Category: News–Hope Sharp

News from Papua New Guinea: In parts of PNG, when a person dies it is cultural to blame someone for that person’s demise. Often it’s a woman who will be accused of being a witch. She’ll then be brutally murdered to “pay back” the person’s death. With every death, the women live in mortal fearContinue reading September 2022

First off, some praise and prayer points from PNG: Bart & Emily Allen, who, along with Ben & Missy Hatton, minister among the Amdu people, recently wrote: “Most of the believers share a common prayer request — the weight of their unbelieving family and neighbors ridiculing and even threatening them. But despite the pressure, theyContinue reading August 2022

When local gas prices hit $4.49 some weeks ago I stood at the pump pondering. The numbers 449 were “ringing a bell” somewhere in my aged and addled brain. …. Oh yes! Bible School chapel time! Nearly every day someone would request to sing #449 – Wonderful Grace of Jesus – a hymn was writtenContinue reading July 2022

Dear friends, It’s Sunday morning. You arrive at church and are likely met at the door by a team of greeters, welcoming you to the service. You probably enter into a nicely carpeted sanctuary complete with padded pews. You’ll sit with your husband & family or friends. Piano / organ music, or maybe guitars, drumsContinue reading May 2022

Little news has filtered out from PNG these past weeks. Part of the reason for that is that our regional conference was held in March and though the missionaries did tribal news reports for the gathering, everyone was understandably busy and not writing and sending out e-mail updates! I suspect there will be more specificsContinue reading April 2022

“Infrastructure” is a term thrown around rather freely in the USA these days. Consider: Would we rather be traipsing across a bridge (pictured above) in Lembena land in PNG? Such pictures give us glimpses into their daily grind and hopefully, put our life here in a more true perspective. And hopefully, too, it serves toContinue reading March 2022

While we here in the USA endure (though some at least pretend to enjoy) the cold icy winter conditions, back on the front lines in the tropics in PNG, prayer needs continue to abound.

As promised, this month’s news shares details of the believers’ conference, held in late 2021 in the upper Sepik River region of Papua New Guinea. Christians from 6 different people groups where our missionaries formerly worked gathered in the Siawi tribe. Since the local Christians are now overseeing their own village churches, these times togetherContinue reading January 2022

News from Papua New Guinea: Urgent need for prayer: Here is a prayer request from missionaries serving in PNG: The church among the Mibu people group of Papua New Guinea is calling on brothers and sisters around the world to PRAY. Established in 2006, the church in Mibu has grown and matured through many trialsContinue reading December 2021

Little news from anywhere of late – except from Jason Stuart* who is currently in the middle of a 10-day translation check for the Sorimi language group. He and missionary Poul Joenson are checking portions of the Gospel of John and Acts as well as 6 epistles. Jason gave an EXCELLENT overview of the localContinue reading November 2021

Someone recently asked me what “hardships” I faced living in PNG. I had to stop and think. The first thing that eventually came to mind were the months I was “alone” without co-workers on site in the tribal village. News from PNG: Kaje Tribe: Imagine, if you can, living as the single ex-pat family, isolatedContinue reading October 2021

News from Papua New Guinea: For those of you who prayed last month for the Kopf family to receive their paperwork so they could return to PNG – they made it back to the field!

News from the field of Papua New Guinea: At this time of year many missionaries are returning to the field from their home assignment or medical furlough times. Travel is always complex and of course, Covid complicates things considerably more. Once back in PNG the government is currently imposing a 3-week quarantine. This further delaysContinue reading August 2021

Again, there is little exciting to share from me but some profound prayer needs for our brothers and sisters in Christ in Papua New Guinea.

April blew into May with the visit of a long-time friend from Oregon and chances to explore SEMO. Kellie and I visited all my favourite old haunts and found a few new ones. Blue Spring (above) is definitely another example of the beauty God has blessed us with here in the Ozarks. The scene madeContinue reading May 2021

Prayers needed for Papua New Guinea! While Covid is seeming to maybe perhaps be coming under control here in the USA, it’s only just taking root in Papua New Guinea. Strict limitation on people coming into the country kept the case numbers manageably low – until now. Public news outlets say the past month sawContinue reading April 2021

All Papua New Guinea is currently in mourning over the loss of the “papa bilong kantri” (father of the country), the 1st Prime Minister of the nation, The Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare. He served 17 years as the head of their government plus functioned in other various leadership roles from the time PNG becameContinue reading March 2021

Some Highlights for Praise and Prayer from Papua New Guinea: Lembena: A recent update from Adam and Anna Ferguson (Co-workers Jason & Tami Hughes and Micah & Laura Myers) in the Lembena language group brought back stark memories from my May River days.

On the front lines in Papua New Guinea: a few snippets for your prayers ….. Amdu tribe – Jason Stuart will be flying into Amdu this week to do a translation check on the Amdu book of Acts. (His 2 teens Jedidiah and Ella Jo will go along and doubtless have great times together withContinue reading January 2021

Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. Born thy people to deliver, born a child andContinue reading December 2020

With Thanksgiving coming, here’s something to chew on. The statistics below are gleaned from the Wycliffe Global Alliance website. Wycliffe is the missions group who keep the most accurate records of translation work and ongoing needs for the Bible around the globe. Languages with no Scripture 3945 languages with no Scripture – 255 million people.Continue reading November 2020

PNG – While Covid continues to monopolize much of the news in the USA, cases in Papua New Guinea have miraculously and  thankfully remained light! Several missionary families currently in the States are now trying to return to the field to get plugged back into their respective ministries again. Flights are few and far betweenContinue reading October 2020

From the front lines in PNG: Over in the Amdu language group — the Good News of salvation thru Jesus’ death and resurrection was presented to them several weeks ago. We now have brothers and sisters in Christ in this isolated jungle locale! The baby believers can use our prayers! Here are a few ofContinue reading September 2020

After nearly 40 years in Papua New Guinea struggling to understand their reasoning and logic, I’m settling in to the land of my birth to – guess what! – struggle to understand the reasoning and logic that prevails in the USA today. A simple example of common sense from the jungle: WHY, when walking alongContinue reading July 2020

Suddenly it’s summer !!! and with it comes my switch from “Home Assignment” to serving on an “Itinerate Status.” This means I’m working full days at home on upgrading printable resources for the May River Iwam. There’s plenty to do. All our older Bible Lessons and literacy files need to be proofread and the spellingContinue reading June 2020