A couple of weeks ago, we got to spend some time at one of our support centers where we got to catch up with some of our friends and fellow co-workers who are with us here in PNG. How often we heard or said something to the affect of, “real life is messy”. Whether it was in reference to our own lives or the lives of those whom we are walking alongside. We are all in such need of continual grace and truth in our lives.
Recognizing and battling with our own heart issues … messy
Raising our kids and helping them grow into maturity … messy
Recognizing and helping others with their misunderstandings and life-long tendencies … messy
Engaging faithfully in the spiritual wars that are happening all around and in us … messy
It only takes a moment to see how inadequate we are and that everything done out of a self-source will only result in the death of anything good. God designed us to live in moment by moment closeness and dependence on Him. That is the good life. His truth informing our reality. His Spirit empowering Jesus’ life and connecting us to Himself. And His family becoming the support system and community that we live within.
Keep praying for all of us here as we all need to grow in our depth of knowing God, being with Him, and giving ourselves to Him. There are victorious moments and there are discouraging ones.
We have been getting to spend some intentional time in Romans with a few single guys who we have been friends with for years. Zooming out, there have been so many ups and downs with each of them, but it’s amazing right now to see their humility and the Spirit’s faithfulness to do all that has been promised.
Pray for Goliey, Joel, Byron, and Tosui. There are so many reasons not to give this a shot, but they have been choosing to humbly keep coming and some are choosing to submit to the truth. It’s a special thing to be a part of their lives right now. This is such an opportunity for them to learn and begin to experience Jesus’ life in fullness.
Keep praying for Michael and Silas too as there are a lot of reasons for them to give up as well. God is blessing their faithfulness and they are growing in depth, stability, and willingness to consider what God has for them in their families and in the church.
This is from Monday night … talking through Romans 6 
Joel 
Goliey 
Michael & Rena 
Silas
Here are some regular moments from our times of getting together with the church. You know, the normal stuff: dogs laying around, babies peeing on the floor ( then mom’s foot swooshing it away), 5 year olds yelling at mom and fighting with her shirt to nurse on demand, extreme heat, pouring rain … all in a normal couple of hours at church. It all just hones your ability to focus as a teacher.
Olivia has become quite attached to some of the other girls. They still aren’t sure what to do when she throws some English at them. 
The best seats in the house! 
Here’s one of our regular dogs and peeing babies =)
Upon getting back from our trip, we realized that we had left some tomatoes on the counter … they happened to be sitting right next to the dead rat. You just have to laugh sometimes. 
I’ll spare you the other picture, but it took 9 of us to lift the 15 ft. sections of coconut trees to recover a collapsed septic hole. 
Luke & Ellenie got back in style! After all of the road troubles, it has been unreal to have chance to land at our front door like this! Thank you to all the pilots & aviation staff who make it all happen.
KONOMALA 
Ohhh Seth….this update is sooooo exactly excellent to communicate …real life, down to earth, eternal perspective and growing through the joys and sorrows and challenges.
So thankful Hodgdons got back via helicopter 🚁
Just in time for Natalie’s 10th birthday. How can it be??!! She’s 10!!! Wow. You’re doing such a good job of raising & discipling your girlies. Thank you both for being faithful to train and teach them. We love you and miss each of you so much! Hugs.
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