My Flights and Visit:
It’s been a little while since I have sent an update, so much has happened! I thought I would send one last update before I leave for America. Yep! I leave here the 30th of November. I fly to Brisbane, Australia and spend the night. Due to the way the flights work, I will spend the night and catch a morning flight. Thankfully I have a new friend in Brisbane. Gwenyth came and worked with the La’o language group here a few months ago. She is a lovely lady! She recently found out that her organization approved her to work with us. We are very excited about her arrival after she completes all of her requirements. I found out yesterday that my friends Dan and Shawn who I met in Dallas last year, are in the same neighborhood as Gwenyth! They just had a new baby the 20th. I get to see them… isn’t it fun how God orchestrates little blessings for us when we are not expecting it?!? I’m SO excited to see all of them, and meet the new Miss Kay-Marie Faith! My flight leaves Brisbane on December 1st for LAX, and then on to Orlando. Mom, I’m almost there!! So I leave Australia at 11:00 in the morning and arrive LAX that same morning at 06:30, ha-ha… I arrive before I leave :o] weird, huh? After that, I fly to Ohio to be with Jennie, Robert and the boys and my Vista family and friends And I get to celebrate Christmas with Jennie and co ~ thanks God! 😀 Feety-pajama party here I come!
I leave Ohio on January 1st and arrive back here January 3rd, I think this will be the fastest month of my life. I’m afraid if I blink that it will be over. This past year has gone exceedingly fast!!
Baby Cap Ministry:
I am pretty excited about returning too though. Remember I told you that when Sera and Joni went in for Baby Joni to be born that I got the fun part? Well between me and my mama we have crocheted 40+ baby hats! Mama made most of them. I know that some hats are on their way from America because my niece sent some… and so did a friend from high school. Thanks Katie and Tamie!! AND Joni’s daughter Jacki is having a crocheting party and going to send them too, thanks Jacki!! I received the 3 in your moms Christmas package, and delivered them to babies already!! Here are some of the people that wore a larger hat that I took to Mawan last week, aren’t they a hoot?!
Last week mama and I made our first delivery ~ we delivered over 40 caps!! We had SO much fun. We delivered them in the maternity ward, in the nursery, in the measles ward, in pediatrics … to babies outside with their mamas and big sisters… all babies we saw we were able to bless with a cap.
This mama was carrying her sick baby in a bilum on her back… the strap is on her head and this little guy is in the “waiting room.”
Baby Sharon
Little Sharon is doing well now. She was in the hospital for a week with the measles. I didn’t know about it until she was home. Junis had taken her to visit her family and they haven’t been vaccinated like Mawan has, so there was an outbreak. Thankfully she is better. I got to be in Mawan for church and it was wonderful.
Here is our worship team. Esau is in the red shirt. He is mama’s oldest son. Well actually he is her only son, but she has taken over responsibility for her oldest grandson, Bowen. He is 7. There is a story here and to say the least, it has been difficult for both of them. He is a very nice and well-mannered little boy. My heart goes out to him! He is pictured above with mama and the purple hat…. That everybody had to wear, ha-ha!
Computer course:
No further update on P&K other than they are rebuilding their lives in a new place. I will let you know when they come back and work on the translation again. Keep praying ~ we all need it! One person from the Mum community where P & K live, is Paul. Here are some photos of Paul attending a computer course. In this picture, Paul had just told me that he has been a translator for 24 years! Pretty cool huh?! He did REALLY well in the class.
Joni, Joni Jr, and Louis
I like my days with my sweet friends Joni and Lois. I’m so grateful for them. Please continue to pray for baby Joni. Jim and Joni took her and her family back to their village Saturday. There’s nothing the doctors can do for her. Please pray for God’s will for her life. Being in the village is their way of life, but it is SO different from ours that it’s sometimes painful to accept what is offered here as answers or “help.” The medical help that is offered here is nothing compared to what I am used to. If she had been born in America this might not be an issue. Here? All they can tell us is that she has a congenital heart defect. Nothing further can be determined until an echocardiograph can be done. OK… so after I wrote this Joni was able to go to Kumal and see baby JJ and she said she looks really good. Her color was more pink than blue and her cry was a lot more than a whisper!! Thanks for praying… please continue!
Opportunity to help me out:
Life is getting busy around here ~ and I have an opportunity for you to help me out.
Jim has gone on several patrols which take him away from home for a couple weeks or more at a time. He took our truck last time and it was SO MUCH better than public transportation!! He will make several trips next year, and I am getting involved with things here in town with my national friends and friends at the hospital. So we have decided that it is time for me to buy my own vehicle. The truck makes sense for them, so they plan to buy me out. I have glanced at a little SUV at the dealership. I have only looked as I’ve driven by. I don’t know what the Lord will put me in ~ but what I do know, is that I need to raise additional funds. I hope to find something as good as the truck we got from POC.
It’s nearing the end of the year. Maybe you are looking for that last donation for 2014… Will you please pray about making a one-time donation to my car fund? I would appreciate it VERY much! I’m shooting for $14,000, judging from the price on that SUV. A car isn’t practical on these roads. I will keep you posted as things progress. Both Jim and Joni and I need to raise funds, so we covet your prayers to accomplish our tasks. Thank you!
Praises:
- I’m able to travel to celebrate my mom’s 90th birthday in December! Thanks for the tickets my friend!!!!
- I’ll get to celebrate Christmas with Jennie, Robert and the boys!
- The Madang Baby Hat Ministry (MBHM) has begun! Our first delivery has happened! Thank You Lord!
Prayer requests:
- Safe travels as I leave here the 30th, and with several flight changes in between, come back January 1st
- Baby Sharon and baby Joni’s health
- Funds to come in for a new vehicle and that God will lead me to the right one
Happy Thanksgiving happy to hear you get to be home for the 90th birthday party for your Mom and spending time with children too… God is Good ALL the Time!!!!!!! I pray for you all the time – just cannot believe how I feel like I’ve known you for years and here never have had the opportunity to meet you in person.. Thank you for serving your Master in Heaven and living out the plan He has for you. Miss you!!! Thank you for these updates so I can keep in touch. Love and Prayerskb:)Kathy Brown