Yes, it FINALLY happened! Thanks to your prayers, the literacy trip that has been on again off again since last February did indeed come about and is now history! The team of missionaries working with the Pei people is incredible! Chris & Evie Jones, Candace Swift and Justin & Laruen Rees are “young blood” and clearly the wave of the future of what our up and coming missionaries will probably look like. What a privilege it is to work alongside them! They have a very effective literacy program in place and donning my consultant’s cap among them was a sheer joy. I did manage to give them a few suggestions that will hopefully help enrich their program AND make them feel the trip was indeed worth the time, effort and expense of getting me into Pei land.

September is the month Wewak usually hosts a traditional cultural sing and dance festival. It’s a much anticipated highlight which, to our chagrin, didn’t happen this year. Instead we were privileged to be spectators at other local events. Attending the ceremony celebrating PNGs 41st anniversary as an independent nation was one enjoyable
venture. The all-day drizzle did little to dampen anyone’s spirits. And who knew! The town’s Police band actually boasts bagpipes! My wee bit of Scottish blood from some 10 generations ago was highly enthused!

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy, From His lighthouse evermore,
But to us He gives the keeping Of the lights along the shore.
Refrain:
Let the lower lights be burning!
Send a gleam across the wave!
Some poor fainting struggling seaman
You may rescue, you may save.
Dark the night of sin has settled, Loud the angry billows roar;
Eager eyes are watching, longing, For the lights along the shore.
Trim your feeble lamp, my brother; Some poor sailor, tempest-tossed,
Trying now to make the harbor, In the darkness may be lost.
Phillip P. Bliss — 1871

Once again, the update idea index is empty …. But wait! I haven’t elaborated much about finance duties of late, have I? This month has had its moments. As you know from my frequent previous complaints laments, math is among my many weak areas. That makes it all the more obvious that if something gets done RIGHT it’s certainly all God’s doing! Evidence of that was too clear to miss one day this past month……

A word of caution – I have nothing much to write about this month. It reminds me of my mother saying we kids always ate tons more when we weren’t hungry than when we were. I fear my writing may be the same. My “nothing to say” may equal a very long letter! But – to whet the appetite of those of you who still pray for the Stuart family – I’ll include a few tidbits on them this time!

The PNG ladies who work here at our center often get mentioned in my updates, but the men – not so much. We do have a good crew of PNG citizens who faithfully help us out keeping the buildings in good repair, grounds maintained, and doing security work, etc. More than just employees, these are among our closest friends.

Pei Literacy

NTM Missionaries to the Pefiyahe language group launched their 1st ever vernacular literacy program this past week! 15 students — 9 ladies and 6 men in the 16-40ish age bracket were chosen by their village leaders to be the privileged few who get to participate in this class. Some have previously tried unsuccessfully to learn to read in Melanesian Pidgin – the PNG “trade language.” Please be praying that they will be able to master the skill of reading in their mother tongue.

This update could be all about:

Conference –

• teaching, testimonies
• prayer & worship
• fellowship
• Kids Karnival
• Skit nite, Song nite …

Way “too-many-to-count” praise points to reinterate here so suffice it to say, a wonderful and spiritually refreshing time was had by all!

Hands down, the highlight of January was definitely Rosie’s wedding! Yes! It did happen, and yes, I did get to go! Some of the missionary gals helped make sure Rosie had cake to add to her celebration, and though the icing was faultless when first decorated, I highly suspect that by the time the cakes were served (after we had left the village,) everything had likely melted into a swirling paisley effect.

January Already !!!!!!

Why is it– year’s end often brings on a compelling bout of the nostalgia, a desire to reminisce about life’s events for the past twelve months – the highs and lows, the joys, the sorrows, successes, failures, remembering too all those run-of-the-mill days whose hours crept along at a snail’s pace while the year took wings and flew gallantly to its finish. With God at the helm, such musings can make for a most refreshing response of thankfulness and gratitude!

Possible Identity theft?????

The modern day worst nightmare comes to prime time daytime, too. My first thoughts when I ran into obstacles while trying to verify my identity were: “Why would anyone in their right mind want to be me?????”

Then I got to thinking about it ….

• Ocean view living
• In the beautiful South Pacific
• Greatest family in the world!
• Incredible team of friends & supporters around the globe
• Wonderful Wewak neighbors
• Fantastic co-workers
• Perfect, ideal job & working conditions
• The best Boss EVER !!!!! — who promises all I need for today
• And then forever with Him in eternity too!

With that in mind — Who in their right mind WOULDN’T want to be me????

Little things … all those annoying irritations that seek to skew the focus of my life ….

• Slow to non-existent internet
• New method for doing our employee payroll instigated just days before my Finance Office mentor Beth leaves for their home assignment time
• Thursday school reading class being canceled — again
• Teeth breaking from my comb (can’t imagine why – only used it 35 years!)
• Lawn care workers cutting off my flowers — again
• Rats eating thru my screens and Tupperware
• Suspicions of someone else using my social security number ….
• Not having any ideas for an update letter – again