it in a way that they can understa… — And lastly, what are we doing here? Supporting Bible translators all across Papua New Guinea. I am building and fixing things so that they can focus on getting God's Word out to all the people that have never heard it in a way that they can understand the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.
On one of my last trips, my guys and I had the honor of delivering these Bibles to an area where God was moving greatly and they needed more Bibles!

Meet the Wades. They were in our initial training course here in PNG and now they have moved their family out to East New Britain (a giant island province to the north-east) to begin work with a language group that has never had God's Word before. W… — Meet the Wades. They were in our initial training course here in PNG and now they have moved their family out to East New Britain (a giant island province to the north-east) to begin work with a language group that has never had God's Word before. We are their support team here in Papua New Guinea. What does that mean? We pray for them, call/radio them to get status updates, send them supplies if they need them, laugh with them, cry with them, and whatever else that they need to stay the course of what God called them here for.

We are their support team. You are their support team!

Please pray for them and their work in East New Britain. We will miss them dearly! (as you can see from Millie's face below)

They too are why we are here.

The big send off yesterday morning. Much excitement. Much sadness.

God is changing people all over Papua New Guinea through His Word. These are two pictures from a baptism that I went to in a nearby village where one of my CAM guys lives. My friend, my brother, Naneka was one of over 100 people that got baptized that day. God is stirring the hearts of this community now with His Word. He wants to redeem this country for Himself. We long to see this happen in this place—our home now. That's what we are doing and that's why we are here. Thank you so much for being a part of God's work way over here in PNG!