If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.
1 Cor. 15:19

It's been a while since the last time we wrote, and we apologize for that. Many of you are aware of our situation, where we are, and what has happened in our journey. This time, we want to update those who haven’t heard from us in a while, or perhaps those who are near and didn’t know the story.

It turns out that being a missionary has been way harder than we expected. It has changed us inside and out. We’re older, not just because we are aging, but because the stresses in our path have left us drained and weak. Our body tells that story. But we also hope that we are a bit wiser, not because of the days we’ve lived but because we’ve seen God come through to save us when we’ve been hopeless and worn out. So, for some of you who might feel our words are strong, this is not a lament but a testimony of God’s faithfulness (despite our unfaithfulness).

As you know, God took us and brought us to serve among the Nakanai people group on one of the islands of Papua New Guinea, by His mercy and for His glory. Nevertheless, this was a huge change of plans for us. Before this, we had worked on building a team with two other families, choosing a people group to work with called Mengen, and starting plans to move in to the point of clearing the area for building our houses among them. We’re talking about two years of our life walking in that direction as we thought God was leading. And indeed He was, but He was just about to take us on a major detour.

Our team of three families split, leaving us without the possibility of living among the Mengen as we had planned. Not to mention God raised their own difficulties in that place as well. It was clear: God shut the door.

Now, this alone is hard at any time, but add to it that we were at our sixth anniversary of being in PNG. A lot had changed back home, and we found ourselves clueless about God’s plans for us and wondering if it was our time to return “home.” So we prayed, with the little to no faith we had left, and waited. I won’t take you to the depths of that dark time, at least not now, but I tell you we found precious jewels in those depths. But most of all, God found us!

After a year of working among the Nakanai people group, which we’ll tell you more about in another letter, the time came for us to go on Home Assignment, a time of reconnecting with our sending churches, people who’ve been praying, and family. There were some new nephews to meet. Last time we were home was in 2019; you can imagine how different things were back then. No COVID, for instance.

As we prepared to come back to Mexico, our prayer was that we could be useful in God’s hands to be an instrument of blessing to the church on this side of the world. We also prayed for some healing and restoration in our hearts and bodies. We’ve seen some of that being answered.

The time has come for us to return to PNG. We are working on renewing Jacob’s US visa so that we can travel through the States as we go back. There is the hard time of saying goodbyes to friends and family, packing, and moving, none of which we enjoy.

So, why are we still missionaries? And why do we want to do the hard thing of saying goodbye and going back to the place where God has changed us so much through pain? Because of the HOPE we have in Christ. As 1 Corinthians 15:19 says: “If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.” Our hope is not only for this life but for the eternal life He’s promised us after this one. So, others must know as well!

There is one last thing we want to say before we close: we are so thankful for the part you all have played in being God’s hands and giving generously, for bending your knees and interceding for us before the Father so we can be used by Him and bring glory to Him. This is something we don’t deserve but have received by grace. And our Father, who is just and generous in an unimaginable way, will reward you according to His riches in glory!

To God be the glory forever and ever! Amen.

How can you pray?

• TuAn unexpected delay occurred while we were applying for Jacob's U.S. visa renewal. We were required to attend an interview, and the earliest available date was June 25. This means we can't purchase our plane tickets until the visa is either approved or denied, in which case we'd have to travel by another route. We praise God for the peace we have because of His sovereignty over all things, and we pray we can follow His lead.

• Please pray for us as we search for homeschool materials. This time, we want to switch from a Spanish curriculum to an English one. There are significant reasons for this change, but also some challenges. May we hear the Lord's voice in this.

• Pray that we can abide in Christ every day.

Thank you for serving alongside us!

By His mercy and for His glory

Isaac, Claudia, Jacob, and Emma Hernandez
Witnesses of a living God in Papua New Guinea