Driggers days “The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the Word of our God endures forever.” Isaiah 40:8 NIV

Last summer we shared with

you that the Lord was leading us

to a new overseas assignment at

the end of our term here in

PNG. God has indeed

reaffirmed this in our lives, but

in a manner so very different

than we previously imagined!

When we returned from our time

in Australia, we felt the Lord

yanking on our heart strings.

PNG has become our home,

and the Lord spoke clearly into

our lives that He has not yet

released us from our ministry

here. So after our one year home

assignment in North Carolina

we will be returning to

Ukarumpa! Our new

assignment will be to work in

the auto shop.

Thank you for praying. We

praise the Lord for so many

affirmations in our lives that

have allowed us to know His

will for our future!

“When God gives us things, we don’t hold them tightly; we hold them loosely so they can fall through our fingers to bless others.” This is how Greg Barkman, Ukarumpa International School (UIS) principal, described his students’ attitude toward giving.

In December, UIS students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade brought gifts such as toys, games, school supplies, clothing and cash to school. The senior class delivered these gifts to children at an orphanage in Lae, a town four hours drive away. Most of the orphans had lost both of their parents to AIDS. While there, the teenagers gave the children an even more precious gift than toys or clothing: their time. They shared hugs, listened to their stories, prayed for them, and showed them God’s love. They held three-year-old Miriam, who had contracted AIDS from her mother. They listened to twelve-year-old Sarah who came from an abusive family and still had scars on her face. And they grieved over ten-year-old Jordon who had been caught stealing

numerous times and as a result had to leave the orphanage and live on the streets. On the last day of their visit the young people gathered the children in a circle and prayed for them. The children and the teens had each experienced God’s love through their mutual friendship. Many of them shed tears as they hugged good-bye. Visiting the orphanage deeply affected all the UIS students, including Meliah Michael. Meliah is interested in pursuing a career in journalism, and she now feels a pull to use her writing skills to serve orphanages and raise awareness of the needs of the poor. Meliah wrote these thoughts in response to the experience: “I never thought such little hands could pull on my heartstrings so entirely. My life is changed forever, to put it simply. When they held my hand, looked me in the eye and said, ‘Stay forever,’ I knew that these kids, these brave warriors in life, were what really mattered. To love these kids was such a blessing, I will never be the same.” By The PNG Experience Photo by Amy Evers

God has been so gracious and kind to allow us the privilege of loving kids during our time in the children’s home. We will never be the same! Thank you for partnering with us, impacting the precious lives of missionary kids and supporting the work of Bible translation!

Marty, Sara and those girls

Driggers | PO Box 1 (185) | Ukarumpa, EHP 444 PNG | m-s.driggers@sil.org.pg

Wycliffe Bible Translators | PO Box 628200 | Orlando, Florida 32862 | 1-800-WYCLIFFE

Any gifts should be made payable to Wycliffe, with a separate note saying, “Preference for the ministry of Marty and Sara Driggers, Account #270928”. Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) is simple! Go to: http://www.wycliffe.org/partnership.aspx?mid=6db362

Marty and Sara Driggers Children’s Home Parents Papua New Guinea

January – March 2014

We bought a house!

Marty praying at the altar during student led worship at Aiyura National High School. Photo by Sarah Halferty

Sara and Jade worshipping together. Photo by Sarah Halferty

In Port Moresby on Christmas Eve

When we made the commitment to return to serve in Ukarumpa in the auto shop, we prayed the Lord would provide us with stability in a home. He did just that. We bought a house! God has provided for us a three bedroom, one and a half bath home for just $8,500. The seller was very motivated and willing to accept minimal payments until our home in South Carolina is sold.

It seems a bit odd, you say, to buy a home that you cannot live in yet. Yes, but let us explain… Beginning in April, after the completion of their orientation course on the coast of PNG, our friends, James and Stephanie, will rent our home until we return to live in Ukarumpa. This rental income will help us pay down the indebtedness we owe for Marty’s medical treatment. In addition to this benefit, owning a home will save us thousands of dollars in rent each term. We praise God for our new home and its perfect location just around the corner from the auto shop and secondary campus! He is so good to us.

Please join us in praying as we begin to explore options for the sale of our home in SC, as well as the financial provision for our new home here in PNG.

Praise

Marty received all the necessary

medical treatment needed

during our time in Australia, and

is feeling healthier and stronger

than he has in almost 15 years

after making huge dietary

changes.

God lavishly loved us through His

church while we were in

Australia. It was an incredible

time of rest and relaxation.

We are so excited that the Lord has revealed His plan for our future, and praise Him for the perfect provision of a home for our future years here in Papua New Guinea.

Prayer

Taylor’s class travels to the

coastal town of Madang for their

senior trip on March 22nd – 26th.

Please pray for their safety.

Even with the lower Australian

cost of medical care we have

incurred over $7000 in medical

debt. This is a huge stress in our

lives and greatly affects our

ministry. When we travel home

in June of this year all our debt

here will transfer to our Wycliffe

USA account and we will not

receive any income until the

balance is paid in full. Please pray

for our debt to be paid in full

before we leave.

We are still finalizing the details

of our trip home, including how

to pick up a leased car in North

Dakota. Please pray for us as we

work out the final touches for

our travel and transportation.