Omun omun bibi googoon hen moin dolo Ayo God en hooon hen doli. God en hooon hen God yowan bolo doli, bolo en hooon hen God hele yowan.
‘Long ago when there was not anything there was Father God’s child. God’s child was with God himself, and his child was the one God himself.’
Since I finished entering the changes to the first draft of the Gospel of John in Samo, Clyde has started work on the back translation. This is an important stage since it will enable translation consultants and other people who don’t understand Samo (or not yet in my case!) work thru it and check it for content, accuracy, and comparability with other translations the people are using like the Tok Pisin Bible or the NIV.
Clyde is planning a trip to Boluabi in early December. He would like to take someone from the construction department along to repair a partially rotted support beam under the roof. Noah, Ezy and I will follow later, and we are planning to spend Christmas in the village.
Noah and Ezy are doing well. In July they had the opportunity to visit Messiah College. Both were impressed and liked it very much. Ezy is now working on his application. If accepted, we will begin the paperwork for his student visa. Experience tells us that this will not be a quick and easy matter! Ezy would like to become a teacher; Noah would like to study sports medicine. (Noah still has another year of high school ahead of him.)
On August 12 some serious fighting erupted around the SIL-Ukarumpa Center. The neighboring village, which is also called Ukarumpa, has suffered great losses: 4 people killed, 72 houses burnt to the ground. Another nearby village lost two lives and some houses. The reason for the fighting is complex and goes back several years. Mercenaries, along with villagers from the next valley, came to punish one village family line because of the recent rape of a young girl; the recent killing of another nearby village member; and also in retaliation of village houses being burned earlier this year in a clan dispute. The police are still searching for the hired criminals, while the local people are working towards peace. Many of the women and children are still sleeping in churches. The men have not started to rebuild their houses yet, as the threat of further attacks is still present.
Please pray with us for those who are grieving and those who are afraid of more violence. Pray for the local churches that are reaching out to those who are still homeless. And pray for us in SIL-PNG to have wisdom in reaching out to the village communities near us.
§ The big lawn mower for cutting the grass on the airstrip was flown to Ukarumpa for repairs. Since January it has sat in the repair shop, waiting for parts. So, how could we speed this repair in order to keep the grass airstrip neat and short and the airstrip open? We don’t know! Fortunately a little mower is still working.
§ Another challenge is transferring funds to schools in Western Province to help pay the school fees of some Samo students. Communicating with these schools is nearly impossible due to the remoteness of their locations and a lack of local banks. The methods of paying the school fees are quite time consuming and complicated. Please pray for wisdom and a clear path in providing the school fees on time.
§ We are very grateful for the patience of the Samo people as so often things are moving rather slowly.
Many thanks for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts!
