Brena and I (John) are thankful that in this time of uncertainty about the future, our hope rests in God who is in control of all things. While it is discouraging to not know when we will be able to return to Papua New Guinea and continue our work in Bible Translation, we know that God has this situation in His control and we can trust Him to bring good things out of all of this. We are also very thankful for all of you who support us both financially and through prayer. We feel very blessed to have a team of people like you who make it possible for us to continue serving in Bible Translation.

After all the moving we have done over the years, it was a very pleasant surprise to us that our recent move from Charleston SC to Waxhaw NC was not very stressful. We decided it was probably because we didn’t have to get all our belongings into suitcases for a flight. We are staying at a Wycliffe center here in NC and plan to be here until we can return to Papua New Guinea (PNG). (*Please note our new address at the bottom.) Right now we are just waiting to find out if traveling there is actually possible. Six families tried just this past week but their flights were canceled just a few days before their planned departure. Also, the number of COVID-19 cases in PNG has increased suddenly in the last couple weeks from about 10 to about 200, and we aren’t sure how this might affect our return. While that number of cases may not seem significant, it is for PNG where there is limited medical care. Once we do hear that travel back to PNG is possible, we will begin looking to purchase tickets. While we wait, I will continue to keep up with managing the programs of the 17 interns I’m responsible for and also doing some preparatory work for a consultant check on the book of Revelation for the Zabana language. This is the last book of the New Testament that needs to be checked so it is exciting to see that this significant milestone is near to being reached.

We are thankful for a fully furnished 2BR apartment here at the Wycliffe Center (JAARS) in Waxhaw. It’s a weird feeling to be empty nesters, but nice too! And we are already realizing how little food we are going through compared to having some hungry boys around.

WE ARE THANKFUL:

• That the move out of our house in Charleston went very smoothly and wasn’t too stressful.
• That both Joey and Luke have places to live in Charleston. (Joey with Grant and Sara and Luke with my brother, Dave, and his wife, Ceil ).
• For the tremendous year we had in Charleston.
• That God continues to supply all of our needs – our most recent being a very clean and furnished apartment and the use of a car until we leave!
• For many friends here in the area that we can connect with.

WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS:

• That the Lord would allow us to return to PNG before too long, and help us to be patient as we wait.
• That Luke will adjust well to living with Dave and Ceil. We are thankful they were willing to take him into their house when his plan to move into an apartment fell through.
• That we would be able to get a few medical and dental issues treated before we leave for PNG.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org

*New Address – PO Box 248, Waxhaw, NC 28173

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)

 

 

 

 

 

 

While we still don’t know when we will be able to return to Papua New Guinea, we do have plans for at least the next few months. Last week we heard from the owners of the house we have been living in that the house is in the process of being sold and we need to be out by July 31^st. So we have decided to move up to the Wycliffe center (JAARS) in Waxhaw, NC, (*note new address below) in August and we will plan to be there until we get the word that we can return to PNG. They have furnished apartments that we can live in. For those of you who remember, we lived in Waxhaw as a family in 2003 when we had to return to America quickly because of my (Brena’s) OCD.

So the end of our wonderful year in Charleston is coming to a close. Joey and Luke will be settling into different living situations; Joey (as of this week) will be visiting friends in Michigan and then flying to Turkey (if the borders are open!) to visit his girlfriend, Moriah, who is there studying Turkish. After that he will live with Grant and Sara until he is able to go to India. Luke will continue working and by our next update we’ll know for sure where he will be living here in Charleston. It’s a sad time for us as we have so enjoyed this year of being in the same place as our three sons and daughter-in-law.

We have really enjoyed having Kairu with us this last month!

PRAISE/PRAYER:

• We’re so thankful that God has blessed us with a wonderful year here in Charleston; the provision of a house and car (thanks to East Cooper Baptist Church), and time with family (immediate and extended). Thankful, too, that God made it clear to us that we should move up to Waxhaw for the time being.
• We are thankful God is helping us to get all of the needed doctor and dentist appointments taken care of, that my sleep is better, and that the boys have places to stay once we leave. Please pray for them in their walks with Him.
• It will be a lot of work to empty this house of everything in it so we would appreciate prayer for strength and patience this next month.
• The PNG Wycliffe branch administration needs a lot of wisdom as they determine when to allow members to return. Please pray for them.
• Pray that God will give us peace as we wait, and clarity as to the right time to head back overseas

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org

(*until July 31) 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

(*after July 31) PO Box 248, Waxhaw, NC 28173

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 South Carolina where we are waiting to hear when we can return to Papua New Guinea. A few weeks ago Wycliffe announced that they are not releasing anyone to return overseas until July 31st at the earliest. While we may have to wait longer than that, we are thankful to have been given a fixed date, and one that is pretty close to the time we had originally planned to leave. We are also thankful that we can stay in this missionary house until the end of July.

In the midst of waiting here’s what we’ve been up to:

• John has been doing preparatory work for a consultant check on the book of Hebrews for the Zabana language. It is the next to last book of the New Testament that needs to be checked.
• He has also been getting some routine medical checkups taken care of (in spite of the lock down) and playing tennis with Joey and his brother, Dave.
• I (Brena) have been trying out a new medicine, Gabapentin, for the problem with my legs. It hasn’t completely taken the numbness away, but I’m sleeping much sounder and for longer stretches, for which I’m thankful.
• We’ve been able to spend time with extended family that live locally and with Grant and Sara who live five minutes down the road, celebrating birthdays and Mother’s Day (photos below). We are treasuring these moments together.
• Our three boys have all been able to keep working during the pandemic and Sara has started her last year of pharmacy school.

Sara, Dave, Ceil, John, Grant, and Luke celebrating Joey’s 22nd birthday

The 3 brothers (Dave, Brad, and John) enjoying a weekend of golf in North Carolina

I love being a mom to these kids!

PLEASE PRAY:

• that we’ll be patient as we wait to hear from Wycliffe when we will be able to return to PNG.
• that PNG will continue to be spared from many cases of COVID-19 (so far they have only have 8).
• for Luke as he continues to decide what to do with his future.
• for Joey as he too waits on borders to open so that he can start his year of ministry in India.
• for special “last” times with family before we leave.

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)

 

 

 

Every year or so we send out a paper letter to those who don’t receive our updates via their computers. If you have been reading our monthly updates, then you are already probably aware of the things that we talk about in this letter. But you may want to take a look anyways (there are some new pictures) and pray for the items at the end. Just click on the link below. It’s a 4-pager, but most of it is pictures. :) Thank you for your love and support!

Bruner Prayer Letter April 2020

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)

 

 

CONFERENCES: These last two weekends we were able to share at two different missions conferences, one at John’s brother’s church and the other at the church Joey and Luke attend. While it was tiring, it was encouraging to fellowship with other missionaries and to be able to share with over 100 people about the need for Bible translation. There were a number of people that signed up to pray regularly for us, so that was an encouragement as well. Thank you for praying.

LEGS: A number of you have asked me (Brena) if I have had relief from the numbness I’ve experienced in my legs at night. Just wanted to give you an update. After seeing a regular doctor, a neurologist, a physical therapist and a non-surgical spine specialist (and getting x-rays and an MRI), it was determined that I have some bulging disks in my back which are narrowing the openings where the nerves come out. And that is causing the nerves to become irritated which leads to the numbness in my legs. Last week I had an epidural shot and they injected medicine around the nerves to calm them down. I haven’t seen much improvement, so I’ll probably need to get a series of three shots. Could you pray that these shots will work?

PREPARATIONS: Furlough is an interesting time, to say the least. It usually takes us a few months to adjust to our new surroundings and feel a bit settled. Then we have a couple of months of enjoying our time in the new place. And then it is time to start thinking and preparing for returning overseas. We are now in that final stage. We are getting some things ready to be shipped to PNG, getting medical and dental check-ups, and planning a trip to see friends and supporters in North Carolina. We are also having some different family members and friends visit us in the next month. We would appreciate prayer for these last few months in the States. It’s definitely a season of mixed feelings, but I’m grateful that we have a trustworthy God who sees all the unknowns and concerns of our future.

“He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with Him.” Daniel 2:22

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)

 

 

 

 

Solomons Training: This was the fourth January in a row I (John) went to Solomon Islands for two weeks to teach translators how to use two computer applications that are considered the basic tools for translators. It was nice that Pat Andrews, my brother-in-law and boss, was able to come with me to help, especially since we had 30 participants!

This year, Dr Zobule, the head of Islands Bible Ministries (IBM), suggested that we focus on the translation process itself and teach how the two applications are to be used in that process. So, I chose three short Scripture passages and during the week we went through the entire translation process for each of them (translating from English into Solomon Islands Pijin). Before we had the eight different teams read their translations of the first passage (Luke 2:36-38), Pat and I were a bit nervous, wondering if their translations would be alright. But when each group read theirs, we were greatly encouraged because they all produced translations that were accurate and understandable. At the end of the training many of the translators expressed their gratitude for having training that enables them to use these computer applications. Reuben Pae (below front left) said, “Every year the training pushes us up a bit higher so that our translations are getting better and better in quality.”

For me, I’m just thankful I have the privilege of being involved in training these Solomon Islanders who are committed to helping people in their language groups understand God’s Word.

Decision Made: Brena and I want to express our thanks for your prayers regarding our decision about where we will live and work after our year of home assignment is over. We have come to a decision! After considering staying in the U.S, going to Solomon Islands or moving back to Papua New Guinea, we feel like God would have us go back to PNG and continue in the work we were doing there. We are thankful that our boys and our parents are alright with us going back overseas. We haven’t yet set a date for our return, but it will likely be sometime this summer.

UPCOMING/PRAYER:

1. We are involved in two missions conferences here in Charleston in the next few weeks. Pray that we would be able to communicate effectively about the continuing need for Bible translation in many parts of the world.

2. Pray for continued healing for Brena’s dad (since his stroke last summer). His heart is doing better but he still needs to regain strength.

3. Pray that during our remaining few months in the States we would have encouraging times with our family and friends.

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)

 

 

 

 

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)