{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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Merry Christmas from the Metzgers

For unto us a Child is born,

Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called

Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

{Isaiah 9:6-7}

Dear Loved Ones,

We would like to wish you a Christmas full of wonder and excitement as we celebrate the birth of our Savior! We pray for each of you this passage from Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope."

Thank you for praying for our family as we are all feeling much better.

Come Lord Jesus,

Kurt for Johanna, Kassia, Lukas & Matthias too!

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{Metzger Ministry Update} December 2017 | "Rejoice with the Kasua"

“Don’t be dejected and sad. For the joy of the Lord is your strength” – Nehemiah 8: 10b (NLT)

Dear Friends and Family,

Celebrate with us! The Kasua people in the Western Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG) now have the New Testament in their own language!

(Kasua New Testament Celebration in Papua New Guinea at the end of October)

Thank you for loving our family so tangibly; your faithfulness is a joy and encouragement to us! God is faithful and his love endures forever. He never changes even though our circumstances might change constantly. Thank you for praying for us when we serve in PNG and while we are here during our Home Assignment. Since we arrived in the United States (US) two months ago, we have had the privilege of formally speaking on four different occasions, two of those at our partnering churches; and we have also shared informally with many of you. Thank you for listening to our story!

(Kassia; Matthias likes bread!)

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 here. We will need $826 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: $826 per month

Our time here in the US is coming to an end and, Lord willing, we will travel to Colombia at the end of this month. The kids will start school in Bogota at the beginning of January and Johanna will begin teaching at the school our children will attend. Thanks for praying as we transition. We are looking forward to meeting Johanna’s niece’s baby (Tommy) who was born yesterday!

(Lukas with his favorite animal at the Fort Worth Zoo; Baby Tommy – one day old!)

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

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