A Celebration

My husband is adventuring overseas on July 4th for a very special celebration. But he's going to Papua New Guinea, not the US, and it's a different kind of celebration than you were perhaps expecting.

Peirce was a grammar intern on the Bariai Scripture Translation project in 2004, and lived in the remote village you see in the video, preparing the dictionary which would enable the translation of the whole Bible into the Bariai language.


I'm still amazed by his part in this, and I wish I was going with him, but with the official celebration coinciding with my third trimester, we felt I should sit this one out. 


Helicoptors, remote villages, malaria, and a possibly explosive national election occurring at the same time as the celebration...none of this is really saying "heavily pregnant woman" to you, is it?


So let me take this opportunity to ask for your prayers for Peirce's safety through these and any unforeseen situations.


And while you're at it, offer some thanks to our God for bringing His word to the Bariai in their own language, through servants like my husband and the Gallagher family. May the Bariai people join with David, from their hearts, in their own language -

Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes!

With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways.

I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

- Psalm 119:12-16

Supporting the Baehrs

Since 2008, Peirce and I have been happily working for Pilgrim Hill on a 'volunteer' basis. This means Peirce has opted to work part-time at his software job (thank you, Tavultesoft) so he is free to spend several days a week serving Pilgrim Hill. In between taking care of the family and teaching harp from home, I give all the time I can to helping out with PH. 


Meanwhile, all Pilgrim Hill donations go to the Association, which in this season is raising funds for the design and building of the hostel. Although the Association will pay a wage to us as managers in the future (when the hostel opens), currently we do not receive a wage from the Association.


We have been completely content with this arrangement, though it has meant our income is small. Despite living on two part-time incomes, God has given us deep contentment and riches during this time. We have been blessed with a large, sunny house to live in, and many other gifts which would have been well beyond our means (such as lovely furniture, appliances, a chest freezer, a chicken coop & chickens, office supplies, etc).


Recently, we were approached by some dear friends who expressed their desire to support us personally. They had been to one of our support dinners, and they wanted to support the work we are already doing for Pilgrim Hill - in teaching, hospitality and evangelism as well as support-raising (we do not bill PH for support dinner expenses). 


We also understand that their are others who possibly may not wish to give to our building project, but would prefer to give to a family who is doing gospel work, feeling that a small donation may make more of an impact that way.


So, with the blessing of the Association, we are now accepting personal donations to support our family as we work setting up Pilgrim Hill. If you would like to support our family directly for any reason, please contact us: thebaehrs@pilgrimhill.org