Metzger Ministry Update - December 2018 | Scripture Celebrations

It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. - Isaiah 55:11 (NLT)

Thank you for standing beside us through your faithful prayers for our ministry and family and through your inspirational financial partnership. God was faithful during this year of 2018 as we were able to spend the first half of the year in Colombia, during our home assignment, and the second half of the year we have been readjusting to being back here in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Thank you for being a very important part of what we do as we serve here!

(pictures from top: Lukas and Matthias selling crafts at our local Craft fair; Johanna and Kurt; Kassia playing in the middle school band concert)

As we celebrate Christmas and the gift of Jesus this year, we rejoice with our Papua New Guinean brothers and sisters that now have the gift of God’s word in a language that speaks to their hearts! In November, during our church service here in Ukarumpa, we celebrated all of the New Testaments, Scripture portions, one Jesus film, and audio recordings completed this year in Papua New Guinea. There were 41 different items (the list below follows the pattern of Language name (PNG Province) – scripture portion):

NEW TESTAMENTS

• Baruga (Oro Province) – New Testament + Audio Recording of the NT
• Binumarien (Eastern Highlands Province) – New Testament Revision + 5 OT books
• Doromu-Koki (Central Province) – New Testament + Audio Recording of the NT
• Menya (Morobe Province) – New Testament + Audio Recording of the NT

SCRIPTURE PORTIONS and AUDIO RECORDINGS

• Arop-Sissano (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon + Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude
• Bauni Barupu (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon + Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude
• Bauni Pou (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon + Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude
• Edolo (Southern Highlands Province) – John
• Enga (Enga Province) – Matthew
• Gizrra (Western Province) – 12 Epistles
• Madi (Madang Province) – Mark
• Malol (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon + Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude
• Nama (Western Province) – Mark + Audio Recording of Mark
• Nek (Morobe Province) – Esther, Ephesians, Colossians and Titus
• Onnele Goiniri (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon + Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude
• Onnele Romei Barera (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
• Onnele Wolwale (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon + Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude
• Sissano (Sandaun Province) – 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon + Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude

ADDITIONAL LANGUAGES with AUDIO RECORDINGS

• Angor (Sandaun Province) – Audio Recording of Mark
• Bouni Sumo (Sandaun Province) – Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude
• Kombio-Yanimoi (East Sepik Province) – Audio Recording of Matthew and Jonah
• Kombio-Wampukuamp (East Sepik Province) – Audio Recording of Matthew and Jonah
• Lote (East New Britain) – Audio Recording of the NT
• Mangseng (West New Britain) – Audio Recording of the NT
• Misima (Milne Bay Province) – Audio Recording of 1&2 Samuel, Ezra, Ruth and parts of Genesis and Psalms
• Patpatar (New Ireland Province) – Audio Recording of the NT
• Ramoaaina (New Ireland Province) – Audio Recording of the NT
• Uni Ramo (Sandaun Province) – Audio Recording of 1,2,3 John and Jude

JESUS FILM

• Mouwase (Gulf Province) – Jesus Film

Love from Ukarumpa,

Johanna and Kurt for Kassia, Lukas and Matthias too!

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Metzger Ministry Update - October 2018 | Doromu-Koki NT

For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. - Hebrews 6:10 (NLT)

Dear friends and family,

Thank you for praying for us as we support Bible Translation here in Papua New Guinea (PNG). God is faithful and His character never changes. We thank Him for the privilege of being able to serve here in PNG. Thanks for the part you play in our family and ministry here. We could not do this without your prayers, giving, and love for us!

(Kassia; Lukas with his Grade 5 teacher; Matthias)

Praise God with us that on September 22nd the Doromu-Koki people of Papua New Guinea received the New Testament in their language for the first time! Pray that they will read and listen to the New Testament in their language and that they will hear from God and grow in their faith.

(Doromu-Koki celebrate the New Testament in their language; Kurt linking the remote radio via fiber optic cable)

Kurt has been busy these last several weeks. He was able to connect a remote radio for our aviation department via fiber optic cable (which will allow the ground staff to hear the pilots while they are flying), track down an issue that was causing devices on the center network to go off-line randomly, and work with other staff to lift, rotate and re-tune our 3.7 meter VSAT dish so that we could connect to another more reliable and cheaper satellite internet provider.

We don’t get letters or packages often; it’s expensive to send things around the world! That means they’re extra-special when they arrive. For anyone interested, here is our address:

Kurt and Johanna Metzger
SIL Box 1 (161)
Ukarumpa EHP 444
Papua New Guinea

Love from rainy Ukarumpa,
Johanna and Kurt for Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias too!

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Metzger Ministry Update - September 2018 | 1,000 and 100

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you[b] from the power of sin that leads to death. - Romans 8:1 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

We have been back in Papua New Guinea (PNG) for over a month and a half and praise the Lord for that. His mercies are new every morning and His faithfulness lasts forever!

{pictures: Kassia recently won a regional HS Touch Rugby tournament with the UIS girls; Matthias love crafts}

On August 12th of this year in Uganda, the Keliko people celebrated the completion of their New Testament! It's the 1,000th New Testament Wycliffe and SIL International have had the privilege to help facilitate. Please join us in praising God for this milestone!

100 years ago in Cameron
Townsend’s diary he committed
his life to translating
the Scripture into local languages
and reaching the
people for Christ. This
commitment later resulted
in the formation of the
Summer Institute of Linguistics,
and then Wycliffe
Bible Translators.

The kids started school on July 18th and will soon finish their first term (there are four terms per school year here). Kassia is in 8th grade, Lukas in 5th, and Matthias in 2nd. They love being back in PNG with their friends and wonderful teachers! God is good and His character never changes.

{pictures: Lukas loves our cat Mittens; Johanna enjoying fellowship with friends from South America here in Ukarumpa}

Please pray for Kurt who has been busy at work. The power supply for the entire Ukarumpa datacenter failed last weekend (September 1st and 2nd) and he had to work long hours trying to figure out what was happening. All of our servers, networking and internet were off! He is still tired this week as he and his co-worker are trying to rebuild and restore everything that broke during the failure. Pray also for Kassia who has a busy schedule this year, that God would hold her hand each day. She is in choir, band (plays clarinet), Soul Purpose band (for the youth at church) and doing sports after school (this term she is playing Touch Rugby). Lukas loves being in his first year of band playing the baritone, pray for him too. Matthias is learning how to read more fluently so please pray as he strengthens both his reading skills in Spanish and English. Johanna is teaching our kids (Mother Tongue Studies MTS/Spanish) about 4 hours a week and helping out at their school one morning in Grade 3.

Love to you from sunny Ukarumpa,
Kurt and Johanna Metzger (for Kassia, Lukas)

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Metzger Ministry Update - August 2018 | Safe Return

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. - Psalm 115:1 (NLT)

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your love, encouragement, giving, and prayers. We would not be able to do our work here in Papua New Guinea (PNG) if it wasn't for your partnership with our ministry! Thanks for praying for us as we traveled back to PNG in July. We have been in Ukarumpa for 3 weeks and are slowly getting settled.

(Our family traveling back to Ukarumpa in July)

The kids started school a couple of weeks ago and on that same day, Kurt went back to work at the Communication and Technical Services Department as the Network Services Manager. He enjoys being back at his job. Johanna has been unpacking and organizing our house as well as making food from scratch (such as granola, yogurt), doing laundry, etc. We thank God that we are back "home" but we ask you to pray as we are still in transition. Please pray also for good health for our family as Kassia sprained her ankle today at school and we have been experiencing some sickness since we returned.

(Enjoying our last days with Johanna’s family in Bogota, Colombia)

We thank God that we have been able to return to our ministry in PNG and we also thank Him for the friends that welcomed us back who have become like family in the last 11 and half years since we first came to this country.

Thank you also for helping us make some wonderful memories while we were in the United States and in Colombia during the last 10 months (and in Australia passing through). We thank the Lord for that special time!

Love from beautiful and sunny Ukarumpa,
Kurt and Johanna for Kassia, Lukas and Matthias too!

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Metzger Ministry Update - July 2018 | Transition

I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, "Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!" - Psalm 11:1 (NLT)

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for praying for us; and through your prayers, carrying us through the last 10 months of home assignment. We have loved being in the United States and in Colombia with many of you and will take many memories with us to Papua New Guinea (PNG).

(With family enjoying Colombia’s run in the World Cup)

This week we read a testimony of a Papua New Guinean Bible translator. Michael said:

I am so grateful that we now have access to many books of the Bible translated into our language. Reading and studying God’s Word in Seimat enables me to understand it so that I can share it with others. My desire is for many more Seimat people to get to know the truth and experience God’s direction and power in their lives so that they can stand firm in Christ. Especially in the presence of some spiritual influence and teachings that sometimes mislead people and they become double-minded or unstable in faith. It is hard for me when that happens. I pray that God’s Word translated into Seimat would change the hearts and thinking of my people.

Yes! This is why we want to return to PNG. The reason we are willing to make the sacrifices of leaving family, going through another major life transition, and facing uncertainties in many areas is to see people understanding God's Word, allowing it to transform their lives, and sharing it with others.

(Celebrating Johanna’s niece’s high school graduation; Early morning in Ukarumpa – photo by Karen Weaver)

Please pray for us as we begin our return trip to PNG this week. Lord willing, we will arrive in Ukarumpa (where our home is) on July 11th.

Love from Bogota,
Kurt and Johanna Metzger

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Metzger Ministry Update - June 2018 | Going Home

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts," says the Lord. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." – Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,
Thank you for praying faithfully for us and for supporting us generously. Johanna is recovering nicely from the hernia surgery she had in May and we are starting to pack and get ready to go back to our home and ministry in Papua New Guinea (PNG) at the beginning of July.

(Matthias and Lukas with Johanna’s parents; Kassia with her cousin Camila)

Last week, on May 31st, Johanna’s 102 year old grandma passed away. She was in excellent health and still lived in her house and could walk with a walker. Johanna’s sister Olga and her family took care of Mamá Socorro for the last 7 years. We were very sad to lose her but thank God we were here the last 5 months of her life and can grieve with Johanna’s family and also celebrate her grandma’s life. Now she is in Heaven with Jesus!

(Johanna’s grandma)

Please continue to pray for us this month as we continue to pack and say goodbyes before we return to PNG. We are excited to return to our ministry there but it is also very sad to leave family and friends here in Colombia.
With love and gratitude from Bogotá,
Kurt and Johanna for Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias too!

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Metzger Ministry Update - May 2018 | Thank you for praying!

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. - Romans 8:26 (NLT)

Dear Friends and Family,
 
Thank you so much for praying for our family, especially for Johanna as she had hernia surgery last Saturday, May 12th. The surgery went really well and the doctor told us after surgery that the hernia was much bigger than he thought it was, so it was good we had that taken care of before we return to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Please pray that Johanna continues to recover.

(Kassia with Thommy; Johanna’s mom with grandkids and great grandson)

We also want to praise God with you and thank Him for his provision as He has allowed us to purchase tickets to return to our ministry in PNG in July. Please pray for us as we start to get ready to return and say many goodbyes here in Colombia.

This coming Sunday, we will be visiting one of the churches that partners with us here in Bogota and sharing with them about our work in PNG. Also, on May 24th, Johanna will be sharing in another partnering church at their Ladies meeting. Pray that God will use us and that we will give Him the glory for all He has done, is doing, and will do!

(With family; Lukas with Thommy)

Thank you for your love and care for our family. Every month we are humbled by your prayers, generosity, encouragement, and support. We know that we would not be able to do our work in PNG if it wasn’t for your faithful partnership with us

Love from rainy Bogota,

Kurt and Johanna (for Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias) Metzger

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{Metzger Ministry Update} April 2018 | 100%

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

Dear friends and family,

We are praising God for His never failing love and constant provision. 100% of our monthly ministry budget has been met! We want to thank the Lord and YOU, our partners, who have faithfully given to help us reach the budget that Wycliffe has set for us to return to Papua New Guinea (PNG), Lord willing, in July. We could not live in PNG and do our work there if it wasn’t for your love for our family and ministry!

100%

100% of our monthly ministry budget has been met!

(Johanna’s family; Kassia with Thommy)

We are thankful for the time we have been able to spend reconnecting with our partnering churches and with friends and family here in Colombia. Thank you for praying for Johanna’s niece’s son, Thomas. He is growing nicely and we praise God for that! In the next couple of months, please pray for God’s wisdom and provision as we search for tickets to return to PNG and as Johanna may need an outpatient medical procedure (which is unavailable to us in PNG) before we leave. Also pray that we would glorify God as a family and would continue sharing about our ministry while we are here.

(Matthias and Lukas with their cousin Angie; Johanna’s niece’s son, Thomas)

Please pray with us for the people of PNG that have been affected by the 7.6 magnitude earthquake that took place in the country at the end of February. Praise God that the following language communities of Papua New Guinea will receive the New Testament in their heart language this year:

Baruga NT
Oro, Province, June 2018

Doromu-Koki NT
Central, Province, September 2018

Kandas (NITI), September 2018

Love and blessings,
Kurt and Johanna for Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias too!

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{Metzger Ministry Update} March 2018 | The Menya Rejoice!

Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. - Psalms 27:13-14 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

We rejoice with the Menya people of Papua New Guinea (PNG) who dedicated their New Testament (NT), after more than 40 years of work, on February 23rd! We also praise God that the following language communities of Papua New Guinea will soon receive the New Testament in their heart language:

Baruga NT
Oro, Province, June 2018

Doromu-Koki NT
Central, Province, September 2018

Kandas (NITI), September 2018

(The Menya celebrate the NT Dedication after more than 40 years of work – photos by North Cady)

Almost There!

Thank you for your love and care for our family. Every month we are humbled by your generosity, encouragement, and support. We know that we would not be able to do our work in Papua New Guinea (PNG) if it wasn’t for your faithful partnership with us! We are encouraged because in the last month some of YOU have decided to partner with us financially on a monthly basis and through one time gifts. Lord willing, we plan to return to our ministry in PNG in July 2018. However, for that to happen, we must have 100% of the monthly financial budget that Wycliffe requires before we will be released to return. Would you like to partner with us? If so, click http://bit.ly/wycliffeusa. We will need $124more per month to reach our ministry budget prior to our return. Please pray with us now that God will raise up new partners for our ministry so that we can return? We know He is able!

We need to increase our ministry income by: $124 per month

While here in Colombia, Kurt has been able to help my (Johanna’s) brother in law, Augusto, who is the main Pastor of the church Vida Bogota. He has been improving and maintaining the church office network and servers.

(Lukas and Kurt; with the kid’s cousins; Johanna and Kassia)

Please pray with us for my niece’s son Thomas. He is two months old and is undergoing medical testing to see why he has not gained much weight. We are so glad to be here during this time with our family!

Blessings,
Johanna for Kurt, Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias too!

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{Metzger Ministry Update} February 2018 | "Treasure Every Moment"

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. – Psalms 46:10

Dear friends and family,

Thank you again and again for persisting in prayer for us. Our home assignment here in Colombia has been challenging and good. We realize we need to treasure every moment because soon we will be back in Papua New Guinea, Lord willing.

(Lukas and Kassia in Lomalinda, Colombia – where Kurt was born and grew up)

It has been a joy for us to visit two different churches here in Bogota, one of which partners with us in ministry. We are looking forward to visiting the first church in Colombia to partner with us, a sister church to the two we have visited.

(Lomalinda Lake at sunset; Lukas and Matthias with cousins and Grandpa Miguel)

Almost There!

We are encouraged because in the last month some of YOU have decided to partner with us financially on a monthly basis and through one time gifts. Lord willing, we plan to return to our ministry in PNG in July 2018. However, for that to happen, we must have 100% of the monthly financial budget that Wycliffe requires before we will be released to return. Would you like to partner with us? If so, click http://bit.ly/wycliffeusa. We will need $220 more per month to reach our ministry budget prior to our return. Would you please pray with us now that God will raise up new partners for our ministry so that we can return? We know He is able!

We need to increase our ministry income by: $220 per month

Please let us know how we can pray for YOU! Also please continue to pray for our kids as they enjoy school and yet continue to adjust to many changes. We know God is faithful and will continue to be.

Love in Him,
Johanna for Kurt, Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias too!

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{Metzger Ministry Update} January 2018 | "Almost there"

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. – Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

Thank you for upholding us through your prayers. We have now been in Colombia for 3 weeks and are starting to feel a bit more settled during our home assignment here. Thanks also for praying for us as we got our shipment ready to send to Papua New Guinea (PNG) when we were SO sick last month. Your prayers were answered and we were able to leave everything ready to send to PNG.

(Back with Johanna’s family after 4 years!; Matthias with Tía (Aunt) Patricia)

The kids started school on January 10th and I (Johanna) also began helping at the kids’ school that day. Please continue to pray as the kids get used to our daily routine which is very different than the one in our home in PNG. Pray that we will be able to learn what God teaches us as we all adjust. He has been SO good to us!

We are excited to return to PNG, Lord willing, in July of this year. Kurt will continue to work at the Communication and Technical Services (CTS) as the network manager and we also look forward to his new part time role with the Aitape West Translation Program. He will help this team in different ways, one of them being exploring new sources of funding for scripture use, literacy, and discipleship ministries.

(Lukas and Kassia enjoy Colombian food)

Almost There!

We are encouraged because in the last month some of YOU have decided to partner with us financially on a monthly basis and through one time gifts. Lord willing, we plan to return to our ministry in PNG in July 2018. However, for that to happen, we must have 100% of the monthly financial budget that Wycliffe requires before we will be released to return. Would you like to partner with us? If so, click http://bit.ly/wycliffeusa. We will need $410 more per month to reach our ministry budget prior to our return. Would you please pray with us now that God will raise up new partners for our ministry so that we can return? We know He is able!

We need to increase our ministry income by: $410 per month

Love,
Johanna for Kurt, Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias too!

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