Financial Update

Dear Friends,

                We just finished mailing the last of our prayer cards this morning. If you would still like one and have not given us your address it’s not too late. Just message us with your mailing address. I also wanted to let you know we only need $677 more in monthly support. We have one month left to get the support we need to return to our work in PNG by July. We need your help to reach our support goal. I recently spoke to someone who said that what they could give would not make a difference. But that is not true, every contribution makes a difference. I would like to remind you of the story of the Widow’s Mite. This story is a prime example of what the smallest gifts can mean to the kingdom of God. I’ve also heard people say, “I’m waiting to be the one to put you over the top.” Now is the time, the final push is on, and the goal date is drawing near. Please, help us to reach the top today.

                I would also like to ask a favor of you. If you are considering becoming a financial partner or if you have already mailed in your card would you please let me know what your commitment level is. It is my responsibility to compile our commitments and let Wycliffe know where we are. Because time is short I need to stay as current as possible.

                We are still looking for places to speak in the next couple of months. We would love to come and share about what we are doing with your congregation, Sunday school class, or missions group. Just send me an email or give me a call and we can set it up.

                If you are interested in partnering with our ministry through prayer or financial support,  you can go to: http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership.aspx?mid=Z2OH1L and sign up. Or you can mail your commitment to:

                Wycliffe Bible Translators

    PO Box 628200

    Orlando, FL 32862-8200

Please attach a note stating “for the ministry of Matt and Tiffany Crosland 215582”.

                Thank you for all of your help. Please pray God provides all we need to return to our work.

 

Blessings,

                Matt and Tiffany Crosland

 

New Prayer Cards!

{photo by Frankie Creel}

 

It's been four years since our last prayer cards were sent out. Our new ones are here, thanks to Frankie Creel! If you are not on our mailing list and would like a new card email us at: matt_crosland@wycliffe.org and we'll get one out to you ASAP.

 

Also, in financial news...We are getting closer to our goal of a July return to PNG! We still need $782 per month to reach 100% of our budget. If you would like to join our support team, go to our support page and follow the prompts there. All gifts made to our ministry are 100% tax deductible! A BIG Thank You to all of our new supporters as well as those of you who have been in it with us for the long haul. We are thankful for each and

every one of you!!

April Newsletter

The Tide Is Turning

 

When I updated you last, we were pretty sure that financially it wasn't possible to make it back to PNG. We were discouraged and confused. This past week everything has changed. We have a renewed energy and excitement to get back to our work there. And most importantly we have seen a big increase in our support level! We now need $870 more per month to get back to PNG! Our next course is scheduled to start August 14. So, that means we need to be 100% funded by June in order to get our plane tickets, and get back in time to settle in a bit. If you have been considering becoming a monthly supporter, now is a perfect time to get on board! To sign up to give online, go to:: http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership.aspx?mid=Z2OH1L

and just follow the prompts. As always all gifts made to our ministry are tax deductible.

A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to those of you who have been praying, giving and inviting us to speak! We'll keep you posted....

What's Goin' On

This might have to end up being several blog posts...

I have to apologize to our regulars for not keeping you up to date at all. I think I greatly underestimated the craziness of reverse culture shock, and didn't really realize how burnt out I'd become. So, we've been back in The States for nearly 8 months now. And truely we don't feel much less confused than when we first learned that my sweet mother in law was very close to death.

 

When we left the US in 2010 we "knew" we'd be gone at least 3 years and likely 4. We had only been in PNG for about 2 weeks when Matt's Mom called to tell him she had cancer. We didn't really know much more than that.

We were often out of contact and away from cell coverage and internet access during our first 4 months or so in country. We found out in January last year that Grandma was going to discontinue her cancer treatment. We weren't exactly sure what that meant but felt that it wasn't good. It wasn't until May that we knew she was going down hill quickly and we started to make plans to get back to be with her for her last weeks. I want to thank all of those who gave in order for us to get plane tickets on short notice.

 Unfortunately, as some of you know, we didn't get back in time to say goodbye in person and she passed away just four days before we made it back to S.C. We feel truly blessed that we did make it back to be with Grandpa for her funeral service. But we were also confused. Why did God allow it to happen this way? Why would we make such big strides in PNG, finally feeling culturally in tune and accepted only to have to come back a year prematurely? Why, now that we are here, are we financially unable to get back to our work there? What will happen to The Haus Karim Project ? We just don't know. We don't have much of a continency plan, but we do trust God. We have fasted, prayed, and sought council and the answer is always the same; "Watch. Wait. Trust." We are confident that God is in control and we trust Him completely. I ask that you will pray with us. Pray that if the Father wants us back in PNG for the next course of POC that He will provide the $1400 per month that we need to return. And pray if that is not His will, that He'll show us what to do next. Thank you friends for taking this wild ride with us. Either way the adventure is not over!

 I will try to be better at updating here. You can also follow along on Facebook, leave us a note and let us know what's new with you!

XO Tiffany

February Newsletter

Hensen

     first, let me say sorry for not posting in a while. It has been pretty busy around here. Now. on to Hensen.

     Hensen has an interesting story. I think he looks like Cramer on Seinfeld. He is the only national employee at POC who is not form the mountain. When Hensen was a small boy both his parents died. He left his home area (the Sepik) and ended up two provinces east. With no land and no family in the area he needed a job. It just so happened that he ended up near a place called Jungle Camp. Jungle Camp has since moved and become POC (the place where we work) but I am getting ahead of the story. He got a job at jungle camp taking care of missionary children. One of the families became very attached to him. When the course was over they wanted him to move up to Ukarumpa with them. Hensen had heard all kinds of horrible stories about the people who lived in the Highlands and was afraid to go. The family eventually left without him.

     However they could not forget about Hensen. At that time in PNG there was a national radio program that would make announcements over the air for its listeners. The family made an announcement that they were coming to the area where he was and they wanted him to meet them and return with them to Ukarumpa. Someone who knew Hensen heard the program and told him. Hensen decided to meet them and go to live in Ukarumpa.

     I should say that the offer was not totally without strings. In exchange for room and board with the family Hensen had to work for the family and help look after the children. Hensen lived with and worked for the family for several years. As the children grew bigger less was required of Hensen and the father of the family told Hensen if he would like to stay with them he would pay for Hensen to go to school in Ukarumpa. He gladly accepted and was thus educated.

     Upon finishing his education he began to work in different departments at Ukarumpa.  While all of this was happening Jungle camp had closed up and moved to it’s current location in Madang province, reopening as The Pacific Orientation Course. One of the directors at POC remembered Hensen from Ukarumpa and asked him to come and handle the office work at POC. Hensen was ready for a change and gladly accepted. While at POC he met his wife Ti’en (Dorcas). He eventually resigned and moved his family back to the Sepik where his family’s traditional land is.      

     They lived there for several years until another POC director came to the Sepik to find him and ask him to come back. He returned and has worked there ever since. He told me recently when he retires he will stay  until his children finish school then he will move back to the Sepik.

     Because Hensen has had so much education and work with expats so long his English is very good. That can be a good thing when working in the office. But his Tok Pisin is not very good. Maybe what I mean by good is '”pure”. He mixes LOTS of English words in where they should not be. This is a pretty common occurrence with Papua New Guineans who have a good bit of formal education. They even have a word for it, “pinglish.” This presents a little problem when he interacts with the students who are trying their new language out on our employees. So, we just tell the students at the beginning of the course that his Tok Pisin may not be the best to try to emulate. That being said, he has a very unique perspective about life and culture in PNG being a national and having lived with expats for many years. He is an amazing person and I love to sit and listen to him tell stories.