A Little Bit of Paradise

Traveling around Papua New Guinea can be pretty expensive and difficult for foreigners so we don’t often get the chance to wander outside Ukarumpa.  Recently, however, we had the opportunity to visit the coastal city of Madang for a three-day holiday.  The Madang Resort offers a discount to those working in our organization so we made the most of their generosity and enjoyed some rest and relaxation on their beautiful grounds.

 

 

One of three pools on the grounds.  I’m pretty sure the kids grew gills while we were there.

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry, Disney…this is the REAL “Polynesian Resort”!

 

 

 

 

 

The keep some local wildlife on the grounds including this very curious hornbill.

 

 

 

 

 

We could watch the cargo ships coming in and out of the harbor right from our room.  This is the kind of ship that carried our belongings and school books to PNG.

 

 

 

The open-air restaurant just a few feet away from the ocean.  It was SO nice not to cook my own dinner!

 

 

 

 

Our holiday was especially enhanced by the dear friends that came with us.  We made some amazing memories together!

Capsized!

On the afternoon of February 26, the aviation department was notified that an emergency beacon belonging to a translation team was transmitting a distress signal. The signal originated some kilometers off the coast of the remote island where this particular team was allocated—only 64 miles south of the equator.

The aviation team promptly gathered open water rescue equipment and medical supplies and readied one of the Kodiaks. After a quick call home, I (Jon) jumped on board the aircraft with three other crew members and flew to the coordinates last transmitted by the emergency beacon. En route, we received more information over the radio and the pilot set up a search grid over the open water. Unfortunately, our destination was a couple of hours away and we wouldn’t have much daylight left to search.

When we reached the search area, the pilot descended to optimal search altitude and decreased our speed. With two sets of eyes to the front and two at the back, we spotted several boats and lots of debris but not the translation team. At dusk, we landed with heavy hearts on a neglected WW2 airstrip on a nearby island.

Several locals met us as we climbed out of the aircraft. We learned that members of the translation team were receiving assistance at the local medical clinic. Praise the Lord!

Later, I learned that the team’s vessel had capsized in the rough sea midway between two islands. After many hours in the water, they miraculously made it to shore. We figure they swam over nine miles, and we thank God for sparing their lives.

We spent the night on this remote island and enjoyed the wonderful hospitality of the local people. I was humbled by their generosity and kindness to us strangers. The next morning, we loaded the translation team onto the aircraft and returned to Ukarumpa.

Jon’s host showing off his unfinished dugout canoe

The whole rescue was an emotional roller-coaster ride and I’m grateful to God that the experience had a happy ending. The credit for that goes entirely to God. We can be as prepared as possible for emergencies, but when you’re flying over miles and miles of nothing but ocean, you quickly realize only our great God could pull of a rescue like this one.

Double Digits!

Happy 10th birthday, Claire!

Book Parade

Claire and Isaiah don’t attend Ukarumpa International School but sometimes they get invited to participate in the school’s special events.  Book Parade is one of them.  During the two weeks prior, students participate in reading competitions and collect books to give to local schools.  As a grand finale, everyone dresses up as a favorite book character and parades around the school.  Isaiah chose to be Robin Hood from “The Legend of Robin Hood” that we read earlier this year.  Claire found her lacy dress in the school’s prop room.  It reminded her of Samantha in “Happy Birthday, Samantha”—one of the American Girl stories that she loves.

 

Isaiah with the Grade 2 class

 

 

Claire with the Grade 4 class

Crafting Weekend

My family recently gave me a very special gift—a weekend to spend crafting with friends.  Fourteen other ladies and I retreated to the Wycliffe Associates Volunteer Center with all our gear.  The Volunteer Center is only a short walk from our home, and our “workroom” might have resembled a sweatshop, but we thoroughly enjoyed sewing, talking, eating meals we didn’t cook ourselves, creating and laughing till our sides hurt.

A majority of the women were working on quilts, but others were scrapbooking, sewing, editing videos and cross-stitching.  I made some progress on my 15-year cross-stitch project.  I started that peacock when we first arrived in PNG in 1999.  Think I’ll finish it before we leave?  …maybe if we have another crafting weekend soon.  <wink>

Celebrating the Waima New Testament*

The Waima New Testament hasn’t been collecting dust since its dedication in July 2003. A community FM radio broadcast, multiple showings of the “Gospel of Luke” video, and Scripture Application and Literacy Training (SALT) courses have all encouraged the use of the Waima scriptures over the past decade. But as the tenth anniversary of the dedication approached, the translation team and village leaders decided a celebration was needed to remember the momentous occasion.

On 28 July 2013, thousands from the surrounding area gathered in the central village of Ereére. The United Church Circuit minister started the celebration with a worship service, followed by hymns and dramatic presentations. Later, various groups held competitions in scripture reading and memorization.

Taita Baeha is over 70 years old. When her turn came to compete in the scripture reading, she stood up and clearly read the passage given to her. It was a challenging chapter from 1 Corinthians, but she never stumbled or made a mistake. For her perfect performance she was given the title, “Tuabi tuabi babiéna!” --a Reading Lady!

During the scripture memorization competition, each participant was only expected to recite the portion requested by the judge. Uni, however, was very eager to share the words of God so she recited the whole passage of Matthew 7:1-29. The audience listened attentively to Uni’s energetic voice as she repeated Jesus’ promise that “the door will be opened to the one who knocks.”

After watching a video of the 2003 dedication, the head village chief declared, “Our God became a Waima man and He speaks our language to us. We should listen to what He says and obey what He told us!” The audience responded, “Yes, that’s true!”

The Waima Circuit United Church has grown steadily since receiving the Waima New Testament in 2003. They have since established their own circuit called “Pou Namona” (Good News), and decided that July 19 should be annually celebrated as “Waima Bible Day”. The Waima people have also embraced the responsibility to carry on translation of the Old Testament. It is their desire that God “continue to speak clearly” to the Waima people.

*Missy wrote this and other stories for “The PNG Experience”.  Visit this blog for more amazing stories and stunning photos of Bible translation and language development in PNG.

**Photo by N&D Kim

Our Carport—the Operating Theatre

As far as we know there is only one veterinarian in all of Papua New Guinea and on Saturday he visited our house.  Gibasa, the vet, doesn’t often make it to Ukarumpa—maybe once a year depending on whether there is enough business to make it worth his while.  Someone in the community will ask around to see how many animals need “fixing” and then contact Gibasa and work out a time for him to visit.  This time it was our turn to host.

Besides our own cat (who was fixed a year ago), we’re looking after two that belong to our landlord.  One is a young male who has been delighting the neighborhood with his nighttime scraps and serenades.  <cough>  So in order to restore goodwill among our friends, we asked our landlord for permission to have Pepper fixed.

The vet, arrived mid-morning and set up shop in our carport.  We provided tables, chairs, and refreshments for staff and the patients’ owners.  I quietly thanked God and my sister-in-law for providing a red, plastic tablecloth for the occasion.

During the course of the morning, I acted as receptionists and let people know when to bring their pets.  At times, Gibasa had quite an audience.  Claire and Isaiah bravely observed several surgeries and I’m calling the experience “Home School Biology 101”.

And in case you’re wondering if the cat in the photo is Pepper…it isn’t.  Pepper apparently got wind of what was in store for him and vacated the premises on Friday evening—not to be seen again until Sunday afternoon when the vet was safely in another tropical location.  <grrrr> 

Be warned, Pepper!  Jon was watching the vet very carefully, you may get fixed yet…just without the benefit of anesthesia.  <wink>