Dear family and friends,

It is a wonderful blessing that we know how to read! Maybe you haven’t thought about that in a while, but I know that I have. Of course part of this is due to the fact that I am teaching emergent readers as well as helping to develop the reading skills of  some of my more “mature” readers. It is a joy to teach reading to the students in my first and second grade class. Just recently we enjoyed reading a story about koalas and kangaroos, both of which Brad and I  saw when we were in Australia. I know that I probably have way too much fun as I go to work every day!

A couple of weeks ago, I took my class on a field trip to the public library here in Sanford, Florida. Even though most of my students had already been to the library with their parents, our tour guide did an excellent job of showing us around. The local library has a copy of the constitution of the United States in Braille and my students were excited to see and feel this  book written for blind readers. Some of my students did not know that they had computers at the library. Others had no idea how many different magazines they had available to read. Each of my students were given a brand new children’s book to take home with them.  It was a fantastic trip and everyone learned so much!

Brad took a trip to Maryland last month. He was able to visit with a number of pastors, churches, friends, and family members while he was away. He attended the men’s Bible study / breakfast that he was a part of when we were on home assignment two years ago. He saw a friend that we served with while living in Thailand. Then there was the all day men’s conference as well as seeing two of our nephews. Brad also spent some time with his parents. Brad was super busy while he was away, and I am amazed at how much he was able to accomplish in the few short days. Of course it is great to have him home again. He had some catching up to do at the finance office here at NTM  Homes when he arrived back, but he now has things in order once more.  Reading receipts, credit card statements and financial reports are all part of his daily work.  So even though Brad is not teaching reading, he is very much into reading in order to get his daily work accomplished.

Of course the Bible is the very best book possible that we could spend time reading. Last spring Tom and Corinne moved into one of the duplexes here at NTM Homes. Even though Tom and Corinne are now considered retired, they continue to work on the Hamtai Scriptures. They have spent over 50 years of their lives working with this people group. Their job was not done when they presented the gospel to these folks. Having the scriptures in their own language is vital for these believers so that they can feed themselves from the Word of God. Tom continues to receives phone calls here in Florida on his cell phone from Hamtai believers in PNG. They are very anxious to have a copy of the scriptures in their language.  Pray that the formatting and printing of the Hamtai New Testament will be completed without problems. You can read more at this website. You can also read more about Tom and Corinne’s history here.

Right now there is a special workshop going on in PNG. Folks are sharpening their skills so that they can step up to the job of translating the precious Word of God into other languages. There are still many who do not yet have the Bible in their own language. Wow! What a HUGE task! I thought you might enjoy seeing a bit what this process looks like.


Tim with Nduan (left) and Elias (right), translating the first portions of Scripture into the Tanguat language!!

Please pray:

  • Brad needs God’s wisdom as he works with people and finances on a daily basis.
  • I need God’s wisdom as I teach children to read (as well write, spell, math, science, geography, history, etc.).
  • Pray for Tom and Corinne as they continue to go over scriptures in the Hamtai language. You cannot be too careful when handling the Word of God.
  • Pray for the many folks who are in the process of translating. It is big task that can only be completed with God’s help.
  • Pray that as folks go back into their villages all across the country of PNG that they will put into practice the skills that they have been taught.
  • Pray that Brad and I will continue to read and study the scriptures to  gain a deeper understanding of the awesome God that we serve.

Isn’t it wonderful that you can read? Isn’t it a wonderful privilege that we have a copy of the Bible in our language that we can pick up and read whenever we want to?  The Bible is the Word of Life and means so much!  May we each continue to spend time reading, studying, and memorizing God’s precious Word.

Thankful for His Word that brings eternal and abundant life,

Wanda (and Brad) Hull