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

 

 

BTW (Back Translation Workshop): For the past two weeks, John has been teaching a Back Translation workshop to 14 Papua New Guineans from 4 language groups. He really enjoys being in the classroom and interacting with the students. If you don’t know what Back Translation is and want to know, shoot him (not me :)) an email (he says he won’t be holding his breath waiting for one though).

Baraka: We are so thankful that God has provided us a renter for our house for the year we’re on furlough! Praise God! Baraka is relatively new to Ukarumpa and she is the Pharmacist at our clinic.  She’s thrilled that our house is right next door to the clinic so that she can come and go easily.  Her roommate, Julia, will also stay at our house for a few months before she leaves for furlough in September.

Baton: You all have been praying for someone to take over my (Brena) jobs with Staff Care. Well, God has answered! My friend, Laura, has offered to organize the Cafes occasionally. Because she has a lot of other things on her plate, the Cafes won’t happen as often as before but at least they will continue! She has also offered to organize the Dinners for 8 here in our community. Praise God!

Passing the rolling pin baton over to Laura :)

Boys: Thanks for praying for our boys. Luke has pretty much decided to take a gap year and work before starting college. He already has a job lined up too, as Joey’s boss is willing to take Luke on in his window washing business. Joey is continuing to fly and should have his private pilot’s license pretty soon. In August he will be starting the online Aviation degree that Liberty University offers. He is also going on a missions trip to India in a couple of weeks with his church. On May 6^th, Grant and Sara are going to celebrate their 1^st wedding anniversary! Where has the time gone!?!

Bungs (the Tok Pisin word for meetings): In our next update we will be sharing about the different Open Houses that we will be having in southern California and Texas this summer. Because we have limited time in each place, Open Houses are a great way to meet with a lot of you at one time. So be looking for a schedule soon! Let us know too if you’d like a new prayer card from us.

PRAISE AND PRAYER:

-We’re so thankful for the way God has been answering prayer with the boys’ future direction, someone to take over my jobs, and giving us a renter for our house.

-Pray for us in these final two months before we leave for furlough. There is a lot to do; finishing up our jobs, preparing our house for renters, filling out paperwork, planning presentations, and planning the summer of connecting with friends and family.

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

 

 

 

 

Yauko Kasave is one of the Papua New Guineans I (John) have been mentoring as he works to become a translation consultant. In December Yauko finished a four-year degree in Theology as part of his internship and now he is checking translations under the supervision of consultants as the practical part of his training. In February I was the supervising consultant for Yauko as we checked the book of 2 Corinthians for the Gizrra language. There are still very few Papua New Guinean consultants, so it is a privilege to be able to be involved in equipping the interns I work with for this role. In the past few months a number of new interns have started and there are now 14 interns in PNG and 5 in Solomon Islands.

Besides the weekly Cafes Brena puts on for the community, she recently catered a dinner for the managers of the Wycliffe regional centers. These 15 people work in remote areas and rarely come here to Ukarumpa where they can connect with colleagues and enjoy the cool weather. Since they are here attending the branch conference and having meetings with their team members, Brena was able to provide a special dinner for them. She also worked with a friend two days later to host a dessert reception for the international guests that came for conference.

The regional center managers getting to know each other

Brena’s two Staff Care friends that helped her with the dinner — Raessa is a short-tern intern who has also been working alongside Brena at the Cafes and Max puts on retreats for the missionary ladies

One of our branch directors talking with the new SIL Director, Dr. Michel Kenmogne, at the reception

The Staff Care house where Brena hosts the Cafes recently added a deck! It’s still not completely done, but the community is already enjoying it

Luke just finished his LAST high school season of basketball and now has a three-week break before his LAST couple months of high school. Where has the time gone?!? Pray for him as he experiences many more “lasts” before we leave in June.

Need: When we return to the U.S. in July this year we will have some expenses as we travel and get settled in South Carolina. If any of you are interested in helping with these expenses, you can contact us for more information.

COULD YOU PRAY?

• For Yauko as he works to complete the requirements to become a full consultant
• For Luke as finishes up high school and decides on his future
• For preparations for our upcoming departure in June
• For energy to do the work God has for us here

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

 

 

I (John) just got back from Solomon Islands last week. This is the third year in a row that I’ve gone there to teach translation software to translators who are working with Island Bible Ministries (IBM), the Bible school that my good friend, Dr Alpheaus Zobule, started. I always enjoy going as the translators are eager to learn how to use the software and resources that will help them produce good quality translations. The first week I taught 9 translators the basics of Paratext – the program used by most translators. The second week I taught 24 translators to use a computer program that contains over a thousand resources (Bible versions, commentaries, etc.) for use in translation. They were thrilled to have access to many resources that can help them in their work.

This year I decided to ask the translators to share their testimonies for the morning devotions and it was so encouraging to hear how God has worked in their lives, both in bringing them to faith in Him and how He led them to involvement in translation.

Ricky Nelson (below) had to live with his relatives from the time he was in primary school because of dysfunction within his family. The Lord spoke to him through a message that Dr Zobule gave at a retreat he attended and later when someone told him of an opportunity to attend IBM he jumped at the chance. While he was only interested in taking Bible classes at first, he is now very interested in becoming involved in translation for his own language, Varisi. It was great to see his interest grow during the two weeks and also to see the great potential he has to be a good translator.

Malachi Haraikeni (the one on the left below) shared how he had a desire to be involved in translation work, but his wife was initially not in agreement and wanted him to find other work. He finally came to a point he had to decide one way or the other and it was neat to hear how God answered his prayers and his wife told him she would support his involvement in translation.

After I went running one day I met a Bughotu man on the street and he told me that Father Culwick (the priest we worked with on the Bughotu translation) and his wife were in Honiara. He said Father Culwick had fallen a few days previously and was recovering at a house in town. I had not seen them in over eight years, so I was thrilled to be able to go visit with them for a couple hours. It was good to see that Father Culwick was recovering and that he still had his great sense of humor!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Please continue to pray for Luke in this last semester of high school, that God would lead him clearly as he decides what to do after he graduates, and that he would continue to follow Jesus.
• Brena is catering & hosting weekly Staff Care events until the beginning of May. Pray for stamina and that God would provide people to take over her jobs.
• Please pray for wisdom as I do a consultant check (here in PNG) of 2 Corinthians for the Gizzra language.
• We’re very thankful for all of you who make it possible for us to continue serving with Wycliffe.

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

 

 

 

(photo credit: Susan Frey)

Merry Christmas from the highlands of Papua New Guinea! We are so thankful for Jesus, who came to earth as a man to die for us. The forgiveness of our sins and a life together with Him while on this earth and after we die – what a gift!

As we look back on this year, it’s been one of great highs and great lows. We’re thankful that He has been with us through it all. The year’s highs included Grant and Sara’s wedding, trips taken and work accomplished, direction for Joey, a job for Grant, and spending time with good friends. But we’ve also gone through the sadness that came when our dear niece Libby passed away.

And as we look towards the new year we are grateful that God will be with us in all the changes that will take place – transitioning back to America for our furlough year, watching our youngest son graduate and find his way in the world, deciding how empty-nesting will affect our place of work. Lots of unknowns, but we are trusting that God will continue to lead us.

We hope you have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the gift of Jesus.

Brena & John

Some December happenings…

I (Brena) put on some Staff Care events, one being a Christmas party for the Village Ladies. Here’s a group shot of some wonderful women serving God in many different villages here in Papua New Guinea.

After several years of fund raising, the seniors were able to go on their “Senior Trip” down to the coast for five days. Pray for the them that God would guide them in their future plans and that they would desire to keep Jesus first in their lives.

Our good friends from our 1997 Pacific Orientation Course, the Owens, were up here in Ukarumpa for a few weeks. They work on the coast with Pioneer Bible Translators. It was so great to catch up with them and to go on some walks with Angela. Who knows when we’ll see them again!?!

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