We want to start out AGAIN by apologizing for the lack in communication over the last year. The school year with new ministry and life in town was very different for us and updating you all just kept getting away from us.
WARNING: World’s longest update!! Grab your reading glasses and a cup of coffee or feel free to skim through it real quick, or even read it like a chapter book 😂 -I promise there are some incredible things God is doing you won’t want to miss!
We value and are so thankful for all of your support. We don’t take any of it for granted and feel humbled and honored to be part of what God is doing here in Papua and the fact that God allows us to have front row seats to the transformation of our Dem friends, YOUR Dem brothers and sisters is beyond humbling.
As a reminder in case some of you missed it or forgot- last August our family moved to the town of Sentani to be full-time dorm parents at the International School. We believed God was leading us there for Eden’s junior and senior years and had been praying about it for years. It was not an easy choice—our hearts are in Dem and we miss our tribal family and the ministry we have there—but we are trusting God with where He has our family in this season. This is NOT a permanent move OR a paid position, as we mentioned in the last update. We hope to return to Dem-land full time in the future, but for now we are temporarily living in town, serving in a different ministry role, while doing what is needed for our family. And we are thankful to still have coworkers on the ground there working daily to translate and help the people.
I (J) was able to make a couple of trips back into Dem each semester, and we are able to talk to our Dem friends almost every day (thanks to technology). We communicate with them about needs they have or things they are working through spiritually. We are very thankful to be able to stay in touch with them while we are in town. Even though we haven’t been “on the ground,” we remain in contact with many of our Dem friends and have been helping with medevacs, supplies, projects, and more.
August ’25
School started and Eden began her 11th grade year, Jericho his 8th grade year and Noelle her 4th.
As the school year began, we were all trying to adjust to dorm life. It took a little while to figure out how to fit three teenage boys into the family. Eden and Jericho, along with one of our dorm boys, were playing volleyball (all on different teams, of course). Noelle continued homeschooling, but joined the 4th grade class for a few extra classes. We also enrolled Jericho at the International School half time so he could join sports, which was a new experience for him.
September ’25
We started to get into the swing of things and find a rhythm as a new extended dorm/family. Meanwhile in Dem-land, a serious illness began to sweep through. Several babies became very sick and several died. Many of our Dem friends lost children, yet their faith was unshaken. They did not return to their old ways; they continued to trust the Lord and testify that Yahwe is good all the time, no matter what happens.
Also in September, I (J) took a hard poke to the eye during basketball. A doctor friend wanted to send me to Singapore because he thought I could lose my eyesight, but I’m a ‘lil stubborn and decided to take a chance and praise the Lord, the eye healed without needing to travel.
October ‘25
Jericho turned 14!:)
The illness in Dem-land continued, and one of our good friends lost their super sweet little girl, Delila. At the funeral, her dad told our co-worker that even in his grief he trusted Yahwe’s plan, knowing his daughter had gone to be with Jesus ahead of him and that he would see her again. This is so different from how things used to be and such an encouragement to see our friends fully trusting the Lord. Even through sadness, the faith of the Dem believers continues to encourage us as they trust in God’s goodness despite the trials they face.
October also brought a significant event we had long anticipated and prayed over for the Lord’s protection. As many of you know, we now have an Indonesian Christian school in Dem-land (see previous posts for more details). In September, a group of builders also arrived to construct school buildings, teacher dormitories, and a medical clinic. It was a huge answer to prayer, and the Dem people were thrilled—as were we. They all had been in there for a couple months but unfortunately, a large group of “rebels” showed up and the situation became very tense. We can’t share all the details publicly, but the Lord was so faithful in protecting both the Indonesian teachers and the builders.
When the rebels arrived with great force and hostility, our Dem friends immediately stepped in. Men, women, and even children surrounded the teachers and builders to protect them. One Dem man stood face-to-face with the rebel group, machete in hand, and shouted, “You came here being used by satan our enemy. You came like Goliath when he confronted Israel, but what happened then will happen now. You don’t know Yahwe; you are not part of His clan or family—but we are! If you try to harm the teachers or builders, you will die right here on this land just like Goliath because the power of Yahwe is behind us!”
The Dem were ready to protect—and, if necessary, die for—the teachers and builders. The situation remained tense for about a day, but the rebel group eventually left. Then they were able to get flights into Dem to evacuate all the teachers and builders.
Understandably, some of the teachers were shaken. Historically in Papua, when a situation like this occurred, the national Indonesians were killed, buildings burned and the local tribal people flee because they are scared of the rebel group. However, the testimonies we heard from the teachers and builders were remarkable. They kept saying, “We have never seen faith like that!” and “The Dem weren’t afraid at all—they surrounded us, ready to die, and trusted God through it all!” Another teacher, while waiting to be evacuated, posted online about how he has never seen people pray as much as the Dem, which strengthened his own faith.
There are many other details—powerful testimonies of the Dem’s faith and of how God protected what could have been a catastrophic situation. Instead, their story encouraged people all across the island: pilots, other mission organizations, national workers, and fellow teachers all reported that hearing what happened in Dem strengthened their own faith.
The Dem continue to encourage many from the mountains of Papua because of what the Holy Spirit is doing in their lives. To all of you who have supported and prayed for these people over many years—you have had a part in this incredible transformation.
After the incident, the teachers and builders remained in town for a couple of months. Some needed counseling; others needed time to rest. Their leadership also wanted an opportunity to let things settle and to reassess the situation.
The Dem were heartbroken to see the teachers leave. They did not know whether the teachers would return—or how long it might take—but they prayed that God would bring them back in His timing.
At the end of the month,(October) we received word that another friend’s baby was critically ill, so we requested a medivac right away. I was at the airport to meet them, and as they walked toward me they had a hopeless look in their eyes—the baby had died during the flight. I had the ambulance take them directly to the hospital to confirm, and sadly the baby did not make it. It was another heartbreaking example of what happens when medical help arrives too late.
With the help of the mission community, we flew the parents and a small coffin back into Dem the next day so they could bury their baby and mourn with their family. Both parents are believers, and amid their grief they echoed what our other friend had said: “Although we are very sad, we know Yahwe has given our daughter a new body. She is no longer sick. She is with Jesus, and we will be together one day in the future.”
The faith of our Dem friends continues to grow and humble us. Your prayers over all these years have been answered. Thank you!
November ‘25
Volleyball season wrapped up, and we transitioned to futsal (indoor soccer), which kept Eden, Jericho, and all three dorm boys very busy.
The illness that started in Dem-land in September remained a concern, so we continued gathering information and considering how we could help. In November I (J) managed a short trip into Dem-land. Even though the teachers had been evacuated, the principal, a local Papuan medical worker, and I spent about four days in the interior. I assisted the medical worker by translating while we examined over 200 children. We had sent word ahead of time asking to see any children with symptoms similar to those who had passed away in prior months.
Although we saw many children, we encountered few with that same illness. I was a little disappointed but ultimately thankful, because the medical worker was able to treat other very sick children and adults.
One of those patients was one of Noelle’s closest friend’s, Mira. She had been ill for several weeks and no one realized how serious it was. She looked very unwell, so the medical worker started her on strong antibiotics. Praise the Lord—she began to improve and is now fully recovered.
At the end of November, a Dem woman began showing symptoms that reminded us of Petrus (see last year’s post about our friend who died quickly from liver cancer), so we flew her out to the hospital for evaluation.
She was diagnosed with hepatitis, which is unfortunately common among the Dem (and much of Papua) and often goes undetected, eventually leading to liver failure and even liver cancer. We secured medication for her at the hospital, and she will need monitoring every six months. The encouragement was that one of our most faithful believers, (named Autina) who loves Jesus dearly, came with her.
Imagine being in a strange place with no cell phone, TV, friends, or reading material—and unable to communicate easily. Yet Autina, the caregiver, was happy to help & I printed some new Bible lessons she had only heard taught once, and she spent days in the hospital reading Scripture and those lessons over and over with great joy.
When I gave her the lessons she said, “My heart is so happy. I am going to read this again and again and read it to my friend (the patient) because she doesn’t yet know the true talk. I will use this time to tell her about Yahwe and keep reading these new lessons. I am so happy.”
What an amazing reminder—from our Dem friends who only a few years ago were in complete darkness, unable to read, and without Scripture in their language—that now they are thrilled to receive new lessons and Scriptures they can read repeatedly. Praise the Lord!
December ‘25
December was an extremely difficult month for the community and for our family.
On December 6th, Eden and her friend, Janae were at our house getting ready for the Christmas banquet. Briana did their hair and makeup, and it was a special time. The next day Janae began to get sick. By Friday, it began to be very serious and on Saturday, December 13th, Janae passed away and entered eternity with Jesus. This shook our community tremendously and was deeply personal for our family because she was so important to Eden.
For such a young, healthy girl to be gone so quickly rocked everyone. The funeral was held at the International School, and Janae’s body is buried at a cemetery next to the school.
Our hearts broke for Janae’s family, the community, our dorm students (two of our boys were in her small class) and of course for Eden, as they were close. Naturally, there were many questions about why and how this could happen. Unimaginably devastating.
Janae’s family was an integral part of the community and school here. Janae was a healthy, strong, beautiful young lady who has gone Home way sooner than anyone could have imagined.
Janae’s parents in the midst of their worst experience, encouraged us all. They still do. Though they wrestle with questions and anger, they are trusting God and have not lost faith. They continue to encourage us through their trust in the Lord and are constantly encouraging Eden and other of Janae’s friends to remember that God is good no matter what, despite the trials we face.
If you would, please pray for the Bilimek family. They have had to return to the States and leave their ministry in Papua—not because of their daughter’s death (which would be understandable), but due to other health reasons. (Without going into detail, they wanted to come back, but for health concerns they were advised not to by many doctors.) They not only had to say goodbye to their daughter and her gravesite here, but to a community that had become their family and a ministry they LOVED. And this was very hard for the whole family, including Janae’s brother and sister. We will miss their family tremendously & We will NEVER forget Janae and the legacy she left behind!
A week later Christmas break began and our family, plus our WHOLE team flew into Dem-land for Christmas. It was such a blessing to all be back together and it was good for Eden to be “home” in the tribe to continue to try to process what had happened.
Although it will never fully “make sense” for Eden or anyone, the Lord used our time in the tribe to encourage us through the Dem believers—to spend Christmas in our “home” and to grieve together away from the mission community and dorm.
January–February ‘26
Returning to the dorm and school was very hard on the students, teachers, and community. After Janae’s passing, the last few days of the term in December were canceled, so January was the first time the kids returned to class.
Eden turned 17 at the end of the month.
For those who didn’t hear already, the high schoolers here at the International school take a two-week trip to an interior location. It is called OE (Outdoor Education). It fulfills an anthropology credit and includes projects to help and serve the locals, AIDS and TB presentations and various other activities.
This year I was asked to be the speaker, which involved two sessions almost every day. I decided to teach through 1 & 2 Peter for two reasons: (1) Janae loved 1 Peter, and it played a significant role in her walk with the Lord; and (2) these letters address the reality of struggles and trials we face on earth. We are not promised a life of health, wealth, and happiness, but we are promised amazing things and an inheritance for those who persevere and follow Christ.
The time we spent looking at Scripture and reflecting on Janae’s life—and how short life really can be—was very special for me personally. I was honored to do it (who knows if the students enjoyed it, but I was grateful).
March – April ‘26
School and dorm life continued as usual. These were our last couple of months as dorm parents (or so we thought!), and it was bittersweet—we were finally beginning to feel like one big family. (It takes time to figure out how to live together.)
In March, Eden and Briana took a trip off island to Jakarta because Eden needed to have her wisdom teeth removed. Surgery like that isn’t available on our island, so it turned into a nice opportunity for some mother-daughter time.
In April, our “little” Eden—who moved to Indonesia when she was one—earned her Indonesian motorbike license (you have to wait until 17 here). She was VERY excited about this! It may sound unusual to Western ears that she got a motorcycle license before a car, but motorbikes are much more common here. Honestly, I’m more nervous about her driving a car than the bike!
May ‘26
We were wrapping up the school year with the dorm and our family. We had originally planned to do the dorm for Eden’s junior year only—she didn’t want us to continue into her senior year, and the dorm was set to close due to low enrollment. The school requires a minimum of three students, and with one boy graduating, only two would have remained.
We knew we needed to find a place to stay in town, which meant either house-hopping each month or living at the Ethnos guesthouse, neither of which would have been ideal. We were trusting God to provide. With a couple of weeks left in the school year, we thought we had everything figured out, but then the school asked us to consider serving as dorm parents for another year.
They had new students interested in joining the dorm and decided to keep it open after all. We talked with our kids, prayed, and felt peace about doing it for Eden’s senior year also.
There is a lot more behind that decision, but this update is already quite long, so we’ll stop there. The Lord continues to provide. There are many positives to being dorm parents and living on school property, but there are also challenges that make it hard to carve out meaningful family time. Please pray that we and Eden will be able to balance this well during Eden’s senior year.
To close out the eventful school year, one of our dorm sons tore his ACL and injured his MCL and PCL. Would you please pray for Danie’s recovery—that his knee heals without lasting issues and that he stays faithful with his rehab.
Summer–
We spent the summer back in the tribe and it was so, so good. It was so encouraging to hear testimonies from the Dem believers, to see them and be with them and talk with them, enjoy the “cooler” weather, and be back in Dem where we left pieces of our heart. We enjoyed the change of pace and the special time we had with friends and family in the land that we have come to call home. We also were busy with some things we felt like the Lord had us there for to help with.
We will write another update about the summer and the many stories from just a couple months in Dem-land, but for now this is long enough.
We apologize again for the lack of updates this year. We really want to and intend to be more proactive this coming year. Let’s face it though, it’s not our strong point, so thanks for giving us grace:) We love you all and thanks again for being a part of this ride! We had several extra costs this year like the wisdom teeth and the kid’s schooling, so if you feel led to help with any of those extra things, shoot us an email.
Thanks again for partnering with us to serve here in Papua.
*Here are some random pictures and videos from the year and our time in the tribe over Christmas break.
Your feet to the Dem... 