{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} August 2014 | "We're home!"

For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever! Amen. – Romans 11:36 (NLT)

Dear Loved Ones,

Thank you for praying for us last month as we traveled back to Papua New Guinea (PNG). It is nice to be back and we thank God for an uneventful trip and for a smooth transition back into life here as a family. We have been here over 3 weeks now!

 

Kurt has returned to his job at the Communication and Technical Services Department as the manager for our information and communication technology services here in Ukarumpa. He has been very busy and is excited about the challenges he has at work. Kassia and Lukas started 4th and 1st grade at the end of July and are loving being back at Ukarumpa International School. We are very grateful for the teachers our children have here!

I (Johanna) have been unpacking and organizing our house and also trying to get back to cooking from scratch such as making granola, yogurt, bread, cake, etc. Matthias (who turns 4 on Friday) is still at home with me and I love having his company! He likes to go outside to get spiders, worms, and other insects; and he also picks and collects anything he can find in the bushes.

 

We are very grateful to our Lord for the wonderful furlough we had. The last 8 months in Colombia and the US flew by, but as we look at pictures from that time; we realize what special memories we made with friends and family. God is good all the time! We count it a privilege to be back working in PNG and we know YOU (our partners) are a huge part of us being here. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making it possible for us to serve here so that the Bibleless people in PNG can have the Word of God in their heart language!

In Christ,

Johanna (for Kurt, Kassia, Lukas and Matthias)

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{Metzger Ministry Update} July 2014 | "And we're off!"

“Fear not, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10

Dear Friends and Family,

Please pray for us as we travel (see requests below)! Next Monday we will again be flying to the other side of the world. Can you believe it?

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

• from Dallas, USA to Brisbane, Australia for 2 nights – 7 July
• and finally to Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea and on up to Ukarumpa – 11 July

(Our first flight from Dallas to Brisbane will take about 16 hours)

We thank God for:

• the full furlough we have had
• the time with family and friends
• those that have increased their support and those that have joined our partnership team

We praise God:

• that we are at 100% of the financial support quota required by Wycliffe
• for a house and car we could use while in the US
• for spiritual refreshment while at our home church here in Dallas and at a Women’s retreat

Please pray with us:

• for protection from the darts of the enemy against our family. Satan always attacks when we are in transition!
• that we would praise God and bring him glory in everything we do
• for fun times with friends and family on the last few days here
• for rest for our family as we adjust to a new time
• for endurance as we pack
• for safe, uneventful travels

 

Thank you for partnering with us!

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

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{Metzger Ministry Update} June 2014 | "One Month!"

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. – Proverbs 18:10 (NKJV)

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for so faithfully lifting us up in prayer to our Heavenly Father. Thanks also for your generosity and encouragement! The Lord has been faithful as always and we are now only lacking $38.00 of the monthly budget that we will need before we return to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Now we are less than a month away from leaving the United States and going back to PNG! Lord willing, our departure is set for July 7^th.

We need to increase our support by:      $38 per month

On June 6^th, Kassia finished 3^rd grade and Lukas finished Kindergarten. They are very excited about going back to their school in Ukarumpa! We appreciate your prayers in the next several weeks as we say goodbye to family and friends.

Blessings,

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

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What’s it like to be a missionary teacher?

Bob Noble teaches computing and math to students at a mission school in Papua New Guinea. In some ways, it’s just the same as teaching in the UK: there is still a curriculum and the marking still tends to pile up! But a field trip he took his students on recently shows just how different it can be…

It was no trip to the local museum. Bob and 10 of his students, along with three other adults, travelled to Sikor village, to meet local school pupils and get a glimpse of the local Bible translation project. Travel with the class through the photos:

 

The journey through the mountains took them past beautiful scenery and required four-by-fours and a whole day’s travel.

 

The journey wasn’t quite done when the driving finished: reaching the ladies’ host’s home involved crossing a stream using a log bridge.

 

 

A big part of the trip was spending time with other pupils, those at the local elementary, primary and secondary schools. Bob’s students sang songs, performed dramas and presented the gospel … with a football!

 

The students shared skills, Bob’s class challenging their new friends to games of basketball (six of the students are on the undefeated A team at school!). In turn, they were shown the best way to climb a palm for coconuts and how to break one open to get the water.

 

All in all, not your average day in the classroom!

Teachers and school administrators are needed to support Bible translation and development all over the world. If you’ve got teaching talents, have a look at the vacancies that we are looking to fill and get in touch to find out more.

This story can also be found on http://wycliffe.org.uk/ - May 7th, 2014 by Hannah

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{Metzger Ministry Update} May 2014 | "Almost there!"

Certainly the Lord watches the whole earth carefully and is ready to strengthen those who are devoted to him. – 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NET)

Dear Loved Ones,

We rejoice because the Lord has been faithful as always and we are now only lacking $78.00 of the monthly budget that we will need before we return to Papua New Guinea (PNG). We have bought tickets to go back and will, Lord willing, be departing Dallas on Monday, July 7th.

We need to increase our support by:      $78 per month

We are grateful to God that we have been able to see and visit many of YOU during this home assignment in the United States! Thank you for praying for us last month as we packed the things we will need for the next 4 years in PNG. Our belongings are now in North Carolina and should be on their way to PNG soon.

Thanks again for partnering with us to see Papua New Guinea transformed by God’s Word!

Blessings,

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

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