September was a month full of VISTA classes, wrapping up loose ends, saying goodbye, cleaning, sorting, and packing. We worked right up until our transport arrived to take us to the airport. We tried to do the physically urgent tasks and also make time for the emotionally important tasks. We wanted to leave well.

Once we arrived safely in Brisbane, I feel like we all just exhaled. We had done the hard work of leaving and now we could take a few days to relax as a family. We took the city bus into South Bank to look around, ate lunchmeat for the first time in two years, and rested. Now we are in Indonesia attending meetings. There is more information about our trip back in the prayer requests below.

The weekend that we left Vanuatu, the island of Ambae was evacuated because of elavated volcanic activity. About 7000 of the 11,000 residents of Ambae are now living in evacuation centers in and around Luganville. Four of the 15 translators that are in town now for training are from Ambae. Pray with us that the government can make the right decision about when to send the residents of Ambae home. Pray that there will be adequate food and water supplies in the evacuation centers. Pray that when the people of Ambae return to their homes that the aid that has been coming their way won’t stop. They won’t be able to eat the food that is in their gardens because of the ash and possible acid rain.

During the VISTA module this month, the projects that need a New Testment started to draft the book of Matthew. When the translators get home they will be reading their drafts to the people in their villages as a way to check for accuracy. This means that some people will get to hear the Christmas story in their heart language for the first time this year. Praise God for what He is doing here!

Below are a few small glimpses into our life in September…

Angie & Matt (and the kids)