Tyler and Emily in PNG

First I must apologize for no post last Sunday. The last post was from the Anchorage Airport and since then I have been nonstop visiting family and friends in Indiana over the Thanksgiving season.

I had the pleasure to visit with my growing family as I am now blessed with 6 nieces and nephews ranging from 8 to 0 yrs. The boys are currently out numbering the girls 2 to 1 so that meant a lot of horsey rides on my back and wrestling. The boys would wake up and ask me, “Uncle Tyler want to play rough?, We want to play rough, Want to go downstairs and play rough?” I think that must be their favorite word, rough. Nonetheless, I have fun playing rough and wrestling with my nephews. Memories were made all week with my two older brothers and younger sister.  It will be the last time for at least two years that we will all be together. It seems tougher and tougher for the family to get together as we are all in different time zones and soon I will be in a different day across the ocean.

I had the chance to go to church with my parents and family and the message was geared towards rest, peace, and keeping the Sabbath during the holiday season. The youth minster preached from Luke 10:38-40 about the difference between Martha and Mary. Martha the doer and Mary the watcher. So many of us are doers, constantly have to find something to do while the rest of us are the Mary’s you watch, consume, and wait. As we prepare for Advent and Christmas, let us not forgot to take the attitude of Mary and not get caught up in the rat race of the season. Not do, do, do but listen, watch, and rest.

Praises:

– Resident Visa – has been lodged and accepted in PNG and I have the go ahead to apply to the embassy in Washington, DC

Prayer Requests:
– Financial Support – God will continue to pour out His blessings as I move toward 100% support
***I am approximately 80% funded, need 20% in the next month.
– General prayer for myself as I prepare to pack, move, wrap up work, and prepare for overseas living.
– Resident Visa – I will be mailing all required documents this week to D.C. Pray there will be no hangups or errors. If everything goes well, I should obtain my official visa in two weeks.

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For my faithful followers, this week post will be brief. It is officially Monday morning as I sit in the Anchorage Intl Airport waiting to board my flight back to the main land USA. I will be visiting family and friends for the final time over Thanksgiving before I cross the Pacific to Papua New Guinea.

More later…Remember to give thanks and have a heart of gratitude this Thanksgiving week.

Prayer Request:
Application for Resident Visa – waiting on my visa to be lodged in PNG before I can apply to the embassy in D.C.
Financial Support – God will continue to pour out blessings and I will raise 100% support

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The pastor has been preaching on Heart for God, The Sanctified Life for the past four weeks and today he quoted my favorite verse Matthew 16:24-25:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

As the pastor concluded the message he asked, do you see your world the way Christ sees your world? Paul saw life differently and he pursued the things that were to his spiritual advantage. When we have a heart for God and God alone, we begin to see our world differently.

The most important question that you’ll answer: Where are you in relationship to the will and purpose of God? Are you seeing through the eyes of Christ?

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This past week I continued to receive blessings both financially and spiritually as partners have joined and made commitments to God. I know God blesses the giver, and I fully trust that he will do it. God never fails!

Praises:
Financial giving and support

Prayer Requests:
Application for Resident Visa
Continue to raise 100% monthly support
– Currently raised/pledged 50%

Note: This week’s banner picture is where I live in Seward, AK.

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The first week of November brings snow, change of direction in American politics, and praise in ministry. I had one answer of prayer this past week, my Papua New Guinea work permit has been approved. It was a long 2 month process with many emails, communications, and corrections. The typical process takes between 2-3 months, so I feel blessed that it happened quick and without error. Praise God! I continue to have answer of prayer as people in church told me that they plan on giving monthly and one time, special gifts. My church even approved a one time gift equally one months ministry need. Praise God! Next hurdle, obtaining my resident visa.

I have mailed many letters this past week and prayed over the letters as I took them to the post office. I’ve been praying that God will go ahead and prepare the hearts and minds of those who will be opening the information packets. The Spirit of God is alive and moving.

Personally, I have been reading through Proverbs. The contrast between the wise and foolish is so imperative. As I look introspectively, I believe I see wisdom in my life and through my actions. As a young person, I don’t see myself as wise but I believe I am gaining in knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. This all comes from God as we seek him and study the Word daily.

Praises:
Work Permit has been approved
Financial gifts and giving

Prayer Requests:
Application for Resident Visa
Continue to raise 100% monthly support
– Currently raised/pledged: 40%

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I had the privilege today to speak at the closing of worship service to introduce Pioneer Bible Translators and encourage prayer and financial support as I prepare to become a missionary to Papua New Guinea.

The pastor spoke on Acts 2 and being filled with the Spirit at Pentecost. How ironic that I was preparing to close the service with translating God’s word into every language. Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. I asked the church, What language does God speak? Hebrew, Greek, Spanish, Pidgin, English? I am not sure if God speaks in a language, but I do know that he does communicate and understands all languages. In fact, he communicates in over 6909 worldwide known languages. Source: Ethnologue

The pastor gave an illustration of a storm and the person stated she wishes the storm would have come closer so she could feel and witness the strong winds. The woman was not scared or fearful of the storm. The pastor asked, are you afraid of the Spirit? I responded to myself, I am not afraid of the Spirit but I do fear the Spirit. As I told youth group this past week about fearing God, it came full circle Sunday and that we are to fear the Spirit. As I prayed 3 years ago ‘Here I am, send me’ I was not afraid of the Spirit but I do fear the Spirit and fear God.

Continued Prayer Requests:
PNG Work Permit
Resident Visa
Financial Support

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What a journey I have been on over the past 7 weeks. I left Alaska on Sept 6 for Dallas, TX. I flew to Dallas to take 5 weeks of training to become a Short Term Assistant with Pioneer Bible Translators (PBT). I read many missiological books and took 4 mission emphasis classes. I took: missionary anthropology,  biblical reflections on mission, intro to linguistics, and foundation of ministry. All four classes were insightful and meaningful for cross cultural ministry. My favorite class was missionary anthropology and learning about culture, folk religions, and how to ministry cross culturally. Taking the Word across cultures is not an easy task but God has challenged PBT to take the Word to the bible-less. This is an exciting challenge and it will be a rewarding task. I am excited to have joined PBT.

I will be traveling to Papua New Guinea (PNG) and working at the branch office supporting their technology needs. I will be supporting their computer and information systems both in the office and assisting missionaries in the bush villages.

Right now I am developing partners in ministry and raising financial support. I have to raise 100% of funds before I can depart. This is a 100% self-supporting organization. My goal is to leave first part of January 2011. I am currently about 50% funded. My monthly goal is $2100. This includes travel/airfare, rent, insurance, food, and general expenses factored over a year period. If you would like to partner with Pioneer Bible Translators and help reach the bible-less people groups of the world, see Donate.

Prayer Requests:

1. Work Permit has been received and lodged – pray that it will be processed smoothly
2. Visa – gathering required documents and mailing to embassy in D.C.
3. Financial Support – 100% will be raised
4. PNG Branch Office – leadership in time of transition, need for a Branch Director

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