Sweet Reunions, School Days, and Malaria (UGH!)

Meet the Family! We have so many things to be thankful for as we look over the events of this past month (and a half! Sorry for the delay in the newsletter).   But what tops them all is being reunited with our adopted Papua New Guinea family after 15 years. A little over a week ago, we flew to Hoskins, West New Britain Province, which is where we lived 15 years ago. We sadly learned that the couple who adopted Jen had passed away several years ago, but some of Jen's brothers and sisters are still living there with families of their own now. We hosted them for a big family dinner and spent lots of time walking back and forth to each other's homes in order to spend as much time together as possible.  The story and all the details would make this newsletter too long, but check Jen's blog out (http://www.beautygrows.blogspot.com) as she will be posting more stories and details there. Below left is Alex (Jen's brother), Jen, and Esther (Jen's sister) holding her new daughter, Sharon. On the right is Tom with Esther's husband, John.

One huge answer to prayer is that we were able to find a used 4WD SUV!  It does need some work and 4 new tires--the tires are completely bald and will need replaced before rainy season comes and the roads become more treacherous. Pray for God's provision for that. Four new tires will cost about $500 USD.If you feel led to give towards the tires and other needed maintenance (it leaks oil, and needs a new fan belt), it will be a huge blessing, not only to us, but to our friends and the community. This vehicle is not just a family vehicle, but it transports us to the facility we are helping to build for women with HIV, it takes community youth (and our own teens) to youth fellowship, it takes Jen and neighborhood women to women's fellowship, and it is available to transport those who are sick or would have medical emergencies to the hospital.  It will be used to deliver food and emergency supplies to settlements of orphans, and the list goes on!  It is God's vehicle to be used for His work. School Days Our twice-weekly classes and tutoring are in full swing now. We are not only investing in our community, but we are working to prevent children and young women from being targeted for human trafficking. Two of the many factors that put people at risk are a lack of education & job skills and being illiterate in English. In order to be able to go to school, children must know English. Teens and adults cannot get a job if they do not know English, are illiterate (How do you fill out a job application if you cannot read or write?), and lack basic job skills. Many women and children are forced into trafficking against their will, but some feel there is no other option to earn money other than to go into prostitution.  Our classes will empower at-risk women and children in our community to go into the education system and working world equipped to succeed!  We teach English literacy, Health & Wellness, and Bible to the younger children in our classes. Our tutoring sessions are tailored to what areas the students and adults need the most help in. So far, we are tutoring in English, Math, Computer Literacy, Baking, and Accounting; we have some interest in Tom teaching carpentry as well. We are committed to seeing people rise above poverty and desperation and to go forward with HOPE that they can build a better future for themselves and their children. Visit our FaceBook page for weekly pictures and updates on our classes and tutoring (http://www.facebook.com/restoringunity).  We are currently accepting donations for our health and wellness class: we are in need of plastics (band-aids) and antibiotic ointment for sores, toothbrushes, and toothpaste. We would also like some plastic dental teeth to better teach about good dental hygeine...so ask your dentist to consider donating to Restoration...it's tax-deductible!  Here is the link with the info about our school needs: https://www.facebook.com/restoringunity/posts/775149695992162 You can meet some of our students here: https://www.facebook.com/restoringunity/posts/775149695992162 We have new children coming to tutoring and classes each week. Stay connected with lots of photos on our facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/restoringunity. Please join us in prayer and thanksgiving: *  We are so thankful for the opportunity to travel to Hoskins after being away for 15 years. The reunions are a sweet taste of what heaven will be like! *  Alex and his wife Grace are the only believers in our PNG family. Pray for Esther, John, and family; Steven, Patricia, and a cousin Alex, as well as the many other aunts, uncles, and cousins who do not know the Way, the Truth, and the Life. *   We are very thankful for our car! Pray for our current need for tires and repairs. *  Pray for healing for Tom, who is currently recovering from a very bad bout of malaria. Pray for good health and protection for the rest of us. *  We are so thankful for each student and young adult who comes each week to our school!  Pray for them and pray for provision for our school needs. This is a ministry that is free to our community.  We have financial needs for our school, as well as tangible needs. Just send us a message if you are interested in learning more about how you can help! *  Pray for safety for Tom as he spends every available day at iCare4U (https://www.facebook.com/ICARE4UPNGAUS/).  Please visit their page to learn more about the facility being built and their vision to help women and children affected by HIV. We are honored to be laboring with them!  We look forward to the day that the building is completed and we can begin ministering to women and children there. As always, thank you for partnering with us. We cannot do what we do without each one of you behind us!   Your co-laborers,   Tom, Jen, Lexie, Michael, Daniel, and Joy! Here are the following ways you can give to our ministry (all donations are tax-deductible): Online:  http://www.restoringunity.org/support Mail:  Restoration International P.O. Box 73,  Bainbridge, PA 17502 Or set up automatic bill pay/ bank transfer. Send us a message for the bank info!  Thanks! Copyright © 2018 Restoration International,  All rights reserved.

Hello From Under the Equator (May Update)

We really cannot thank you enough for your thoughts and prayers. We truly felt them during our ~40 hours of travel across the US, Pacific Ocean, and SE Asia! Highlights: * Savannah Joy was a super-traveler and handled everything like a pro. (Whew!) * Healing when Jen got sick from some food in the Philippines.  It happened during our 14 hour layover; she was feeling better well before our last flight from Manila to PNG! * Kind, helpful, and patient customs and immigration workers upon our arrival  in Port Moresby.  We were waved on through and out the door without even having to go through customs! *  Our landlord (and friend), Ishmael, was waiting with a truck and driver for us at the airport. God was with us and went before us each step of the way. We are so thankful to be here! OUR FIRST TWO WEEKS

Acclimation We have been busy acclimating ourselves to being back in Papua New Guinea again; it's been 14 years!  We are practicing Melanesian Pidgin with our neighbors and friends, and we will also need to learn Motu, which is another trade language used here in Port Moresby. We have never lived in the capital city before, so we have a lot to learn in regards to how things are done here, such as: how to get around on public transportation (called PMV's here--Public Motor Vehicles), and where to find the things we need.  We also need to be careful to follow the advice of our friends in regards to where we should not go--some places are not safe for us to go, period, and some places we can go as long as someone local is going with us. As we move forward in ministry, we are constantly checking ourselves...asking ourselves and others how we can live and minister in a culturally appropriate way. We have met with many national ministry partners the last few weeks, and are praying for the Lord to show us wisdom in who He wants us to partner with in ministry here.  Because of the laid-back islands culture, not many people are ministering "full time." Many of those ministering are doing so around work and family obligations. We want our time to be full, so we will likely be wearing several "hats" as we minister here. New Friends and Ministry Partners Pray for us as we seek God's will regarding specific ministries. We are hoping to soon be ministering in the following ways: 1. Hospital visitation one day a week (there is a specific ward for sexual abuse/domestic abuse patients & also the maternity ward where we can connect with women in difficult places who often abandon their babies at the hospital). 2. Partnering with a local non-profit that works with women who have HIV and TB, and also homeless children. 3. The teens are hoping to begin teaching and tutoring soon with the local kids in our neighborhood. We'd like to start more "formal" class/tutoring hours two days a week which will include Bible lessons. 4. Jen is hoping to start a teen and young ladies Bible Study/mentoring program. Pray that we will be sensitive to the Spirit's leading in what we should take on and what we should network out to local churches and other NGOs (Non-Government Organizations). One example is our desire to start a child sponsorship program, which would cover school, book, and uniform fees. We learned this week that there is already a local organization doing this. Rather than step on their toes, we are hoping to meet with them, learn about what they are doing, and help in any way we can. The last thing we want to do is take over or become "competition" for others who have the same heart that we do. It is more glorifying to work together in unity for a common purpose.

Other than the above-mentioned prayer requests, please pray that we will be able to find a 4WD vehicle within our current budget, or that God will provide the remaining funds for one. We are still in need of $5,000 USD. We are halfway to our goal of $10,000. Used vehicles are VERY expensive here; and the rough road conditions require 4WD. Our ministry is severely limited when we are relying on public transportation. It is not safe for the ladies to travel the buses alone, nor is it safe for any of us to be riding them after dark. We are confident that God will provide, and we look forward to updating you soon! If you would like to give towards our vehicle fund, you can do so online (http://www.restoringunity.org/support) or mail a check (adding a note designating your gift for our vehicle) to: P.O. Box 73, Bainbridge, PA, 17502. As always, thank you so much for lifting us up before the Father. We have truly felt your prayers these last few weeks, and can't even begin to list for you all the ways we have seen God working...this letter would be too long. Please "like" and "follow" our FaceBook page (http://www.facebook.com/restoringunity) for the most up-to-date pictures and newsletters.  We'll be working to update our website as well over the next few days (http://www.restoringunity.org).   Tom, Jenny, Michael, Daniel, and Savannah Joy Copyright © 2018 Restoration International, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: USA: Restoration International,  P.O. Box 73, Bainbridge, PA 17502 PNG: Restoration International,  P.O. Box 1405, Vision City, Port Moresby, NCD, PAPUA NEW GUINEA Phone: +675 7529 9416 Email: tjmcbratney@restoringunity.org jemcbratney@restoringunity.org