Since our last update in March there has been some not-so-great news regarding COVID in Papua New Guinea, but some good news regarding our kids.

COVID

It seems that COVID in Papua New Guinea is about a year behind COVID in the U.S. In the past two months the cases have risen rapidly in PNG – and there have even been a few positive cases here on our center (thankfully, none of them severe). Since vaccines aren’t yet available to the general public and health care here is very limited, we have been taking more precautions lately (which you all know isn’t fun). Up until a few weeks ago, the clinic here didn’t have any tests and people had to isolate whenever they felt sick (along with people they had been in close contact). Thankfully the clinic has tests now, so it has made life less stressful. That being said we would appreciate your prayers!

COVID is unfortunately affecting the work of Bible translation. Most travel between provinces is banned by the government so people from different languages that John works with aren’t able to travel to Ukarumpa. He has been preparing checks on the book of Luke for two different language groups and one of them has been postponed. The other one is scheduled for July, but we don’t know yet if it will go ahead or not.

I (Brena) am continuing with my Cafes, Teas, and hair cutting but with COVID protocols. Pray that I’ll be able to continue.

KIDS

A recent picture of the kids at Luke’s 20^th party (left to right: Moriah, Joey, Luke, Sara, Grant)

GRANT AND SARA: We are very proud of Sara for finishing pharmacy school and becoming a Doctor! Because she would like to eventually work in a hospital, she applied for a residency program and was accepted by University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville, VA. She and Grant plan to move there the beginning of June. Grant was also offered a mechanical engineering job there and he starts in mid-June, which is a big answer to prayer. Please pray for them as they adjust to their new surroundings and jobs. Pray that they would be able to find a good church and Christian friends.

JOEY AND MORIAH: Joey’s fiancé, Moriah, recently returned to the States from her 1 ½ years in Turkey and she and Joey are enjoying living in the same city (Charleston) and not having to communicate virtually anymore. Moriah is applying for a job at a church and Joey is finishing his bachelor’s degree online and washing windows part time. They are still planning a September 18th wedding, so please pray for them as they prepare for married life. We are so thrilled to be getting another wonderful daughter-in-law! We hope to return for the wedding, so please pray that in spite of all the unknowns related to COVID, we will make it back.

LUKE: Luke just turned 20! Time flies. He and Joey have been living with John’s brother and his wife but they will move into Grant and Sara’s apartment when they leave for Virginia. Luke is continuing to wash windows, make music (@kalawaymusic), surf, motorbike, longboard, and jump off bridges! (it’s nice to know after the fact what he’s been up to 🙂 ). Pray for Luke that God will continue to lead and direct him.

PRAISE & PRAYER:

• We’re very thankful for continued good health even with the increase in COVID. Please pray that translation work (and my Staff Care work) would continue to go ahead here in PNG, that we would have wisdom in our interactions here, and that God would keep the doors open for us to return for Joey and Moriah’s wedding.
• Praise God that Sara was offered a residency program and Grant a job up in VA. Pray for them as they move up to a new city and that God would provide a wonderful church and friends for them.
• We’re thrilled that Joey and Moriah are living in the same city now. Please pray for them as they prepare for their wedding and marriage and that Moriah would find a job.
• And pray for God to continue to direct Luke as he decides on work/school/career. We are so thankful that God has provided housing and good church and friends for him thus far.

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)