Bible College and Seminary Classes Begin

Sue says:
Here you see us standing before the front doors of Washington Bible College. The college and Capital Bible Seminary are located on the same 63-acre campus in Lanham, Maryland, just inside the Beltway around Washington, DC (at 2 o'clock if DC is the center of the clock face).

Classes are off to a strange start this week. Tuesday we experienced the Mineral, Virginia-centered earthquake. That event damaged our college library and chapel. Now Hurricane Irene is predicted to bring quite strong winds and rain. Beyond those things, though, everyone seems glad to get started with the new term.

The Intercultural Studies Seminar Jeff teaches contains students from both the college and seminary. There should be some lively interactions as we look at Christian missions in the modern world.

Tomorrow the Global Outreach Fellowship meets.This group of students will work with us this year to plan the week-long missions conference to raise student awareness of both short- and long-term missions opportunities within the US and abroad.

Hitting the Road Again

Sue says:
We're packing up our new-to-us used car to head to Maryland. We feel like freshmen setting off to their first year of college. We'll have many of our possessions packed in our car as we set off for new adventures.

It's been wonderful to visit family and friends the last six weeks. We look forward to new duties and relationships at our new assignment as missionaries-in-residence at Washington Bible College/Capitol Bible Seminary. 

Back in the USA

Sue says:

What a joy it has been to be able to participate in family events and reconnect with church folks back in the US. In California, we were on hand to celebrate my dad's eightieth birthday with my parents and brother and his wife. It was great to be able to meet with supporters from different locations there too.

In Virginia too we have been meeting with family and supporters. It is often possible to get together with our sons and their wives on the week-ends. One recent week-end, it was fun to take our grandsons to the park.

We're thanking the Lord for His help in finding a car of our own. This week, we are finalizing buying a used Hyundai Elantra. It seems to be just the car to meet our needs. 

Many Goodbyes!

Jeff writes:

The last two weeks of our final term in Papua New Guinea literally flew by. We send our apologies to those of you who regularly follow our blog, but to say the least we have been busy. It is no small feat to leave one home and get ready to move to another 10,000 miles away.

There were many heart-wrenching farewells. Our friends and neighbors hosted us for one fantastic meal after another. We reminisced, laughed, cried, hugged, shook hands, and laughed some more. We said our farewells, shared prayers, encouraged others and were encouraged ourselves. Five-and-a-half years had come suddenly to an end. My, oh my!

As I write this we are in Singapore. We came for a few days of R&R prior to a 22-hour airplane ride that will take us to Los Angeles. After a two-week stay in California, we head east where we will land in Washington, DC. After visiting our former pastor and his family there, we head for Blacksburg, VA, where our children live. Lord willing we will be able to continue our ministry for one more year as Missionaries in Residence at Washington Bible College/Capital Bible Seminary.

For now, enjoy some of our farewell photos.

Dinner with Andira's Family

Sue Received a Gift from Therese Kaetavara

Our Neighbors Give Us a Farewell Dinner

Farewell Meal at Warala Church

We  model presents given by Jennifer and Matthias Koim.

Baby Equipment

Sue says:
Above are some examples of an indispensable item for Papua New Guinean babies. The baby bilum. The picture was taken at the nursery for the students' babies. There are four babies sleeping in their own bilums. They also sleep in them at home or wherever they are. In a home, the bilum would be suspended from a hook from the ceiling.

Baby bilums are also used as baby carriers. A mother can suspend the bilum from her own head to have her hands free for other tasks.

Do babies like them? Hannah seems to show that she feels relaxed. Children as old as three-years-old may continue to sleep in their bilums because they are so comfortable--like a hammock.

Phillipians: A Road to Joy!

Jeff writes:

Last weekend I enjoyed a weekend retreat with some of CLTC's workers. These men labor in our poultry, rice, farm, mechanics, plumbing and other departments. Most earn less than a dollar per hour, but their contribution to the college is invaluable. It has been said that 80% of the cost to educate a student here comes as a result of the fruit of their labor.

Paul and Silas Bound in a Philippian Jail

A Chicken on Every Plate!

I led them in a study of Philippians. It was entitled Rod Bilong Amamas: Pas Pol i Raitim long Ol Filipai (Philippians: A Road to Joy! ) We certainly had a joyous time sharing God's word in drama, testimony and song. The food came in abundance. (I ate enough rice to relieve a Chinese famine!)


Pray for these men. They work hard. At the end of a day their backs and legs ache. They perform repetitive tasks day in and day out. However, without their hard labor this college would not exist.

The Happy Campers!

Round of Good-byes Start

Sue says:
Well, guess it's that time now. Time to praise the Lord for His goodness to us while we've been here in PNG, and time to say our good-byes to quite a number of friends we've made while here.

Last Sunday, I said good-bye to the village church (picture above) our student cell group has been ministering to this college year. The students will continue to minister to them until graduation in November.

This week-end, Jeff is saying good-bye to the college farm workers at a retreat. Jeff will speak on the book of Philippians to inspire them to keep on rejoicing as they walk with the Lord. They'll probably also have some fun swimming in a stream and watching movies together. And a big part of any retreat is enjoying eating together as well.