Happy New Year! The older we get, the faster the years go by. 2024 looks like it is going to be another full year of ministry here in PNG and also in Solomon Islands and U.S. We are trusting God to continue to guide us as we make decisions and keep up with our work.

Christmas at the Bruners’

We had a quiet Christmas here at Ukarumpa but over the two-week break enjoyed some gatherings with friends, hobbies, and Brena put on a Christmas Café for the community. 

Each of our kids spent Christmas in a different state. Grant, Sara, and 6-month-old Lillian drove up to Arkansas to be with Sara’s family. They have been doing a good job adjusting to being a family of three plus having Sara working full-time at M.D. Anderson hospital in Houston. So far, Grant is working from home (with Seed Co, an affiliate of Wycliffe) so is able to look after Lillian.

Joey and Moriah stayed in Charleston, SC, for Christmas with good friends visiting them. They have had a busy past few months remodeling their kitchen with Joey building the cabinets and installing the flooring (he’s learned a lot through working for a cabinet maker). Moriah is still working at East Cooper Baptist Church as an assistant to several pastors. And we’re very thankful that God protected them when they were in two car accidents recently (one very serious)!

Luke spent Christmas in TN with his girlfriend’s family, the Browns. He decided to quit Liberty University after the fall semester since he still wasn’t sure what to study. He is now living with Kate’s parents while she, a fellow MK from PNG, is in the last semester of her nursing program at a university several hours away. Luke has found a job and is in the process of deciding what career to pursue. We are thankful for how God is guiding and working in his life.

Beyond in 2024

After Christmas, on January 6, Brena and I (John) organized another Uka Fun Run for the community. We had about 125 participants, ribbons for placers, and food and drink for all. It was fun! We plan to put on another one in a couple of months. I also did a consultant check of 1 John for the Pinai-Hagahai language here at Ukarumpa. This week I will be traveling down to Port Moresby (the capital of PNG) for some meetings. In February and March, I will be in the Solomons for a 3 ½ week consultant checking trip (Exodus for the Zabana language) and in May both Brena and I will go to the U.S. for a few weeks. I have Seed Company meetings and Brena will visit family.

120 colleagues came to the Christmas Café that Brena and team put on.

The little guy on the right (with his dad) was so excited to run in the 1-mile race and he even won a ribbon.

The Pinai-Hagahai team I worked with in checking 1 John. Markus Melliger (right) is my good friend and we have run together for many years.

PLEASE PRAY:

• that God would continue to give us wisdom and strength as we head into this new year.
• that God would give me wisdom for the consultant check of Exodus in the Zabana language in February in the Solomon Islands and that God would protect Brena while I am away.
• that God would continue to work in each of our kids’ lives and that they would know deeply how much God loves them.
• for Joey, Moriah, and Luke as they make important decisions this year.
• We’re so thankful that God kept Joey and Moriah safe in their car accidents! (apart from concussions)

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org

Permanent Address: 4807 Ruidoso Dr., Arlington TX 76017

Overseas Address: PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea

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 32862-8200 (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)

VIDEO:

You are welcome to view a short video of our work with Wycliffe. It is located in our About page.