The last couple of months provided lots of opportunities for Brena and I (John) to be busy in our respective jobs. Things were operating pretty much normally here at Ukarumpa so translation work was able to go ahead as well as the cafés and coffee houses that Brena does. Unfortunately, there has been a large increase in the number of COVID cases throughout Papua New Guinea recently, and we now face restrictions that will make work more difficult for both of us (like a limit on the number of people who can gather indoors and no travel between provinces). We would appreciate your prayers that we would trust God each day and remember that he is faithful and sovereign over our lives. Here are a few highlights of our last two months.

Wampar Training

Five of the interns that I work with are translators for the Wampar language translation project. They are a talented group and dedicated to getting the Bible translated into their language. For two weeks in February, I had the pleasure of teaching them how to use the more advanced features of the specialized translation software (Paratext) that is used by translators. Besides enjoying interacting with them in class, it was an encouragement to me to hear their testimonies (in our devotions each morning) of how God brought them to faith and then led them to be involved in the work of translation.

The Wampar language translators at the completion of the Paratext (specialized translation) training.

It was encouraging to hear Jack Kase’s testimony of how God brought him from darkness into a relationship with Him.

Migabac Consultant Check

The McEvoy family, whom we have known since coming to PNG, are currently in the U.S. after having finished the New Testament in the Migabac language. There is a relatively new Migabac translator, Karis, who is working on the Old Testament and as part of his training he needed to have 11 chapters of Genesis consultant checked. I spent three days doing the check and it was a pleasure to work with and get to know Karis and the two other Migabac men (Cromwells and Leune) who helped with the check by answering my questions.

It was fun working with and getting to know the Migabac translation team (Karis, Cromwells, and Leune).

House Guests

Matt and Liz Gentry have been managing a Wycliffe center on the island of New Ireland in PNG. We have known Matt for many years as he grew up in Solomon Islands. Liz and their two kids Lucy (age 7) and Tasman (age 5) needed to come to Ukarumpa for a couple of weeks and are staying with us. It has been fun to have them and they brighten our days!

Our house guests for a couple of weeks: Liz, Lucy and Tasman Gentry.

Cafes/Coffee Houses

Brena has been doing cafes on most Saturday afternoons and then night-time coffee houses about once a month since mid-January. I enjoy going by and seeing how many people are enjoying the time to get to together and have a cup of coffee and special dessert. There are usually lots of people who go, and one of the cafes had over 100! I’m thankful Brena has a job she enjoys and is obviously gifted for.

The Wampar translators enjoyed going to a Saturday Cafe and eating some desserts they had never tried before.

Family News

We just heard this past week that our daughter-in-law Sara (Grant’s wife), was accepted for a pharmacy residency program at the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, Virginia. We are proud of Sara and excited for her and Grant as they begin this new chapter in their lives. They will be moving to Charlottesville in the next month and Grant will likely be looking for a new job there.

PRAISE:

• that we have been able to have a time of productivity in our respective jobs
• that we have continued to have good health
• that Sara was accepted into a pharmacy residency program at UVA Health

PRAY:

• that God will protect us and others here at the mission center in PNG from COVID-19 as medical care is very limited
• that translation work will be able to continue here in PNG even with the rise of COVID cases
• that Grant and Sara will be able to find suitable housing and work (for Grant) as they move to Charlottesville Virginia

TO BE IN TOUCH:

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

TO GIVE ONLINE:

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

TO GIVE BY MAIL:

send gifts to: Wycliffe Bible Translators, PO 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)