Endings & New Beginnings

The last two years have been really difficult, but God has given us hope during our time living in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). We’ve grown close to the people in our community here, and there have been many opportunities for us to serve in Bible translation with SIL PNG.

A’zalea and Andrew have done well in school and have made a lot of friends. We intended for them to complete this school year before returning for our first furlough. However, due to administrative circumstances outside of our control—including some paperwork that expired in Dec and was not renewed, we will be coming back early for furlough, landing in the US at the end of March.

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” Ecclesiastes 3:1,11

We’ve moved around a lot in the last few years, but one thing is different about this move: we will leave many of our belongings at our house here in PNG. This will enable us to travel much lighter, bringing only our day-to-day needs with us back to the US.

The Bradley’s home in PNG

We remain confident that God has called us to Bible translation. We’d like to return to PNG January 2027, Lord willing. We anticipate serving here in PNG in the same way we have been. For our second term, we plan to be assigned directly to SIL instead of the local church in Milne Bay. While there are administrative matters to navigate—including new work permits and visas—we are resting in the fact that God’s timing is perfect, even when it differs from our own.

Harold checking the Adzera translation of the gospel of Mark

We are so thankful to you, our team of partners, for how you have faithfully supported translation efforts in PNG through prayer and finances and for how you have encouraged our family during some challenging days. Bible translation takes a team, and we couldn’t do it alone. Thank you.

When my heart was grieved
    and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
    I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you;
    you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
    and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
    but God is the strength of my heart
    and my portion forever. Psalm 73:21–26

Southern Indiana will be our home base during this furlough and we will be living about 10 minutes from our sending church. We look forward to connecting with as many of you as we can while we are stateside. Thank you for your patience as we work through when and how. We’ll also be attending a missionary debrief in North Carolina in June as we process our first term abroad. A’zalea and Andrew’s last day at the mission school in PNG is March 13 and we will homeschool them the last 2 months of the 2025-26 school year.

We’re leaving the Highlands of PNG on March 17 to drive 4 hours to the coast. There we will catch our first flight to the capital, Port Moresby. We will depart Port Moresby March 19, transiting East through Auckland, New Zealand and Dallas, TX and arriving in Louisville, KY the week of the 22nd.

Thank you for standing with our family in all the ways you do, and thank you for how you’ve ministered to us in our suffering and pain. Though an early furlough was not our plan, we are confident that God has goodness stored up for those who fear Him and take refuge in Him.

Because He’s forever faithful, Harold, Justine, A’zalea, & Andrew

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Update: In 2026, we transitioned from Wycliffe USA to Ripe for Harvest as our sending organization (see here). Because of this transition, we have updated the giving information in this newsletter, including references to our sending organization and our contact information. All other content remains as originally published.