Welcome again to the year 2013. I guess the world did not end after all as the Mayan calendar predicted. I like to look at the new year as lucky 13, or it is just more fun to have that perspective. There is plenty on my mind but before I get carried away I want to reflect on what God did in 2012.
2012 Highlights:
The biggest news this past year was tying the knot with my beautiful bride. May 14 was a wonderful day and God gave me a wonderful woman, Emily. Yep, that was the best thing to happen last year so I guess the rest is just trivial.
Ok…for those who like more…we spent June at church camp, the rest of summer in Alaska, fall in Dallas, Nov in Indiana, and finally back in Montana to wrap up the year with Christmas. I don’t think I ever experienced a Montana Christmas like this one, a frozen –20 F morning. Santa had lots of hot chocolate in Big Sky that night.
However, the year did end on a high note. Emily’s home church does 5th Sunday offerings where all the offering from the 5th Sunday of the month goes towards missions that her church supports. Last year, there were 5 5th Sundays in 2012. A rarity in itself and Emily and I got the pleasure to share during the morning services about ‘Good Gifts’. The Sunday offerings were totaled and it was the largest 5th Sunday offering Fifth Ave Christian Church ever received. Praise God! All of the money given that Sunday went to missions and world outreach. Wow…what an awesome faith promise and statement. It is very humbling to be apart of a church body with such a world vision.
2013 Preview:
As you are aware, we are in our final hours of being stateside. We are departing Montana tomorrow for our start back to Papua New Guinea. We are stopping in Hawaii to visit my brother before continuing across the Pacific.
As we have been saying good-bye, I have been telling folks see you in 1000 days. That is about the time we are projecting to be on the field this term, 3 years or about 1000 days (365×3). Yes we are leaving the comforts and luxuries of America and trading them for the rough and developing country of Papua New Guinea. We are both ready and eager to return to our team and ministry we left behind over 9 months ago.
We know the work will not be easy and tough times are expected but we know and God has confirmed to us that we are to be in Papua New Guinea serving him during this season of our life.
We are so thankful of the times we had this past year to reconnect with so many of you and share what God is doing through us with PBT in PNG. We (everyone collectively) are on one team and it is exciting to see what the team can do through Christ whom strengthens us. We can do anything!
However, anything can easily turn into nothing unless we first pray. Emily and I ask you to pray for us specifically over the next few days, weeks, and months as we start our home together in PNG. January is a packed month for us as we have important team meetings for one week, Jan 21-25.
Recently, I heard Oswald Chambers quoted from his Oct 17 devotion…
Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work.
It is easy to forget that the most important tool in the bag is simply, prayer. As we start our new year together and as we depart the confines of the USA, please remember us in prayer.
Fifth Ave Christian Church praying over us last Sunday.
Tyler and Emily in PNG 
Amen & Amen – may God do a great work because we are faithful to ask Him to ! All praise and glory to our God Who accomplishes all He sets out to do!
Godspeeed for your travel and His work in PNG. Love you guys. -Noel
Loved your update and we could hear the excitement of returning to PNG even as you understand what it will take. Thanks for the mention of the importance of prayer. Have a god-led ministries, both of you. We will be praying for you.
Ruth (for both of us)