Thursday, February 29, 2024

First Printed Copies Are Here!

On Friday, February 23, we received a DHL Express package from South Korea that contained the first five copies of the Enga-English New Testament! Because Martha and Asher were out of town for an eighth grade field trip, I didn't open the package or share the news until Sunday. After breakfast on Sunday morning, I told the family that I had something special I wanted to show them. I had them gather in our dining room area, telling Martha to film a Marco Polo video message for Jacob and telling Bella to film a regular video with my phone. Martha, Bella, and Asher were all confused, but they did what I asked. I then went into the bedroom and brought out the box. As soon as I announced what it was, Martha was overwhelmed with emotion and tears started streaming down her face. The fact that we were about to hold in our hands what we had spent the last fourteen years working so hard for was a deeply moving experience that touched us at the core of who we are.

The Enga-English New Testament

As I reached into the box to pull out the first copy, I was deeply aware of the promise I had made to my grandmother in 2010. She was the first person to support us, making a generous donation of $1,000, and I promised her that I would dedicate the first New Testament to her. As I held the New Testament in my hand, I declared that it was dedicated to her memory. (She had died in 2016 at the age of 100.)

Feeling the cover of the New Testament in my hand, I was impressed by the quality of the material. The imprinted title and Celtic cross stood out beautifully, and the cover felt sturdy. The sewn binding allowed the New Testament to lie flat as I placed in on the table, and we began examining the print, illustrations, and color photographs.

The spine and gilded pages with rounded corners

After showing the New Testament to Martha, Bella, and Asher, I explained the significance of the colors we had chosen. Because the Enga flag includes the colors green, yellow, white, and black, we wanted the New Testament to have the same colors. Thus we chose a green cover with a gold (yellow) imprint, gilded pages, black braided bookmarks, and of course white paper for the interior pages. The New Testament also includes a custom illustration to go along with Romans 11:17-21. The original illustration is the printer's emblem used by Robert Stephanus, who produced a beautiful edition of the Greek New Testament in 1550 known as the Royal Edition because of the highly skilled typesetting involved in its production. The emblem shows an olive tree with branches grafted in and other branches being broken off by the spoken word of God. While the original emblem reads noli altum sapere, which is Latin for "do not be high minded," I erased this text and changed it to read Kamongo paka kaeyalapape, which is Enga for "fear the Lord," a quotation from Romans 11:20. 

The illustration accompanying Romans 11:17-21

Soon after unboxing the first New Testament, I told Martha and the kids that the last illustration of the book had a very special meaning for me. Last July we found out that Benjamin Leo, the owner of the land where we had built our house in Enga, had been killed by enemy mercenaries who had set up a road block along the Highlands Highway, some distance from our village. In the wake of my father's death, Martha's father's death, and the death of my uncle, it was hard to take this news. At that time we were in the midst of finalizing the typesetting for the Enga-English New Testament. So I decided to add the illustration below as the last page of the book. It is Jesus with his arms opened wide, and the Scripture quotation is from Matthew 11:28, which says, "Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." This illustration is how I picture Jesus receiving Benjamin into his eternal kingdom, where I believe that Benjamin is now at rest from the trials and tribulations of this world. It is a promise for all of us who put our faith in Christ, and I look forward to one day entering Jesus' outstretched arms and remaining in his presence forever.

 We praise God that we now have the first copies of the Enga-English New Testament in hand, and we look forward to receiving the Enga-only New Testament, which should not be too far behind. Thank you for your prayers and partnership, without which we could never celebrate this day. We are thankful for you all.

Click here if you would like to watch a three-minute video of the unboxing of the Enga-English New Testament.

Update on Jacob
In the midst of the emotion of receiving the first printed copies of the Enga-English New Testament, we also received word from Jacob that he had arrived safely in Costa Rica. He is living with a family in the district of Escazú, canton (which is like a county) of Escazú, province of San José. He is about 15 minutes by bus from downtown San José, which is the capital of Costa Rica. The family he is staying with does not speak any English, so Jacob will have great opportunities to learn Spanish. Please keep him in your prayers as he adjusts to a new country and culture and learns more about his role with Push the Rock doing sports-related ministry.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Dedication Date: July 1

The dedication date for the Enga New Testament has been scheduled for July 1. Actually, the plan is to have a large dedication in Wabag town on July 1, followed by six mini-dedications in the various regions of Enga Province from July 2 to July 7. Please pray for the planning and logistics of these exciting, upcoming events.

In our December newsletter, we asked you to pray for the printing of the Enga New Testament. I am happy to report that we received the signature copies of the Enga New Testament and the Enga-English New Testament in December. A signature copy is not a copy that has a person's signature on it. Rather it is the interior pages of the book without the cover. This is the final check before the binding process is completed. We gave our approval for these signature copies in early January, and just yesterday I received word that the Enga-English New Testament is finished. It is awaiting shipment and is scheduled to arrive in the port city of Lae on March 2. The Enga New Testament should not be too far behind. Praise the Lord, and please continue praying for the timely arrival of both editions.

A look inside the signature copies
Jacob
On January 30, Jacob flew to Emmaus, Pennsylvania, to begin his internship with Push the Rock, a sports ministry. He is scheduled to fly to Costa Rica on February 24 to begin the overseas portion of his internship. Please pray for him as he goes through this time of transition.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Prayer Requests for 2024

Happy New Year! In five days, I (Martha), Adam, Bella, and Asher will begin our journey back to Papua New Guinea. Bella and Asher are looking forward to reuniting with their friends and resuming their normal lives. I typically hate change of all kinds, but this time around I am choosing to embrace it. For the last couple of months, the Lord has given me the word peace to meditate on. It just keeps popping into my head. I know that many people adopt a word to focus on each year. I have never done this. All I know is that the word peace keeps showing up. I hear it, I see it, and dare I say, I feel it. This is a pretty big deal for my anxiety-ridden mind.

Our family has been reading through a book called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. Adam and I read it together during our year in Ecuador in 1999-2000. It left a great impact on me back then, and I am enjoying reading it with my family now. Early on in the book, I came across a line that greatly convicted me: “Contentment should be the hallmark of the man or woman who has put his or her affairs in the hands of God.” Contentment, also known as peace. The Christian should be at peace because they have given their lives over to God and they trust that He is good. Though we are in the midst of great change in our family, the Lord has given me a unique sense of peace.

I know and believe that this greater sense of peace is a direct result of people praying. Please join us in praying for the following needs throughout 2024.

Having fun and at peace in the midst of transition

Jacob
We part ways with this boy on January 6. On January 30 he goes to Emmaus, Pennsylvania, for a month of training with Push the Rock, a sports ministry, before heading to Costa Rica with Push the Rock in the beginning of March. He plans to return to the US in August and begin a year of junior college north of Pittsburgh. Please pray for this huge transition of living away from his parents. Pray that his experience with Push the Rock will grow and stretch him spiritually and that he will be a blessing to the kids he is serving. Pray that he will be disciplined and motivated to do well academically when he returns to the US, and that he will seek the Lord’s direction and receive clarity on what is next for him.

Bella
Bella is excited to return to Ukarumpa and experience all the activities of her junior and senior years. Pray that she will transition well. She will also be applying to colleges later this year. Pray that God will direct her as to where to attend. Pray that she will grow in her faith and walk with God and that she will have a meaningful and memorable school year both academically and socially.

Asher
Asher is also excited to return to Ukarumpa. He will be starting his second semester of eighth grade. Pray that he will transition well socially and academically. Pray that he will be disciplined and motivated in his studies with organization and hard work. Pray for a smooth transition to high school. Pray that he has a great basketball season. This is his passion, and he can’t wait to get back and join the team. Pray that he will grow and mature in his faith and walk with God.

Asher, Jacob, and Bella
Martha and Adam
Pray for the Lord to guide us as we parent our children, and pray for us to trust God as we leave Jacob and return to PNG. Pray that we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction. Pray for strength and stamina to do the work we are called to do. Pray that I will be able to sleep through the night.

Enga Bible Translation
It is our hope that the Enga New Testament will be dedicated in June or July of 2024. Please pray for peace and reconciliation among the tribes in Enga. There have been many disputes since the elections a couple of years ago that have caused civil unrest. Pray that nothing will delay the distribution and dedication of the Enga New Testament. Pray that the printed New Testaments will arrive in Ukarumpa on time and for an organized distribution process. Pray most of all that the Enga people will have a heart to receive and read or listen to the New Testament. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move in a mighty way and the Word of God will have a great and lasting impact on the lives of the Enga people.

Please let us know how we can be praying for you. We are incredibly thankful for your prayers and partnership. We could not do this without you. May the peace of God be with you all in the coming year.


Thursday, November 30, 2023

Pray for NT Printing

Greetings from Wexford, Pennsylvania, where we are entering the last month of our six-month furlough. Martha, Bella, Asher, and I are scheduled to departed for Papua New Guinea on January 6, and Jacob will begin his Gap Year program with Push the Rock at the end of January. Please pray for us as we go through these times of transition.

Please also pray for the Korean Bible Society (KBS). KBS is slated to print the Enga New Testament and the Enga-English New Testament. However, they recently contacted the person in charge of Scripture Publication to ask for prayer. Specifically, they said,

Our partners are facing a sudden increase of demand for their services and this situation is causing an overall delay across the production process. Although we are taking measures to ensure a smooth flow of production, things are regretfully moving much slower than hoped for, so our hearts are heavy and disturbed under such circumstances. We understand that this must be a setback for you as well ... Please continue to pray for us that the production of Scriptures we undertake ... will run smoothly without any bottleneck.

This delay affects not just the Enga New Testament but other New Testaments in Papua New Guinean languages as well. So please pray that the printing process will be able to move ahead without significant delay.

Greetings from Wexford, Pennsylvania!
On a positive note, while we have been on furlough, the Enga translation team has continued their work on the Old Testament. The book of Genesis is now drafted and going through the required checking processes in order to be completed. However, the team has been unable to meet in town for the last three weeks due to civil unrest from the elections that took place a year and a half ago. Please pray for peace in Enga so that the translators can go about their work without any hindrance.

As for me (Adam), I am feeling a bit under the weather today, so I will keep this update brief. Thank you for your continued partnership with us as we await the printed Enga New Testament and continue our work on the Enga Old Testament. We are so thankful for your prayers and financial support.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

The Leaves of Change

When I (Martha) noticed the leaves changing colors in early September, my heart sank. As someone who grew up in Southern California, I adore the rare occasion when I get to experience the season of Fall. It is something I get extremely excited about, and I relish the drives and walks where I am a spectator of God’s great colorful artwork.

But not this time. It was too soon, and I desperately wanted summer not to end.

Over and over, I tried to notice and enjoy the subtle changes happening before my eyes, but every time I did, all I felt was sadness, and a tinge of fear. The changing leaves were a visual reminder of the changes occurring in our life—a reminder that we would soon be leaving Jacob behind and returning to PNG.

But God was gracious to me, and the changes occurred slowly. The trees began shedding their leaves in earnest only a few days ago. Over the past few weeks, God has been teaching me to adopt a posture of acceptance and a heart that trusts. It is no secret that I struggle with fear and anxiety, but more and more as intrusive scenarios of all the bad things that could happen enter my brain, I am reminded of how God has been good and faithful all my life.

The changing leaves of Fall

The highlight of our month was an amazing visit to the Brooklyn Tabernacle. We originally met Pastor Jim Cymbala of the Brooklyn Tabernacle at our missionary commissioning in 2011, just prior to leaving for Papua New Guinea. Pastor Cymbala and his church have been a huge blessing to us ever since. Our most recent visit felt like a much needed infusion from a spiritual IV after a couple of very difficult years. Adam, especially, felt invigorated after our visit and left with renewed hope and a renewed confidence that God will continue to use us for his purposes, especially to lead people to the throne of grace.

The month of October has been busy, and we are feeling the time crunch of a six-month furlough. Most days are filled with homeschooling, running errands, chauffeuring Jacob to and from work, and what seems like endless doctors’ appointments. We took a trip to Williamsport to visit the Pennsylvania College of Technology and learn more about their welding and construction programs. We were impressed with the school and the drive was beautiful, with pops of color bursts all along the highway. This time I was able to settle in and enjoy it.

Being prayed for by Pastor Cymbala and many pastors and leaders at the Brooklyn Tabernacle (Adam and I are right up front facing Pastor Cymbala)

Though we have much to celebrate with the recent completion of the Enga New Testament, the truth is that the challenges of the past few years have taken their toll on us. It was wonderful to be ministered to by the people at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. We were able to attend a few sessions of a pastor’s intensive conference as well as attend the Sunday services and the incredible Tuesday night prayer meeting where Adam was invited to share about our journey so far. (Click the video below to watching Adam sharing at the Brooklyn Tabernacle's Tuesday Prayer Meeting. The section featuring Adam starts at the 1:34:09 timestamp.)

We are about to enter our busiest month yet, with more travel, college visits, family visits, doctor’s appointments, and other tasks to prepare for our return to PNG. Please pray that we will be able to complete all our medical appointments prior to leaving for PNG. Continue to pray for Jacob to receive wisdom about what is next for him after he completes his internship with Push the Rock.

We have tickets to return to PNG on January 7, Lord willing. The days are flying by, and we are grateful for the moments we are getting with family and friends. We are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with Adam’s sister Amy and her family here in Pennsylvania as well as spending an early Christmas with Adam's sister Brook and niece Sailor. Thank you for your prayers for our family and the people of Enga. May God surround you with his blessings this Thanksgiving season.

Saturday, September 30, 2023

Enga-English New Testament

I am pleased to announce that the Enga-English New Testament was completed and sent off to the printer on September 10. This was three and a half weeks after sending the Enga New Testament to the printer. Both editions will be printed by the Korean Bible Society and shipped to Papua New Guinea some time in the coming months.

The Enga-English edition, which we refer to more technically as the diglot (two languages) edition proved to be more challenging to typeset than the Enga-only New Testament. The biggest challenges were in the alignment of the two texts. This required choosing the correct font sizes and column widths so that the Enga (which is generally longer) lines up well with the English. The text is aligned with each new section break. For the most part this was seamless as in the example of Mark 1:14-15 that you see pictured here. But at times we had to leave some space at the end of the section in the English or Enga column so that the next section aligned properly.

Mark 1:14-15 from the Enga-English New Testament

Despite the additional challenges, I am quite happy with how the diglot edition turned out. The dimension are six inches wide by nine inches high, and the volume is about 1,150 pages. Intermixed with the text are more than sixty beautiful black and white illustrations, and there are sixteen pages of full color photographs, which will allow the Enga people to see for themselves the geography of Israel and the surrounding area. In addition to the photographs and illustrations, the edition has thousands of cross-references to help the Enga readers discover the wider context of the New Testament. If you would like to see the Enga-English New Testament in PDF format, please click here. Please pray that nothing would hinder the production of the Enga-English New Testament or the Enga New Testament as they are being prepared by the Korean Bible Society. Please also pray that the books would arrive safely in Papua New Guinea.

Enga Bible Apps
In addition to completing the typesetting for the Enga-English New Testament, we were also able to get the Enga New Testament text and audio published to YouVersion, which is the most downloaded Bible app in the world. This app allows the user to play the audio recording of the Enga New Testament while reading the text. It also allows the user to show the words of Christ in red. While we wait for the Enga New Testament and Enga-English New Testament to be printed, people are already accessing the Enga Scriptures through the YouVersion app. The Enga New Testament is also available on the Scripture Earth app, which intersperses relevant clips from the Enga Jesus Film into the text of the New Testament. Besides those two apps, the Enga New Testament is now live on eBible.org, which has nice online interface for viewing the Enga translation, or the Enga translation side-by-side with an English translation. There is no shortage of ways for people to access the Enga New Testament through their electronic devices, which are becoming more and more prevalent among the Enga people.

The Enga New Testament in YouVersion
College Visits
The weekend before last we made our first college visit—to Taylor University in Upland, Indiana. Although Jacob and Bella both participated in the activities, including spending the night in the dorms, it was Bella who was most interested in Taylor. Bella would like become an elementary school teacher, and she was very pleased with what Taylor had to offer. Not only that, but we were blown away by Taylor’s chapel. Although attendance is not required, nearly every student on campus packed out the auditorium with an incredible amount of energy and enthusiasm. We have never seen anything like it! Not only that, but when one of the female students started singing on stage during worship, we recognized her as the cousin of Jacob’s classmate, who had visited Papua New Guinea less than a year ago and even served as Bella’s substitute Spanish teacher for three weeks. It was nice to see a familiar face. In the coming months, we have college visits scheduled for Messiah University in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia; and, for Jacob, Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Please pray that God would guide both Jacob and Bella as they consider options for future schooling, and please ask God to provide scholarships to make it affordable!

Thursday, August 31, 2023

Update on Jacob

One of our goals for this six-month furlough is to help Jacob transition to life in America as a young adult. Our first priority was to get him his learner's permit and a bank account, which we did during the first week of July, as soon as we arrived in the Pittsburgh area. Not long after arriving in Pittsburgh, we visited family in Vermont and Connecticut. As soon as we got back home, Jacob left for a week in Georgia at a transition seminar for missionary kids called Transit Lounge. It was a good opportunity for him to meet other young adults going through the same transition that he is and to learn about what to expect as he transitions to life in America.

Jacob with his small group at the Transit Lounge in Georgia

The day after getting back from the transition seminar, Jacob went out looking for a job. His first choice was to work at Ace Hardware because he would like to explore the possibility of working in the trades (see the video below of the beautiful TV stand he made in Wood Shop). So Jacob went to the local Ace Hardware and introduced himself to one of the managers. That same week he was offered a job and began working full time. Last Friday he received his first paycheck, which was a very exciting moment! The owner and other employees have told me what a good worker Jacob is. One of the older employees even approached our van as I was dropping Jacob off and simply pointed and said, "Great kid! Great kid!" Jacob is enjoying being at a place where they need him and appreciate his hard work.

Jacob receiving his first paycheck from the owner of Ace Hardware in Wexford

In the midst of working full time, Jacob is also preparing for his future. He is now fully approved to begin his internship with Push the Rock in February. Thanks to all of you who have gotten behind him as he has pursued this internship. He will spend the first two months of his internship in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, learning more about the organization and helping out in the home office. Then he will spend four months in Costa Rica, helping with the sports ministry programs there. Besides all that, Jacob is investigating options for his future. This fall we will be visiting colleges and trade schools so he can determine what next steps to take once his internship with Push the Rock is complete. Please pray for God's guidance and direction as Jacob considers his future. Thank you so much for your prayers.