"... now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? ...”
Luke 18:1 - 8
PTL for the time spent with Mary's dad. When I come to the US, I don't just come for a quick checkup and leave. A large portion of the time is spent with my father. He will be turning 99 at the end of the year. He is still able to take care of himself, although he does have a few physical challenges. I am so thankful that I am still able to talk with him and assist with some of his projects.
Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.
A workshop just finished. This taught a method of acquainting a language group with Biblical stories as the translators work on translation efforts. Please pray the methods learned with be applied and a desire to learn more about God will be planted and grow in the people.
And others fell into the good ground, and yielded fruit, growing up and increasing; and brought forth, thirtyfold, and sixtyfold, and a hundredfold.
Please pray for a translator trying a new place for working on the "L" language. Pray for progress in getting the work done.
And how hear we, every man in our own language wherein we were born?
At the end of June, my son-in-law decided to plan my daughter Gail with a visit from me for her birthday. God gave me a safe trip to Kansas and back, as well as a delightful visit throughout.
Her children rise up and call her blessed;
July has been an emotionally challenging month for the Hillcrest and Papuan ex-patriate communities. We had asked you to pray for our long-time colleague, Tim. He was received into the Church Triumphant earlier this month. However, at the beginning of July we learned of a pilot being diagnosed with a brain tumor. God took him home to Glory shortly after Tim's death. Praise the Lord for these two lives which were lived in service to the King.
‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’
Please pray for Jase and Janna as they settle into language school. Janna is a former student from Hillcrest School. Mike taught her during the early days of our work here. She is another example of the students with whom we worked because you sent us and have been praying for us becoming full-time missionaries. She and Jase will be translators within Indonesia.
and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
On the 29th, the high schoolers will remove to a nearby beach for their annual bonding retreat. Pray for the Gospel message to be presented clearly and concisely, that their hearts will be open to receiving God's Word and they will grow together in one spirit.
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
The elementary school will be holding their Back To School Night on the 14th and the middle school and high school will be having it a week later. Please pray for clear communication between parents and teachers, that a good environment will be established for the students to be drawn to the Creator and Fount of all Truth.
that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
I intend to leave for Papua from the US the middle of this month. Please pray for traveling mercies as I travel through 2 additional countries on my way.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Mike is currently in Papua preparing for school and taking care of Afin and Yem while I am finishing up personal business in the US. Please pray that things will go smoothly for him.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Later this month another New Testament will be dedicated. Please pray for the logistics of carrying the New Testaments to the village and also, ferrying special guests in and out of the village, too. Due to the mountainous terrain in Papua, travel can be treacherous.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
The two boys who live with us during the school year are settled into our home. Pray for diligence as they start their schooling.
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
The next school year begins August 12. Pray that everything will proceed as smoothly as possible.
But all things should be done decently and in order.
I, Mary, had my regular annual appointment in June. Everything checked out as "normal" for someone with cold agglutinin disease. My next checkup is in June 2025.
Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,
for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!