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For almost four years Brian has been holding two roles within Pioneer Bible Translators: PNG Branch Director and Pacific Area Director. When he (and the Branch) agreed that he would take on the AD role, it was with the knowledge that he wouldn’t be able to put much into it until we finished our time in PNG. That time has now come.

The position of Branch Director is intense and was made more so in these final years for us. There were times we weren’t sure we would make it to 2023 as planned, but we had many wise and solid people speaking into our lives and helping us to stay true. In just a handful of weeks the Branch will be selecting new leadership. From that time until May 1, Brian will be transitioning all of his responsibilities (and emails) over to the new team. None of this is a surprise! We knew Brian’s time as Director could only last a finite amount of time. His style of leadership was needed by the Branch for a season. It would do him and them no good to continue on once the Branch grew into a new phase where they would need a different type of leadership. He had already begun to see signs that the end of his time was on the horizon here in PNG when he was asked to step into the AD role. Done at the right time, stepping into this new role made so much sense for PBT International, the PNG Branch, and our family. So! Once all of that was mapped out in our heads we needed to pray through and figure out where we should be based. There are two major aspects to the role: overseeing existing work in the Pacific (three countries currently, some of which we cannot name) and coordinating with partner organizations to open new fields in the region (he is doing groundwork for starting programs in New Caledonia). Brian needs to be in the Pacific region in order to effectively do his job, but where?

It didn’t take long at all for the two of us, in conjunction with PBT higher-ups, to land on Cairns, Australia. Many missionaries, not just in our organization, go to Cairns for vacation and medical procedures. It is a hub of mission activity. We have friends and a church already established from our years of coming and going. It is a place the girls know and love. We were engaged there and Willa was born there. The roots of place and belonging already exist for us allowing Brian to hit the ground and begin working relatively fast. He’ll be traveling a significant amount in his new role which means I’ll be alone in our new location a lot with the girls. Where would I feel safe and confident doing that? Most definitely Cairns. Finally, as we honed in on that location, we started to dream about the secondary ministry the girls and I could do hosting missionaries as they come for physical care, mental care, or just for fun. As we’ve talked to people about this idea, it has become evident that this is a real felt need. I couldn’t be more excited to strengthen Pioneer Bible’s presence in the Pacific by providing a safe space for our teams to come and be refreshed while Brian oversees PBT activity in the region.

That is “why Australia” in a nutshell. There have been multiple sticky spots (looking at you, visa!) that could have turned us elsewhere. Instead of having to force our way through barriers, the road has been cleared in front of us at each turn. We feel deep sorrow, deep peace, deep joy, deep anxiety staring down this transition. It’s all swirling around in there. In the midst of our stormy and unpredictable emotions, we have no doubt that God will continue to guide and direct our steps while providing abundantly to see his name glorified to these ends of his earth.