NTM

Christmas 2007 was a white one for us which was very unlike our last Christmas that we spent  in Papua New Guinea. It was wonderful to spend the holidays with family this year in New York. We enjoyed all the lights and festivities. We are so thankful for all that we have been blessed with. The Lord has been very gracious to us. Yes, we even enjoyed the snow.

Now that we are into January we are in the mode of preparing to travel to the other side of the world. Elliott’s passport and VISA arrived safely along with the extra VISA’s that we needed to stay for a night in Australia. That in itself is a HUGE praise. We have been able to purchase our tickets so our big day is February, 9th. We are doing all the “last minute” things now. Buying supplies for use overseas, packing it all up, squeezing in a bit more schooling with Delia and spending as much time with loved ones as we possibly can.

January also saw our 8th wedding anniversary. We have had 8 wonderful and eventful years together. Four kids later, we are enjoying our growing children and watching them explore their world. They truly are a blessing (some days more so than others). Delia (6) is doing a great job in Kindergarten. Adrian (4) is carefree and full of life. Naomi (2) likes to do everything she sees her older sister and brother doing which keeps her VERY busy. Elliott (6 months) is now crawling and moving anywhere he can roll, scoot or push.

We have enjoyed our time here in the states but now it’s time for us to get back to the work in Papua New Guinea: helping to reach the “unreached” with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Please continue to pray for us in the weeks ahead. There will be a lot of changes for us and especially for the kids. There will also be a LOT of flying time with minimal room to move or sleep. God, in His grace, has always made the trip “doable”. Pray for us as we make the 30+ hour trip back to PNG, we will have three overnights on the way to help break things up a bit. It will give everyone a chance to be horizontal for awhile and for Keith to remove his knees from the seat in front of him!

For His Glory,
Keith, Becky, Delia, Adrian, Naomi & Elliott

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas celebrating
our saviors’ birth. This is such a special time of the year
that we can take to focus on the day God came to earth and took on the form of a man because of his love for us.

Thanks so much for all your prayers for us through the year.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING
FROM THE SPOONERS TRIBE

Today we had the privilege of sharing the importance of this day. The older two kids comprehend more and more each year and it’s amazing to watch and see how much they remember from years gone by.
We are so thankful for our Lord Jesus Christ and for all He has done for us during His life here on earth and also the work He did on Calvary. We are also thankful for all He has done for us when He saved us and is now growing us closer to Him daily. We are also thankful for the beautiful family He has given to us. Watching our family grow in the past 7 years is amazing. Another thing we are thankful for is the fact that He isn’t done with us yet. Knowing that He has plans for us is exciting as we watch Him accomplish His work through us as long as we are willing to allow Him to do just that.
We hope you enjoy this special day and remember the One Who deserves the most praise (yes, even the cook comes in 2nd place)

Spooners Update
October, 2006
Supporting Tribal Church Planting in…
Wuzarambya

Wuzarambya is a tribal work located in the eastern highlands of PNG, there are three missionary families ministering among this tribal group. The team presented the gospel to the village within the Wuzrambya language group in December of 2005 through a series of chronological bible lessons. Today there is a young church in Wuzarambya land and the missionary team is now busy translating the bible into the Wuzarmbya language and discipling the young believers through bible studies using newly translated portions of the bible. They are also using the new believers help in presenting the chronological bible lessons in neighboring villages within the Wuzrambya language group.

Testimonies of the on going Translation work:

The Gospel of Mark is now translated into the Wuzarambya language and in the hands of the people.
Daniel, who trusted in Christ while checking evangelistic Bible lessons with missionary Terry Banman, was a big help in getting the job done.
“He has a unique ability to remember long passages of Scripture and say it onto a recorder in the right order, without forgetting many details,” wrote missionaries Andrew and Cathy Goud. Once Daniel had recorded each passage on tape, it was carefully checked by the missionary team to make sure nothing was forgotten or added. After that part of the tedious job was completed, an NTM translation consultant came in for a final check. The believers are now studying Mark in their weekly meetings. The women gather with Cathy and her co-worker Becky Jordan on Tuesday mornings, and the men meet with Andrew and fellow team member Daryl Jordan on Wednesday mornings
Willis, a Wuzarambya believer, recently had a dream come true. He taught evangelistic Bible lessons to a group of Wuzarambyas in Papua New Guinea.
He wanted to begin teaching others at the time he was saved in his pre-teen years even though the lessons were not totally translated.
The lessons are now finished and he is talking with those who professed faith in Christ. He wants to begin teaching through the Scriptures again to disciple and strengthen the new believers. He is now helping missionary Andrew Goud translate the Bible into the Wuzarambya language. Andrew was excited by Willis’ willingness to tell others about Christ.
Andrew has finished the next set of lessons and is working with Willis on the book of Acts. Willis continues to mature in Christ and is teaching Wuzarambya believers as well as and reaching out to others. Pray for Andrew and Willis as they work together on translating the Bible into Wuzarambya. Pray also for Willis as he teaches others. Pray that the new believers will grow in the Lord.

Our role in Supporting Tribal Church Planting:
Ever wonder what could hinder or even stop a church planting work? There are innumerable situations that could arise that would hinder a church planting work, things like serious health issues and tribal fighting may stand out as some of the “big” things but what about some of the “smaller” things like a computer failing that contained two years worth of translation work or a power system failure weather solar or generator which results in the missionary not being able to print bible lessons or a tractor that is used to cut the grass on the airstrip fails resulting in the airstrip being closed when the grass gets to long. These situations are only a small part of what a tribal church planting team faces every day in a remote tribal location.
We have just returned from a three day trip into Wuzarambya to repair their tractor that is used on the airstrip to cut grass. We count it a privilege to be used by the Lord to help sustain and maintain tribal church planting works through PNG. These trips are always exciting to us because we get to see first hand how the Lord is working in the many different language groups through PNG. In the end there is a bit of mutual encouragement between us and the missionary team, they are encouraged knowing that they have some one to call when something breaks and we are encouraged in serving them, seeing churches established and new believers eager to hear more of God’s word and to share that with others.
We want to say thanks again to everyone one who supports us and prays for us, this is your ministry and we are you hands making it happen in PNG.

SPOONERS UPDATE

II Corinthians 4:7
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing greatness of the power may be of God and not from ourselves."

As Itevi led the church service in Yagaria one couldn’t help but feel the passion from his heart flow from the words spoken in his native language. Even though we couldn’t understand a word he was speaking we KNEW the same Holy Spirit that lives in him was living in us as well. As the worship leader put it (in English), “we have different color skin, different culture, different languages but the same Lord JESUS”!!! I had a wonderful conversation with the pastors’ wife after the service. She was so thankful for the missionaries who had come and told her and her people about God and the one way to get to heaven. Her desire now is for the rest of Papua New Guinea to hear the same thing she heard which is also GOD’S desire as well.

PLEASE PRAY FOR LABORS TO COME TO A FIELD THAT IS RIPE UNTO THE HARVEST.

As mentioned in our last letter we were able to go to Madang region and help out there for just over a week. We were blessed with unseasonably cooler weather than normal. Yes, it was still hot each day but not as hot as it could have been. Keith was able to do a lot of different things around the center to help out. They have been very short handed on the center there in Madang region so we were happy to be able to help out a bit for them.

We were supposed to go to Lae as a family but of course things got busy again so that hasn’t happened yet. Keith has been there a few times to get parts and miscellaneous other items for the workshop. In fact he has just returned from there again, with parts for the back up generator that runs the center here when the main power source fails.

Here are some photos. The first one is of Keith’s office in his workshop. With his computer he is able to help tribal missionaries with problems that they encounter in day-to-day situations. He is also able to order parts from Australia that he is unable to get here in PNG. The second photo is Keith in his “spare” time. One doesn’t find him sitting around too often.  Here he is laying/sanding a new floor in our house. (Hence all the dust in the picture) In the third picture Keith is working on road maintenance (with the supervisors watching close by). With dirt roads and PLENTY of rain this becomes an unending job sometimes.

Another school year started the last week of July. Since we only have one set of dorm parents this year most of the tribal missionary kids were not able to come instead they are in the tribal location with their parents being home schooled.

PLEASE PRAY FOR DORM PARENTS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

The dorm has been such a blessing to both parent and student alike. It not only frees up the parent to do their work there in the tribe but also the students love the interaction with other students here.

Adrian is not dealing well with his older sister growing up. Delia started pre-school this year!!! So far she is really enjoying her class of 6 other pre-school and 8 kindergarten students. She is doing lots of fun things like letters, tracing, painting, show and tell and learning Bible verses. The picture shows Delia getting ready for her first day of pre-school and Adrian not wanting to let her go.

Thank you to all of you who have been so faithful at writing and supporting us through prayer and finances. Please pray for perseverance until every last language has heard the GOOD NEWS in their heart language.

Till everyone has heard,
Keith and Becky
Delia, Adrian and Naomi Spooner

SPOONERS UPDATE

Now that we are on-line again I wanted to let you all know that we arrived safe in Madang in one piece last Friday evening. The road is not in good shape in places but we were able to get through with some “interesting” views down mountain cliff edges where part of the road had fallen away. It has been so nice to see the place again that we used to live and help out for the week that we will be here. It has been a privilege to help out in ways we were not even planning on. We have been blessed to have cooler temps than normal while we have been here. There has been larger than normal amounts of rain for “dry season” but it has kept it much cooler so for that we are very thankful. This coming Sunday, the 18th, we will be heading back up to Goroka again. Thank you for all your letters and prayers.

SPOONERS UPDATE

Yes, it’s that time again. We must make another road trip in this country fondly called the “Land of the Unexpected”. Tomorrow we are heading to Madang, the town we lived in for two years when we first arrived here in PNG. It will take around five hours over a rough road. Please pray for safety on the road. There are parts that have washed away and there isn’t much holding what is left. The folks who live at the center for New Tribes Mission there have a list for Keith to work on ranging from trucks, cars, tractors, and other things as well. We are planning on staying a little over a week and then returning here to Goroka.

We just had graduation for the seniors here at the school for missionary kids this past week. Please be in prayer for these kids. Many of them are returning to countries their parents call home but they are not familiar with. They will be finding jobs, staring school and trying to adjust to a new culture that is supposed to be their own. Thankfully, they ALL have ONE that they are leaning on for the decisions they must make in the days ahead.

We have been so encouraged and excited about the news we are hearing from the tribe of Mibu. There are new believers there and the Lord is still working in their hearts. They had their first death in the village after accepting Christ so the missionaries were very eager to see the reaction of these babes in Christ. The villagers were sad but at the same time rejoicing that the first Mibu man was in heaven with Jesus. They were also excited for the day that this man’s wife would hear the good news. Many more will be hearing soon as the missionaries and some of the believers will be teaching in neighboring villages soon. Please pray for these new believers. They have a long road ahead of them but they know WHERE to put their trust to get them through.

Thank you so much for your prayers!!!! They mean so much to us. Prayer is the vehicle that carries us through all the rough and smooth roads ahead.

Keith, Becky, Delia, Adrian and Naomi Spooner

SPOONERS UPDATE

And the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come; see the place where He was lying. Matthew 28: 5-6

Mibu:

We now have over 200 brothers and sisters in Christ from the Mibu tribe!!!! They have been presented with the Bible chronologically and the Lord has opened their eyes to the truth of the Gospel. A lot of them had already heard some “stories” before but they never had the whole picture in their own language until just recently. This year as we celebrate the day that our Lord conquered death by rising from the dead they will also be celebrating in their own way for the first time. The missionaries there (Joey & Brooke Tartaglia, Chris & Angie Walker and Geoff & Shannon Husa) have a long way to go to disciple these new believers and help them grow in their new found faith. Thankfully, the Lord is still at work and He isn’t finished with the work He began there.

Workshop:

About a week ago Keith finished up the last project that he had started before returning to the states for Naomi’s birth, an engine rebuild for a dump truck that we use here. With everything caught up he had a couple of days to continue organizing the workshop and to put the “word” out to other regions that he is available to be a traveling mechanic again. Well before he was even able to send out the e-mail the work started coming in again, another engine rebuild.

Adrian’s Birthday:

That’s right we celebrated Adrian’s 3rd birthday on April 2nd. He really likes trains and especially Thomas the Train so that was his theme for his birthday. Becky made a train cake which Adrian loved and was the hot topic for a couple of days. He has just begun to enter the door of manhood, Becky has started potty training him.

Delia & Naomi

Delia is enjoying being a big sister (i.e. someone to boss around) and Naomi grows each day; loving all the attention from the nationals.

Thank you to each of you who send encouraging letters, give financially and pray pray pray for us here. It is such a privilege to be a part of everything happening here in PNG. We so appreciate each one of you.

Working to see New Testament Churches established throughout PNG,
Keith & Becky Spooner

Greetings from Papua New Guinea once again. We were able to make all of our connections so (along with our entire luggage) we arrived in Goroka Tuesday morning tired of flying but happy to be back “home” again. We were overwhelmed with the welcome that we received from the nationals here on the center. Keith had lots of greetings and hand shakes when he walked into the workshop (yes, he has been to the workshop already) and some of the ladies came over to hug and chat with Becky. They were all excited to see the new baby as well.
We have a lot of cleaning and settling to do since our house has been for the most part empty for the last 6 months. In between odd timed naps we have been busy getting things put back to normal. The kids are very happy to be back as well. Delia wanted to visit one of her friends at 5:00 this morning. She had been up since 2:00 so she couldn’t figure out why he was still sleeping.
One HUGE blessing was that we WERE able to get the hotel room in Singapore to rest up before the last legs of our journey. The Lord is so gracious!!
THANK YOU to all of you who were praying for us. We so need you to be standing behind us now as we begin working here in Papua New Guinea once again.
Working for His Glory,
Keith & Becky Spooner

Spooner’s Update

Well the wait is over; we welcomed Naomi Faith Spooner into the world at 10:34 am on 11-5-05. We left the house here in New Hope 6:00 am on the 5th and made the 45min trip to the Hospital, got checked in and around 9:00 am the contractions started picking up and around 9:45 the midwife broke Becky’s water and around 10:15 Becky started pushing and after about 4 pushes the baby was out, all 9 lbs. 6 oz. of her. Everything is going well, Naomi is feeding well (if we can keep her awake) and Becky is recovering well. We want to THANK YOU all for prayer for this delivery, everything seemed to go smoothly and orderly (from the Husband’s perspective at least) which we contribute to your prayers and the Lord working on behalf of them, so THANKS again.

Please continue to pray for us now as our family adjusts to a new member in the family, I will be picking Becky and Naomi up at the hospital today and bringing them home. So the task of getting Naomi on a reasonable schedule lays before us now. We will soon be jet lagging again but not from flights this time.

Delia and Adrian are looking forward to the return of their mother and new baby sister, at the hospital they both want to hold Naomi all the time.

Keith & Becky Spooner