As You Continue Trusting

Summer Zimmer, Communications Manager
Papua New Guinea: March 2021

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As We Continue Trusting

It’s been a roller coaster these 3 ½ months that I’ve been back in Papua New Guinea. There have been a lot of great things in ministry, but maybe some discontentment leaking in in other areas. My life is not as full socially this term. Instead of being grateful for the free time, I find myself missing the people and activities of last year. Instead of resting in that extra time and relying on the Lord to meet me in those empty evenings, I compare and feel alone.

What does He want to teach me? Could it be that He is enough?

I did a bit of a Bible Study on contentment and joy this morning. In Philippians 4:11 Paul explains how he could be content in any situation because of Christ’s strength— and he was in prison! 1 Timothy 6:6-8 says that godliness and contentment are in themselves of great wealth, so if we have enough food and clothing, we should be content (this is important for me right now, because while we have enough food here, our store is quite short on the extras right now). In John 15:11 Jesus says that his joy is in us and our joy may be complete, but that happens when we remain in His love (v.9). Psalm 16:11 says that we will be filled with joy in His presence.

A verse that has stood out to me in the past, Romans 15:13, says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (NIV) in the Complete Jewish Bible it says, “fill you completely with joy and shalom as you continue trusting,” in studying that word shalom, it means much more than just the peace we think of. It means contentment, wholeness, fulfillment, well-being, security, safety and peace. As we continue trusting in the God of hope we can have contentment, wholeness, fulfillment, well-being, security, safety and peace.

Praise the Lord with us, we were able to welcome home so many returning and new families in January and February.

I can trust that, yes, I have more free time right now, but He wants to use it, even if it’s to grow me in dependence on Him. I can trust that if I remain in His presence, I will be filled with His joy. That my plans may be many, but a reverence and awe of the Lord will lead to contentment and satisfaction and His purposes will prevail (Proverbs 19:21, 23) If I seek Him first, I will be provided for— in contentment and joy as well.

“So above all, constantly seek God’s kingdom and his righteousness, then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:33 TPT

It’s a daily thing, this continued trust; a choice in each day.

There have been great opportunities in these months to get to know new people, either church planters passing through because of quarantine here or new church planters coming for their orientation. It’s been a joy to have groups over for dinner, mainly just ladies, so that moms can have a chance to engage fully in the evening.

What's Happening

I had another great round of missionary care Zoom calls with 9 people who were engaged and had a desire to grow in caring for their church's missionaries. It was so exciting to hear them come to a greater desire for prayer or relationship or communication. Pray that as they move forward they’re able to put their takeaways into action.

I am excited to be able to hold another ladies’ retreat in 4 days and possibly a 2nd one right after the first. If you didn’t receive my print newsletter about debriefing retreats, check it out. Page 2. Please pray for this time that the Lord would preserve this opportunity and that He would guide my words and the schedule. Pray that He would bring together the details of prepping for meals, and making copies and bringing together the supplies. My desire is that it would be a special time of reflection, a time set apart for each participant to seek the Lord.

In the training I took about debriefing, we talked about how important it is that I, as the facilitator, be fully relying on the Holy Spirit and resting in the Lord for the time. Pray that that can be true for me, that while I want to be prepared, that I can also be flexible and guided by His leading.

What is Heart Language?

I’ve also been able to make several videos since returning. Putting videos together is like a puzzle that I enjoy. This first series I’m working on is about language and culture.

Why Use the Heart Language?

Please pray for the videos I continue to work on, that they would communicate clearly and impact hearts, so that churches can relate better to their missionaries and their ministry.

How Do You Learn an Unwritten Language?
To me, it’s fun to find the right words and images to explain what we do here and around the world to make sure we’re planting churches that are sustainable and thriving.

Our School Educates the . . .

Another need we have right now is for teachers, so I made a few short clips about teaching here that are lower quality so our team can download and share them.

Praises

For the Missionary Care Discussion Group that just finished. Praise the Lord that I am able to keep moving forward with another one.

For the opportunity for the upcoming ladies' debriefing retreats.

For joy in working on the puzzle of making videos, when it used to be something I was unsure of.

For the joy and contentment we can have in the Lord as we remain in Him and that He can be trusted.

Praise that we got the first mail from the US since maybe last April. That was a fun day for many! Please pray that the mail would continue to make it through.

Prayer Requests

Pray for the next missionary care discussion group with churches. I'm waiting to hear back from several different churches before we can start. Pray the Lord will bring the right group together for good discussion.

Pray for my health and strength, that the Lord would sustain me during these ladies' debriefing retreats and guide me as I seek to bring together the details. I was only planning on one and now, with all the cancellations of travel plans because of Covid, I'm hoping to add a second specifically for those who needed a break and now aren't getting one.

The cases of Covid have recently risen in PNG. Please pray for the PNG Government and Healthcare system, for wisdom in how to respond now that the pandemic is at our door.

Pray for us as a mission, that we can continue our work to see churches planted in PNG even as travel restrictions are put in place. Pray we will be wise and continue to have the ability to deliver supplies and take care of medical needs despite restrictions.

Pray for our attitudes. I just read something by a fellow missionary here pointing out that Satan's biggest weapon is taking our focus off of Jesus and onto ourselves. Pray we would not succumb to "whoa is me" thinking!

More stories of what God is doing in Papua New Guinea can be found through social media:

Ethnos360

NTM PNG

Summer's Blog

Summer

Copyright © 2021 Ethnos360, All rights reserved.

My mailing address is:
Summer Zimmer C/O New Tribes Mission
PO Box 1079 Goroka, EHP 441 Papua New Guinea

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