What's Next - March 2019 Ministry Update

Thirty years ago, my family and I moved to Indonesia and my life was forever changed. During the years we lived here in Sentani, when I was 10 to 18 years old, God built into me a love for living in a multicultural and cross cultural setting. Many of the skills and talents that I started to master in those years are foundational in my current ministry to missionary kids. Since returning to Sentani and Hillcrest in August 2018, I've enjoyed watching again how God is continuing to use the traits and skills He built into me all of those years ago.

Thank you so much for your prayers for me as I've pondered the next steps in this ministry and life of serving missionary kids and their families through education. At times I feel alone in this journey, but I know that I have many fellow sojourners who are lifting me up and supporting me and I can see, in little and big ways, how God walks with me. So, I'm excited to share that God is leading me to stay here in Sentani and continue to serve as a teacher at Hillcrest in Indonesia. Life is often harder due to the lack of some conveniences, but I feel at home and I can clearly see how my role of teaching the children of the Christian workers furthers Bible translation.

The four-hour hike to this small village while on OE was both beautiful and exhausting.

March has been a BUSY month. First, the high school students left and most of their teachers went on a 10-night trip called Outdoor Education, or OE. We traveled to Nalca to serve the people by doing some repairs on their airstrip, teach kids about the Bible, and showing the Jesus film. We also learned more about them, their language, and their culture through a 4 hour hike to a smaller village, participating in two traditional pig roasts, and asking anthropological questions. My small group worked really well together and showed growth throughout the trip. I’m proud of them!

Then, while we were gone, Sentani got lots of rain, and three days after we got back on Saturday night there was a LOT of rain (almost 6 inches). This triggered landslides and flash floods that ripped through neighborhoods sending people running up the hill to our school for safety and killing around 100 people. Both our gym and indoor soccer court were filled all day with refugees who had lost their homes. At night, the population increased with those that were afraid to sleep at home as the rains (20 inches over 5 nights) and landslides continued. The school staff and teachers were stretched thin as we worked to care for, feed, and serve around a 1000 people until responsibility could be effectively passed on to the local church and government. Please continue to pray for the displaced--including co-workers whose homes are severely affected--and all of us as we adjust to a new normal and process all that has happened. Thank you for the prayers and encouraging words you have already given.

The indoor soccer court is where I spent a lot of time serving refugees.

May the peace of God be with you on that side of the world and with us on this side of the world as we continue to serve even amidst hardships. I am so thankful for His presence in my life!