The Pryor Family

New
Guinea
News
Forwarding Agents'.
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Graff
173 West Lebanon Street

Bonita

E-Mail: JPRYOR@MAF.org

Joshua

P. 0. Box 997, Madang, Papua New Guin^

January 1997
What do you do when...
hardly any of the work you'd assigned your national
co-workers to do was done while you were on furlough?
your washing machine breaks down the first week
you are back and the parts needed to fix it are still on
order from another country?

your ATV (your transportation to and from the

airstrip) breaks down shortly after your return?
the tractor that cuts the airstrip breaks down shortly
after your return from furlough, and again you have to
wait for parts to come from another country?
your national co-workers tell you that because of
projects they are involved in they won't be able to get
back to work for four to five months?

your supply center no longer has an MAF pilot

stationed there, and therefore, the flights are more
expensive, and you cannot get them scheduled when
you'd like them?
your lawn mower looks more like a steam
locomotive from the oil that smokes out of it, but it's

your only way to cut the airstrip?

Bonita says, "I have had lots ofgood help

washing our clothes by hand."

What would you do? Grumble and complain? Give up

and get out? Grin and bear it? lir maintain a positive
attitude, switch gears, focus on other things? Trust that
God is still in control, and He knows what He's

doing? What would you do?

The last three months we probably have done or have
thought of doing all of the responses listed above,
especially as each new frustration has been added to all
of the others. We don't want you to think that over the
last few months we have always had a positive attitude.
We have had to work through all the difficulties
mentioned above, most of which have not reached
resolution as yet. However, we have looked more
toward what God might be telling us in all of this. We
have tried not to dwell on our circumstances, and we
have tried to search God's Word for promises and
direction. Guess what? God has been faithful through it
all. You already knew that, didn't you? We knew it,
too. However, it took these various frustrations to give

us fresh insight into many familiar passages. Our first

stint in the village for this term has ended up giving us
a deeper appreciation for God's promises.

John has several good helpers cutting the airstrip, too.

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Maybe you need some encouragement as you begin

this new year. T hope these few verses will be a help to
you, as they have been to us.
Hebrews 10:23 '*Let us hold fast the confession of our hope

without wavering,for He who promised is faithful."

II Timothy 2:13 "If we are faithless. He remains
faithful; for He cannot deny Himself."
I Thessalonians 5:24 "Faithful is He who calls you, and
He also will bring it to pass."
I also want to share with you an answer to prayer we

had on Christmas Day. The evening of the 24th, John

asked the Lord that since both of the boys would be

away from home (Josh was at a soccer tournament and

then^. ^ lit lekid^wer noisy,butJohn^s ermon^

Jesse in the States), and it was going to be the first

Christmas we had ever spent without any family being

around, that He would help us to be content. On
Christmas morning church started about 10:00. The
mosquitoes were thick and everyone was swatting

Our other advanced literacy class,

reading the book ofLuke, is going well.

and decided to pick his folks up in Wewak and bring

them along. John went down to the school and greeted
them. Sir Michael, his wife, the pilot, and secretary
came down for a cold glass of water and cookies.
When we found out they were heading for Korokapa
(where Josh was), we asked if we could send some
food with them (the tournament had run longer than

expected and Josh and his friends were running out of

food, according to reports we'd heard from some folks
who had been to the tournament and returned earlier).
They agreed, and we Sambanites loaded them down
with bags of food and sent them on.[Josh related the
story of the arrival of the chopper at Korokapa when he
returned. He was very low-key about it, but not many

We got our Big Men's Sunday School

and literacy class going again.
They are such a joy to work with.

race was
abOUt tO
begin, a

helicopter
flew over and landed at the school playground. Guess
who? Michael Somare, the first Prime Minister of
PNG.(He is the George Washington of PNG). It seems

his son is campaigning for the Angoram (our district)

seat in Parliament. The son had chartered the chopper

kids get food delivered to them in such a extraordinary

way.] I guess you could say the Lord answered John's
prayer in a iiig way,"exceeding abundantly beyond all
that \le could ask or think."
God is in control. He does answer prayer. He
specializes in doing things which are impossible for
men to do. He cares for each of us individually. What
do you do when everything goes wrong? You respond
just as Jehoshaphat did in II Chronicles 20:12. You
pray and say,"We are powerless...(in this situation);
nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."

The Pryor Family

New
Guinea
News
Fonvarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Graff
173 West Lebanon Street

Nashville, IL 62263-1410

John
Bonita

E-Mail: JPRYOR@MAF.org

Joshua

P. O. Box 997, Madang, Papua New Guinea

May 1997

Equipment Repaired

God has been working in so many ways since our last

newsletter. It is hard to really express all that has been
happening in any organized way. I'll start with letting
you know that many of our equipment problems that we
shared in our last newsletter have been taken care of.

The tractor is fixed, and John is no longer cutting the

airstrip with our little lawn mower. My washing
machine is back and working. Our computer has a new
hard drive, and it is almost back to its original state.
Restoring software has presented a few more problems,
but with the help of our staff here in Madang, we can

Dad, Mom, Bonita, and Susan after the reception.

Trip to USA

now use everything again as of this week.

God provided a very special gift to me in March. I was
able to travel back to Tennessee and surprise my mom
and dad for their 50th wedding anniversary. No one
knew I was coming, except our forwarding agents, and
they kept it a secret. I was able to surprise my sister and

her family at church,just walking into the Sunday

School Class and then into the church service. Mom

and Dad were away for the weekend. So I surprised

them by being in the bedroom when they got home
Sunday afternoon. They were all amazed and oveijoyed
that I had come. I was able to be there the week prior to
the reception and help with the preparations. We had a
wonderful time going through all the old family

pictures, laughing and crying together over a lifetime of

fond memories. I am so thankful that I was able to be

there for this very special event in my parents' lives.

Josh helped Maso put a new tube in the tractor tire.

Translation Update
^ Since our co-translators started work with him in

While visiting with Mom and Dad, Mom shared with

me about Dad's speaking at Farragut Christian Church
in the Knoxville area one Sunday in March. She said
he talked about their trip to PNG and about the
missionaries here and the various tasks that we all do,
mainly stressing that God can use all of us with our

February, John and they have been able to complete the

translation and exegetical checks of chapters 13-19 of
Acts. Chapters 1-12 were completed before our

different gifts to reach the world for Him. Our pictures

furlough. So thatjust leaves nine chapters to translate

in this newsletter illustrate that fact. What would we do

before completing the entire book of Acts. Please

continue to pray for our two translators, Maso and Balu.

without our computer specialists, mechanics, pilots,

teachers, office personnel, etc.?

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Family News

Jo in and Josh did survive quite well here without me,

although Josh told me twice the first day I was back

thdt he was glad I was home. John said his cooking of
m^als went fairly well, with only one real flopa
meatloaf that grew and grew while baking and that
neither he nor Josh would eat when it was done! Josh

made cookies for their desserts, and he had made two

different kinds the day before I returned. They were

better than the ones I make! So I may just turn that job
over to him from now on. I did see Jesse while I was in

One Saturday Johnfixed all ofthese knives.

Tennessee, and he is doing very well in school and

being on his own. Of course, Grandma and Grandpa do
provide great support(even some spoiling). We are
looking forward to having him come for a visit in July.
has already planned a series of sermons and Bible

God can even use you in the States to assist people here

stL|dies that he will be sharing in the village. He's

on the mission field. One of the things we packed in our

growing in so many ways, and we are pleased to see

crate to bring back were some knife handles that Mr.

how God is working in his life.

Richardson from Johnson Bible College had cut out for

us. On Saturdays, John repairs old bush knives for

people in the village. The knives are still usable; they
Just lack handles. Mr. Richardson had prepared seven
dozen handles that we packed in our crate. John started
working on knives in February after our crate arrived,
and by the time I left March 20, he had only 19 sets of
handles left. So among the things he wanted me to
bring back in my suitcase from the States were more
knife handles. 1 did have a few pictures to show Mr.

Richardson of the happy people who now had usable

knives, and he gladly cut out another seven dozen.

There are so many ways that you can be used if you are
willing to use your talents and resources for Him. God
will bless you.

Kirby Weythman, a diesel mechanic, came to

PNGfor two months to help PBT in any way
he could. He helpedfix our tractor.

PIONEER BIBLE TRANSLATORS, INC.

John and Bonita Fryer, Missionaries
Forwarding Agents:
Bruce and Mary Ann Graff

Held Address:
Pioneer Bible Translators
Box 997

173 West Lebanon St.

Madang 511

Nashville, IL 62263-1410

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

E-mail: JPfyor@MAF.org

(618) 327-3234
E-mail: 103403,3104@con^usCTve.com

July 22, 1997

Woodlawn Christian Church

4339 Woodlawn Pike

Knoxville, TN 37920
Dear Christian Friends:

Thank you for once again supporting the translation ministry ofJohn and Bonita Pryor with your
gifts and your finances. You are a vital part of their ministry.
After battling parasites and John's kidney stones, they were finally able to return to the village on
Jime 12. The people of Samban had been praying with you for their recovery and speedy return. At last
report, they seemed well. Truly the Lord answered many prayers.

An urgent prayer request is for rain in the Samban region ofPapua New Guinea. They depend on
rain water, caught off their roof into a tank, for their drinking water. It has been extremely dry. As of
July 4, they had enough water left in the tank for about 5 days. On July 19 I received an e-mail that they
they had received a two-inch rain, which had filled the tank about half full. So please make this a matter
of intense prayer. John said they need a couple "frog-stranglers."
Jesse and Karie Peck arrived safely in Samban after a brief delay. Everyone was happy to see Jesse
again, and he has been preaching daily in village church services. We praise the Lord for their safe
travels. Please pray that Karie won't be overwhelmed with village life and that she will not feel isolated
as the only one not speaking Ap Ma. Pray for the Pryors to be sensitive to her needs and feelings during
this month while Jesse and Karie are visiting. They will return to the States August 1. Your prayers for
their safety will be appreciated then, too.
May God continue to bless you as you labor for Him.
Sincerely,

(Mrs.) Mary Ann Graff

Forwarding Agent

The Pryor Family

New
Guinea
News
Forwarding Agents:
Mr.& Mrs. Bruce Graff
173 West Lebanon Street

Nashville, IL 62263-1410

E-Mail: JPRYOR@MAF.org

oshua

p. O. Box 997, Madartg, Papua New Guinea

September 1997
I am certainly
feeling more like T
do now than I did

John and Bonita are enjoying

the Madang sea breezes.

a while ago! A
while ago, that is,
just after our last
newsletter, we had
a period of illness.
We had gone into
Madang for a
typical break.
Bonita was
experiencing a

US, ou^son Jesse and

work a career. A

week after they left

Ladies listen attentively

as Jesse leads morning devotions.

treatment, which

However, it did

not cure me I

observes the larva ofa beetle

ended up with

for his biology lab.

nausea and diarrhea for about three weeks. I capped off

this episode with a kidney stone attack. I do not
'

Jesse preaches on Sunday morning. Samban. He also led

several village

devotional times, taught Bible studies, and preached one

Sunday. The people were thrilled at having "one of their

recommend this to

: anyone. I hate to

within^2"
,

"

Jesse
Jesse repairs
repairs our
our CD
CD player.
player.

left me pretty
well
'
washed out.

outside who is

Maso and Jesse put a new rear seal

on the tractor.

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so able to identify with

them and relate to the

relevant issues of

village life.

Lori Witham helps us cut the stencils few years. We came SO

for our transfer primer.
close to completely
running out of water.
We had to resort to using well water for our washing
and flushing the tod^
^

duplicator we
also have been

Josh helps Bonita with the duplication ofthe

literacy material.

making some
copies of I & II Thessalonians and Titus to distribute to

our church leaders in the area to encourage them to use

it in their preaching. We just have five chapters left to
translate in ACTS. Our next books to translate will be

I & II Timothy.

lit

Mike Sweeney teaches us how to use the

duplicating machine.

water had
colored them!
We did receive a

couple of inches of rain a week before we came into

Madang. That made it possible for us to stay in the
village for the majority of Jesse's visit, as we had
planned. Thank you for praying for rain. God did
provide.

Jesse brought soccerJerseys andpresented them

to the Samban team.

PIONEER BIBLE TRANSLATORS, INC.

John and Bonita Pryor, Missionaries
Forwarding Agents:
Bruee and Mary Ann Graff

Field Address:
Pioneer Bible Translators

Box 997

173 West T^banon St.

Madang 511

Nashville, IL 6226.3-1410

PAPUA NRW GTHNFA

E-mail: jpiyor@gIobaInetpg

(618) .327-32.34
E-mail: graff@midwestnet

November IS, 1997

Woodlawn Christian Church

4339 Woodlawn Pike

Knoxville, TN 37920
Dear Christian Friends:

We do indeed serve a mighty God, One who hears,and answers the prayers of His people. Your
prayers, together with your financial support, make possible the translation ministry ofJohn and Bonita Pryor
among the Ap Ma ofPapua New Guinea. Thank you for your partnership.
I have good news to report concerning the water situation in Samban. When it looked as if they had
only enough water remaining in the tank for one more day, the Lord sent a good rain. He has continued to
send periodic rains over the past month, enough so that the immediate crisis for drinking water has passed.
However, please do continue to pray for the rains to continue for the people's gardens. This has been the
driest "dry sea.son" in the twenty years John and Bonita have been in Papua New Guinea.

Many of the people in Samban are sick, and the Aid Post is nearly out of medicine, \fany of the
people are coming to John and Bonita for medical assistance. Please pray for the health of their people and
for Pryors to have the wisdom to know how to take care of them and best meet their needs.
John, Maso and Balu are now translating Iand U Timothy. Keep them in your prayers that the work
may progress without hindrances. Pray, too, for John and Bonita as they still have a lot of computer work to
do for completing Acts. They hope to spend some time in A^dang this month working on projects there.
Bonita and Josh continue to work on his home-schooling. Please continue to pray for them, that the
tasks might go smoothly.
Also rememberjes.se before the Lord as he winds down another semester at Johuson Bible College.
The College soccer team did quite well, and I understand that Jesse made valuable contributions to the team.

May God continue to bless you as you labor for Him.

Sincerely,

(Mrs.) Mary Ann Graff

Forwarding^ Agent

PIONEER BIBLE TRANSLATORS, INC.

John and Bonita Pryor, Missionaries
Field Address:
Roneer Bible Translators

Box 997

Madiing 511
PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Forwarding Agents:
Bruce and Mary Ann Graff
173 West Lebanon St.

Nashville, IL 62263-1410
(618) 327-3234

E-iiiail: jpryor@global.net.pg

E-niail; graff@'nDdwest.iiel

December, 1997
Woodiawn Christian Church
4339 Woodiawn Pike

Knox-ville, TN 37920
Dear Christian Friends:

At this time of the year as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior and reflect upon what His
coming to earth has meant to each of us, we also remember the many who share in the work of the Kingdom
in so many different ways. Thank you so much for your partnership with John and Bonita Pryor as they
translate the Scriptures into the Ap ma language of Papua New Guinea.
John and Bonita have had a productive stay in Madang. They returned to the village in early
December. Please pray for John and his co-translators as tliey continue to work in Iand H Timothy. They
report that translating the epistles is much slower going than the narrative style of the Gospels. Please pray
especially for the two co-translators and their families. One, in particular, is having some family problems and
needs help in his walk with the Lord.
The church leaders have been meeting with John on a regular basis the past couple months and seem
to be wanting to move forward. Just pray tliat there will be a spirit of unity and that they will have wisdom
in making decisions to lead toward church growth.
The on-going need for rain continues. At last report they had had enough rain to nearly fill their
storage tank, so drinking water is not an imjnediate concern. But the people still face a food shortage because
of the lack of rain and the effect it has liad on their gardens. Please pray for their daily needs.
Please pray for Bonita and Josh as they continue with homeschooling. Bonita also has much work to
do on the computer, entering the translated text from Acts. She is also doing a lot ofextra medical work
because of shortages of medicines at the local Aid Post. So pray for wisdom for her and that the people
responsible for supplying the medicines and doing the work will find a way to take over this responsibility,
freeing Bonita for other tasks.
Please continue to keep Jesse in your prayers as well, as he finishes another semester at Johnson Bible
College and makes plans for his future.
Thank you once again for your love and concern for John and Bonita, for your prayers and financial
support. At this special time of the year, may you be even more aware of the blessings of God and share the
"good news" of His coming with those you encounter. May you have a very meaningful Christmas season with
your loved ones.
Sincerely,

(Mrs.) Mary Ann Graff, Forwarding Agent

The Pryor Family

New
Guinea
News
Forwarding Agents:
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Graff
173 West Lebanon Street

Nashville, IL 62263-1410

Bonita

E-Mail:jpryor@global.net.pg

Joshua

P. O. Box 997, Madang, Papua New Guinea

December 1997

forJu^ie20,^19 8.^ So. we il beplan inga^pback

In our last newsletter we shared about Jesse and Kane's

visit during the summer. Many of you asked if we had

a picture of Karie. At last printing we did not, but now
we do. We also have a special announcement. Jesse

asked Karie Dawn Peck to marry him a couple of weeks

ago and she accepted. They have set their wedding date

John and our two co-translators, Balu and Maso,

completed the translation of the book of Acts in early
October. Bonita is now in the process of putting it into
our interlinear text program. John, Maso, and Balu
have since begun the translation of I Timothy. It is
moving rather slowly here at first because epistle-type
text is more difficult to translate than narrative-type
text. However, John has been encouraged to just see

We are still experiencing the effects of El Nino. The

the Ap ma words ofI Timothy being written on the

blackboard and then on paper.

drought is unlike anything we have seen in our twenty

years here in the country. The creek beds are dry, and
grass is growing in the middle; we can walk through on
dry ground. Our 5,000-gaIlon water tank has been
almost dry. When it got down to a quarter full, we
started carrying water for washing our clothes and

flushing the toilet Even at that, by September 30th we

were almost level with the pipe that leads out of the

tank at the bottom into our pump for pumping water up

into our header tank on top of the house. I had been
checking the level each day to make sure we wouldn't
begin pumping and then not have enough water, and
thus, cause the pump to be ruined. That day I figured
we could pump maybe one more day. However, God
knew we needed water that night. So He sent our first

rain in over two months that night, and that brought our
level up to one-fourth again. He Imows our needs, and
His timing is perfect! Great is the Lord! We do still
need rain not only for our own supply, but also for the
people of our area. Please keep praying.

John has continued to teach our reading classes on

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings and

following church on Sunday mornings. Several of the
people are becoming fluent readers. He has also been
meeting regularly with the church leaders and
encouraging them to plan and administrate the various
programs of the church. In his classes for morning
devotions, he has been leading a study on the cross.

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Twila captures John's thoughts as he and thefellows translate.

7"\v/7a i7wu'.v Maso soine ofthe drawingsfor the primer.

In the beginning of November, Twila Schofield,

Sandra's sister, came to visit us in the village. Sandra
had told us she was an artist, and we had asked if she
would come and draw some pictures for our transfer

primer. Maso had said he thought we should revise the

book by having new pictures
drawn. So we were pleased

It is hard to believe that it is Christmas time again. As

always, when we think offamily and giving gifts, we
are so thankful to God for His most precious gift to all
of us. We are also thankful to Him for each of you, too.

You are partners with us in translating the Word of God

into the Ap ma language ofPapua New Guinea. May

you experience the joy of"Emmanuel" this Christmas

and New Year, knowing that God is with you each and

every day, and He will be with you always.

to have someone come who

could do this for us. She has

done that, but she is also

gifted in drawing caricatures.
Here is a sample so that you
can imagine how much better

our primer drawings will

look.

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