Katterson PNG Update: Arrival

 Dear friends,

We made it! At 10:30 this morning, we touched down in Minneapolis! God brought us safely back home again. Thank you all so much for your prayer during our trip. We really needed it the whole time.

We have been noticing how nothing really went wrong on our trip except for the episode on the way back. God has used us to bless the Moes and the community of Ukarumpa beyond our expectations.

For example, during the Men's retreat, someone commented that they had not had anything like that for over two years! 

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Victor and Ben Katterson

Home Front: Day 16!

 This is the day!

Chain link activity: Eat a special treat and pick up Daddy and Victor at the airport!

We spotted Ben and Victor's plane from the airport dog park as they descended!

It was a joyful reunion to finally get Victor and Ben from the airport this morning! By the time he reached us, Victor was back on his feet (albeit hadn't eaten any food for 24 hours), and we loved hearing bits and snippets of their trip as we drove home. Nausea hit Victor again after being up for a while, so he retreated for a long afternoon nap, but before we left for Wednesday Connection (our last one in the park), he was able to eat and keep down a bowl of soup. 

I didn't want to leave Victor home alone, and Ben wasn't quite cogent enough to be driving the other kids on his own, so I took the other four for church in the park, and it was a grand finale to summer Wednesdays. But it was so good to get home and enjoy everyone under the same roof again.

Prayer requests: Strong systems that acclimate to this side of the world and grace and strength to bear into the new season of school, work, and ministry. And a Spirit-enabled receptivity for us at home to ask good questions, smooth the transitions, ease the baton-passing of roles, and generally provide a good landing place after such an intense and wonderful ministry experience.

Katterson PNG Update 8/27/25

 [From Amy]

Dear friends,

As many people started praying last night, God worked. Victor tried some Dimenhydrinate Dramamine (per our great pediatrician's suggestion), and he was finally able to stop vomiting and get some sleep.

At midnight I heard that their LAX flight had been delayed, so they needed to switch Chicago flights, now to arrive at about 1030am

At 603am Ben texted to say they touched down in Chicago. Victor is doing way better and has been able to keep fluids down. Praise the Lord! One more flight to go...

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Much grace to you,
Amy Katterson

Home Front: Day 15

 Tomorrow is the day!

Chain link activity: Make welcome home signs.

Mostly we just sit on the couch and look at books here

Well, maybe not always...

We enjoyed our last morning with Grammy and Grandad! I got to meet a friend for coffee and do a Costco Business Center run, and after lunch we said goodbye as Grammy and Grandad headed home. 

We heard at suppertime that Ben and Victor landed in LA, but that Victor has had vomiting pretty much every hour, through the 14-hour flight from Brisbane and since landing in California. Feels like a long time til they'll reach Minnesota (tomorrow at 9am).

 

Prayer requests: Victor to be able to get some fluids down, stop vomiting, get rest, and have grace to endure the final two flights. And a peaceful, grace-filled re-entry into the wilds of fall and school.

Katterson PNG Update 8/26/25

 [From Amy]

Dear friends,

The travel homeward continues. An hour ago I got a text from Ben:

Just landed in LA, Victor had a terrible flight. Threw up at least x8.

Meds haven't stayed down so far, and it's still a long haul before they are home.

Remaining flights:
Depart Los Angeles 1am (our time) to Chicago at 5am
Depart Chicago 7am to Minneapolis at 9am tomorrow morning

Please pray for the Lord's mercy, for rest and hydration, easing of nausea, and a grace-covered re-entry.

Home Front: Day 14

 2 days to go...

Chain link activity: Eat a treat to celebrate Auntie Lori's birthday.

Today was another beautiful day. We did our school things, and I got backpack supplies pulled together and ran some errands. We're looking forward to Culvers with custard for our treat tonight!

Prayer requests: Rest for the travelers, who won't have a bed to sleep in from about now until about Wednesday night!

Katterson PNG Update 8/25/25

 Dear friends,

We are back in Port Moresby on our return trip home! We are staying here for the night at a very fancy hotel. We are excited to be on our way back, but it was also sad to say goodbye to the Moes yesterday. We had such a wonderful time with them. Please pray for little jet lag for us as we are already tired from an early morning this morning.

Please pray for sleep on the planes because we are flying mostly when it is light out, which will make it hard to sleep. 

Please pray that our luggage will arrive safely and the same with us.

PNG Fact of the Day: Mumu is regarded as the national dish of Papua New Guinea. It is a slow-cooked assortment of fruits, vegetables, root crops, and meat, and is composed of pork, sweet potato, rice, and vegetables.

Thank you for continuing to pray for us,

Victor and Ben Katterson

Home Front: Day 13

 3 days to go...

Chain link activity: Grammy and Grandad are coming to visit!

 

This morning we had a sweet time at church. What a glorious fall-feeling day! Grammy and Grandad arrived for a little visit in the mid-afternoon, and we had so much fun picking raspberries and  tomatoes, biking to the park, eating breakfast-for-supper, and watching a neat episode of Wild Brothers, before Psalm 131 and bed.  (Just to make Ben feel needed, we got a leak under the kitchen sink after supper...)

Prayer requests: Protection and blessing as Ben and Victor and team travel and maybe some debriefing opportunities to reflect on all God has taught and worked through their time

Katterson PNG Update 8/23/25

Dear friends,

Today is our last day in Ukarumpa! We have had an amazing time here with the Moes in Papua New Guinea. We have met lots of people here and God has blessed us with a fruitful time. The four boys are sad that we are leaving tomorrow. We had a great time together! We leave at 6:30 in the morning here which is 3:30pm Sunday afternoon in Minnesota. We would appreciate prayer as we get ready to depart and for safe travels back. Also, please pray for lasting effects on Ukarumpa because of our time here. 

 

PNG Fact of the Day: The time in Papua New Guinea is 15 hours ahead of the central time zone. That means that at midnight here, it is three in the afternoon in Papua New Guinea.

Thank you for your prayer, 

Victor and Ben Katterson

Home Front: Day 12

 4 days to go...

Chain link activity: Go out for ice cream.

Today we had a lovely morning of pancakes, baking bread, and cleaning bedrooms, and then Josiah went to piano lessons. The other kids scootered to a nearby park. We got to see Pastor Sam (looking very perky) and then headed to the library for more school paper printing. After lunch we had lots of reading time, some more mowing, vacuuming, and pizza for supper. Then it was off to DQ for dessert! We came home for baths and showers and everybody was very yawny by bedtime.

Prayer requests: Ben's sermon and the final youth group night in PNG

Home Front: Day 11

 5 days to go...

Chain link activity: Get pizza at Costco.

Today we had a friend over for the morning and early afternoon, which provided a nice diversion for all. I made yogurt, finally finished mowing the yard (after several false starts and uncooperative mower batteries), continued in the endless sorting-of-school-related-books-and-papers, and and got an afternoon phone call from Ben and Victor! They were just preparing for the Saturday morning session of their men's retreat. After the afternoon rest time we trekked to Costco for pizza. The evening entertainment included watching an episode of Wild Brothers (which is set in Indonesian Papua, just on the other side of the island from Papua New Guinea!). It's lovely to head into a weekend!

Prayer requests: Grace and fruitful ministry for the full weekend activities in PNG: conclusion of the men's retreat, marriage night, Ben's preaching, and a final youth group evening on Sunday night.

Katterson PNG Update 8/21/25

 Dear friends,

Sugarcane has a very unique flavor. At the market today, we got some sugarcane to try. You peel off the skin and cut off the ends. Then you bit off a chunk and chew it thoroughly. You swallow the sugar water and spit out the pulp. The juice tastes amazing and is apparently healthier too. Then repeat.

Tonight we had the first session for the men's retreat. Would you pray that the second session tomorrow goes well and that the men would be greatly encouraged by the teaching? 

PNG Fact of the Day: The Papua New Guinean currency is called Kina and is 0.23 US dollar. The kina is round with a hole in the center and was adopted in 1975.

Please continue praying for us,

Victor and Ben Katterson

Home Front: Day 10

 6 days to go...

Chain link activity: Go to the Kattersons' to play.

It was a beautiful day today. The kids got some fresh air scootering outside this morning, and then they played at their cousins' house while I had a Bible study committee meeting. Snagged some bounty from the garden (which is starting to look like a jungle). This afternoon I got the majority of the rest of the yard mowed ... minus a little triangle in the backyard that remained when my second battery died. 

Thankful for the Lord's provision and generosity to us.

 

Prayer requests: Right priorities among many possibilities, rich time for the men's retreat and marriage night in PNG, and Spirit empowering for Ben's preaching

Katterson PNG Update 8/20/25

Dear friends,

Today was a very bumpy day. 

This morning we we drove to a nearby city, Kainantu, and all that drive we discovered that the roads are made up of at least 70% pot holes. The roads were unkept, and were probably not paved for about 50 years. When we got to Kainantu, there was trash everywhere, and the roads were just as bad. However, this city has the biggest grocery store for hundreds of miles around. It was an interesting experience. 

We are doing well, and would continue asking for your prayer. 

 

PNG Fact of the Day: The national animal of Papua New Guinea is the tree kangaroo. This fascinating marsupial is known for its unique ability to climb trees with ease, thanks to its powerful hind legs and strong tail. Tree kangaroos are native to the rainforests of Papua New Guinea and are considered a symbol of the country’s rich biodiversity and natural beauty.

Thank you for your prayer, 

Victor and Ben Katterson

Home Front: Day 9

 

7 days to go...

Chain link activity: Go to the library.

It was a beautiful day today. We added grammar to math this week in our slow school start. Then we had a trip to the library to pick up holds, print for school, and get some fresh reading material. I had my regular Wednesday work meeting. I also got the very happy news that August 15 was the filing deadline for the 2023 property tax refund paperwork, so I did not, in fact, fumble the ball on that little 4-digit technicality for 2024... The Lord is kind. We had a beautiful night for our second-to-last Connection in the park, complete with Calvin burying himself in the sand.

Prayer requests: Good preparation for PNG events this weekend: men's retreat, marriage night, and Ben's preaching

Katterson PNG Update 8/19/25

 Dear friends,

It is a lot of fun exploring Ukarumpa, hanging out with the boys, playing games with them, jumping on the trampoline, and all the other fun things they like to do.

It is really fun to see them get excited over a new game we got them or a book series they enjoy. We are really finding opportunities to encourage and strengthen the Moes in Christ. Thank you for your prayer and support during our time here.

Long distance prayer from the North Church pastors' meeting

 

PNG Fact of the Day: The National anthem talks about the country’s rich fertile land and how it is a free country.

Thanks for praying,

Victor and Ben Katterson

Home Front: Day 8

8 days to go... Halfway there!

Chain link activity: Read new magazines.

It was a whirlwind day, hopping in the car for our drive back to MN, a quick walk to the park to get wiggles out, some work time (punctuated by comments from Jemima, who was coloring notes for her dad, brother, and friends behind my chair), a quick mow of the front yard and part of the back ... during which I missed a call from Ben and Victor. I called them back and had a quick chat while our childcare arrived, I pushed the lawn mower back into the garage, and then took a quick rinse off before double-header homeschool co-op orientation meetings, and then run home to get kids into bed and try to finish some school prep. 😅😅

Apparently during the above we had no photogenic moments. Sorry!

Prayer requests: School (orientation makes it so real)

Home Front: Day 7

9 days to go...

Chain link activity: Make cards for Auntie Lori's birthday.

We had a lovely day in Iowa, playing with cousins and Grammy and Grandad. We enjoyed some delightful Iowa sweet corn, card games, popsicles, and reading on the couch.

Prayer requests: Safe travels back to MN today, wisdom for school plans, and good preparations in PNG for a men's retreat, marriage evening, more youth gatherings, and Ben's second sermon

Katterson PNG Update 8/18/25

Dear friends,

Spiders the size of your hand, cockroaches that can get anywhere, and mosquitoes that carry deadly viruses. These are some scary parts of living in Papua New Guinea, but there are also some fun things about living here: the bananas that make the crummy US “bananas” taste like garbage, the beautiful varieties of butterflies, the amazing weather, the delicious passion fruit, and many more wonderful aspects. 

Would you please pray for us as we continue to support the Moes, things I need to get done and more importantly, to strengthen them in Christ?

 Walking uphill to the guest house

 Eating passionfruit

PNG Fact of the Day: The stars on the National flag show the Southern Cross Constellation and the bird is a Raggiana Bird of Paradise, the national bird, symbolising freedom and the nation’s rich environment. This flag was adopted on July 1, 1971.

Thank you so much for your prayer and support,
Victor and Ben Katterson. 
(we actually did see several spiders to size my hand.)

Home Front: Day 6

 

10 days to go...

Chain link activity: Go to Grammy and Grandad's house.

It was fun to surprise the kids this morning with the news that we were headed to Grammy and Grandad's house after church. We had good travel (despite the disparity in audiobook preferences between a 4-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy), and it was lovely to have dinner with cousins, aunts and an uncle, and Grammy and Grandad. Right before supper I also got a call from Ben and Victor, and it sounds like they continue to do well and enjoy their time. They have a few quieter days before a flurry of activity toward the end of the week and their travel home toward the beginning of next week.

Prayer requests: Peaceful sleep for all, good preparations for end-of-the-week events in PNG, and sweet connections in Iowa tomorrow