Happy New Year! We can’t believe it’s already 2023 and two months of our home assignment are already finished. Thank you for praying for our adjustment back to life in America. It’s been nice to get settled in a mobile home on the Wycliffe center in Dallas. It has everything that we’ve needed, and we’ve enjoyed the peace and quiet here. The housing department even loaned us extra mattresses and bedding so that our kids could stay with us over Christmas! We are so grateful for that time together and a bonus was having the whole Peters family (with kids and grand kids) together, not to mention getting together with some of the local Bruner family as well. Before Christmas we were able to go down to Houston and spend a few days with Grant and Sara, and after Christmas I (John) went with Grant and Luke to Big Bend National Park for 4 days of camping, hiking and off road 4-wheel driving.
So great to have Luke, Sara, Grant, Joey, and Moriah with us
The whole Peters clan at Christmas
It was great to catch up with 3 of our Bruner nephews and their families.
Sightseeing with Grant and Sara in Houston
Our remote camping site at Big Bend. Not a landscape I am used to!
On top of the highest mountain in Texas
Happy News!
Grant and Sara are expecting a baby girl in late June! We’re so happy that we’ll be grandparents and also that we will still be in the States when the baby arrives.
The Months Ahead
We are now planning out our remaining time in the U.S. before we head back to Papua New Guinea at the end of July. During our next month in Texas, we hope to catch up with supporters and friends, and then the end of February we’ll begin our road trip to the west coast and then back east again. I had been planning to go to the Solomons this month to do consultant checking, but that trip has been postponed because the translation team hasn’t been able to get the book they are working on ready.
Video – Take 3!
Before we left Ukarumpa in November last year we (with the expert help of our colleague Susan Frey) put together a short 3-minute video. We hope it will help you better understand our ministry with Wycliffe.
Thank you so much for your gifts, prayers, and friendship. You are a blessing to us!
John and Brena
PRAISE AND PRAYER:
- We have been thankful for a quiet place to live for a few months before we start our travels.
- It was special being with our kids and extended family at Christmas.
- We are thankful that Grant and Sara are expecting, and we would appreciate your prayers for good health for Sara and baby.
- Pray for safety in driving and good connections with friends and supporters during our upcoming trip.
- Pray for Luke as he starts his second semester at Liberty University in Virginia. He is still unsure about what he wants to major in.
TO BE IN TOUCH:
john_bruner@sil.org
Address during our home assignment: 4807 Ruidoso Dr., Arlington TX 76017
Phone Numbers: John (682) 364-4015; Brena (682) 364-4009
WEB ADDRESS FOR PARTNERSHIP:
https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/Bruners
MAILING ADDRESS FOR PARTNERSHIP:
send gifts to: Wycliffe Bible Translators, PO Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862 (The check should be made payable to Wycliffe Bible Translators and include a note that says preference for the ministry of John and Brena Bruner)
johnandbrena 
Congrats on expecting grandchild #1! So happy for you!
We are expecting our thirteenth to arrive sometime in April via Kalani and Tyler.
Sounds as if your home assignment is going well and that you are being refreshed. Thanks for keeping us in the info loop.
Love,
Phil and Darlene
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John and Brena,
Its always a delight to hear from you guys. So glad to hear of your family gatherings and events recently. The Wycliffe Center at Dallas brings back fond memories as my sister worked there for a number of years and my parents would spend 6 months out of the year there as volunteers. We made a number of trips to see them and the Center.
Big Bend, from the photos, seems more like a wasteland than a park! Definitely not the verdant landscape of PNG! Glad you enjoyed time camping with the boys, John. Is the tallest mountain in Texas in Big Bend? How high is it?
Wishing you the best as you venture out visiting supporting churches and individuals. My guess is that Fullerton Free is a place youll be visiting. I dont know if you have been tracking. But, the church as we remember it isnt there any more. So much has changed.
Im thrilled to know that youll be promoted to grandparent status soon! How great that you will be here to enjoy it first hand.
Blessings,
Doug Haag
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Love your letter as usual! Fantastic job and loved that video! Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Love,
Mom and Dad Bruner
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Hello John and Brena, I loved seeing the photos that you included in this wonderfully written newsletter. Yesterday I established that monthly I will be donating to your account, instead of, giving irregularly. It is only $50 but it will be every month. Then I will give an end of the year donation also. [Also giving the same to Pat and Beth.] Praying for you all. Blessings, Joanne
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Dear John & Brena,
I enjoyed the whole of your letter, photos, and video. The video is very well done and greatly gives the Wycliffe message.
We moved from our home across the street from the Wycliffe center a year and a half ago to be near our daughter and her family of 5 kids in NW Arkansas.
We were back there last weekend for the memorial service of our friend and translator in Colombia, Tom Branks. Our friend Jim Walton, another fellow translator and great friend in Colombia and there is in the hospital and doing very poorly. I hope he survives, or weâll be going again. But itâs likely that on any of our trips back (our older daughter lives in Arlington) weâll miss you.
Godâs blessing on yâall for the rest of your time in the U.S. and your return to PNG and the Solomons.
Dave Wisler
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Thanks for your great letter and all the pictures. So happy you have had lots of family time. Always an extra special blessing. Congratulations on your first grand baby coming in June and how wonderful that you’ll be able to see and hold him/her before returning to PNG. What a special joy that will be. Enjoy these next months in the US . Helen
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