Thank you for praying for John’s three week trip to the Solomon Islands. He and the five Fataleka members of the team all stayed healthy and were able to finish the checking of six New Testament books and print out trial editions for the men to take back to their villages. The Fataleka New Testament is now about 80% completed and the target date for finishing is 2017. Jeffrey Iro hopes to have the drafting of all the remaining books completed in the next few months. While John was in the Solomons the weather was unusually cool and rainy because of Cyclone Pam which ended up causing major damage in Vanuatu. Please pray for the people there who are trying to put their lives back together.

The boys and I survived our time here without John. I kept busy being the taxi driver to the boys’ sports practices and games :). The boys experienced some snow and no-school days, and we also shared some meals with my sister and niece, who were also alone without their husband/dad (Pat was in the Solomons with John). It was nice to have someone to keep us company.

We have now officially switched gears from “settling in” to “getting ready to go.” Some of those things include: buying clothes and shoes to take back with us (there are no stores like Walmart or Sports Academy in PNG!), planning our itinerary for the upcoming weeks and months, setting up times to meet with people, getting our visas and work permits, buying plane tickets, going to the dentist, etc., etc. We have just three months left in the States as we plan to arrive on July 10th in Ukarumpa!

In the midst of that, we’re still maintaining “normal” life. Luke is now competing in Track meets for his school and playing soccer on a recreation league team. He has a great coach and is learning a lot. Joey is finishing his season of soccer with his school varsity team and they are currently in the playoffs. It has been a good experience for Joey and he has made some good friends on the team.

(Luke in the long jump)

(the Martin High School soccer team – Joey is in the back row, second to the right)

Grant and his roommate, Absiez, were able to come home for their spring break from John Brown University. We so enjoyed our time together and are thankful they have survived their first year of college (just one month to go) and adjusted to life in America. This summer Grant will be living with John’s brother, Dave and his family, in South Carolina. We are so thankful for their generous hospitality. Absiez will be staying in Siloam Springs and working for his host family.

Praise and Prayer:

• We are thankful that God kept us all safe and sane while John was away and that the Fataleka team accomplished everything they had planned.
• We are thankful for the sports opportunities the boys have had this year and the friends they have made.
• We are thankful that Grant and Absiez are doing well and have survived their first year of college in America.
• I have been seeing a Wycliffe counselor to get some new perspective and tools for my OCD, which many of you know I’ve had for about 15 years now. God knew exactly who I needed to see. She has been so empathetic and wise, and has given me new things to think about and do. I am very thankful for her. While I’m very thankful for how God has used the OCD to help me grow, I would appreciate your prayers as I continue to deal with it on a daily basis.
• And please pray for us in these coming months as we prepare to go. Pray for us physically and emotionally. Leaving is always a big basket of mixed emotions!

Coming up This Next Month:

• John and I are making a short trip out to Colorado to see some supporters and a supporting church. The boys will be staying with my sister.
• John will be traveling up to John Brown University with Joey and his friend so they can participate in a soccer “tryout” day. Joey is thinking ahead to college and would like to play soccer if possible.

To Be In Touch: 2515 Blue Quail Dr., Arlington, TX 76017– john_bruner@sil.org — (817) 376-9783

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

 

 

I (John) leave tomorrow for a three week trip to the Solomon Islands. I will be working with the Fataleka translation team to check Revelation, James, Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon and Hebrews. After this trip about 80% of the New Testament will have been checked! I’m looking forward to my time with the Fataleka team as it is always encouraging to see their dedication to working on the translation. It will also be nice to have my brother-in-law, Pat Andrews, there. He is working with men from the Baeggu language and they are also nearing completion of their New Testament. Please PRAY that my time with the Fataleka team will go well and that we will be able to finish the checking we have scheduled. We would also appreciate your prayers for Brena, Joey and Luke as they stay here in Texas.

On the family front, February brought us another great four day visit from my parents, Fred and Dorothy Bruner. We had a good time going out to eat, attending one of Joey’s soccer games and just lots of sitting around and visiting. My parents also let me use their air miles to go see them and my two East Coast brothers, Dave and Brad, in Florida the week before! We had a great time catching up (and playing golf) :).

Our time in the States seems to be rapidly coming to a close and Brena and I have been talking and praying about our plans for the coming months. After I return from the Solomons, we are planning a trip to Colorado for a few days in April to visit a church and some friends there. Then in early May we are going to South Carolina for my nephew’s wedding. Following that there will just be a couple of months to prepare to head back to Papua New Guinea. We would appreciate your PRAYERS that we will have good visits with family and friends in the coming months and that we will be able to make all the necessary preparations for returning to Papua New Guinea in July.

To Be In Touch: 2515 Blue Quail Dr., Arlington, TX 76017– john_bruner@sil.org — (817) 376-9783

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

 

 

 

As we start a new year in the Bruner household, we are aware that only God knows our future. Each day is a gift. Our desire is to remain open to what He wants to do in us and through us this year of 2015. Thank YOU for being a part of our lives through your prayers, financial support, and friendship.

We feel so blessed to have had some wonderful times with family and friends recently. From mid-December through January 9th, we had extended family staying with us. There was an abundance of food, laughter, and sharing in each other’s lives.

(one of our group gatherings)

(the original  and remaining Peters fam – my brother, sister, dad, and me!)

We enjoyed meeting the two newest additions to the family – my two niece’s babies, Patrick Hanlon and Mabel Thompson. They were definitely the hit of Christmas!

(Luke with baby Patrick)

(Grant with baby Mabel)

It was special having more than just my four men with me on my birthday this year. My dad and step-mom, plus my sister and family celebrated with me. I also received some pretty dishes and other wonderful kitchen items! Dishes make me happy. :)

John’s parents were able to come from Florida to be with us for a few days. We also reconnected with a couple we all knew in Nepal during the early 1970’s, Wayne and Marilyn Aeschlimann. How special to catch up after so many years. They knew John and I when we were youngsters. :)

(John with 2 of his brothers and parents)

Luke is enjoying being on the 8^th grade B basketball team and Joey on his high school varsity soccer team. Luke is also participating in an All-City band clinic and concert this weekend. We are proud of him for being chosen!

(Luke throwing a free throw)

(Joey’s Martin High team gearing up for the game – Joey is front center with the blond hair and orange shoes)

Prayer:

• We’re thankful that the Christmas season went so smoothly with so many people here and that we were all able to reconnect after so many years apart.
• Please pray that John and I would have wisdom and grace as we parent our boys. Pray that the boys would make wise choices and follow God.
• John continues to work on the Fataleka translation from home. Pray for wisdom for him.
• My foot still hurts but I have been able to get back to some exercise, for which I am very thankful. I have been going to a city recreation center near here to use the elliptical machine. Please pray that my foot fully heals.
• Pray for Grant as he continues to study at John Brown University and decides on a major.
• John flies to FL tomorrow to spend a few days with his parents and 2 of his brothers (not the ones pictured above!). Pray for fun and safety.

Coming Up:

• John and I have the opportunity to spend a couple of days away together in February, while my sister’s family watches the boys. We’re looking forward to having this time together!
• Also, on February 26th John will be leaving for a 3 week trip to the Solomon Islands to work with the Fataleka translation team. Pray we have some good family times before he leaves and that we will all cope OK while we’re apart.

To Be In Touch: 2515 Blue Quail Dr., Arlington, TX 65017 — john_bruner@sil.org — (817) 376-9783

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

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

After five years of spending Christmas overseas with no family around, this year was quite the change! We saw some some of the Bruner families who live in the area, had a five day visit from John’s parents who live in Florida, spent time with extended family on the Peters’ side who came for two weeks, and now have with us my dad and step-mom until January 9! So it’s been a full but blessed time to see everyone, including two new babies on my sister’s side!

We are thankful God has given us life, each other, and you. We are looking forward to a new year and to what God has in store for us as we return to Papua New Guinea in July 2015.

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Around our Thanksgiving table, it was encouraging to hear our boys share what they have been thankful for this year. They all mentioned the schools they’ve been attending, the friends they’ve made, and the sports teams they’ve been on. We told them that there have been many people praying for them in each of these things, so thank you for being a part of their lives through your prayers!

LUKE completed his soccer season and learned a lot from a skilled coach. He then tried out and made his school’s basketball team. He also tried out for the All-City and All-Region bands and made 1^st chair trumpet in the City band and 10^th chair in the Regional one. Having success in these things has given him a boost in this still “new” environment.

(Luke with the ball)

JOEY completed his club soccer season and just made his school’s varsity soccer team. All he really wanted to do on our furlough was play soccer, so it’s been encouraging to see how God has provided both opportunities and funds for him to do that.

(Joey’s club soccer team – the Texas Spurs. Joey is back row second from the left)

GRANT was able to come home from school and join us for Thanksgiving. It was so nice to see him again. It is good to see the ways he is maturing, and how God is helping him adjust and find some good friends at John Brown University.

I told everyone at Thanksgiving that I’m thankful that God has brought me through these past six months! Life was busy and stressful with end of the school year activities, packing up, traveling for two months, and getting settled here in the States. Although we’re “settled”, I am realizing that coming back to the U.S. after being gone for five years has its difficulties and challenges. I’m thankful that God is with me in the midst of it all.

JOHN has been busy at the translation desk, completing the check of a number of books for the Fataleka translation, taking time off every now and then to run to Starbucks with me or watch a movie :).

COMING UP:

We are entering a full but fun month of December, with a week-long visit from my wonderful in-laws, and then a lot  of other extended family coming at Christmas.

PRAYER:

• Thankful that John was able to finish his check of a number of books for the Fataleka NT
• Thankful for the boys’ good adjustment to life in the U.S.
• My foot is still not any better so I would appreciate your continued prayers
• That we would remember that God is with us and for us as we continue to live and serve here in America this year

A few years ago I consultant checked a number of books for the Kandawo New Testament project in Papua New Guinea. At the time I remember Mack Graham, the translation advisor, telling me that even though he had worked with the Kandawo people for nearly thirty years there had never been much interest in the translation. He wondered if there would even be any demand for a printed version of the New Testament. Then about a year ago, as they were nearing completion of the New Testament, Mack decided they would do audio recordings of the translation to see if people would be interested in those. Just last week we heard the following report:

Mack was talking to people about the audio recordings and one Kandawo woman told him:

“We were starving and we didn’t know it. Now this AudiBible satisfies our hunger and tastes sweet…You have to understand how very much this has completely changed me and my situation! This has changed everything for me.”

 

(The Kandawo woman and her mother)

The woman’s mother also shared her thoughts about the Audibible:

“Before I got the Audibible I felt like a pig that was tied to a stick. But now I feel like I’ve been freed. I’m only a rotted old woman and I was going to church every week and I always wondered during the Bible reading. We thought that it was some language from some far away people. But now this machine has brought it close to me. We were ignorant pigs and dogs, but now we are changed. I take it to bed with me and leave it playing on my chest while I fall asleep. I had no idea how Jesus died but I am amazed at Jesus. And this revelation makes me cry. It’s been revolutionary in my life!”

Given that people showed little interest in the translation for so many years, it is a great encouragement to hear how they are being impacted through hearing the Scriptures in their own language.

Speaking of audio recordings, we heard recently that the recording of over half the New Testament in the Bughotu language (the translation we completed in 2009) was just finished and will be available soon on both small audio players and SD cards for cell phones. It is great to know that the Bughotu people, especially those who don’t know how to read, will be able to access the Scriptures in this format.

(Edward Goha, our friend who helped with the Bughotu recording, holding an SD card)

It took us quite a while, but I think we are finally settled – AND THAT FEELS GOOD!

Joey and Luke have adjusted to their routines of school and homework. They are enjoying playing on their soccer teams and making new friends. Luke is also in band at his school and has been performing at football games. Although they would both rather be in Papua New Guinea, they are doing alright and we are thankful for that. Thank you for praying for them.

Joey and his friend, Jonas, an exchange student from Germany

Luke playing trumpet on the 3rd row, far left

Grant was able to come home for the weekend recently (along with Abssie, his PNG friend and roommate). We had fun catching up and thankfully they seem to be adjusting well to college life. Besides being busy with studies, Grant is on an ultimate frisbee club team and Abssie is playing rugby. Thank you for praying for their transition.

Abssie and Grant after watching Joey’s soccer game

After installing four ceiling fans and a garbage disposal in this house, John started to work on the Fataleka translation. He has checked Revelation, Philemon, and James and has a few more books to check before the end of November. On the side, he’s been running and playing golf and tennis.

John installing one of four fans – what a talented guy!

I am enjoying a little reprieve from some of the stresses of life overseas, like not having to make every meal from scratch. It’s such a nice break! I’m also spending a lot of time with my dear sister, catching up on on the years we’ve been apart.

the JOY of easy meals!

Beth and I enjoying lunch out together

PRAYER:

-We’re so thankful that God has helped us through another move and that so many people have been praying for us.

-I hurt my foot back in May while running. Please pray that it would heal completely so that I can get back to exercising. I really miss running.

-Pray that the boys would remember each day how much God loves them and that we would have wisdom as we parent them.

-Pray that John will be able to finish his checking for Fataleka by the end of November because that is when Jeffrey Iro, the Fataleka translator, will be back in Honiara to work.

Every September I normally make a trip to Solomon Islands to work with the Fataleka translation team. But because we were still getting settled here in Texas I decided not to make the trip this year. The Fataleka team still met together for two weeks, though, to read through and edit some of the books that Jeffrey Iro had drafted. My brother-in-law, Pat Andrews (who had gone to help another team), was able to give the Fataleka team some help as well. Pat also asked them to write reports on the impact of the trial edition of nine epistles that we had completed in March. It was encouraging to read their reports and here are a couple excerpts:

Saltathiel Ulufia (above): “I have read so many things that are becoming clear for the first time. Having read these books in the Fataleka language they were very clear and understandable and will be very useful to all our Fataleka speaking people.”

Joseph Gofi (above): “When I as a catechist prepare for Sunday services, I now turn to the Fataleka translation of the gospels and epistles when preparing my sermon for Sundays and some people even commented that my sermons have improved a lot and are clearer.”

Jeffrey Iro (above) has continued to translate and he has now drafted five books that are awaiting my attention. Now that we are settled here in TX, I have begun editing Revelation and I hope to catch up with Jeffrey by the end of this year. We are planning to print about 1,000 copies of a trial edition in early 2015 so that more of the Fataleka people will have a chance to read some translated books before the New Testament is completely finished. We would appreciate your prayers for good progress so that we can meet the deadline for getting this trial edition ready.

 

 

In these last 5 weeks in Arlington, in spite of the discomfort of adjusting and settling in, there have be some good things along the way.

The highlight for Joey and Luke has been their community soccer teams. They love playing. Food (ice cream, cereal, lunch meat, chips, to name a few) has also been high on their list.

John is also enjoying all the good food available here in America and getting back into running again (2 offsetting enjoyments!).

I (Brena) am loving bagels and cream cheese for breakfast (and the fact I don’t have to make them) and our comfortable house which is so close to stores, the library, and the freeway.

And we’ve all treasured the times we’ve had with 3 sets of family members that live nearby.

God is good to give us these simple things to bless us along the way.

We value and need your prayers. Transition is never fun, but thankfully it gets better over time. Thank you for being a part of our lives.

Joey as a Texas Spur

Luke plays on the Fusion team

Sorry, Folks. Pretty new to this web business. Hopefully this time it’ll work!

Anyways, here’s what’s been happening the last few months. Please pray for us as we continue to adjust to living in America this year. Thanks!

Bruner Sept2014