Hard at Work

So, what have I been working on for the past few weeks you ask?  As you might know, I have been working as part of the Software Development team within the CTS (Communications and Technical Services) department.  The team is currently made up of two others and myself with a fourth scheduled to return in a couple months.  In the past, the team has been significantly smaller (one person for a couple years), so having four developers is allowing for some real progress above and beyond the "maintenance mode."

Many other departments help support the work of Bible translation in PNG as well: auto shop, aviation, construction and maintenance, medical clinic, CTS (phone, internet, etc.), finance, employment, post office, print shop, security, shipping, store, primary and high school.  All of these departments have different software in place to manage the day to day tasks that they need to accomplish.  We support all of the existing programs and make sure that things continue to run correctly.

My first week was spent reading documents and learning the technology that is being used.  I’ve enjoyed contributing to the current projects. For the past two weeks I have been working on an exciting project: we are writing a program that will replace all of the various segmented programs on centre and run all departments through one centralized web application.  It has the potential to solve a lot of the inefficiencies between departments. For us geeks, this is very exciting :)  For those interested in techie details, we are building an ASP.NET web application using the XAF framework from DevExpress.

It feels great to be serving with the team and using the skills God has given us!

Hard at work at my desk

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

First Two Weeks

The first 2 weeks have come and gone. In one way it feels as though we just got here but in another like we have been here a lot longer. We have been quite busy these last couple of weeks.

We arrived in Ukarumpa on February 1^st. We were met at the airstrip by our fellowship family who took us to Ukarumpa and started to get us settled in. Jon said he does not remember much about those first few days. We were so tired and were suffering from jet leg and the cold virus.

Our new home is in a perfect location for us. We have a beautiful view of the mountains from our back deck. We are near the park for the girls to play at.

 

 

The first 3 days we were here we were blessed with being able to go to different peoples’ houses for lunch and dinner. That way we could meet some new people and not have to worry about cooking while we were getting settled in.

Jon started work last Monday and is enjoying it very much. There is so much work for him to do; he will not run out! We are still working on my professional registration in the country. It should be ready soon. We do not know what it will look like for me to work and take care of the girls but we will worry about that once I am actually able to work in the country.

We have had our small trials of sickness already. It took a good 2 weeks for Jon and my colds to go away. Clara’s ear infection has cleared up. She is still coughing once in a while but is much better. Macy has had 2 cold viruses and a double eye infection. Just today her fever broke. We are praying for some good health and rest.

Please continue to remember us in your prayers:

-          That we would be free from illness

-          That we will find a Bible study to join

-           That we may learn Pidgin quickly

 

 

“For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness.”

Psalm 33:4

Travels to PNG

We have arrived! Sorry it took us so long to write a post. We have been very busy and tired. We are also trying to get over some serious colds!

On Tuesday January 29^th, our parents and a few siblings saw us off at Toronto airport. It was so nice to see them right before we boarded the plane.

The flights went well. I won’t bore you with all of the details. Here is a list of good things and bad things that happened during the trip:

Good:

-          We were given extra seats on each flight so that the girls had room to sleep.

-          Macy had a bassinet on the longest flight to sleep in.

-          We all got a bit of sleep.

-          We did not have to pay for our overweight suitcases or for our extra one.

Bad:

-          We started our trip off with colds and Clara had an ear infection.

-          We were delayed in L.A. for 6 hours. We waited on the plane for the entire time!

-          We missed our connecting flight in Brisbane, got put on another one, but could not take our suitcases with us.

Another list of good:

-          The Lord provided us with enough rest to help us through.

-          Clara’s ears did not bother her on the flights.

-          Our suitcases arrived in Ukarumpa four hours after we did!

We stayed in Port Moresby, which is the capital of PNG for 1 night at a guesthouse. We got about 7 hours of sleep that night which helped us get ready for our last flight into Ukarumpa. Friday morning we took a small seven passenger plane into Ukarumpa. We made the mistake of packing away Clara’s blanket so she was quite upset, but we quieted her down with ‘Bubble Guppies’ and eventually she fell asleep. Macy also fell asleep. The flight was only 1 ½ hours long.

We were welcomed by our fellowship family when we arrived. They are showing us around and helping us get everything in order. We are so blessed to have them and many others here who are getting us comfortable.

Keep posted for our next post on the first few days in Ukarumpa!

P.S. Some people have been wondering what our new address is; you can find it on the homepage of our blog under ‘contact’.

"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore." Psalm 16:11

Packing up and Moving

This new year has already brought a lot of change for us. We have packed up our few personal items that we have left and moved into Jon's parents house. It was a little hard to pick and choose what few things we were going to keep and store, but we feel good to have gotten rid of so much stuff. It is amazing how much you can accumulate after only 4 1/2 years.

We spent a weekend at Candace's parents place. Clara especially loved playing with Nana, Papa and Uncle Jase!

As of January 1st we are both employees of Wycliffe Canada. We have been very busy with our new roles already. No we are not working in the computer and dental hygiene fields but we have many other things to do.  We have to update our OHIP status, cancel car insurance, keep in touch with all of our supporters, get rid of our car, buy last minute items to take with us, purchase carry on luggage, organize transportation in PNG, figure out how to complete our 2012 tax returns, etc. It is also so important to us to see our family and friends before we go.

The excitement and nerves have both settled in. We cannot wait to set up our house when we get to Ukarumpa and start living there. We are looking forward to settling down and having some consistency in our lives. However, we have started to realize how we will miss everyone back home. The Lord is our constant strength when doubts creep into our hearts. We are so excited that the Lord has called us to work with Wycliffe by aiding the progress of Bible translation.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas! Let us all remember our precious Saviour's birth. 

Thanking the Lord for His Provision

We would like to share with you that we have reached 100% of our financial support. Praise the Lord!

When we first became members of Wycliffe and were figuring out our budget, we were apprehensive about the whole process. We do not possibly know enough people to meet that budget. However the Lord always provides and in a little under 6 months He has shown us to rely heavily on Him for all things.  

We now have definite dates as well to announce. We are moving out of our apartment into Jon's parents place at the end of December. Our flights are booked for January 29th. 

Please pray for us as we enter this emotional and exciting time. 

Some of our prayer requests include:

- Peace for both us and our families as we prepare to be separated for 3 years. 

- That we would stay strong in our walk of faith with the Lord. 

- That the girls will adjust to all the changes happening. 

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 

Almost There!

We are experiencing mixed emotions here in the Jagt apartment. I would say home but slowly it is losing its home status! Slowly things are being removed from our home. Some things we are relieved to have found a place for, other things make us a bit sad to get rid of. It brings back memories of when we were setting up house when we first got married!

We received our passports back from Washington with our Visa's stamped in. We are so thankful to God for making this whole process so quick. We were told it could take up to 3 months. Our's took about a month and half! The Lord has confirmed time and again that we are to serve Him in PNG.

Our funding is almost in! 4% more to go. If you have been thinking about partnering with us, let us know so that we can reach 100%. We are eagerly anticipating full support!

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

Psalm 105:4