Everyone is invited.

There is going to be a gathering at Trinity Lutheran Church, Drayton ND, Thursday night September 27th at 7 pm.  Trinity in Drayton has sponsored Federwitz’ for many years  and one family will be there to talk about their work and the Lutheran Bible Translators Organization.  Coffee and Bars will be served.  There is an interesting sidebar in that I hope it is the Johnathan and Carrie Federwitz family that is coming because their information is below.  There are many other Federwitz’ working around the world that have also been helped by Trinity in Drayton and Zion in Grafton – Alvina Federwitz , Rev. David and Valerie Federwitz, Paul and Ali Federwitz.  There is another connection with LBT up here in the North Country and that is Becky Grossmann whose Father Victor Tegtmeier was the LCMS Chaplain at the Life Skills and Transition Center for many years.  So I am sure any Federwitz would be welcome but I believe that Jonathan and Carrie will be coming.

Missionaries Jonathan and Carrie Federwitz have been serving in Papua New Guinea since 1999. They are associate members of Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) and work under the supervision of Wycliffe Bible Translators, supporting the work of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea through aviation.

Jonathan is a pilot who flies Bible translators, their families, and others to and from remote areas within Papua New Guinea. Much of the country is rugged mountainous terrain with no roads. Often in a matter of minutes, Jonathan can fly over a distance that would take hours or days to travel by ground. Missionaries throughout Papua New Guinea depend upon airplanes for their basic travel needs and also for receiving mail and supplies.

Over 800 different languages are spoken in Papua New Guinea. As of 2018, about 240 languages have a New Testament and many others have published Scripture portions. Jonathan spends an average of 35 hours a month flying in and out of tiny, unimproved airstrips to locations where about 170 more translation projects are currently in progress.

In addition to looking after the home and family, Carrie serves part time as a elementary school teacher. The school provides an education for missionary children, thus enabling their parents to focus on their ministries. The Federwitzes have four children: Nathan, Julia, Leah and Rachel. Nathan, Julia and Leah are attending college in the US.

Jonathan grew up in Liberia, West Africa, where his parents, Dale and Alvina Federwitz, were missionaries with LBT. Carrie is the daughter of Roger and Sharon Rekstad and grew up in the Midwest where her father served as a Lutheran pastor.