Metzger Ministry Update–February 2019 | Weariness and Rest

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” - Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

Thank you for your continued encouragement for our family and ministry as we live and serve in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

This year is going quickly and we have been busy. Kurt has recently been working with PNG DataCo (the operators of the national telecom transmission network) to bring fiber optic cable from the nearby town of Kainantu to Aiyura valley. Our datacentre here in Ukarumpa will host the distribution hub for internet services to other valley communities and entities, such as Aiyura National High School, a national agricultural institute and the local level government offices.

(Kurt and I celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary; Lukas)

I (Johanna) have been helping in Grade 2 (Matthias’s class) two times a week which I very much enjoy. Lukas continues to like playing the baritone and he is learning to give speeches in Grade 5. Kassia, Grade 8, is very busy in school and this term she is playing soccer and loving it!
Please let us know how we can pray for YOU. If you would, please specifically pray for the health of our family. We’ve had lots of colds in the last couple of months. I have shingles and my immune system is weak. However we are very thankful for our clinic here and the doctor that prescribed antivirals that are already working.

(Matthias opening a coconut; Kassia with a frog)

Praise God that Kurt's father, Ron, and step-mom, Jane, were able to visit, encourage and distribute New Testaments to the Carapana community of South Eastern Colombia, last week. The Ron and Lois Metzger family worked with the Carapana for many years in a translation project and have not been able to visit since 1993 because of subversives in the area.

(Kassia scores a goal over the keeper; Kurt's family in one of the Carapana communities in Colombia)

Love from sunny and dry Ukarumpa,
Johanna for Kurt, 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} October 2014 | "Please pray: Heart Attack!"

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Romans 15:13 (NIV)

Dear Loved Ones,

It is with very sad hearts that we write to you tonight. By the time you read this or shortly after, Johanna will be on her way back to Colombia to be with her family. On Monday morning (Colombia time) Johanna’s father, Miguel, dropped her mom off at a hair salon and started to feel chest pains so decided to drive himself to the nearest hospital. He was immediately admitted and has been in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) since. He has been very tired and sedated as the doctors said that he not only suffered one massive heart attack but two! They were quite amazed that he survived. The doctors performed a cardiac catheterization and determined that there are three blocked arteries and they will most likely need to perform open heart surgery. His body and heart are still very weak so the doctors and Johanna’s family have asked her to come “home.”

(Johanna’s father, Miguel, with Matthias his youngest grandson – Jan 2014)

Please pray with us:

• for Johanna’s travels; it will take her nearly 48 hours to arrive in Bogota after she leaves Ukarumpa.
• for wisdom for the doctors to know the best way to proceed and success in any procedure, if that is God’s will.
• that God will be glorified!
• for Johanna’s plans to return to us here in Papua New Guinea; we haven’t even thought that far ahead!

Praise God with us:

• for the miracle of Johanna’s dad being able to get himself to the hospital.
• that we were able to secure travel for Johanna all the way back to Colombia just a day in advance.
• that Johanna’s dad has regained some of his strength.

Trusting in Christ,

Kurt (for Johanna, Kassia, Lukas and Matthias)

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{Metzger Ministry Update} January 2014 | "Remember to Pray"

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:5 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

We have been back in the US for almost two weeks now! Thank you so very much for remembering to pray for us while we were traveling. Although the journey was long (beginning nearly two months ago in Papua New Guinea), everything has worked out well. We almost missed our connection in Florida due to very long lines in the Customs area, but our connecting flight was delayed just long enough for us to run to the gate!

We’re settling in here, in Texas, for our home assignment and Kassia and Lukas have finished their first full week of school in the Desoto ISD. If you do remember, please continue to pray for their transition into a culture that is still “foreign” to them.

In the next week or so, we are planning to mail out an updated prayer card, but we’re not sure that we have your updated contact information. If you have not received any recent mailings from us and would like to have the new prayer card, please send us your current mailing address by return email. You can also download our updated prayer card if you would like it in an electronic format.

(Johanna’s family in Bogota)

Lord willing, we plan to return to our ministry in PNG in July 2014. However, for that to happen, we must have 100% of the monthly financial support that Wycliffe requires before we will be released to return. Would you or someone you know like to partner with us? If so, click here. We will need $634 more per month prior to our return. Please pray with us now that God will raise up new support for our ministry so that we can return on time? We know He is able!

We need to increase our support by:      $634 per month

Blessings,

Kurt (for Johanna, Kassia, Lukas and Matthias too!)

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{Metzger Ministry Update} November 2013 | "Thanksgiving"

Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. – Psalm 100:4 (NLT)

Dear Friends and Family,

We’re in Colombia! Thank you so much for praying for us while we traveled. Our travels went remarkably well for the entirety of the trip with the exception of forgetting to put a diaper on Matthias while he slept during our layover in Frankfurt. Thank you Lord!

(Almost there! Our family during our layover in Frankfurt, Germany)

Thanks again,

Kurt (for Johanna, Kassia, Lukas and Matthias too!)

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In Colombia!

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8 NIV)
Dear Loved ones,
Thank you so much to those of you who prayed for our trip from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to Colombia. We have been here for five days and are now just getting over the jet lag from crossing 10 time zones. Our trip went mostly as planned except for when we got to the airline counter in Cairns Australia I remembered that I had forgotten Luke’s paper ticket for an infant in PNG. We were able to re-purchase his ticket in Sydney and the rest of the trip went very well but as you can imagine, it was very long.

Our return trip from PNG (Start – Ukarumpa PNG – Port Moresby PNG – Cairns Australia – Sydney Australia – Los Angeles USA – Miami USA – Bogota Colombia – Finish)
In the few days we have been here in Colombia, Johanna and I (Kurt) have already had doctor’s appointments to check Johanna’s eye sight and my knee that I injured more than a year ago in PNG. I had an MRI performed and the results indicate that I have a complete tear of my ACL and a small tear in the meniscus. This next week we will be traveling to Orlando for a re-entry program with Wycliffe. When we get back we will schedule a date for my knee surgery.

Johanna with her two of her sisters (Olga & Patricia); Luke with Johanna’s mom (Fanny)… they just met for the first time!
Please pray with us:

• For our family as Johanna and I travel to and from Orlando.
• For the plans and successful completion of my knee surgery.
• For our family to be able to develop a routine during this time of many transitions.

Praise God with us:

• For our safe travels to Colombia.
• For being reunited with Johanna’s family.

Blessings,
Kurt (for Johanna, Kassia, and Luke too!)

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Update from the Metzger's – October 2009

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  (Joshua 1:9 NASB)
Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you for your prayers for Kurt as he served as the Director’s Assistant for Security (DAS). Things have been quite calm during the three weeks he has been serving in this position and we can definitely sense that you have been praying for us. Kurt will be done serving as the DAS tomorrow, October 20^th. Please continue to pray so that he will finish the job well. You can also pray for peace in the valley where Ukarumpa is located as there continues to be tribal fighting.
We also want to thank you for your faithful contribution to the work of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea (PNG). We have been serving here in Ukarumpa for almost 3 years now. Kurt has enjoyed his work assisting translators and support workers in the Communication and Technical Services Department. His time at the Helpdesk and Network Services has been a blessing to him. We have both enjoyed working with the youth group here in Ukarumpa for the last two and a half years. I (Johanna) thank God for the opportunity he has given me to help at the Primary School and put my teaching abilities into practice during our time here.

In November we will be taking our first home assignment. November 5^th we will leave for Colombia and will be there until January. From there we will be traveling on to Dallas, TX. Part of our return assignment will be to visit churches, friends and family. Please pray for us as we pack up our house and get it ready for our renters. Two single ladies will be staying here while we are gone.
Our home assignment is a time to reconnect with our home culture, take care of our medical needs, and visit our partners—YOU. We will have vacation time included during this time, but that is not the primary goal. While we are in the US, Kurt will do some IT training and I will take some continuing education courses to keep my teaching certification up to date. Although the cost of living in PNG has risen somewhat over the past year, it still is not as expensive as living in the US. Many missionaries find their home assignment time especially stretching on the financial side. We’ll need your prayers just as much as ever, especially as we travel and share what God has been doing in PNG. THANK YOU so very much to all of you who have stood with us in prayer and financially.
Please also pray for our long trip back to the other side of the world! We will leave Australia on November 8^th and will travel from Cairns to Sydney (4 hour flight) and then on from Sydney to Los Angeles (14 hour flight). We will spend one night in Los Angeles and fly the next morning to Miami (5 hour flight) and on from Miami to Bogota (3 and a half hours). We should be arriving in Bogota on Monday, November 9^th at 8pm. It will be a challenge to travel with a 4 year old and a very active 1 and a half year old.

We look forward to visiting with you while we are in Colombia and the United States.
Blessings,
Johanna (for Kurt, Kassia, and Luke too!)

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