{Metzger Ministry Update} March 2015 | "Clarity of Purpose"

For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. – Philippians 1:29 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

What a joy we have in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! Again and again, 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! Please let us know how we can pray for YOU.

(The Support Department Managers Conference Kurt participated in)

As the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) Services Manager, Kurt was involved in a Support Department Managers Conference during the last two weeks of February. The overarching purpose of the Conference was to provide clarity of purpose to Support Department Managers as our PNG Branch moves forward into the future.

(Johanna teaching Kindergarten at Ukarumpa International School)

I (Johanna) have been teaching Kindergarten 3 mornings a week since January. This new role has required quite a change in our family routine, but it has also been very rewarding and exciting. There are 12 students from 8 different countries (Australia, Canada, England, the Philippines, Holland, Papua New Guinea, Costa Rica, and the United States) in my class. I count it a joy and privilege to be able to teach at Ukarumpa International School! Please pray that God will fill me with his grace and strength until June when the school year ends.

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(from left: Kassia-Christmas 2014; Lukas’ 7th birthday-January 2015; Matthias with his frog)

Love from Papua New Guinea,

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

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{Metzger Ministry Update} March 2014 | "New Partners"

For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.” Hebrews 13:5b (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

Thank YOU for continuing to so faithfully pray and encourage our family while we are on home assignment here in the United States!

We had the privilege of speaking at two of our main partnering churches this month. At the beginning of March we visited the Chicago area where we shared at Western Springs Baptist Church. What a joy it was to be there! Last weekend we spoke at Faith Bible Church (our home church). At both places we were able to thank many of you for the very vital part you have in our ministry. We could not do what we are doing if it wasn’t for YOU!

Lord willing, we plan to return to our ministry in Papua New Guinea in July 2014. We praise God that our new passports were granted and now are on their way to the Papua New Guinean Embassy in Washington so that we can apply for our new visas.  We are also thankful to the Lord that our monthly financial support has increased! Please pray that our visas will be granted and returned to us in a timely manner.

• 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 $302 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:      $302 per month

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

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{Metzger Ministry Update} April 2013 | "Jars of clay"

Dear Loved Ones,

Over 300 SIL/Papua New Guinea (PNG) Branch members got together here in Ukarumpa during the last week of March for our Biennial Conference. A wonderful British Pastor led us in devotions for an hour each day. The theme of his talks is the verse on the top of this update, 2 Corinthians 4:7. We elected new leadership for the next two years for our PNG Branch and discussed changes in streamlining our governance. Please pray for our Branch as we follow God’s leading in implementing changes.

We were also blessed to hear project updates from several language teams and regional directors. One such report was from the Seimat translation team who have just received the printed copies of their New Testament and are preparing for the dedication in the coming months. A Seimat (language info & map) translator related to us: “Reading the Bible in any English translation is like swimming on top of the ocean but when I read it in my own Seimat language it is like putting on a diving mask and swimming down under the surface and discovering the ocean and floor below.” What an amazing gift to have the Word of God in one’s own heart language!

Kassia and Lukas were able to attend a Vacation Bible School program called KidZone while Kurt and I (Johanna) participated in the conference. They enjoyed it! Matthias was at Daycare during the mornings of conference.

Thank YOU for your prayers for the SIL/PNG Branch and for our family and ministry here in PNG!

Blessings,

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

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-- February 2010 Update --

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)
Dear friends and family,
We have been in Dallas, TX for almost a month now. We had a blessed time during our two months in Colombia visiting family and also our supporting church there. It was sad to say goodbye to family but my (Johanna’s) parents came to the US with us. They are living about 30 minutes from us and we still see them often.
During our time of home assignment here in Dallas we plan to do several things. Mainly we will be visiting and reporting back to our partnering churches and to those individuals who have been involved in our ministry. In March we have two missions’ conferences that we will be attending. The first one will take place at Faith Bible Church (our home church) in Desoto, TX. The second mission’s conference will be at Western Springs Baptist Church. We look forward to visiting friends from these churches and sharing about what God has been doing in our lives during the last three years while we have been on the field.

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
Thank you for praying for Kurt’s knee. He was able to have about 15 sessions of physical therapy while we were in Colombia and now he is doing his exercises here at home. Please pray that he will be diligent in doing his exercises daily so that his knee will continue to heal.

Kassia and Lucas are doing great. They were able to learn quite a bit of Spanish during our time in Colombia. Kassia is enrolled in bilingual pre-K here in Desoto and attends 3 hours each morning. She enjoys having a teacher and friends that speak in Spanish. Lucas just turned two at the end of January and he is now speaking full sentences in Spanish. He keeps us busy and we admire his ability to speak so clearly! I guess he has a good teacher around (his sister).

There are many reasons to celebrate this year in Papua New Guinea. Just this January the Lote New Testament was dedicated and there are 10 other New Testament dedications planned. A shipping container has arrived in Ukarumpa and it contains boxes of 6 New Testament translations for the Kalam, Miniafia (dedication in February), Ama (dedication in April), Mandara (dedication in May), Wantoat and Haruai (dedication later this year) people groups!

Lote New Testament Dedication
Another reason we have to celebrate is that we are expecting baby #3. I have had my first ultrasound and I am 14 weeks along! I was able to see the baby’s heart beat and his/her head, body, legs, and arms. It was pretty awesome. We praise God for this pregnancy.
We are planning on returning to PNG in November of this year after the baby has been born and we have his/her US passport and PNG visa. We estimate it will take at least two months after the baby is born to get all the paperwork done. Due to the fact that we are having another child and the increase in the cost of life in general, our quota for PNG has changed. In order to return to PNG, we will also need to raise our support by approximately $450 per month. Wycliffe will not release us to return to the field until we have met our support quota.
Thank you for your faithfulness in praying for us and caring for our family. We look forward to seeing many of you during our time here in the US.
Blessings,
Johanna (for Kurt, Kassia, Lucas, and the baby)

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