Work and Play:  Luke recently turned 16 and finished grade 10. During the five-week school break he’s keeping busy washing cars, locking up the primary school, working out, playing tennis, going to the river, and riding motorbikes. Recently Kairu and a couple of recent graduates (Joey’s friends) were here and so there was a lot of boy bonding time over food and motorbikes. I (Brena) really enjoyed having lots of boys around again too!

Prayer Requests: Pray that Luke would continue to know how much God loves him and that He is everything he needs. Pray too for safety in all his activities. Praise God that Luke has some good friends to encourage him.

at the recent “Sports Day”

Tim, Luke, Kairu

Luke, Tim, Icy – I did a lot of laughing while they were here!

My Fundraising and Encore Activities: As the parent sponsor for Luke’s class fundraising activities, I have been in charge or helping with different fundraisers this past year and a half. It’s been fun for me to spend time with the kids, but lately the “job” has caused more stress than enjoyment, so I’ve decided to step down. Recently I was the Chair of Encore. Encore is the night after the Jr/Sr Banquet when the adult-directed and acted play that the parents do for Banquet is performed for the community. Luke’s class (with parent help) baked, set up and served about 300 people.

Staff Care: I am continuing my weekly Cafes and quarterly Teas. One lady told me the other week that if it weren’t for the weekly Cafes I put on, she would have left PNG a long time ago! She’s the kind of person that needs a place to go, and the Cafes have offered her a place outside the house. When I heard that it really encouraged me.

Saying Good-bye: The end of the school year marks Graduation and also a lot of people leaving on furlough. It was sad saying good-bye to Natasha Mills, a recent graduate, who I got to know this past year through weekly lunches. I have so enjoyed my times with her and will miss her greatly.

Prayer Requests: Because I’m in a “caring” job, I would appreciate your prayers for extra strength to continue investing in and caring for people. Praise God that I have a few friends here that really care for me and invest time with me. I am blessed.

Encore!

A Village Ladies’ Tea

good-bye, dear Natasha

John’s Bathroom Remodel: John has no shortage of projects to work on in our “new” house (which he enjoys!) and the latest is remodeling the bathroom. In the process of tearing out some of the old structure, he found a leak in the ceiling and the carcass of a rat who evidently ate some poison and didn’t make it outside before he died. It had probably been up there for years!

Preparing for Consultant Checks: In early August John will be supervising a consultant intern, Steven Ttopoqogo, doing a consultant check of the book of Matthew for the Binandere language. Supervising someone is a lot of work as John has to go over the translation himself so he can assess the performance of the trainee during the check. John also plans to consultant check the book of Mark for the Domung language in late August.

Working With the New Translation Consultant Intern: Noel Diru worked as a translator on the New Testament for his own language, Gwahatike. After it was dedicated he and a few other members of the team decided they wanted to help neighboring languages with translations. Noel has been working with the Domung Translation team as an advisor for over ten years. Noel was recently recommended for a consultant internship and it was a pleasure for John to get to know him while he was here at Ukarumpa completing the application process. His commitment to helping others have God’s Word in their language is very evident and he also has a desire to continue learning to improve his translation skills. John is happy he will have the opportunity to get to know him better in the future since he will be his mentor.

Successful Completion!: Korry Reuben, one of the consultant interns that John has mentored during the past two years, just completed the requirements to become a translation consultant. It is exciting to see another Papua New Guinean reach this level and Korry will be able to contribute much to the work of Bible translation in the coming years.

Prayer Requests: Pray that God will give John wisdom as he mentors interns, so that he will know how to help them become well qualified translation consultants. Pray also that as he checks translations for different languages that he will be able to offer suggestions that make them more accurate and clear.

the bathroom remodel

Steven Ttopoqogo

Noel Diru

Korry Reuben

TO BE IN TOUCH:

PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea – john_bruner@sil.org

Grant Bruner, PO Box 2159, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR 72761 – brunerg@jbu.edu

Joey Bruner, ETBU Box 6-331, One Marshall Drive, Marshall, TX 75670 – joseph_bruner@etbu.edu

TO GIVE ONLINE:

https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/Bruners

TO GIVE BY MAIL:

send gifts to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862

(The check should be made payable to Wycliffe Bible Translators – include a note that says it is for the ministry of John and Brena Bruner)

 

 

 

 

The mission trip that I was able to go on to Nicaragua with my soccer team was an amazing time and a great experience. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it! I just want to thank each and every one of you for the support you gave me for this trip (unfortunately ETBU didn’t keep records of the individuals who gave toward my going). Thanks for the prayers and the financial gifts! They were both appreciated very much.

On our trip, our ability to play soccer gave us an open door to share the gospel with many people in Nicaragua. For the first five days we were based at a Christian school (Donna Holland) where we enjoyed time playing with the kids, both soccer games and other fun games. We also shared our testimonies and helped out by painting over ten of the school’s classrooms. We put on a number of soccer clinics and helped the kids there with some soccer skills. On our last day there I was able to share my faith with whole school and a little bit about what I believe.

For the last five days we were based in the capitol, Managua, where we took part in a number of different activities. We helped out at a mission for the elderly, went to public schools to share, and even did some sightseeing.  We also played two soccer teams while we were there, took part in a church service, and spent time at a safe home for troubled youth.

Thanks again for your prayers and support, and know that God was working in my heart, my team members’ hearts, and the hearts of the people we met there. Currently I am in South Carolina working at Chick-fil-A, and enjoying being with Grant and a number of my cousins. In August I will go back to ETBU for my Sophmore year. I have decided I would like to study Construction Management, so I will need to transfer to another school after this next year. I would appreciate your prayers as I head into a future with a lot of unknowns!

Joey

with my bro in South Carolina

TO BE IN TOUCH:

PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea – john_bruner@sil.org

Grant Bruner, PO Box 2159, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR 72761 – brunerg@jbu.edu

Joey Bruner, ETBU Box 6-331, One Marshall Drive, Marshall, TX 75670 – joseph_bruner@etbu.edu

TO GIVE ONLINE:

https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/Bruners

TO GIVE BY MAIL:

send gifts to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862

(The check should be made payable to Wycliffe Bible Translators – include a note that says it is for the ministry of John and Brena Bruner)