“Teach me your ways...

”
PSALM 25:4

Me l i ssa Yo de r Volu me 1, Is s u e 3 Ju l y 2010

You know you’re a MK (Missionary Kid) when...

1. You can’t answer the question, “Where are you from?”
2. You speak two languages, but can’t spell either.
3. You flew before you could walk.
4. The U.S. is a foreign country.
5. You embarrass yourself by asking what swear words
mean.
6. You watch National Geographic specials and recognize
someone.
7. You consider a city 500 miles away to be “very close.”
8. Your life story uses the phrase “Then we went to...” five
times.
Ukarumpa International School 9. You sort your friends by continent.
Papua New Guinea 10. Furlough means that you are stuffed every night... and
have to eat it all to seem polite.
Praise & Prayer: http://www.members.kconline.com/kerr/mk.htm
Praises:

T
• I have my visa!!!
• My graduate classes finished well he students I will be
• I enjoyed Wycliffe teacher training teaching in PNG are
in Dallas, TX called MKs (Missionary
Requests: Kids) or TCKs (Third Culture
• That I will reach 100% monthly Kids). The list above describes
budget by August just a glimpse of the complicated
• That I will cope well with life these children lead. While
goodbyes each one has a very different
• That time with family this summer story, I am learning just how
will be sweet much I can identify with these
precious students.
MKs say a lot of goodbyes. Their
lives are constantly changing.
This leaves many MKs feeling at
a loss for identity and security. I
have been experiencing a similar
feeling of grief in my own life.
Moving from Salem, OR to
Kennewick, WA forced me to
say “goodbye” to a city that I
love, my role as a substitute
teacher, my home church of
Salem Heights, and even my dear
roommates. This transition was
not easy for me.
Through the Word of God and
His church, I am finding comfort
during this change. Leaving the
United States for two years is a
bigger step of faith than I’ve ever
taken before. In my moments of
deepest weakness, God has been
faithful to encourage me with
just the right verse or friend. It
is these life-giving verses that I
desire to bring to the people of
Papua New Guinea when I go
there to teach.
How are things really going? John Piper “There are only three kinds of
Christians when it comes to world missions: zealous goers,
Many of you have been asking about
how things are really going as I seek zealous senders, and the disobedient...The Bible does not
partners and get ready to leave for two assume that everyone goes. But it does assume that the
years. To be honest, it’s hard. It’s scary. ones who do not go care about goers and support goers
In fact, sometimes I don’t want to go.
and pray for goers and hold the rope of the goers.”
On the other hand, I have been greatly
encouraged by the response from so
many of you over the past two months
as I’ve shared about my financial and
prayer needs. My partnership team is
growing even as my deadlines are fast
approaching. (I’m scheduled to leave
August 16th!) To those of you who
have joined, THANK YOU.
So here’s where I’m at: I will be given I pose with D iane and Terr y Bassett
the O.K. to purchase my ticket to
Papua New Guinea when I reach 95% S alem Heights Commissioning
of my monthly budget. Many of you
have given generous one-time gifts and
I really appreciate it. Because of you,
I have enough to purchase my plane
ticket and get set up in PNG. However,
until I receive 100% of my monthly
financial needs, I cannot get on the
plane. If you have already prayed Me and my roommates Rachel, D ixie, and Hannah
about joining my partnership team,
would you please tell me? You can S aying goodbye
to Bruce Wood
communicate this desire by visiting
http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership.
aspx?mid=EA6FDA or you can e-mail
me for a PDF version. If you are
already on my partnership team, please
pray that I will reach my monthly
quota soon.

PNG
CONTACT INFORMATION:
melissa_yoder@wycliffe.org • 509-845-7335
Follow my blog: http://melissayoder.blogspot.com/
Donations can be sent to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators • PO Box 628200 • Oralndo, FL 32862-8200
Include a note: “For the ministry of Melissa Yoder”
Account #: 226993