Merry Christmas from PNG!

We had a quiet and low-key Christmas day here, just the 3 of us. It was a nice reprieve from the busyness of the past two weeks as we have been getting our new house ready to move into (cleaning and painting). This week we will move our stuff over and then clean the house we’ve been renting, in preparation for another family to move into on January 3rd. Moving doesn’t get easier as you get older, and to be honest, these last couple weeks have not been easy. We could use your prayers for the coming week and then the month of settling into our new place.

In spite of the difficulties, we have MUCH to be thankful for this Christmas:

• A God who loves us unconditionally, has taken away our sins, and gives us the hope of eternal life with Him someday,
• Good health and the ability to keep working overseas, doing work we enjoy,
• Grant and Joey doing well in America and enjoying the holidays with family and friends
• The Fataleka NT being typeset and soon to go to the printers,
• Wonderful friends here in PNG,
• And our very own house!!!

Thanks for being a part of our 2016 year through your friendship, prayers, financial gifts, and letters. We appreciate you.

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)

We are so happy and excited to announce that we’re officially HOME OWNERS!!! Yes, you read that right. The “forever renting and moving” Bruners now own a house here at Ukaumpa! It’s the “submarine house” (notice the round window in the door) and has been owned by many different missionary families over the years. Now it’s unbelievably ours! As we have never lived for more than two years in one house since we got married, I (Brena) was beginning to think we would never have a house of our own.

So here’s the story behind the purchase.

In August we had no intention of buying a house. We figured we’d move once a year until we head back to the States for furlough. Once a year is better than 3 or 4 times a year like we used to do in the Solomon Islands.

But then…the Director announced to the community that because there has been a large influx of missionary families coming to Ukarumpa (a good thing), it would mean that people renting houses would likely have to move every 3 to 6 months.

When John and I heard that we thought, “How can we do that for the remainder of our term here – 2 ½ more years?!” Moving even once a year has been getting more and more difficult for us, so we were feeling quite discouraged.

But then…a house came up for sale that was very cheap and that we could buy without going into debt. We also liked the fact it is in a great location (close to the school, store, clinic, tennis courts), has a nice remodeled kitchen, and should hopefully be easy to sell when we leave. So we put a bid on it. It was a blind bid so it would go to the highest bidder.

We honestly thought we wouldn’t get it.

But then…two days before we left for the States in late October we heard we got it!! What great timing! I hurriedly measured all the windows in the house so that I could buy fabric in the States for curtains.

So we plan to move to our new house during the Christmas break. We are thinking of painting a few rooms first as it’s an old house and could use freshening up. Then we can settle in and not have to think about moving again until June 2019 when Luke graduates and we head back to the States for furlough. I can even put nails in the wall and not worry about ruining other people’s things. Wow. What a wonderful Christmas present!! Thank you, Jesus!!

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)

At this very moment, the audio recording of the Fataleka NT is being done in a village in the West Fataleka area on the island of Malaita in the Solomon Islands. They hope to have it finished by Dec. 2. This is a recent request from Oliver and Robert Mark, two of the recorders:

“Robert and I are doing ok with the recording, the speakers are getting there with their parts, and hopefully they will all finish by the 2nd of December. It’s rainy season now so please pray for good weather because we’ve noticed from other recorded lines we took, we heard the rain in the background.”

Thank you for praying for this important recording as it will reach people who aren’t able to read the NT.

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)

John and I just returned from our 3 week trip to the States. It feels good to be back “home” and back with Luke. Our time in the States was fun but really busy. Here’s our time in a nutshell….thanks for praying!!

TWO DAYS in Brisbane, Australia – just John and I together; eating out, walking, watching movies

a tad bit of excitement for Gelato!

FOUR DAYS in California – with the Peters side of the family; eating at the famous Pantry, birthday party for several of us, jet lag, I share in our home church’s SS class after John leaves for meetings

the morning  we arrive – at The Pantry with my  parents

enjoying time with my step-brother and family

coffee and conversation with my wonderful Daddy

FOUR DAYS in Arlington, TX – John in Seed Co. meetings and me with my sister and family; shopping, shopping, shopping for things we need and can’t get here, playing with my little grandnephew, seeing Joey and Amaechi, celebrating John and little Patrick’s birthday (they fall on the same day), shopping  for Joey

Joey and Amaechi!

Shopping is only fun with those I’m with…my sister, niece, and grand nephew!

on Nov. 6 Patrick and John were born (Patrick didn’t want to do the hat-thing) :)

my dear sister (an expert in sewing) helping me cut out curtain fabric

FOUR DAYS with Joey and Grant – driving up to their schools, touring their campuses and meeting their friends – including Grant’s lovely new girlfriend

Joey in front of his East Texas Baptist Univ. Soccer Team locker

Got a great tour of Grant’s Engineering building and classrooms at John Brown University in Arkansas

Catching up and eating out –  :)

FOUR DAYS in Florida – with the Bruner side of the family; celebrating my mother-in-law’s 80^th birthday with about a 1/3 of the family, eating, playing golf, talking, laughing

John with his brothers and parents

the Bruners that were able to celebrate the lovely Dorothy Bruner

TWO DAYS traveling – from the east coast to the west coast and then to Australia and finally to PNG – all in one fell swoop!

Great fun to see our good friends, the Burtons, at LAX during our 3 hour layover!

Well,  hope I won’t be traveling again any time soon. It was a blessing to go, but so good to be back. Luke had a good but very busy time while we were gone. He also survived an accident on a 3-wheel cart (with no brakes). He had some stitches and abrasions, but thankfully nothing worse than that!!!

PLEASE PRAY:

• That this sore throat I’ve had for 2 weeks will go away soon
• For John as he starts work with a Papua New Guinean translation team on Monday

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)

There’s just a tad bit of excitement around this house because, I (Brena) get to accompany John on his trip to the States for Seed Co. meetings tomorrow!! Thankfully I don’t have to attend the meetings J. I just get to spend time with family members AND my two dear college boys, Grant and Joey. I feel so very blessed. Besides seeing family, I’m really looking forward to having a break from cooking and enjoying all the treats that aren’t available here. I feel pretty ready for a little break/vacation.

Luke will be spending the 3 weeks with his friend, Joel, and he is looking forward to that! He recently had a two-week school break and enjoyed going on motorbike rides with his friends. He is now back in school and playing soccer this term.

John just finished doing a consultant check for two different language groups from a coastal area of PNG. One group is just in the beginning stages of their translation project and for their assignment in a Translation Training Course they had to translate 5 chapters of Joshua and then have it checked. The other group has been working for a number of years and John checked 4 chapters of the gospel of Mark for them. Both of these groups are getting financial help from The Seed Company, so John was happy he could help out.

Please pray that God will keep us all healthy and safe during these weeks. Pray especially for me as I have been feeling under the weather lately. I would really like to be feeling good on the trip.

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)

I (John) received the sad news yesterday that Joseph Gofi, one of the members of the Fataleka translation team, passed away a couple days ago. Evidently Joseph had gone to the hospital about two weeks ago because of a problem with his heart, but he was told they couldn’t do anything for him and they sent him back to his village where he died.

It makes me sad that I won’t see Joseph at the dedication of the Fataleka New Testament next year, as he was really excited that we had finished all our work and the NT was in the typesetting process. I am, however, very thankful that Joseph was able to be on our team for the last 5 years. He was dedicated to seeing the Fataleka NT finished and commented often that he was so glad that finally the Fataleka people would have a Bible they could understand.

Joseph had arthritis in his knees and while he had to miss one of our checking sessions because he had fallen and was unable to walk, he was at all our other sessions even though it was evident that it was painful for him to walk. Last year I was asking the men what time suited them for our next checking session and Joseph said, “John, you are the one who has a busy schedule. This checking is the most important thing we have all year, so whatever time you set is fine with us.”

So while I will really miss seeing Joseph next year, it will give me joy knowing that what he saw as so important will be in the hands of the Fataleka people.

Joseph, far left

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)

Hello from PNG! Please click on the link below  to read our latest newsletter. Some of it may be familiar if you have been reading our updates, but there are also some new things. 4 pages, a lot of pictures. And please continue to keep us in your prayers. Thanks!

bruner-sept-2016

John is back from his three week trip to the States! Thanks for your prayers for his time there. This is how God answered prayer and what was accomplished…

• He attended three days of Seed Co. meetings discussing work in the Pacific.
• He was able to spend some time with two of his brothers and their wives, my (Brena) sister and brother-in-law,  two nieces, and his little great-nephew! He was also able to see two friends of Joey and Grant from school here in PNG who are in the U.S. now.
• He got Joey moved into his dorm at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) and met his soccer coaches.
• He met up with Grant and drove him to his school (John Brown University) to start his third year of college, stopping first at Joey’s school so that Grant could see him and ETBU. (*their contact information is below)
• He shopped for things we need here.
• And he met with the typesetter for the Fataleka NT (yes, God provided a typesetter)!!

Please continue to pray for Joey as he adjusts to this new school where he doesn’t know anyone. We’re thankful that he is on the soccer team, which gives him a ready-made group of guys to hang out with and a coach that desires God to be glorified in their playing. Most of all, we’re thankful that God is there with Joey.

Joey (center) with his soccer team

Joey enjoyed showing his school to his Ukarumpa friend, Amaechi

Thank you for praying for my time here in Ukarumpa with Luke. My OCD didn’t bother me too much, I put on a Village Ladies Tea, and I was able to keep busy practicing with six other ladies for the community play which was performed this past weekend, a DAY after John returned!!! :) It was GREAT fun for me to act again in a real play (should I say more than 30 years after my high school drama days?!) A dream come true. It was a lot of work, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. I played a 25 year old hairdresser named Annelle. Maybe you can guess the play? (because of play write laws we are not allowed to name the play on the internet.)

Village Ladies’ Tea on our back patio

Luke has been busy with school, band, friends, and volleyball. It was fun for me to watch him play several games while John was gone. He recently took a trip down to Lae with friends and had a great time. Thank you for continuing to pray for him and us as we parent him.

Luke on his recent trip to the coast

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)

JOHN: The Fataleka New Testament is nearly ready for typesetting! Earlier this month I made a ten day trip to the Solomon Islands where I worked with the four men on the Fataleka team to finish the read-through of the final 30% of the New Testament (we had done the first 70% in March). I was concerned that if things didn’t go smoothly (i.e. too many mistakes) or if any of us got sick we might not finish, but thankfully God answered prayer and we ended up with a day to spare. I now just need to do some final checks (like spelling) and then the New Testament will be ready to go to a typesetter. And speaking of typesetting, we would appreciate your prayers because the person who was going to be doing the typesetting has recently had surgery and is not sure he is going to be able to do it. So please pray that either he will recover quickly and have time to do it, or that we will be able to find someone else to do the typesetting. We are hoping that the typesetting can be finished before the end of 2016 and that the dedication can happen in the second half of 2017. It was great to be with the Fataleka men and see their excitement knowing that the New Testament in their language is not far away from completion.

Now that the Fataleka New Testament is nearly finished, I have no shortage of things to fill my time. I’m busy working with the Papua New Guinean interns who are training to be consultants. I will be doing a consultant check of Acts in September so I can supervise two different interns during that check. It was exciting to have two interns recently complete their requirements to become recognized Bible translation consultants. One of them, Barbara Samuel, is the first female Papua New Guinean consultant (photo below)!

I’m also taking a trip to the States next week for Seed Co. meetings and to help get Joey settled at East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) in Marshall, Texas. Shortly after that Grant will fly to Texas and I’ll drive him to John Brown University where he will be a Junior (studying Mechanical Engineering). It was great that my work meetings coincided with the time that Joey and Grant are starting school! I’m looking forward to spending time with them. I will  be gone three weeks.

BRENA: It wasn’t very much fun making another house move, but now that it’s finished and we’re completely settled, I am feeling better about life :). I’m thankful we can stay in this beautiful and peaceful house for another 11 months. I’m also enjoying doing a lot less cooking now that we only have Luke left in the house. And after a little break from Staff Care things, I’m now back at it, baking for weekly Cafes, and hosting monthly Village Ladies’ Teas and Coffee Nights. I’m grateful that I can contribute here in areas I enjoy. Thanks so much for praying for all the transitions this summer.

relaxing in our new home for the year

THE BOYS: Luke has started grade 10. He’ll be participating in sports and band again this year. We’re so thankful for the school here, and the godly teachers, coaches, and community group leaders that invest in his life. Joey, after a short time in Australia and Southern California visiting family and friends, has been living with Grant and his two friends in South Carolina and working at Chick-Fil-A. From all we hear, it sounds like they’re having a great time together. Kairu is still here in PNG and in a couple of weeks will be helping out in a hospital in a remote location. It is a great opportunity for him to see if he wants to pursue a career in medicine. I’m thankful that God has been working things out in each of the boys’ lives.

Joey, Samuel, Tyler, and Grant

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please pray that Joey’s transition to college and playing soccer will go smoothly. Pray that John will have a great time reconnecting with Joey and Grant while he’s in the States and that I (Brena) will sense God’s peace and help for the three weeks he’s gone (I tend to struggle more with my OCD when John is away).
• Please pray that a typesetter will be found for the Fataleka NT and that John will have wisdom in the consulting and mentoring he is doing.
• And finally, pray that each of us will continue to know God’s great love for us and that it will affect the way we live.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

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

john_bruner@sil.org

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 last month has been a whirlwind of activities. Thanks to those who have prayed for all of these things;

• Jr/Sr Banquet that we, the parents, put on for the kids. I, Brena, helped with Appetizers, while John played “Joey” in a play, ran a booth, and served the dinner.
• Joey’s baptism. Joey accepted Christ when he was young, but it wasn’t until this year that his faith became his own and he wanted to declare publicly his commitment to follow Jesus. We’re so thankful for what God has done in his life.
• Joey’s graduation from Ukarumpa International School!
• Joey leaving PNG for college yesterday. He will spend a month in South Carolina with his uncle and aunt and work at Chick-Fil-A with his brother, Grant. :) John will fly home in August to meet up with Joey and get him settled at school (E. Texas Baptist University).
• Saying good-bye to people as they leave for good or go home for furlough (always a bit hard).
• Adjusting to having just one boy in the house!
• Celebrating 23 years of marriage this coming weekend.
• Moving to a different house here on center (since the owners of the house we stayed in last year are returning from furlough).­­ Once we get completely unpacked and get the other house cleaned and closed, I can breathe a sigh of relief and enjoy this really nice house for the next year.
• John leaving next week for a two week stay in the Solomons. He and the Fataleka men will be finishing the final read-through of the New Testament.

Here are some pictures from the last few weeks and we would appreciate your prayers for the things mentioned at the end of this letter. Thanks for being a part of our lives and making it possible for us to keep working with Bible translation.

(Joey and his friend Jesse arrive at Banquet with the community watching and smiling – an Ukarumpa tradition!)

(John playing “Joey” as they reenact a scene from the Class of 2016 8th grade play)

(John baptizing Joey in the same spot he baptized Grant 6 years ago)

(Sunday, June 12 – celebrating what God has done in Joey and Jesse’s lives)

(he did it!)

(the band of brothers wearing hand-made traditional PNG bags. They will miss each other greatly as they go their separate ways)

(the Class of 2016)

(our new house for the year)

(Joey and Kairu saying a tearful good-bye. Kairu will be staying in PNG for now but hoping to study in the states next year)

(Good-Bye, Joey. We will miss you!)

(So thankful this man chose me 23 years ago and is still choosing me every day)

Please Pray:

• for all of us as we go through this time of transition. Pray for peace and rest. Pray especially for Joey as he adjusts to life in America and a new school. Pray he will stay close to God and trust in His faithfulness.
• that Grant and Joey will have a special time together this summer as adult brothers! We’re thankful they both have jobs.
• for John’s upcoming trip to the Solomons. Pray that the read-through will get finished and that the men will stay healthy. Pray for me and Luke as we stay behind.

To Be In Touch:

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

john_bruner@sil.org

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)