Clay Pots - Be Courageous

Micah (who is going to build a million snowmen), Sophia (who doesn’t remember snow), & Malachi (who has never seen snow until now)

It is almost December and Jack Frost is nipping at our noses! Kellie wants you to know that we have the decorations up and the Christmas music playing. With Christmas coming soon, it reminds us that next year is right around the corner. And for us, next year means that we will be heading back to PNG.

As I look ahead to next year, I find myself a little overwhelmed with taking on the responsibilities in the tribe again. I find myself worried about the Tobo church, concerned that our team might make mistakes along the way, inadequate because I have never done this before, and fearful that what we have done might fall apart. But I was encouraged by what the Lord said to Joshua in the first chapter of the book of Joshua. I am sure that Joshua too felt much the way I am… worried about the people he was leading, concerned that he might make mistakes, inadequate to lead people in battle when he hadn’t fought too many wars before, and fearful that they might get into the land and get completely wiped out. But God said to him, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you (past tense)… no man will be able to stand before you… I will be with you… Be strong and courageous.” Joshua was asked to fight the battle, but the outcome was not his to decide. God had already promised that the land was theirs, so obviously all Joshua had to do was go and obtain it. God would take care of him and the Israelites. No one would die if they kept their eyes on him. It was God’s war, just as the church is God’s church, and has already promised that he will build it. Building the church is not our job, but his, because as humans we really are inadequate. But he still requires us to go into battle fully trusting, confident, and courageous that God himself will give the victory.

Some prayer requests:

~We have set a target date for returning to PNG… August 1st! We need to buy a 4 years supply of certain cosmetics, electronics, office supplies, clothes for the kids, replacement parts for our solar equipment, plane tickets, contacts/glasses, chocolate (Kellie put that), etc. The prayer request would be for the necessary funds to buy it all and for some volunteers to push 10 shopping carts at Wal-mart for usJ. Trust me the look on the cashiers face is worth the trip!

~Pray for our team as they continue to translate, teach, and disciple the Tobo believers. It looks like I will be able to assist in the translation process from over here as we head into the new year, so be praying that our team can work together efficiently even with the long miles between us.

~Pray that the Tobo church will, like Joshua, be strong and courageous, fully confident in God and understand that the battle is the Lord’s as they live their lives in a very dark place.

His Clay Pots,
Jason for the Knapps

Clay Pots ~ Moving Forward

“But Jesus said unto him, ‘No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.’”

Many of you know or have heard me share of my struggle with returning back to the mission field. I had ideas of what I thought I deserved and what I thought my “rights” were as an American woman. And full-time ministry in a remote tribal location was not one of those ideas!

For the past couple months I have been listening to this amazing (and good looking) preacher teach at various churches on unity, suffering, and sacrifice. And the other day, that same preacher quoted the above verse to me. Normally I would have hit him. However, God in His caring and loving way of working in my life had been preparing my heart to hear that verse. I have my hands on the plow but am straining to look back at everything I am leaving behind. And yet my greatest fear is failure of not finishing well. What a contradiction!

The verse was a reminder to me that I am not a citizen of this earth and that I am here to do what God has asked of me to do (through His power, so stop trying Kellie!) and to not look back. And so my goal now is to move forward, take those baby steps, and be thankful for the time God has allowed me to have here in the States instead of wishing for more or wishing that it would be permanent.

Thank you for your prayers for me in this area, they are being answered!

Kellie for the good looking Pastor, & Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp

P.S. Could you pray for us again? Jason was returning home from a Bible study last night and hit a deer with the van. (Yes, the one we purchased just a few short months ago) It is discouraging because we know that God provided this van through all of you, so why would he choose to ruin a perfectly good vehicle? I don’t know either. But we would appreciate if you could be in prayer for us, this was our only vehicle and we need to make some decisions quickly. Thank you.

Speaking of cherishing fun times….

Micah and Malachi’s first time hunting with the Knapp boys!

Clay Pots ~ Kellie

As some of you know Kellie had a CAT scan done last Wednesday. Her Dr. was looking for some cancer in her lymph nodes. We were called back to the Doctors office on Monday and they expressed their concern that the results of the CAT scan showed that Kellie might have at the very least, a cyst on her one remaining ovary (she had a partial hysterectomy 3 years ago) or at the very worst, ovarian cancer. 4 hours later we were then told by an OBGYN surgeon (after an ultrasound) that the CAT scan was miss-read and Kellie is very healthy. Also, a week ago Kellie went in to her Dermatologist and was assured that her melanoma is no longer there! So it has been an emotional roller coaster these past few days going from what could be cancer to something totally normal. But it has been really good for us to go through it together. You tend to appreciate each other more knowing that you could lose the other one at any time… so you hold each other a little tighter every night, you take more time to really listen to your kids, and you ignore the dishes and laundry (I guess we tend to do that anyway!). We never really know what the future holds, do we? It was a good reminder to Kellie to live every day like it could be her last. Thankfully there isn’t anything we would change about our lives. Well except for those medical bills!

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

Clay Pots ~ Fall

You can take the kids out of the jungle, but can’t take the jungle out of the kids

It’s fall time here in Wisconsin! I think the #1 reason most of us Wisconsinites brave the cold winters is so we can be here for fall. It is awesome watching the leaves change colors and to be able to experience a change in season. It is so much different than the tribe!

Malachi had his surgery last Thursday. If you have never seen your child on those relaxation drugs, it is a must for all parents, totally funny. We are only sad that we left the video camera at home! The surgery went awesome but the recovery time wasn’t so much fun for him. It is hard to see your little guy in so much pain and with so many questions. He felt great before the surgery and not so great afterwards so it was hard for him to understand the necessity for the pain. It did help having his Grandparents and his Auntie bring him special treats though! And thanks to all of you who brought meals.

Micah and Sophia are enjoying going to a “real” school for the first time and yet not really enjoying the very “real” homework! As a family, it has been an adjustment making school a priority in our lives. I know that sounds funny but in the tribe so many other things demand our time that school did not necessarily get the priority it deserved. We are proud of our kids and the extra time and energy they have to put into school.

I have been busy writing sermons, preaching at different churches, watching the Packers lose, and making furniture. It has been a joy to me to be able to share my passion for discipleship with different congregations. The month of October is mission conferences at two of our churches, so I am looking forward to that opportunity as well.

Kellie has been really enjoying just…being. She has been able to spend some time at home with Malachi, work on refinishing some furniture “steals” which she found at garage sales, and help the kids with homework at night. In the upcoming month she will be sharing at a few different ladies groups, AWANA, and Sunday Schools. It has been awesome to see God meet my wife in her frailty and give her the strength again to speak of his power in her own life and in the lives of others.

Thank you to all of you for all of your love and support which you have lavished on our family during our time at home. We know many of you are struggling with finances during this financially unstable time and we are in awe of God’s continued provision in our lives as you sacrifice daily to provide for us. There are no words to express our gratitude!

His Clay Pots,
Jason, Kellie, Micah, Sophia, and Malachi Knapp