{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} December 2013 | "Christmas"

“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

Dear Loved Ones,

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!

(from top: Our family in Bogota [Download our updated prayer card]; Matthias; and Lukas)

God has been faithful and given us the opportunity to visit and share at two churches that are dear to our heart here in Colombia. We visited Confra Salitre where my (Johanna’s) Youth Pastor, from 20 years ago, leads a church that encourages us when we are in PNG. We also had the privilege of attending Confra Unicentro; the church where I grew up and where Kurt and I got married almost 14 years ago! What a joy it was to be in these two special places. We have also been spending time with family!

(from top: Johanna with her 3 sisters and cousin; Kassia at the park in Singapore)

We are starting to get ready to go back to the US in January and are excited to be able to see many of you while we are there! 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 like to partner with us? If so, click here. We will need $634 more per month prior to our return. Would you 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

Christmas Blessings,

Johanna (for Kurt, 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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{Metzger Ministry Update} November 2013 | "Around the World"

And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety. – 2 Corinthians 1:11 (NLT)

Dear Friends and Family,

Please pray for us as we travel (see requests below)! In just under a week we will begin our journey to the other side of the world. A viral sickness has recently been going around in our community and Matthias was sick throwing-up 2 days ago…

Our itinerary will take us (times are local-see http://timezonecheck.com/ for yours):

• from Ukarumpa to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea (PNG) for 1 night – 13 November
• on to Singapore for 3 nights – 14 through 17 November
• then to Frankfurt, Germany for 7 hours – 18 November
• and finally to Colombia for the next 2 months – 18 November through 15 January

(After 3 years in PNG we’ll complete our trip around the world!)

Pray with us while we travel:

• For good health for our family
• For times of rest for all of us, even during the long flights
• For safety and a good travel experience

Blessings,

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

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{Metzger Ministry Update} August 2013 | "HF Email"

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. – Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)

Dear Friends and Family,

What a joy we have in Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith! We’re coming to the close of our second rewarding term here in Papua New Guinea (PNG). We have been stretched to our limits at times during the last 3 years, but God has been faithful. We have been encouraged by you, our partners in ministry. Thank you for standing beside us through your faithful prayers for our ministry and family and through your inspirational financial support.

Johanna returned from a 5-day retreat (Encounter) with the Ukarumpa International School high school students on September 24th. She was selected as a sponsor by the 12th grade girls she has been leading in a weekly Bible study for the last 3 years. It was a privilege for her to be able to attend Encounter and she will miss these girls!

(Johanna with the Ukarumpa high school students at Encounter)

One of the interesting technologies that I (Kurt) support here in PNG is email via HF (high frequency) radio for village translation teams. HF radio transmissions are what you would normally associate with Amateur Radio operators and for voice only. However, HF radio is great for long distance communications with low power requirements, so most translation teams already have an HF radio for voice communications from the village. Pairing the HF radio with an HF modem has made this older technology indispensable for very remote bush locations with limited or no access to in-country telecommunication infrastructure. Village teams are able to interact electronically with the outside world via email—send and receive translation data, correspond with family, friends and partners, or just update a blog or Facebook. We’re not talking full-blown internet access; it’s only email and it’s actually quite slow (about 100 characters per second). Most clients are set up to only accept emails up to 50Kb in size while automatically moving all larger email to a folder on the server, we host here, until they return from the village.

(from top: Danny DeLoach (a translator) using an HF radio connected to solar power; Our HF Email server)

While we are just getting ready to leave PNG this November, we are already planning for our return at the beginning of next July 2014 because staffing here in the network operations center is critical. Currently, there are only two of us maintaining our entire network. We will be starting our home assignment next month, leaving the other network engineer, Andy, by himself. Andy’s family is scheduled to return to the US at the end of June 2014, so you can see the need to be back here on time is pressing. Many of you already know that Wycliffe requires us to be at 100% of our monthly support quota before we will be released to return to the field. Knowing that, and that costs have gone up—travel, insurance, food, education, etc.—we have been working with our finance office in order to estimate what increase in support is necessary for our family. We will need $634 more per month prior to our return. Would you please pray with us now that God will raise up new support for our ministry here so that we can return on time? We know He is able!

(from top: Matthias; Kassia; Lukas and Matthias)

Blessings,

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

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{Metzger Ministry Update} August 2013 | "Multicultural"

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

Dear Loved Ones,

There are people from approximately 20 different countries in the Ukarumpa community where we live. We all work together in several capacities. It is important to learn how to understand our own culture and cultural biases so that we can better love others. At the end of July and beginning of August I (Johanna) had the privilege of taking part of a Multicultural Course taught here in Ukarumpa. Two years ago I attended this course and learned much from it. This time around, I was able to be a part of a team that facilitated the course.

We will be on home assignment (furlough) from Mid-November of this year, 2013 through June of 2014. We are planning to arrive in Colombia in the middle of November and then travel to Dallas in January of 2014. For Matthias (our youngest son who is turning 3 this month), it will be his first time in Colombia! Our home assignment will be a time to visit with YOU, our partners. We look forward to connecting with many of you and catching up on your lives!

Kurt and I have been sick the last couple of weeks. Thankfully, the kids are doing great! It looks like Kurt has dengue, a virus (acquired through a mosquito bite) that debilitates and tires. Please pray for our family as we deal with this sickness and try to get ready for furlough!

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

Blessings,

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

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