Nine weeks and 52 years

It's very late at night or very early in the morning, depending on your time zone. Either way, April 21 is Neil's birthday. His card was accidentally left on the vendor's belt at Stop in Shop while I did a "self check out" (to get rid of coins) but at least I remembered his cake. Today he is 52. If you know the story of the last four years, you know that today is a miracle. Today is a gift from Jesus to me and Tony and all who know my husband.

Of course, being a woman, it reminds me that in another five months, I will join him with this elite number of years given by our Lord. Anyone who has followed what God has so gracefully preserved us through, will celebrate that we are alive, walking, and still in ministry. This is evidence of God's grace, favor and of the faithfulness of so many of His people. Yes, God wants the Mesem to have His Word.

It is nine weeks till, Lord willing, we plan to depart for Papua. We are still waiting on our visas and still waiting on our housing and Tony's school situation. We are working daily on the New Testament here and in another week I leave to begin work on the "Fire Bible" in Melanesian Pidgin, a translation of the New Testament in the trade language that includes explanatory notes. It's a three year project, and I am thankful to be able to be involved in something that impacts so many lives in Papua New Guinea.

There are many unknowns tonight. We don't know so much of what awaits us when we go back. This we know: God is waiting. His Word is alive. His Spirit is working. We know the Mesem want to have the scripture and are hungry to receive it. We know God called us. Dear friends, in an age when human reason has so often supplanted faith, love and hope, we ask you to remain steadfast with us in prayer that Jesus' Name is made great among the Mesem and that His glory is revealed here in an ever increasing way that leads to revival.