Tag Archives: #family

Current News, PNG Updates, Prayer Requests

Connections

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Globally, especially within the mission community, connections are amazing. Just today, as Todd and I were on the ramp to welcome Ricky Poki back to Hagen, one of the pilots from the Air Niugini Boeing 737 walked across the tarmac towards us. He walked right up and said he wanted to say hi, and showed us his phone and he was having a video chat with Abdiel David, a friend working in the MAF I office in Cairns, Australia!!

Ricky and Ole with the Boeing 737 in the background

It turns out that Ole was a pilot with New Tribes for many years and is now living in Cairns, Australia. He is neighbors with Abdiel and also with Stephen Charlesworth, who we work closely with out of the MAF I support office in Cairns. Not only did we have that connection, but we discovered another connection as well. We introduced Erwin Jungen, Todd’s outgoing Admin Assistant and Ricky Poki, Todd’s former Admin Assistant. Ricky is headed to train at SMAT in Michigan, with the goal or one day flying for MAF in PNG. Ole’s son is training at SMAT right now!!

Todd and Ricky speaking at the fundraiser to get Ricky to SMAT

Saturday, 11-June, a fundraising event was held in the Capital City – Port Moresby, at Vision City in support of Ricky Poki’s flight training.  This event was sponsored by friends of the family and involved a dinner and presentations about MAF by Todd, and also the call that the Lord has placed upon Ricky’s heart.  There were more than 150 people in attendance, including representatives from key governmental agencies, and corporations.  The Lord was truly present during the event. 

Todd and the newly formed project leaders


As follow up to the contacts made on Saturday, and facilitated by Ricky’s father, Dr. Poki, we had meetings on Monday the 13th with the Managing Director of one of the major corporations in PNG and a team from PNG’s newly formed National Identity and Unification project.  Great discussions were had about how MAF, with its 70+ years of involvement in the building of PNG, could be further involved in bringing unity to the remotes areas of PNG.  More to come on this. 

Speaking of connections – if you would like to hear from us more often you can follow our new ministry instagram page @tcaeb.png which has more pictures – less words. With a glimpse of life here in PNG the fun stuff and the not so fun stuff.

Prayer Requests:

We are in the midst of the National General Elections here in PNG – one of the hot spots for turmoil is Mount Hagen where we live and operate the main headquarters. There have already been a few issues, but so far the defense force has been able to keep things somewhat peaceful and we haven’t had too many non flying days due to associated unrest.

We have so many open positions that need to be filled – critical ones include HR Manager and IT Manager, and an XO for Todd.

Transition for our daughter and son-in-law coming out to PNG to teach and help with Comms – prayer for our other daughter and our only grandchild as this will affect them greatly.

Current News, PNG Updates, Praises, Prayer Requests

We Have Great News to Share – Answered Prayers

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As you may recall, we have been in desperate need of teachers here in the MAF PNG Program – actually, teachers are in high demand all across this country and the world.   This has been a major prayer request!

We are so grateful to announce that our youngest daughter Courtney and her husband Landen will be joining us in PNG. Courtney (who graduated with a teaching degree from Northwest Nazarene University back in 2017 and has been teaching in the West Ada School District) will be Teaching at the New Tribes School in Lapilo.  They are scheduled to arrive the end of August.  While Courtney is teaching, Landen will be serving with MAF PNG’s Communications Team – doing some traveling (his previous adventure guide training definitely will help here)  to get the stories, photos and videos to share what God is doing across this great nation through the ministry of MAF. 

Landen & Courtney with their dog Seb

I had a dream a while back that all our kids were working here in PNG alongside us –I have been praying that God would work on their hearts, giving them all a desire to come and that dream is turning into reality. Two down – a few more to go! 🙂

Much prayer is appreciated as they go through the orientation process at MAF US starting on Monday 11 July, and as they pack up their home and begin to clear debt and raise funds to move across the globe to bless the lives of the children and families serving here.  If you would like to keep in contact with them and help them on their journey with prayer and finances, you can follow their progress at their MAF link here.  If you would like to bless them with funds for the needed purchase of items to bring with them, that would need to be done directly to them, I know they would appreciate that greatly!

Please join us in praising God for His answers to our needs – and His timing! And continue to pray for the PNG program as we follow the Lord’s leading and  have so many staff needs in all areas! 

Together for Him,

Connie Lou for Todd too