Introduction to our Blog

Hi everyone! Well, we're finally trying to step into the modern era. Actually, we thought this would be a good way to communicate extra information to all of you who are interested in our ministry. We chose "beauty for ashes" as our title (it's also our newsletter title) because the people of Papua live a sad life filled with sickness, death and, most of all, fear. We're here to, Lord willing, give them beauty for ashes...
"Isa 61:3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified."
We have been living in Papua, Indonesia for over a year. Our original plans were to move interior and begin church planting. However, God had other plans for us. We are thankful for the way he has led and guided us over the past year and a half. We decided, after MUCH prayer that the team we were on was not a good fit for us and was not what the Lord had for us. Over the past months God has confirmed that in many ways. One of the ways He's confirmed it is in providing another team for us - which is a much better fit. We are so thankful for these new teammates. Please pray that God would continue to guide us and unite us as a team.
Right now we are ministering in Wamena, where we've been for the past year (since we stepped off our other team). Wamena is a small "frontier" type town accessible only by air. Our ministry involves many different facets from supply buying to member care. We will continue to be involved in this ministry into the new year. At the same time, we have begun surveying a tribal group called the Nduga. We also have recently lost our Indonesian coworkers (our only coworkers) who moved on to an important ministry in another town. That means that we are doing their former ministry and our ministry as well as trying to do survey. Please pray that God would give us the stamina we need and that He would show us how to prioritize.
We are SO thankful to all of you who have supported us through your prayers, finances, and encouragement. To those of you who are new, thanks for checking out our ministry!