Full Funding, Tickets Booked!

Thank you to all those who have partnered with us in the work of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea. We have reached full funding! Thank you also to all those who have prayed for full funding for our family. We feel blessed and encouraged.

We have booked our flights to leave Canada on February 2nd and arrive in Ukarumpa on February 5th. We are so excited about returning to our work in PNG!

We are so encouraged in the work knowing that so many people have joined, in partnership with our family, to serve Bible translation in PNG.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song."

Psalm 95:1-2

Fundraising Update

The 7 months that we have been in Canada have gone by quickly and January is coming soon! It is still our goal to leave for Papua New Guinea in mid January. 

Thank you to all those who have invited us in to your Bible studies, homes and churches in order to share about our work. We are thankful for all of the partners that have come alongside us to support Bible translation through our family. However, we are still in need of $950 per month. 

If you would like to help us reach full funding and get our family back to PNG by January we would love to hear from you.

We again are humbled by the support we have received and have learned about patience and trusting in God's timing over these past months.

"For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God. As the Scriptures say

“People are like grass;

their beauty is like a flower in the field.
The grass withers and the flower fades.

But the word of the Lord remains forever.”"

1 Peter 1:23-25a quoting from Isaiah 40:6-8 NLT

Visas Are Approved!

Our PNG work visa's are approved! We are thankful to the Lord for blessing the renewal process so quickly. At first we were a little worried that we wouldn't make it before the Christmas break but have plenty of time to spare.

Now our only hurdle before returning to PNG in January is our monthly partnership level. Currently we are at 82%. Please pray for new partners to join us and that it would all come together in God's timing.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Ephesians 2:8-9

Call to Prayer: Translation Work Time

It is an exciting time for the Gwahatike translation programs. Starting this Thursday some of the teams that are part of the Gwahatike cluster are coming together for a dedicated work time. Often times it is difficult to get the translation work done while living in a remote village. There is no electricity, running water and there are many responsibilities that each of the translation team members have while living in their home village. The teams can get a lot of work done through focused work time at a place near or in town. Coming together as like-minded workers from different language groups can also be a real encouragement for everyone involved.

This Thursday one of these two week work times is starting near the town of Madang. Please pray for the teams as they travel to town for safety on the roads (and boats) as they go. Also pray for the time itself. It will be for two weeks.

 

 

Part of the translation teams that will be attending the upcoming work sessions

"From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."

Ephesians 4:16

Fundraising Blitz!

We have taken care of the major tasks we had for this furlough: Jon took a course at CANIL to prepare for the new assignment. We took care of most of the medical attention our little family needed. We had a beautiful little boy, Max. We planned for, purchased and shipped items to Papua New Guinea that we were in need of for the coming work term. And a week of vacation with family, which we very much enjoyed.

When you combine these things with managing the Gwahatike translation programs for a couple hours per day we have been quite busy. We've tried to raise funds but with the summer holidays here in Canada and our busyness, it hasn't been our main focus. Now it is time to focus on partnership development.

Because the organization we work with in PNG runs in US dollars all of our funds need to be converted from CAD to USD. With the current exchange rate, that is not helpful. So we find ourselves having to raise 25% of our current budget in committed monthly donations before we are able to return to PNG.

We really want to get back to PNG and help the Gwahatike, Madi, Muratayak, Domung and Asaro'o translation teams be successful. Could you help to enable us to return to the field and continue the work we have been called to? We would like to leave for PNG in mid-January to begin another 2 year term in PNG and so are trusting the Lord to provide monthly partnerships in the next month or two so that we can book our flights within a comfortable time frame. We are not allowed to book flights until we are 100% supported.

We would love to be able to share with you about the work we are involved in. Reach out to us with any question you might have. Or if you would be interested in hosting a presentation with your friends or maybe with your Bible study or small group, we would be very interested to hear from you. The best way to initially contact us is by email: jon_jagt@wycliffe.ca

 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7

Road Trip

We were recently blessed with a wonderful vacation to Myrtle Beach with Jon’s immediate family. It was so nice to be with his family for a whole week, especially Jon’s younger sister Nikki who we hadn’t seen yet. 

 

 

 

On our way to the Beach we made a couple of stops to break up the drive. One of our stops was to visit with some friends that also work in PNG and are on furlough in Boone, North Carolina. It was really nice to catch up with them. The drive through the mountains was so beautiful. What a majestic creator we serve! 

Another stop was in Waxhaw, North Carolina. We visited the JAARS center there and dropped of our shipment to be sent to PNG and met up with some more friends who we also met in PNG. Click here to learn about how JAARS serves the missions community.

Now that we are back in Burlington, we are ready to focus mainly on raising the remainder of our support in order for us to return to our assignments in PNG. We have about 25% of our monthly budget yet to raise. We would love to connect with anyone who is interested in supporting us both prayerfully and financially. If this is something that God has put on your heart, you can contact us by email or phone. We love sharing how the Lord is working in Papua New Guinea through Bible transation!

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is

your name in all the earth!”

Psalm 8:9

What Have We Been Doing In Canada?

We have been back in Canada for 2 months now and it is starting to feel normal. It didn’t take Jon and I very long but the girls took longer to adjust. They didn’t remember anything or anyone except people that we had Skyped with while we were away. People kept asking if they remembered them and they would always say no and shy away. We think they have adjusted now though. 

The girls enjoying biking for the first time on smooth pavement!

Back in June we had a presentation for anyone who was interested in what we had been doing in the last 2 1/2 years. It was so enjoyable to be able to see so many people who have been praying for us and supporting us while we were gone and still now while we are at home. 

Jon has been diligently keeping up with the work in PNG as much as he is able from abroad. He has also been really busy with school work. 

I (Candace) have been busy getting things ready for our next term in PNG. Yes we don’t leave until next January but it takes a lot of effort to organize everything. We need clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc. for all 5 (including the new baby) for the next 2 years. We hope to send a shipment to PNG this time instead of trying to cram it all into suitcases. In September we are planning on taking a trip down to Waxhaw North Carolina to visit JAARS, which is where our stuff can be put on a boat and sent to PNG.

Clara is anticipating going to school in September and cannot wait to ride on a real school bus! She will be attending kindergarten. 

It has been great enjoying the parks and splash pads just a short walk away

We are expecting our new baby to come in about a week from now so really anytime. We cannot wait to have a new little one in the house but are a bit nervous to be adding another child into the mix. Please pray for a good delivery and a smooth transition for all of us. 

Taken at the one of the lock's in northern Ontario

This past weekend we had the privilege of hosting some really good friends of ours. We met them in PNG but have not seen them since last August when they went on furlough. We had a really great time catching up and showing them a bit of Canada! 

Enjoying some cool water on a hot Niagara Falls day trip

In the fall we would like to start doing a few presentations again. If you would like to have us over to visit your family, Bible study or friend group let us know and we can arrange a time to make that happen. We always need more prayer support and will be needing some more monthly financial donors as well as one time gifts to cover our shipment and flight costs. We realize the summer is a busy time for everyone but if you were not able to attend our presentation in June and would like to hear about the last couple of years and see some pictures we would also love to talk with you.

"There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who

enters God's rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his."

Hebrews 4:9-10

Basic Computing Workshop and Bongu Beach

Before leaving for furlough I had the chance to go to Madang to teach a basic computer course to some of the Gwahatike team. It was a great time of learning and fellowship.

One of the teaching sessions. Don't forget to make eye contact Jon :)

More teaching

I am very thankful for the chance to build relationship with some of the guys before having to leave on an 8 month furlough.

Group shot on the last day of the one week workshop

While in Madang I also had the chance to travel to Bongu. This is the village we stayed in for 5 weeks during our orientation course 2 years ago.

Greeting on Bongu beach. My village waspapa, Gitang, is the one in the yellow shirt on the shoreline

Not a bad view

Back in Canada Safe and Sound

We just wanted to post something to say that we have made it back to Canada safe and sound. Six plane rides are now behind us and we are settling in to life in Canada again. One thing we have noticed is all of the choices! It seems that life is more simple in Papua New Guinea yet more complex in other ways...

Thank you all for praying for safe travels and our first weeks back in Canada. We have felt the prayers.

We would love to have the chance to share with you about our life and ministry in PNG. A great way to do this is coming up on June 11th at 7:30 pm at the Rehoboth Canadian Reformed Church on Highway 5. We will have some worship, a presentation and some time for fellowship. We would love to see you there. Check out the Facebook event: click here

The girls enjoying dessert with their cousins. It's cold here!

"In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."

Psalm 4:8

Getting Ready to Leave PNG

We are now well underway with getting ready to leave PNG. While we are packing up our belongings here to put into storage in our new house we have been thinking over the past 2 years. PNG is just starting to feel like home. We have lots of relationships with both expats and Papua New Guineans. We just recently purchased a house that we will move into when we come back.

The first 6 months or so living here were a bit of an emotional roller coaster. We missed family and friends from Canada so much. Everything was so different here. We tried to learn Pidgin but weren't that successful at it. Cooking was a big challenge for me. I love to cook but because all the ingredients were different, I found myself learning to cook all over again. Attending POC was a turning point for us. We learned a lot about the PNG culture, learned how to speak Pidgin fairly well and developed great relationships. It was hard, don’t get me wrong, but we definitely do not regret doing it.

Getting involved with the Gwahatike language programs has been such a blessing to us too. Getting to know national translators and hearing their stories of their dedication to translating the Word has been an inspiration for us. So much so that when we return Jon will no longer be working at the software department here on center but will be working with the Gwahatike men.

We have dealt with some hardships in the last 2 years as well. We still struggle sometimes to understand Papua New Guinean culture. We pray for grace in those situations. Also in the last year we have had expat friends who have had to leave for multiple reasons. Some more serious than others. It is hard to see friends suffering and we continue to pray for them.

Despite hardships, we feel the Lord calling us back to PNG after our furlough. It is a good feeling to be excited to return in about 8 months. We are looking forward to seeing our supporters, church family, friends and family back in Canada. We will be leaving PNG on May 6 and arrive in Canada on May 12.

Prayer points:

• Jon will be leaving for Madang to teach a one week basic computer workshop. Pray that all the logistics work out and that the Gwahatike team learns quickly.
• Candace has had trouble sleeping lately. Pray for good rest.
• Pray that we can get everything packed up in time.

"Therefore since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

Branch Conference 2015

Every two years SIL-PNG holds a conference at Ukarumpa (where we live) with all of the workers in PNG attending.  The purpose is to unite and encourage all of the members of SIL-PNG as well as to deal with any "official business" that is required.  This was our second branch conference and it was a blessing to be a part of it.  It was a joy to hear updates from all over the country of how God is blessing the Bible translation and literacy work in PNG.  God is truly at work in transforming peoples lives through the clear understanding of His Word.

Six full days is a significant chunk of time to set aside our daily work, but the benefits far outweigh this sacrifice.

The conference floor during morning worship

Near the end of the last day, we had a powerful time of prayer

Thank you God for this time of refreshment.

Now... back to work.  :)

Gwahatike Cluster and The Seed Company

We are very excited to share with you that the Gwahatike Cluster Translation and Literacy Program has partnered with The Seed Company.  This partnership is going to open many doors for the project and we are excited how God uses this team for His glory over the coming years.

Gwahatike Cluster

Asaro'o Program

Domung Program

Madi Program

Muratayak Program

Be sure to check out the project profiles on each page for more information on each of the programs.

"Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain."

Psalm 127:1

Alphabet Development Workshop in Bongu

When we first arrived in PNG we attended a course called POC (Pacific Orientation Course).  This course included a five week village stay in a remote village.  We were sent to Bongu and very much enjoyed our time there.  While we were in the village we heard a lot of interest from the people there to start there own translation project, but they did not know where to start.

It has been cool to see how God has orchestrated it that we were able to be the link between Bongu and the Gwahatike men.  For two weeks in January, Martin, Nafian and Roman (Gwahatike men) went to Bongu to run an Alphabet Development Workshop (ADW).  This workshop helps the language community to analyze their own language and communally agree on an appropriate alphabet.  This is one of the first steps that needs to be done before starting any translation project.

Interestingly enough, the name of the village has changed now to Boŋu

The workshop included developing and printing some books in the local language.
Computer and printers can be a challenge in the village because of the need
for electricity.  The team used a generator.

A lot of the learning occurs outside of the formal class time, during
breaks or meal time or around the campfire at night

The workshop participants in front of the church in Bongu

Faces of Bible Translation - Noel Diru

We would love to share with you about Noel Diru, one of the lead translators in the Gwahatike multilanguage Bible translation program. Noel works with a team of men in the Domung community to translate the Bible into the Domung language. He is a Gwahatike man and the Gwahatike language area is about a 9 hour hike through the jungle from the Domung area. This makes balancing home life and ministry work a challenge. The Domung language is completely different from the Gwahatike language and so when Noel goes to his ministry area, he does not speak their mother tongue. Despite all of these barriers and challenges Noel keeps going in this ministry because he has a deep belief in the importance of this work.

Nosingke (left), a co-translator from the Domung, working with Noel (right)

Noel believes that people, and more broadly, communities that understand the Word of God clearly will be transformed into the likeness of Christ and this is his primary motivation and reason behind his commitment. He has witnessed this transformation happen in his home community (the Gwahatike language) and wants to see this happen elsewhere. Check out this video to meet Noel face to face as he shares about his life and ministry and the journey that brought him to ministering to the Domung community.

Click here and enter the access code "translator" to view the video.

Noel is currently attending a one month workshop that centers around the New Testament books of the Bible. He will be learning about the historical, geographical and cultural background for the books of the NT. Please pray that this course would encourage and equip Noel for the ministry God has given him.

If you are interested to read more about Noel, follow this link to read another article about Noel (somewhat dated).

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who

has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

2 Timothy 2:15