May Update

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Much is happening in the month of May. The computer department hosted a technology forum with other mission organisations in Papua New Guinea, I had my first opportunity to travel to SIL Ukarumpa (Wycliffe) for a school sports tournament, I've bought my tickets to go back to Sydney for a visit, and this coming Wednesday there will be a graduation for the high school.

Technology Forum
On 5th May, missionaries from a number of missions including Christian Leadership Training College, Christian Radio Missionary Fellowship, Missions Aviation Fellowship, Summer Institute of Linguistics and New Tribes Mission, involving in technological support gathered for a day to discuss the use of technology to assist missionaries and national churches. It's been encouraging to hear some progress been made in the provision of mobile and internet communications, things that we take for granted at home.

Volleyball at UkarumpaSports Tournament
This was the first time that I was able to go and see a sports tournament not held here at Lapilo. Each school term, students compete with other schools in the area in a number of different sports. For this term, the girls played volleyball and the boys played softball. Its great to see the girls made it to the final of the competition whereas the boys outperformed SIL (the only other school with a softball team at this tournament).

Sydney here I come
Well, not quite - but very soon. I've finally got my tickets to return to Sydney on 31 July and returning on 24 August 2009. My parents will also be visiting me just before I return to Sydney with them. It will be exciting to catch up with families and friends, and especially excited that I'll meet my niece for the first time (she was born shortly after I arrived in PNG).

Graduation
Numonohi Christian Academy, the school here at Lapilo operates on an American system, so the school year finishes at the end of this term. Graduation is a big thing for the students because it will be a time where they will be returning and settling back to their passport countries where some will be working, and others will go on to further education. It's been great to hear their testimonies of how God has led them and for many, has placed a desire for mission work in their hearts - pray that soon in the future, many will be returning to a mission field somewhere in this world.

With the end of the school year, there are also many who are going finish or going for home assignment. It's sad to have to say good bye to many, some of whom will probably never see again. But soon, there will be new people returning from home assignment or new on the field - so it will be exciting to meet the new people as well.		 Unrest in PNG
Recently there has been some unrest in some of the major cities of Papua New Guinea.  The cause of this is because of perspectives that some of the PNG people have regarding Asian business people who are working in PNG.  This unrest which has unfortunately led to illegal action against some of these Asian people and their businesses is not condoned by the government of PNG.  While these feelings are in no way directed towards us as missionaries, it is disruptive to our lives (and the lives of ordinary PNG citizens) and it is possible to get caught in the middle if we are not careful.  For several days our leadership has asked us not to go to town to avoid the possibility of getting caught in middle of the unrest. While things are currently peaceful and we can go to town, we need to be watchful for events unfolding around us.  Please be in prayer for the Government and people of PNG as
they work through the issues causing this unrest.

http://www.thenational.com.pg/051909/nation3.php

Praise and Prayer Points:

30 May 2009

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Sydwest Asian Christian Church New Tribes Mission