Metzger December 2009 Update

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." - Matthew 9:37-38 NIV

Dear Loves Ones,

First of all, thank you for your prayers for Kurt’s knee surgery. The procedure went really well and Kurt has only had minor pain that can be controlled with medicine. Yesterday we went in for a check up with the doctor, and he said Kurt’s knee is fine and he will see us again in a week and recommended that Kurt start physical therapy soon.  He will not be able to play sports again for about 6 to 8 months.

(Luke likes to ride in the car seat!)

We also wanted to let you know that we have enjoyed our first month on our home assignment. Our time in Colombia has been blessed beyond measure. We have one supporting church here that we have visited almost every Sunday since we arrived, and they have been very welcoming and loving towards our family. We spoke during two of their Sunday services and were also able to share in two of their Bible study groups. We are excited to get to know the members of the church better so that we when we leave we can remember each other in prayer. We also feel privileged to be able, to talk about the work of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

We have really enjoyed our time with family here. The kids are having fun with their cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We are making special memories that will last a lifetime!

(Top to bottom: Kassia with her Aunt Adriana – Johanna with her sisters and mom)

Thank you for your faithful prayers and support during the year 2009. Many people received the New Testament in their heart language this year in PNG for the very first time. What a privilege for us to be able to see the results of many years of work by many translators, support personnel, and partners in home countries. Some of the New Testament dedications in PNG this year included the Iyo, Gapapaiwa, and Minaveha. There are about 820 languages spoken in Papua New Guinea but still more than 290 living languages do not have one word of the Bible and no project in progress. Please pray with us that the Lord of the harvest will bring workers to complete the task.

(Top to bottom: Iyo New Testament Dedication – Gapapaiwa New Testament Dedication)

We are thrilled to play some small part in getting God’s Word into the hands of some of the “tribes and tongues” we read about in Revelation. Thank you for the important part you play in our team!

Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

In His hands,

Johanna (for Kurt, Kassia, and Luke)

In Colombia!

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8 NIV)

Dear Loved ones,

Thank you so much to those of you who prayed for our trip from Papua New Guinea (PNG) to Colombia. We have been here for five days and are now just getting over the jet lag from crossing 10 time zones. Our trip went mostly as planned except for when we got to the airline counter in Cairns Australia I remembered that I had forgotten Luke’s paper ticket for an infant in PNG. We were able to re-purchase his ticket in Sydney and the rest of the trip went very well but as you can imagine, it was very long.

Our return trip from PNG (Start – Ukarumpa PNG – Port Moresby PNG – Cairns Australia – Sydney Australia – Los Angeles USA – Miami USA – Bogota Colombia – Finish)

In the few days we have been here in Colombia, Johanna and I (Kurt) have already had doctor’s appointments to check Johanna’s eye sight and my knee that I injured more than a year ago in PNG. I had an MRI performed and the results indicate that I have a complete tear of my ACL and a small tear in the meniscus. This next week we will be traveling to Orlando for a re-entry program with Wycliffe. When we get back we will schedule a date for my knee surgery.

Johanna with her two of her sisters (Olga & Patricia); Luke with Johanna’s mom (Fanny)… they just met for the first time since he was born!

Please pray with us:

• For our family as Johanna and I travel to and from Orlando.
• For the plans and successful completion of my knee surgery.
• For our family to be able to develop a routine during this time of many transitions.

Praise God with us:

• For our safe travels to Colombia.
• For being reunited with Johanna’s family.

Blessings,

Kurt (for Johanna, Kassia, and Luke too!)

Update from the Metzger's – October 2009

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."  (Joshua 1:9 NASB)

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers for Kurt as he served as the Director’s Assistant for Security (DAS). Things have been quite calm during the three weeks he has been serving in this position and we can definitely sense that you have been praying for us. Kurt will be done serving as the DAS tomorrow, October 20^th. Please continue to pray so that he will finish the job well. You can also pray for peace in the valley where Ukarumpa is located as there continues to be tribal fighting.

We also want to thank you for your faithful contribution to the work of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea (PNG). We have been serving here in Ukarumpa for almost 3 years now. Kurt has enjoyed his work assisting translators and support workers in the Communication and Technical Services Department. His time at the Helpdesk and Network Services has been a blessing to him. We have both enjoyed working with the youth group here in Ukarumpa for the last two and a half years. I (Johanna) thank God for the opportunity he has given me to help at the Primary School and put my teaching abilities into practice during our time here.

In November we will be taking our first home assignment. November 5^th we will leave for Colombia and will be there until January. From there we will be traveling on to Dallas, TX. Part of our return assignment will be to visit churches, friends and family. Please pray for us as we pack up our house and get it ready for our renters. Two single ladies will be staying here while we are gone.

Our home assignment is a time to reconnect with our home culture, take care of our medical needs, and visit our partners—YOU. We will have vacation time included during this time, but that is not the primary goal. While we are in the US, Kurt will do some IT training and I will take some continuing education courses to keep my teaching certification up to date. Although the cost of living in PNG has risen somewhat over the past year, it still is not as expensive as living in the US. Many missionaries find their home assignment time especially stretching on the financial side. We’ll need your prayers just as much as ever, especially as we travel and share what God has been doing in PNG. THANK YOU so very much to all of you who have stood with us in prayer and financially.

Please also pray for our long trip back to the other side of the world! We will leave Australia on November 8^th and will travel from Cairns to Sydney (4 hour flight) and then on from Sydney to Los Angeles (14 hour flight). We will spend one night in Los Angeles and fly the next morning to Miami (5 hour flight) and on from Miami to Bogota (3 and a half hours). We should be arriving in Bogota on Monday, November 9^th at 8pm. It will be a challenge to travel with a 4 year old and a very active 1 and a half year old.

We look forward to visiting with you while we are in Colombia and the United States.

Blessings,

Johanna (for Kurt, Kassia, and Luke too!)