Those 3 words pretty much sum up this past month. Kairu was able to be with us for three weeks of his school break. It was special that all seven of us could be together for Christmas. After Christmas, using a special gift we received, John took Kairu, Joey, and Luke on a two-day motorbike excursion. They were in heaven! And while they had some problems with the motorbikes and some wipe outs, thankfully they all came home in one piece. Just this past week, John and I (Brena) went on a cruise down to Mexico, thanks to one of John’s brothers. We were also joined by John’s parents and another one of his brothers and his wife. We had a really wonderful time together and got to experience quite a different boat ride than the ones we were used to in the Solomons. :)

thankful to be all together at Christmas this year

Kairu, Luke, and Joey at the off-road vehicle park

enjoying one of the many delicious meals on the ship

on land we were able to see some ancient Mayan ruins…

…and scooter around the island

UPCOMING/PRAYER:

1. John is leaving today on another trip to the Solomons. This is the fourth year in a row that he has gone to teach Solomon Islanders how to use specialized translation software. He is going with his boss (and brother-in-law), Pat Andrews, and they will be gone almost three weeks. Please pray that they will have safe travels, good health, and that their computers and the participants’ computers will run trouble free.

2. Many of you have asked how my legs are doing. After going to a PT and daily stretching, my right leg has improved but my left leg hasn’t. I’m trusting that by the time I see the neurologist in early February, there will be more improvement. If not, an MRI may be needed. Thank you for continuing to pray.

3. Luke is on a one-week missions trip to Guatemala with some people from his church. Please pray that this would be a life changing experience for him and for those they interact with.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org – 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

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)

 

 

 

 

Since our last update I (John) made 2 trips and we had 3 sets of visitors, not including extended family we saw at Thanksgiving.

My first trip (November 8-18) was to the Solomon Islands for a consultant check. Thank you for praying! When I left on the trip, I was not feeling well but as I traveled west, I felt better and better. By the time I arrived in Solomons, I was fine! The check of 2^nd Corinthians in the Zabana language went really well. It was especially encouraging to see that the quality of the translation had improved dramatically from previous checks I had done. It was nice to hear the co-translator Bruce, after reading the sections, often exclaim with pleasure because the translation was clear and natural. There were two Zabana women there to answer my questions and afterwards they both said they understood much better the teaching in 2 Corinthians. They (and the rest of us too) were especially encouraged by the teaching about generosity and giving in chapters 8 and 9.

L to R: Isaac (main translator), Alison, Alista, Bruce (co-translator)

Bruce reading the Zabana translation

My second trip (December 2-7) was to Dallas for the Seed Company staff meetings. Meetings are not something I typically enjoy, but I guess these were not “typical”. I was encouraged through the stories I heard of the impact of translated Scriptures on people’s lives and it was a reminder that it is a privilege to be able to be involved in this work. While I was there rooming with Pat Andrews (my boss and husband of my sister-in-law), his wife, Beth, flew to Charleston to spend the week with Brena. They had a great time catching up and doing fun things.

Brena and Beth enjoyed afternoon tea, talking, walking, movies, coffee, a musical, sightseeing…

During this last month we also enjoyed seeing our good friends from Papua New Guinea, Paul and Laura Dokken, who are home on furlough. We also saw Daniel Curry, a high school classmate of Joey’s, and a lot of extended Bruner family at Thanksgiving.

It was fun catching up with the Dokkens and showing them around Charleston

Daniel Curry and Joey

Thanksgiving afternoon football with some of the Bruners

those of us Bruners (and a couple extra) who were together for Thanksgiving

Brena enjoyed shopping and eating with some of the Bruner ladies

UPCOMING/PRAYER:

• Kairu, who lived with us in PNG, is going to spend his Christmas break with us (he goes to school in Michigan), so we’re looking forward to being together again.

• Brena is still searching for answers for her leg numbness. After going to a regular doctor, a neurologist, and getting x-rays, it was recommended that she get physical therapy to strengthen her lower back. She’ll begin that this week.

• In the midst of Christmas activities, I will be preparing for my upcoming trip to the Solomon Islands in mid-January. This will be my fourth year of teaching translators there how to use specialized software for translation.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org – 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

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)

 

 

 

BACK TO SOLOMONS:

I (John) leave tomorrow on an 11 day trip to the Solomon Islands where I’ll be checking 2 Corinthians for the Zabana language. In every consultant check, several speakers of the language who are not part of the translation team are there so that the consultant can ask them questions to make sure the translation is communicating clearly and accurately. In my experience, these people usually don’t have a clear understanding of Scripture so the consultant check is a great opportunity to help them learn and challenge them in their faith. I would appreciate your prayers that during this check of 2 Corinthians God will use His Word and our interaction over it to help these people grow in their faith. I’ve also been fighting a cold the last few days so please pray that I’ll be feeling alright as I make the long flight across the U.S. and the Pacific Ocean.

me and Isaac, the Zabana translator

A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM OCTOBER:

While I was in Dallas at the Bible translation conference, Brena went to a wedding with our boys and daughter-in-law. What a gift to be near them this year.

After the wedding, Joey left on his survey trip to India with Sam and Liz. They are thankful that God confirmed where they will work and with whom they’ll team up. If you’d like to hear more about it, you can contact him at joeydbruner@gmail.com.

Brena and I drove down to Florida to visit my parents in their retirement community for a few days. My brother Andy was there as well. While Brena hung out with my mom I was able to play in a little golf tournament with my dad.

Brena and I have also been doing some walking around the small historic downtown area of Charleston. Amazing to see structures that were built in the 1600’s. We feel thankful to live in this beautiful place and to have the chance to do some fun things together.

at the original Charles Town Landing

treats are always nice

Besides my trip to the Solomons, please continue to pray for the decision we need to make about where to base after furlough, the numbness in Brena’s legs, and Luke’s decision about what to do after this gap year.

Thanks for your prayers and thank you to those who give financially. We appreciate you.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org – 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

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)

 

Just wanted to send a quick update to let you know how God has been answering prayer.

• I think we can say now that we’re in somewhat of a routine. John is back to work and preparing for a consultant check of 2 Corinthians he will do when he goes to Solomon Islands in November. He is also going to Dallas later this week for a Bible Translation conference. He is looking forward to interacting with colleagues and hearing what God is doing through the translated Scriptures in other parts of the world. As for me, Brena, I’ve been slowly figuring out how to use my time. I’m enjoying some of the restful perks of life here – getting books from a library, running on flat roads, going for coffee or out to eat, and of course, watching Netflix.:) I’ve also been auditing an online counseling course so that I can learn a bit more of how to listen and encourage others.

• After attending four different churches, we have decided to go regularly to the one that Grant and Sara attend, James Island Christian Church. We have enjoyed the teaching there and we plan to join a small group so we can get to know some other people besides Grant and Sara! :)

• Because we have wanted to focus on adjusting to being back in the U.S., we haven’t yet spent much time discussing our future plans for where we’ll base after this furlough year. But we ask that you’ll continue to pray that God will guide us and give us wisdom.

• I have an appointment with a neurologist soon regarding my legs falling asleep at night, so hopefully by our next update I’ll be able to share some new insight!

Thank you for your prayers! We appreciate your interest in our lives and ministry.

It was very fun to spend time with the newlyweds and also see friends from PNG on a recent road trip to NC. Grant played his final Ultimate tournament of the season.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org – 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

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)

 

Finally, after working hard for a couple weeks to get the missionary house in shape, we’re in! John’s brother, Dave, and sister-in-law, Ceil, helped us a lot, replacing old furniture and making necessary repairs to the house so we could move in. And we’re really enjoying it. It has got 1940’s Charleston charm – wood floors, wide moulding, fire place, and glass cupboards. So many things about it I (Brena) love — especially the air conditioning since it’s been so hot and humid here! And Dave and Ceil’s church is allowing us to use one of their vehicles for the year – free of charge!

glass cupboards and pretty dishes make me happy

After sleeping one night in our house, I flew to Texas to be at my niece, Sarah’s, wedding. It wasn’t easy having to leave then, but I’m glad I went to see Mr. and Mrs. Josh Putman tie the knot. My dad was able to be there as well, which was amazing since he had just had a stroke the week before! Thankfully, he is recovering, but still has some heart issues relating to Atrial Fibrillation.

me and my sister with our sweet daddy

John took a trip recently to Wisconsin for meetings with his Pacific team

Besides trying to get settled in, we’ve been catching up with a lot of extended family who live in this area and some others who have come to visit. And with Joey and Luke living with us, and Grant and Sara just ten minutes down the road, life has been full! We’re very thankful for time with family.

very fun to have John’s parents come for a visit – and tour a plantation together!

a couple nephews with their significant others :)

thankful for the many meals we’ve had together so far

We’re slowly but surely getting the lay of the land, finding grocery stores, the library, thrift stores, running routes, etc.! We almost always have a bit of reverse culture shock when we come back to America as it just seems amazing to us to be able to get whatever you want whenever you want it!!

Luke has been working a lot at his window washing job and has already made enough money to buy a used motocross bike. Joey has been working with Luke as well, and he has also been doing some online Bible courses in preparation for going to India as a missionary. If you are interested in learning more about what he will be doing, let us know and we can connect you with him.

Joey and Luke with their boss, Gabe

We would appreciate your prayers for us as we continue to settle in, learn how to live together as a family of four, find a church, and get some needed rest as we’re both feeling tired from all the traveling and transition of the last couple months. I’ve seen a doctor about my leg’s falling asleep at night and will probably be able to get an MRI done in the next month or two. Please continue to pray in the meantime.

Thank you so much!

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org – 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

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)

 

It’s been almost six weeks since we left Ukarumpa and in a few days we’ll finally be able to start living in the missionary house that we’ll have for a year. We are very ready to get settled and unpack our suitcases.

These past six weeks have been really full but it has been great catching up with so many friends and family members and sharing about our work in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. We are grateful to all those who have either housed us, hosted our Open Houses, or made time to see us.

Luke spent a few days in Southern California with us, but then flew here to Charleston, South Carolina and has begun window washing with Joey.  He’ll be doing that for the year before he starts college. We’re thankful he already has a job.

We could use prayer!

• For safety for the boys as they work and for all of us as we learn to drive on these crowded and crazy Charleston roads!
• For patience and strength as we continue to transition back to life in America.
• For all the medical appointments we need to set up and that an answer will be found for the numbness in my (Brena) legs and that I would get better sleep.
• For grace for each other as we four (John and I, Joey and Luke) live together this year (in a relatively small house).
• For joy in the midst of transition stress. I have especially struggled.
• For wisdom to know what church to attend this year.
• And wisdom for Luke in deciding his future.

Thanks for supporting us in prayer,

Brena & John

The boys are together again

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org – 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

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

 

Furlough: In three days we leave for our year of Home Assignment (Furlough). For every year we spend overseas, Wycliffe allows us three months in the U.S., so after this four year term in PNG, we are allowed one year home. That year is divided into vacation, partnership development, reconnecting with family, friends, and supporters, and home service (John will be continuing his work and making trips). This is our 5th time to transition home for Furlough, and although there are some really great things about settling back into our “home” country, there is always some stress that goes with it. Please pray for us as we make this move. **Make note of our new address below.

Getting Ready: Thanks for praying for us as we’ve journeyed through these last busy months here. It’s gone really well overall (despite some illness). Besides finishing up our jobs, we helped other parents put on a Junior/Senior Banquet, watched Luke graduate from high school (and all his other last high school events), and prepared our house for renters. We are now finishing up the last cleaning and packing and saying our good-byes.

Luke was the Beta House Captain this past year. He planned pep rallies and led team Beta on Sports Day. A fun day!

Banquet….where the whole community comes out to watch the arrivals.

Every Banquet the parents put on a silly play for the kids, highlighting the seniors and all of their quirks and inside jokes over the years. Can you find John and me? :) John played Luke at his 20 year reunion and I played Ella Doron, Luke’s classmate.

From finishing home school Kindergarten in the Solomon Islands to….

…graduating from Ukarumpa International School, we are proud of Luke for all of his hard work. And we are very thankful for this strong academic and godly school, out in the middle of nowhere, that has enabled us to continue working overseas with Bible Translation.

This is a difficult time for the seniors as they scatter across the globe, leaving PNG and their PNG friends behind. Pray for all of them! Two of Luke’s best buddies since 4th grade, Brian and Billy, will stay in PNG while Luke heads back to America. Thankful that God is with them, loves them, and will help them.

What’s Next?: We are picking up Luke’s good friend, Joel, in Australia and then spending a week in Hawaii before we hit the ground running. We will spend three and a half weeks in California and Texas, seeing supporters, friends and family. Then we will arrive at our final destination, Charleston, South Carolina, on July 31st where we’ll be living in a missionary house owned by the church where John’s brother Dave is a pastor. Luke (who’s going to work for a year before starting college) and Joey will be living with us, and we’re looking forward to having Grant and Sara nearby as well! What a gift to be near all our kids this coming year!

Open Houses: Hopefully by now you’ve all received our letter regarding the Open Houses we’ll be having this summer in Southern California and Texas. If you don’t live in those areas, hopefully we’ll get to see many of you at another point this coming year. Click on this link (We’ll See You Soon!) for a reminder of the Open Houses and how to RSVP.

We feel privileged and thankful for the chance to serve here in PNG and Solomon Islands these past four years (and more!). Thank you for all you have done to make it possible.

PLEASE PRAY:

• Praise God for helping us through these busy months here.
• My (Brena) legs are still occasionally going to sleep when I lay on my side, but I will have to wait until we get back to the States to get an MRI. Thanks for continuing to pray for me!
• Please pray for Luke as he adjusts to a new life in America, one very different from his 18 years as a missionary kid overseas.
• After Joey’s trip to India he feels strongly that God wants him to serve in missions. Pray for him as he seeks to find how he will serve and what he needs to do to prepare.
• Pray for John and me as we transition back to a very different life as well. A lot of unknowns are ahead, but we are trusting in a God who’s always been faithful in the past.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

**(As of July 31) 4 Fenwick Dr., Charleston, SC 29407

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

 

We’d love to see you this summer! This newsletter (link below) was just sent out via the post, but here it is online. Click to read about our 3 Open Houses in Southern California and 1 in Texas. If we don’t see you this summer, hopefully we can connect during the coming year.

Bruner Prayer Letter May 2019

• Please note our new address as of August (4 Fenwick Dr., Charleston, SC 29407).
• We have 3 1/2 weeks left here before we head home. Please pray for our health. I (Brena) have been feeling unwell for over two weeks now. Pray I would get back to 100% and that John and Luke would stay healthy.

Thanks for your friendship, financial support, and prayers.

Brena & John

 

 

 

 

Thanks you all for praying and sending notes. It has meant a lot to feel cared for.

Prayer is a curious thing to understand, isn’t it? Sometimes God chooses to answer like we want, and sometimes not (for reasons we often don’t know). But, in this situation things have been better with my legs! Shortly after I posted the prayer request two weeks ago I went to a Craft Retreat here on our center. The first night I slept terribly, so the second night I decided to sleep on a very thin foam mattress that was on another bed. That second night my legs didn’t go to sleep! I decided to borrow the mattress and have been sleeping on it since and I’ve only had the numbness in my legs a couple times. I still plan to get an MRI in Australia in June when we are on our way back to the States, but I’m very thankful that I’ve been sleeping much better. Thank you for praying!!

Brena

TO BE IN TOUCH:

PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea – john_bruner@sil.org

Grant and Sara Bruner, 700 Daniel Ellis Dr., Apt 10105, Charleston, SC 29412

Joey Bruner, c/o Dave & Ceil Bruner, 206 Forest Trail, Isle of Palms, SC 29451

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

Could you pray for me (Brena)? For many years now, off and on, my legs have gone to sleep when I lay on my side at night. In the last 6 months, though, it’s gotten to the point where I’m waking up many times at night because of the numbness in my legs. This is even happening with my right arm. I’ve gone to our clinic’s PT and doctor, but they can’t seem to find anything wrong. The doctor would like me to get an MRI in Australia when we stop through there in late June on our way home (since I can’t get one here). Until then, would you pray that the weird numbness would stop and that I would be able to get the deep sleep that I need. Thank you!

TO BE IN TOUCH:

PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea – john_bruner@sil.org

Grant and Sara Bruner, 700 Daniel Ellis Dr., Apt 10105, Charleston, SC 29412

Joey Bruner, c/o Dave & Ceil Bruner, 206 Forest Trail, Isle of Palms, SC 29451

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