Thursday, November 19, 2009

Clay Pots ~ Dates


While out here in Madang town, Malachi came and asked Jason if he would take his training wheels off his bike. First try and he was off totally on his own! He later told us that he talked to God and asked Him to help him learn to do it while he still had his bike. All 3 of our kids learned to ride their bikes on this gravel road here in Madang and all on the same bike. I know it is silly but it sure made this mom’s heart smile to get that little hug from God.


We just wanted to update you a little bit…
~We will be returning to the tribe on Friday to say our goodbyes and pack up.
~We will be selling all that we can to other missionaries to cover moving expenses.
~We are in the process of reserving tickets to return to the States in late December/early January .

Many of you have asked how you can help us. We are truly humbled. We really don’t know what our next steps are other than to purchase a vehicle and find a place to call home. Our heart’s desire and passion are still very much in sharing the gospel and in building up the body of Christ. We know we are coming home during a hard time in the economy and are very thankful for our churches and supporters who have said they will continue to support us until we are on our feet again. Our position in New Tribes Mission will not change for at least another 6 months until we know what our future holds.

We have a huge mix of emotions but the main one is peace and yet a deep sadness at leaving the Tobo people. These next 4 weeks are going to be extremely hard but we are so thankful for God’s ever loving arms around us.

His Clay Pots,
Kellie for Jason, Micah, Sophia, & Malachi Knapp

Friday, November 13, 2009

Clay Pots ~ Change

My desire is to explain to you some changes that God is making in our lives. We have been out of the tribe and living in Madang town for the past 2 weeks. As you all know, we have been struggling a lot these past few years. We felt that God had sufficiently healed us during our time on Home Assignment, but my family has been buffeted by the enemy spiritually, emotionally, and physically even since we have returned to Papua New Guinea, and then these past three weeks were even more difficult. We are in a very real battle, and in this battle, we are not fighting against flesh and blood, but we are fighting against a very real and very ruthless, cruel, and inhumane enemy. As the husband, I could keep “fighting the fight of faith”, but I have come to realize that my family is no longer able. My family has been in the battle a long time and are feeling the consequences… they are wounded and need to heal completely. It is not that we don’t want to continue; we do, but they are injured and the Medic of our souls is taking us back to heal. Therefore, because I believe that God has given me this family to shepherd, love, and protect, I believe that He is clearly directing me to take my family back home to the U.S. We are looking at leaving the tribe and returning to the States in January. We are not quitting the team in Madang, PNG and we are definitely not quitting on God or despairing of Jesus love for us. We love everyone whom we have served with and labored with over the years and will miss them all dearly. We are so very thankful for our mission, co-workers, elder board, churches, friends, and family back home who have supported us and loved us through the years and through this decision making process. They are all in agreement with us that this is a wise and loving decision.

We will be returning back to the tribe to close up our home, sell all our possessions, say goodbyes, and leave the church with encouragement and hope. We rest in knowing that the Tobo church is God’s church and He alone will build it and bring it to completion. The Holy Spirit is working in their lives, and we rest in God’s promise that he will complete the work which he has started in them. We count it a privilege to have planted a church, with your support, and we know that this church will grow, be strengthened, and reproduce.

Pray for the Tobo believers that in the remaining time we have with them that they will understand why we are leaving and learn in an even deeper way, to depend on Christ for their all. Please pray for my family, that we can help our kids through this time as they lose their home and friends and as we have few answers to their many questions. Pray for faith for us as we go back to the States with no home or vehicle, and without the knowledge of what God will be having us do in the future. We are following God’s leading, and although we see how he has been preparing us for this over the past few years, we are still walking by faith and not by sight in this decision. We do, however, have complete peace knowing that we are in the hands of Almighty God and that he has never let us down, and he will not let us down this time either. He isn’t done with us yet, and his plans are far better than we can imagine.

We are praying for you. That you will be encouraged in the work that you were and are a part of, and that in this decision of ours, that you can (as our Pastor said) “Remember you are loved without condition, accepted without requirement, forgiven without limit and served without reward – this is grace.”

We will keep you updated as always,
His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp