This is the blog for Gavin and Carrie Jones and family. We live in Papua New Guinea and are working to see lives transformed by the living Word of God through Bible translation. Gavin is a helicopter pilot. Carrie, who has her degree in Public Health, works in the lab at our busy rural clinic. Our son, Isaac, was born in 2004 and our quintuplets, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, and Grace, were born in 2012.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. The you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. -Proverbs 3:3-6

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

JAARS Video about donated helicopter

Last month when Gavin was at JAARS training one of the pilots there, he was flying a helicopter donated to us by Samaritan's Purse. This video talks about how God provided this resource to JAARS as well as an additional aircraft through the body of Christ. A bunch of the footage is of Gavin flying the helicopter.

Saturday, August 17, 2024

MRI Results

(Someone else’s puppy, thankfully!)

Gracie’s MRI revealed a cleft in her cerebellum - the motor control and coordination section. It’s an old prematurity-related injury from lack of oxygenation that inhibited the normal development of that area, if I am understanding correctly. They couldn’t find anything to explain some strange spikes during sleep that can be related to epilepsy (but in her case are not). They found scarring and thickening in her sinuses. She has had chronic sinus issues for YEARS. Her passages are so tiny they don’t drain well!


She is recovering well from her surgery, being a champ through the pain. ❤️ Precious girl. Here’s a photo she took a couple of weeks ago.


Monday, August 12, 2024

Gracie is doing great!

 Everything went well in surgery; still awaiting MRI results. Please pray she heals well with minimal pain. Thank you for praying!




Still out of it for a couple of hours, but eager to drink!


Gracie getting an MRI and surgery

This little 12-year-old girl is getting her adenoids and tonsils removed this morning and is also getting an MRI to rule out any issues left over from prematurity. We appreciate prayer and will update ASAP!
A bonus selfie Gracie took on our SIX week road trip visiting the people and churches that make our ministry in PNG (and Dallas and Waxhaw) possible and o so blessed!!
We just returned last week! 

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

End of school year update!

God is SO good to us. The first semester here was hard, hard, hard. We missed Isaac desperately. We were adjusting to so much all at once and not extending grace like we receive it from our Triune God. Multiple schools, classes, assignments and teachers, all in the midst of huge transition, and two stressed-out parents who are not able to keep on top of it all either! I was discombobulated by the lack of rest - after all, hadn't that been why we were coming home on furlough? There was LESS physical rest (although I started sleeping better gradually and continue to heal in that way, praise God). If anything, we were so much MORE overwhelmed by the demands of school and various doctor and therapy appointments. We were trying to tick off the list of things that needed to be done, as soon as possible, with a view to healing our kids, our marriage, ourselves, and our family. But there was no rest, no restoration; just striving to be "faithful." And to what end? Our souls were in more turmoil despite our best efforts to "do better." All the good stuff wasn't the best stuff. Sitting at Jesus's feet and just being His is the best, and no grades or successful therapies are worth that. So we've slowed down. We are doing the things that absolutely need to be done and trusting Him to guide us in HIS best for us. We are coming to Him for healing in the quietness of soul that is already ours in Christ. We don't do it perfectly, by any means! But we are His, and He is ours, and His banner over us is LOVE. 


Seth won three awards, including Principal's honor roll and the Honorable Character medal for his homeroom. He was so pleased his big brother and grandparents could join in! 

Look at Seth trying not to smile! 

Celebrating afterwards at Chipotle. We love having Isaac back home again for the summer.

Will giving a "wet willy" to the statue at the Dallas Baptist University Joan and Andy Horner Ballpark

Seth is the most devoted to baseball games.




Isaac and friends Colton and Meagan 💕 at the Boyce College Spring Fling

(He's such a delight! His darling girlfriend took this photo.)



Marcie in her homemade astronaut costume for school, "Ellen Ochoa"

Look! Zero gravity!


David loves making slings after his Biblical namesake. They are SO fast and dangerous!


David doing bushcraft stuff in the woods by our house



Beaver teeth marks!



David and Gracie in a Black Hawk Helicopter at the Fort Worth Air Show

They really are best friends!



"Heart Care Chapel" (my name for it) at Focus on the Family, Branson MO.
We're celebrating 25 years of marriage this summer!



Celebrating my dad's retirement! 55 years of faithful teaching - including us three kids in Colombia, South America, where we were missionaries in the 70's, 80's and 90's. It was such fun to have Aunt Cynthia and our newest family member, adorable baby Hannah, with us! 



At Dallas Baptist University, after serving 20 years as adjunct professor. We three kids are alumni!


Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

Gavin, Carrie, Isaac, Will, David, Marcie, Seth, & Grace Jones

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