Keep on Praying Mantis

I was looking through our photos the other day and saw that Neil had captured this picture when he was translating.  If you look closely, you'll see that Mantis is posed right over a section of scripture.  The New England sense of humor set in and I thought, "We need to study scripture and keep on praying, Mantis,or we'll never see the scripture in the hands of the Mesem.

Our final days in Papua New Guinea were not as I had envisioned them.  I thought of chances to sit with friends, visit places that I have loved and take photos with people who mean a lot to me. I thought of going through the market and enjoying the produce.  I had vague ideas of how to celebrate Tony's graduation, which, though it was from a long distance academy, was no less an accomplishment. He didn't get Pomp and Circumstance, there was not prom, or graduating class, but he is great guy who did a great job finishing his senior year in extraordinary circumstances.

Our time, however, did not end as we thought it would. We knew our truck had been stolen and demolished while we were in the US. We didn't know someone had helped themselves to some of our electrical equipment and personal items.  It was disappointing. We were very thankful that a Lutheran missionary couple offered us use of their vehicle while we finished in PNG.  Neil and Tony went to pick up that vehicle the day after we arrived back to Bobiufa.  While on their way, they were held up at shotgun point.  I knew we were back.  It set the tone for our ending days in PNG.

While we faced a number of challenges, including the theft of Neil's computer from a locked vehicle, and ultimately, lost luggage courtesy of an airline error on the way home. (No, it has not been found, but the contents are invaluable to us).  What was most tragic was the death of Susie Leo's husband.  Leo was a police officer who was a very committed and loving Christian.  Many of you have seen him in our pictures of "Flat Stanley" which was a project for our nieces school class.  While the police world wide are known as ones who protect us, we don't always think of "police gentleness". Yet, Leo was a gentle and loving man who cared deeply for his family.  He also cared deeply for missionary kids who struggled with their faith and he and Susie opened their home to many young people sharing the love of God and a bit of good kaukau with all who came their way.

I was shocked by the difficulty Susie faced in the aftermath of Leo's death. She has five children still living. (She lost her daughter to cancer last year) and she is a dear friend. Her struggles make any hardship we face pale in comparison.  I talked to her via Skype this week.  She's got a place to live until December and then she has to move.  Our friends at GapFill.org are raising funds for her to be able to pay school fees as there is no free universal education in Papua New Guinea.

I share all this to ask you to keep praying. I have no doubt we made it home because of your prayers. I am sure that this New Testament has been prayed through to this point. What we need is to keep praying, praying for the Mesem, praying for the New Testament to be completed without further delays, pray for the finances, pray for the families of the people involved in supporting and praying for all this.  We need to pray for one another. We need to pray for revival. We need to pray that the scriptures are not delayed because of any more because of extraordinary circumstances. Pray for the health, safety and employment of all involved. Pray that daily needs are met. Pray for revival. Or as we say to our friend Mantis, "Keep on Praying".  We're eternally grateful and we know the Mesem will be as well.