Papua New Guinea - Paul & Robina Wolff
March 2020
New this week...The corona virus arrives in PNG - The city of Lae has just closed down schools, food markets, domestic flights and local businesses. PNG is not equipped to handle an epidemic, so the virus could be very devastating. Hopefully the recent reports that the virus is treatable with Chloroquine are true, because Chloroquine is one drug which is readily available in all areas of New Guinea due to widespread malaria.
Our teacher Jim is continuing his teaching in villages deep in the jungle. He is asking for prayer that his voice would hold out. With this group he has 3 more weeks of teaching from 6am till 4:30 every day.
Our teacher Jim is continuing his teaching in villages deep in the jungle. He is asking for prayer that his voice would hold out. With this group he has 3 more weeks of teaching from 6am till 4:30 every day.
February 2020
|
Translation Checking continues in 2 Kings with my Solong team. We continue to tweak and improve the accuracy of the initial translation.
The Hamtai group has begun their outreach teaching in the far corner of the province. The teachers were greeted warmly by the locals with flower lei’s and lots of excitement about the upcoming teaching. We are so very happy that solid foundational bible teaching is spreading further and further out from Lae thanks to a faithful group of men. There isn’t enough money in IGO’s budget to fund the projects long term, so we are excited that money has come in to start another layer hen project so that that consistent funding will soon be available for another faithful teacher for his ministry via the sale of chicken eggs. |
|
January 2020
|
|
2020 had a great beginning. Our Solong Team arrived back in Lae after a month out in the Solong Islands. They announced to everyone that Robina and I would be back in PNG in May ready to continue working on the Old Testament translation and work with all the Bible teaching teams. It was a surprise to us, because we didn't give them the "May" date, but it could work. Robina gets another PET CT Scan in April and by May we could have the all clear to go back overseas.
Last week we were able to get some R&R enjoying God's beautiful creation at the ocean. |
December 2019
Merry Christmas
|
We are doing great and rejoicing in Robina's continued recovery. Next month Robina has a final checkup and we will begin planning our return to Papua New Guinea when we get the all clear from her Oncologist.
This week my Solong Translation team have taken our tiny boat in Lae and have traveled across the dangerous open sea to go back to the Solong tribe. All the Solong believers want to spend the Christmas holidays together celebrating and teaching the new bible materials we produced. They should be out in the villages for about a month. Our Vanuatu team is still waiting for government approval for long term missionary travel visas to stay in Vanuatu. Please pray that the visas come through soon. Pictured below. One of our faithful ministry partners, teacher and translator, Jim, leading a bible conference for the Hamtai Christians & a photo of me involved in a consultant check on our Solong Bible Translation. |
November 2019
|
Happy Thanksgiving. We have much to be thankful for this year... Robina continues to get stronger and her chemotherapy side effects are slowly fading. If all continues to go well, we plan to return to Papua New Guinea very soon.
The progress on the Solong Old Testament translation is going great. We are currently in 1 Kings going verse by verse tweaking and editing the translation to improve its flow and accuracy. Thank you all for being part of the team reaching and discipling the people of Papua New Guinea with the gospel. |
October 2019
October is always a busy month… Fall missions conferences, family weddings and a funeral, medical appointments, Solong Old Testament translation checking and watching IGO’s new ministries begin to take shape in India and Vanuatu.
IGO India: We are getting a lot of enthusiastic responses from Indian church leaders. We have begun teaching a foundational bible curriculum 6 hours a day for 6 weeks and then send the church leaders back to their home areas to teach the material to their congregations. The response has been phenomenal.
IGO Vanuatu: IGO is now a registered mission in Vanuatu. IGO will be partnering with many churches and other mission groups in Vanuatu to equip the local churches and partner with them in evangelism.
Robina’s recovery is going well. She is looking good and is full of energy, but is still grows tired quickly and struggles with short term memory loss and neuropathy/loss of feeling in her hands. She has another CT scan on October 30th and will continue to get one every 6 months for a couple years to make sure the cancer is not returning. We are hoping that they will soon be able to remove the port on her shoulder blade so she will be able to travel overseas with me without the danger of infection.
One of the big blessings of spending more time stateside for Robina's treatments is the privilege of spending time with our grandson Elijah and other family.
October is always a busy month… Fall missions conferences, family weddings and a funeral, medical appointments, Solong Old Testament translation checking and watching IGO’s new ministries begin to take shape in India and Vanuatu.
IGO India: We are getting a lot of enthusiastic responses from Indian church leaders. We have begun teaching a foundational bible curriculum 6 hours a day for 6 weeks and then send the church leaders back to their home areas to teach the material to their congregations. The response has been phenomenal.
IGO Vanuatu: IGO is now a registered mission in Vanuatu. IGO will be partnering with many churches and other mission groups in Vanuatu to equip the local churches and partner with them in evangelism.
Robina’s recovery is going well. She is looking good and is full of energy, but is still grows tired quickly and struggles with short term memory loss and neuropathy/loss of feeling in her hands. She has another CT scan on October 30th and will continue to get one every 6 months for a couple years to make sure the cancer is not returning. We are hoping that they will soon be able to remove the port on her shoulder blade so she will be able to travel overseas with me without the danger of infection.
One of the big blessings of spending more time stateside for Robina's treatments is the privilege of spending time with our grandson Elijah and other family.
September 2019
The big news this month is that Robina's cancer is in remission and the chemotherapy treatments are done . Robina had her final dose of chemo last week and rang the bell to a lot of celebration and cheers at the Hospital. Our hope is that cancer is behind us now and we can get back full time into the ministry.
Chris at our house in Papua New Guinea has his own distraction with a little guy demanding his attention.
In spite everything, the Solong Old Testament translation keeps moving forward. Now that the teaching draft of all the minor prophet books are complete, we are going back through 1 & 2 Samuel making corrections and edits.
Thank each and every one of you for being part of the team reaching the Solong people and Papua New Guinea with the good news of Jesus Christ.
The big news this month is that Robina's cancer is in remission and the chemotherapy treatments are done . Robina had her final dose of chemo last week and rang the bell to a lot of celebration and cheers at the Hospital. Our hope is that cancer is behind us now and we can get back full time into the ministry.
Chris at our house in Papua New Guinea has his own distraction with a little guy demanding his attention.
In spite everything, the Solong Old Testament translation keeps moving forward. Now that the teaching draft of all the minor prophet books are complete, we are going back through 1 & 2 Samuel making corrections and edits.
Thank each and every one of you for being part of the team reaching the Solong people and Papua New Guinea with the good news of Jesus Christ.
July 2019
Robina has now completed three round of chemo treatments and will begin round 4 next week. Tomorrow they will give Robina a PET CT Scan to see how much progress has been made in killing the cancer cells. We are praying all the cancer will be gone.
We are really looking forward to beating this cancer so we can get back to Papua New Guinea and complete the translation checking currently in progress.
We finished the initial translation of the book of Amos last week, so when we complete Hosea, all the minor prophets will be translated and ready for checking.
Robina has now completed three round of chemo treatments and will begin round 4 next week. Tomorrow they will give Robina a PET CT Scan to see how much progress has been made in killing the cancer cells. We are praying all the cancer will be gone.
We are really looking forward to beating this cancer so we can get back to Papua New Guinea and complete the translation checking currently in progress.
We finished the initial translation of the book of Amos last week, so when we complete Hosea, all the minor prophets will be translated and ready for checking.
June 2019
This has been a very difficult month. First discovering that Robina has lymphoma, then surgery, chemotherapy, repeated scans and blood tests.
Friday Robina received her second round of chemo. She handled it very well but it is taking a toll on her so we would appreciate your continued prayers. The oncologist wants to do a dose of chemo every 3rd week for the next 4 months.
The hospital called this week and said to me, “do not panic, but since you guys are self-pay, we need to inform you that each dose of Chemotherapy costs $60,000.00” on top of the hospital and doctors fees. Praise the Lord for the many compassionate Christian folks we are working with to try and figure out how to handle all this.
On top of caring for Robina, I have enjoyed continuing to work with my Team in Papua New Guinea doing corrections and edits to the Solong Old Testament. I wrote a note this week thanking each of them for their faithfulness in working with me on the Bible Translation. Chris answered back yesterday thanking me for allowing him to be a part of this work. He said that working on the translation has really inspired him, especially Samuel and David and their relationship with the Lord.
This has been a very difficult month. First discovering that Robina has lymphoma, then surgery, chemotherapy, repeated scans and blood tests.
Friday Robina received her second round of chemo. She handled it very well but it is taking a toll on her so we would appreciate your continued prayers. The oncologist wants to do a dose of chemo every 3rd week for the next 4 months.
The hospital called this week and said to me, “do not panic, but since you guys are self-pay, we need to inform you that each dose of Chemotherapy costs $60,000.00” on top of the hospital and doctors fees. Praise the Lord for the many compassionate Christian folks we are working with to try and figure out how to handle all this.
On top of caring for Robina, I have enjoyed continuing to work with my Team in Papua New Guinea doing corrections and edits to the Solong Old Testament. I wrote a note this week thanking each of them for their faithfulness in working with me on the Bible Translation. Chris answered back yesterday thanking me for allowing him to be a part of this work. He said that working on the translation has really inspired him, especially Samuel and David and their relationship with the Lord.
|
May 2019
Events both exciting and horrible: - 2 major earthquakes hit Papua New Guinea a 7.3 and a 7.5 in the last couple weeks. There were many landslides but still don’t know the full extent of the damage. - We have a new addition to the team: My key translation helper and his wife just had their first baby. Both mama and son are doing well. - Also this morning we got a call from Robina’s doctor letting us know the result of the CT scan they gave her yesterday. The CT scan showed a large tumor which has wrapped itself around her pancreas and intestines. We are now waiting a call from the Oncologist to find out what kind of cancer it is and if it has spread elsewhere. PLEASE PRAY!!! |
April 2019
Prayer Request: Please pray for Robina. For several months she has been suffering with severe bouts of pain in her belly and back. Her doctor originally thought it was gall stones but the ultra sound showed that her gall bladder is clear & healthy. We still don't know what is causing the problem.
Praise: When our computer crashed in Papua New Guinea last month, the hard drive was undamaged. So all the new translation work is safe. The new computer is up and running and we are continuing the work on the Old Testament translation.
It has sure been a blessing to have our grand baby Elijah close by. He has been our greatest gift this year.
Prayer Request: Please pray for Robina. For several months she has been suffering with severe bouts of pain in her belly and back. Her doctor originally thought it was gall stones but the ultra sound showed that her gall bladder is clear & healthy. We still don't know what is causing the problem.
Praise: When our computer crashed in Papua New Guinea last month, the hard drive was undamaged. So all the new translation work is safe. The new computer is up and running and we are continuing the work on the Old Testament translation.
It has sure been a blessing to have our grand baby Elijah close by. He has been our greatest gift this year.
March 2019
This month in Papua New Guinea was both amazing and also very difficult. My translation team has gotten very good at finding problem areas in the Solong text and helping me tweak the translation to make it very clear. The translation checking was going full steam ahead until one day my laptop decided to quit. Nothing we tried would get it running again, so after a couple weeks the translation checking came to an abrupt end.
We had some really good strategy talks with my local IGO bible teachers. Some are having difficult times, but God's Word continues to be taught so I am very encouraged.
My first night in PNG sleeping in the hammock convinced me that hammocks are for the young, so I switched to a mattress on the floor. I brought an old camping fan to blow air directly on my face. The air on my face allowed me to sleep really well in spite of the muggy heat. No running water, so a cold bucket shower behind the house each evening cooled me down & helped me feel clean & fresh.
Some side projects... We were able to get Chris his drivers license so that when we do eventually find a vehicle for the mission, we have a ready-made driver. We also continue to do many finishing touches to the house. With the house high on stilts, it was doing a lot of rocking and swaying. It took some time, but we finally found a welder to come out and weld bracing between the posts, so the house is finally a bit more solid.
So in spite of a nasty stomach bug... a dead computer... the house solar system dying... the pouring rain and muggy heat, we STILL managed to accomplish much of what we had hoped to do on this trip. However, without a working computer, we had no choice but to cut this trip short to go replace the laptop and recover the translation data.
This month in Papua New Guinea was both amazing and also very difficult. My translation team has gotten very good at finding problem areas in the Solong text and helping me tweak the translation to make it very clear. The translation checking was going full steam ahead until one day my laptop decided to quit. Nothing we tried would get it running again, so after a couple weeks the translation checking came to an abrupt end.
We had some really good strategy talks with my local IGO bible teachers. Some are having difficult times, but God's Word continues to be taught so I am very encouraged.
My first night in PNG sleeping in the hammock convinced me that hammocks are for the young, so I switched to a mattress on the floor. I brought an old camping fan to blow air directly on my face. The air on my face allowed me to sleep really well in spite of the muggy heat. No running water, so a cold bucket shower behind the house each evening cooled me down & helped me feel clean & fresh.
Some side projects... We were able to get Chris his drivers license so that when we do eventually find a vehicle for the mission, we have a ready-made driver. We also continue to do many finishing touches to the house. With the house high on stilts, it was doing a lot of rocking and swaying. It took some time, but we finally found a welder to come out and weld bracing between the posts, so the house is finally a bit more solid.
So in spite of a nasty stomach bug... a dead computer... the house solar system dying... the pouring rain and muggy heat, we STILL managed to accomplish much of what we had hoped to do on this trip. However, without a working computer, we had no choice but to cut this trip short to go replace the laptop and recover the translation data.
February 2019
A very eventful month... The Solong translation of the Old Testament minor prophets is nearly complete. I'm busy doing final edits and printing copies to take with me to Papua New Guinea for the Bible Teachers to teach from. So many details and preparations to accomplish before departing for PNG.
I just received word that Beta, one of our faithful Solong Christian ladies has passed from this life and has gone to her reward. She will be greatly missed by all the Solong Church. She was a great help and encouragement to all she came in contact with.
Construction continues on our little "hut on stilts". Progress has been slow but they are doing a beautiful job.
We are hoping to do two more "chicken projects" during this trip to PNG. One for the Solong and another for the Hamtai bible teachers. Our first project is doing wonderfully and producing many eggs that are sold at market to finance the work of the gospel.
A very eventful month... The Solong translation of the Old Testament minor prophets is nearly complete. I'm busy doing final edits and printing copies to take with me to Papua New Guinea for the Bible Teachers to teach from. So many details and preparations to accomplish before departing for PNG.
I just received word that Beta, one of our faithful Solong Christian ladies has passed from this life and has gone to her reward. She will be greatly missed by all the Solong Church. She was a great help and encouragement to all she came in contact with.
Construction continues on our little "hut on stilts". Progress has been slow but they are doing a beautiful job.
We are hoping to do two more "chicken projects" during this trip to PNG. One for the Solong and another for the Hamtai bible teachers. Our first project is doing wonderfully and producing many eggs that are sold at market to finance the work of the gospel.
|
January 2019
Airline tickets have been purchased & travel documents are in hand. Now we are busy getting everything ready to head back to Papua New Guinea the first of March. We will continue checking through the Solong Old Testament Translation & work through Bible lessons with our local Church leaders & teachers. A huge praise is that we will no longer need to pay thousands per month in rent for housing as our Solong team have almost completed our little "hut on stilts". Pray that we can find a good cheap used vehicle to purchase as IGO's block of land is quite a distance from Lae town. |
|
December 2018
Excellent progress being made on the Solong Old Testament, the first draft of Zechariah is complete. Also construction has finally begun in Lae on our little Hut on Stilts. Very soon everything will be ready for our return to PNG to continue checking the Old Testament books being translated. I am really looking forward to spending time with all the bible teachers to see how the bible classes are going. One class will be graduating in January from the bible course.
Excellent progress being made on the Solong Old Testament, the first draft of Zechariah is complete. Also construction has finally begun in Lae on our little Hut on Stilts. Very soon everything will be ready for our return to PNG to continue checking the Old Testament books being translated. I am really looking forward to spending time with all the bible teachers to see how the bible classes are going. One class will be graduating in January from the bible course.
November 2018
This week we are working on the minor prophet book of Haggai. It is a short book and very encouraging as Haggai was one of the few prophets that the people actually listened to and obeyed the words of the Lord.
In Papua New Guinea the building materials have finally been purchased and transported up to the property, They surprised me by building us the nicest outhouse's I have ever seen in Papua New Guinea... complete with a cement floor, PVC commode and even a lid. More gravel was delivered yesterday so they can begin setting posts for the main house.
This week we are working on the minor prophet book of Haggai. It is a short book and very encouraging as Haggai was one of the few prophets that the people actually listened to and obeyed the words of the Lord.
In Papua New Guinea the building materials have finally been purchased and transported up to the property, They surprised me by building us the nicest outhouse's I have ever seen in Papua New Guinea... complete with a cement floor, PVC commode and even a lid. More gravel was delivered yesterday so they can begin setting posts for the main house.
October 2018
Progress continues on the OT Translation... working through Habakkuk this week. Our House posts finally arrived on site and timber cut with a chainsaw was also transported up to the new property from the island down the coast where it was cut. Soon the building of house number two (our house) will begin.
Thank you all for your faithful prayers.
Progress continues on the OT Translation... working through Habakkuk this week. Our House posts finally arrived on site and timber cut with a chainsaw was also transported up to the new property from the island down the coast where it was cut. Soon the building of house number two (our house) will begin.
Thank you all for your faithful prayers.
September 2018
We plan to head back to Papua New Guinea to continue the Translation checking as soon as we have a shelter for Robina and I on IGO's new property. Chris has built himself a house out of poles & plastic... Drinking water storage containers purchased... toilet hole dug... timber cut with chain saw... solar power ready. Still waiting on posts and roofing tin. In the mean time, work is progressing well on our translation of the minor prophets.
Also shown are chickens purchased for one of IGO's Bible teachers. The eggs produced by the chickens provide ministry income for them to self sustain the ministry.
We plan to head back to Papua New Guinea to continue the Translation checking as soon as we have a shelter for Robina and I on IGO's new property. Chris has built himself a house out of poles & plastic... Drinking water storage containers purchased... toilet hole dug... timber cut with chain saw... solar power ready. Still waiting on posts and roofing tin. In the mean time, work is progressing well on our translation of the minor prophets.
Also shown are chickens purchased for one of IGO's Bible teachers. The eggs produced by the chickens provide ministry income for them to self sustain the ministry.
