Bush Orientation & Finishing NCLA

The last time we updated you, we had been caring for a very sick baby at the local ‘haus sik’ (hospital) in town. He and his family were part of a medical evacuation from one of our missionary team’s bush location. After the hospital discharged him, we brought them to our missions base where baby Menum died, we buried him, and we hosted and partook of all the cultural norms surrounding death and burial. It was a difficult time for our family but also an incredible time of seeking the Lord while growing deeper in our national relationships and understanding of their beliefs and customs.

Nathan, baby Menum, and family at the local hospital

We were grateful for the opportunities to serve and learn, yet still very much reeling from the immense heartache we experienced. At that time, our leadership encouraged us to take a break soon but Kelsey had a language evaluation at that time and then we had to get ready for our 6-week bush orientation. We believed the Lord wasn’t seeing fit for a time of rest at that point and we trusted that His timing was perfect. So we began packing and preparing to go into bush orientation in Iski!

Packing up our food and cargo for our 6 weeks of Bush Orientation

Here is a quick rundown of the last couple months:

JANUARY & FEBRUARY

Kelsey took her final test and checked out of Tok Pisin NCLA (national culture and language acquisition)! They typically allot for 12 months of NCLA learning time and Kelsey accomplished this in just under 6 months. We praise God for allowing her to accomplish this so quickly and for providing amazing PNG friends who came alongside her to help teach her their culture and language.

We then went into Iski for bush orientation and spent 6 weeks with the Iski people and the missionaries there. We were out in the village practically every day soaking up all that we could from the Iski church. We got very close with the Bible teachers and their families. They asked us nearly every day to stay or come back and help reach the Kominimung people who live a few hours hike away. It encouraged us to see their hearts for the Kominimung, as they were once enemies of the Iski. Yet now their hearts break for these people. You can read more about Kominimung here!

We absolutely LOVED being in Iski and our kids did too, which was super encouraging! We have always been nervous about how they would do in the bush but they killed it. We made amazing relationships and we will always think back on our time there with fondness, love, and prayer!

MARCH

At the encouragement of our leadership, we took a week break in the capital of Port Moresby. It was a big shock seeing a shopping mall, hotels, pools, and restaurants after being in the bush away from nearly all modern conveniences. Yet it was still so refreshing. We came back from POM hoping to have another week break on our base yet that didn’t really happen as it can be hard to remove yourself from community life here. We quickly jumped back into base life and Nathan learning Tok Pisin! Then we all came down with several sicknesses, one after the other, including Covid. We are grateful to say we are all doing well, even as sicknesses continue to come and go.

Somehow our only family picture from break was this selfie as we walked onto the airplane

APRIL

Nathan in one of his final formal Tok Pisin language sessions

Nathan took his final Tok Pisin NCLA test this past week and has officially checked out as well after 9 months of learning! Again, we are grateful that God allowed us to learn so quickly and for our amazing language helpers and friends who taught us! Nathan being finished with formal NCLA will free him up to be able to serve a bit more on the base, help out in teaching God’s Word to the community here in Tok Pisin, and for us to put more efforts into finding coworkers and a people group to move into. Please keep praying for these things as we want to serve well right now while aiming to work towards and discern what God has for us in the future!