[Sanford News] Happy New Year

 

Hello friends!!

 

We just wanted to write a quick e-mail with a short update as there’s a lot going on around here.  We trust you all had a wonderful Christmas celebrating Jesus, and have a fun safe New Year!

 

It's New Years Eve here, and while there's no hoopla and no fireworks or dropping balls, we've realized we have SO much to praise God for this New year!!

 

First of all, thank you for praying for Kade's knee - it has healed up great with no infection or problems.  He doesn't seem to have any pain, and it's amazing how nimble and active he is even with it fully splinted!

 

We found out a few days ago that my (Karrie's) dad was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which is always difficult to hear, especially being away from family.  While we are unable to talk to them, we are so thankful for daily e-mail access!  In just a couple days, he was diagnosed, had a barrage of tests run, received results that it was all contained in one spot, had surgery (this morning) and is recovering well!!  It seriously has been amazing - we are praising the Lord and are so encouraged!  Please continue to pray for his recovery and continued treatments (they're not sure yet if it will be chemo or radiation).  We’ve all been looking forward to them coming for a visit the beginning of February, so it looks as though that will be delayed a bit, but we’re hoping not for too long!

 

Our partners, Chris and Erin, Ethan and Madison Lujan are on their way back here to Siar-land!  They are probably in the air right now and have a LONG trip ahead of them.  Please pray for a safe, stress-free trip for them all!  They arrive in Kokopo (our supply town) on Jan. 2nd and will be coming in to the tribe here on the 4th.  We are so excited for them to get here!  Please pray for them as they adjust back to life in PNG, now with a newborn.  Pray also for our team as a whole as we re-adjust to working together as a team of 3.  There will be changes for all of us; pray we would continue learning how to love each other and be gracious.

 

Well, I want to keep this short, but just thought we'd keep you up with what's going on with us over here.  This next month will be a busy one with a few different "work teams" coming in to help Lujans finish up their house.  Language learning will probably take a bit of a back seat for us as we want to be available to help Lujans as much as possible, but pray that we would be wise with our time and not forget the things we have learned up until now.  We’ve had an amazing 7 months here in the tribe, have experienced a lot, have learned so much, and are SO excited for all that God has for us in this next year!!  We are so thankful for all of your prayers, and the amazing team of people we are working alongside (all of you) to help bring the truth of God’s Word to these people!

 

Again we want to thank you all for your part in our lives and we trust that this new year will bring more opportunities for you to grow in His grace and serve Him more effectively.  God bless…

 

Lane & Karrie Sanford

New Tribes Mission – New Ireland Province

lane_sanford@ntm.org

 

 

 

 

[Sanford News] The sins of the father...

Wow, what a Christmas this has been! We had grandiose plans for a simple
Christmas at home without all the fanfare and craziness that it usually
brings, but those plans were thwarted yesterday morning.

Yesterday (Christmas Eve morning) Kade was playing around with a small bush
knife and managed to put a nice gash on his kneecap. Now just last week I
stitched up a guy in our village that cut open his elbow, but immediately I
realize that this is bigger and deeper than I can handle, so I know that I
need to try to get him out to town so it can be sewn up. Amazingly enough,
as soon as I get Kade on our porch and realize the extent of the cut, I hear
a boat going by on its way to Kokopo. So Jonathan ran down to the beach and
flagged it down and within about 5 minutes, Kade and I were on our way to
Kokopo.

On our way there, I was reminded of famous quote of a son receiving the sins
of his father (not sure if is from Proverbs or the Godfather), anyway I was
reminded of when I was a kid and on a now infamous trek thru the jungle, I
found a rusty old machete and managed to gash - you guessed it - my kneecap.
What are the chances?! I just hope Kade doesn't follow my other legendary
screw-ups (using spray deodorant to cover the smell of cigarettes, totaling
my dad's car on a deer, every guitar recital I ever had, and that one time I
thought I could replace the long axle on my Pontiac Sunbird...) Anyways, in
a weird way it did make me realize that this poor kid is going to turn out
much like me, and I have the chance now to change those bad things for the
good. Luckily for him, when Kade cut his leg he had adults around to help -
on the other hand, when I cut my leg I was in the middle of the jungle with
2 other dough-head 4th graders who thought they could administer first aid -
I'm lucky to still be here.

Anyway, we got out to town and with the help of some friends in town, I got
the hospital and got Kade ready for the needle. Let me say I am very
thankful now that it is all over. The poor guy was scared to death and I am
not exactly sure how well the anesthetic worked, but we made it thru. Then
we had to get back down to where the public transportation boats sit and
wait for passengers. After a long day, Kade and I got home just at dark,
around 6:00 PM. What an ordeal.

Although all our great plans for peaceful and family Christmas were crushed,
in the end it was all we really needed - everyone together and everyone safe
and healthy (at least all in one piece). So we will never forget our first
Christmas here in Siar land, but we are very thankful still that we have a
reason to celebrate and we can't wait for the day when our Siar friends will
know the truth, know the Messiah, and know why He came and who He came for!

Trust you all have a great Christmas and New Year, and know that we are
thankful for all of you and part you have in our lives...

Lane & Karrie Sanford
New Tribes Mission - New Ireland Province
lane_sanford@ntm.org