Our Latest News

Hi Folks,

Goodness, I can’t believe it! Six months gone already! We must have been busy. Oh yes, that’s it, we were busy.

“Let love (our worshipful service for Christ) be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ... Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” - Romans12:9.

Are we there yet? Certainly not! As I last recall we are still in the midst of a battle, one that Christ has won but our flesh and the evil one are poor losers and we often feel the brunt of their pout.

You may recall that our work in the TRC office started this year with a vengeance. Well nothing has changed there and so far we have been able to produce books and literacy literature for Myu, Asengseng, Kaulong, and Lamogai in the southern areas; Ata, Mangseng and Ora in the East; Mouk, Ivanga and Maleu in the west of New Britain and also for the Tigak tribe in New Ireland. Presently we plan to set up some computers to train some of the tribal church elders to become computer literate as a tool in their work. One of our concerns is that there is no one trained with the required skills to alternate with Trevor in the TRC ministry for times of breaks and furlough. Equally Estelle has had her hands full learning the ropes in the finance office and is now there on her own, waiting for our accountant Barb Keucken to arrive next month.

Estelle has been enjoying re-establishing a ministry she had during our last term here in 2004. Escafé is the name of her “cafe” away from home which we set up on our large balcony veranda once a month. It is highly liked by all of our Hoskins centre people as it is a place where they can sit around in a “real” (simulated) café and enjoy desserts and coffee etc. It provides a space for people here to be alone and chat in a friendly atmosphere without that “mission” aroma. What is Trevor’s roll? He has very good dish washing skills.

In our last news we mentioned the need to “smell the roses” in a busy world. We praise God that He has given us more opportunities to do this with a weekend on the south coast just doing nothing (Oh yes, and fishing) and a surprise over night stay at Liamo Resort for Estelle’s birthday (during which Trevor had malaria). Pic at the top of the post.

Family:

Johnathan & Candy have moved house to the opposite side of the centre and are settled in. Malachi is now 16 months old and is very inquisitive. He tries to talk a lot and is growing up fast. Johnathan is passed check 2 in Melanesian Pidgin studies (language not birds) and has taken on the roll of Islands Admin Assistant. Candy is heading to check 2 and is helping out in the supply office. You can find more of their news buy going to burnsabroad.blogspot.com

Amanda & Michael are now the official Western Australian SIM representatives and their work includes speaking engagements and camp seminars on mission. Amanda is very much enjoying being a mum with Keziah growing in leaps and bounds (73cm at 9 ½ mths). Michael is in his last 6 months at Theo collage. More information can be found at amandasmusings.blogspot.com

It has been exciting to see an influx of new couples arrive here in the Islands to work in support and in tribal locations. Two couples have surveyed a southern locality where NTM has had a request for missionaries (translators/church planters) for at least 6 years and had almost given up on us. Praise the Lord that this request is now being answered. Likewise another couple has built in a western location to work with the Mouk elders and Bible teachers to translate for their outreach to their northern neighbors. Presently there are another 4 new couples here preparing for a tribal location. There are also invitations open to 5 other language groups in the Islands Region.

Needs:

This all sounds very exciting but it still does not cover (rather it creates) the urgent need of MK teachers and dorm parents for both Hoskins and Lapilo. The PNG field still has a very urgent need for people for accounting/book-keeping, school teaching, and dorm parenting. This a major problem for HQ as the finance office is only operating with input staff at the moment.

Answered prayer:

* Thankfully Johnathan & Candy’s crates arrived in May. * Our March Islands conference was a great time of fellowship and the speaker Barry Challinor was a great encourager. * Praise God for new Kol believers of Ora. Though a small group they are fervent. * We are thankful to God for a replacement stapler that is far better for our work. The original stapler is still a problem though as it has become lost in the post.

Thank you all for praying and for your support,

Trevor and Estelle.