159_5913.jpeg

The attached file was originally sent with another message.

File Name: 159_5913.jpeg

Update on check of Romans/1 Timothy

After three days filled with 9 and 10 hours of reading, talking about and verifying comprehension we're very happy to let you know that the final bits of Romans and all of 1 Timothy have survived their final sifting! Just a few little tweaks here and there and they'll be officially ready to print and get into the Mibu people's hands! We're all tired and our brains are fried. Whew!

Special thanks to Greg Melendes and JJ Rasmussen for giving the huge amount of time and expense to fly in from overseas and provide this check for us!

We've flown back to Madang this morning. I've been reunited with my family. Sesi, Lucas and Keteng are taking off tomorrow morning to head back to Mibu. And our family will be heading up to Goroka for about a week before heading back into Mibu ourselves on November 1.

Blessings

First day of checking

Well it wouldn't be Papua New Guinea if our original flight to meet the consultants wasn't cancelled. All ticketed, checked in and everything, just waiting for our flight to arrive and they announced it was cancelled. Pack up the bags, go back to the New Tribes Mission center, thankful for another night with my family, and had to get up at 3:30am to go to the airport again by 4am. Waited until 6:10 before finally boarding and taking off... But the important thing is we made it. Neither myself, nor the 3 Mibu guys (Sesi, Keteng, Lucas) slept well last night, and we had to hit the ground running because we were coming in so late. Not a good circumstance in which to do translation checking. But you do what you have to with what you have.

Despite our rather limited mental capacities, the check started off well on this first day. We started with 1 Timothy and finished the first 4 chapters after about 9 hours. Tomorrow and Sunday we'll finish 1 Timothy and start working through the final chapters of Romans.

Can't wait to have this stuff done and totally finished with the checking processes!

Translation check

Today we start checking the material in Romans and 1 Timothy that has been translated into the Mibu language. Please pray that this final check goes well, that wisdom and discernment are practiced and that it will result in a super high quality translation of these portions of God's word into the Mibu people's language.

We're so blessed to be a part of this effort. When God's word speaks clearly in one's own language, like the Mibu people will have in theirs, one's understanding of what God is communicating about himself doesn't have to lie on the other side of a wall of awkward wording. Awkward, unnatural wording (Greek-like, even) requires either someone telling you what it means or otherwise acquiring a large battery of academic skills in order to scale that wall to achieve comprehension. It's awesome to be a part of a translation effort that aims to provide God's word in a way that it, rather than the person telling them what it means, can have the authority it deserves. We're seeing that happen already. And through that, we're seeing the power of God's words at work in the lives of the church in Mibu!

Thanks for praying for us!

SVCC Team on their way home

The conference team from Sun Valley Community Church departed just a couple days ago and I've finally had some time to go through the pictures of their time here.

The Madang regional conference was very good. Everyone was glad to hear Dennis speak on family and marriage. We were given some practical ways to reduce conflict in family life as well as increase intimacy in marriage. Good stuff! The program for the kids went very well too. The theme was "Incrediworld Amazement Park," during which the children heard teaching giving them helpful tools to remember and honor God as the creator. Our kids enjoyed it quite a bit. Skyler and Maddie are still singing the songs they learned during that program. Kevin, Lori, Theresa, my parents, and Shiloh did a great job with that! And in order for all the above to happen, Joey was busy taking care of all the errands that were needed, running to town to get food, helping with setup, cooking, etc.

Then after the conference was over, the team had just one last mishap with their travel plans; a delayed flight from Madang to Port Moresby, which dominoed into missing their international connection, and quite a bit of last minute rush to figure out hotels and booking new tickets. Air Niugini, once again lived up to their reputation and refused to help with any of the costs caused by the delay. So we spent hours on the phone with the travel insurance company (Yes! The team bought travel insurance, which paid for itself multiple times - Thanks Travel Guard). The team stayed the night in Port Moresby, had tickets booked for them on a different airline and from what we've heard, have finally made it into Brisbane and are awaiting their next leg bringing them back home. As stressful as those times are when traveling, being stretched like that and the feelings of helplessness are certainly good tools to help us realize our dependance on God. The team got to experience one of those times.

Looking back, we're sure they'll remember this whole trip; their trip into Mibu, the conference in Madang, and even their traveling woes, with fond memories and increased awareness of God's activity in the world.

We are so grateful for the time that the team took out of their busy lives to come here and serve the way they did. We also want to thank all those who contributed in some way either by praying or through finances to send the team here.

PS, as far as conference pix... will have to wait till I can gather them from others who were actually taking photos during conference. Didn't actually take any myself as there were lots of other, far better photographers snapping away.

SVCC team update

Just a quick update here. Purely informational. Sorry no details, but it's been very hard to find time. No pictures either. Again, just haven't had time to do anything with them from my (or anyone else's camera). We DO indeed have pictures. Just need time to sift through and process them.

The team had an awesome time in Mibu! It was a great chance to get to see the Mibu church and the people's culture and places and most importantly their love for God. Our perception of their visit was that they were wowed by what God is doing there! More details will have to follow later... it's almost 11 at night and we're exhausted.

The whole team flew out from Mibu to Madang on Monday without any hiccups. Since then everyone has been trying to get ready for the conference, track down the two bags that never made it with the team, and get to know the NTM folks that are out for conference.

Just got back from a much needed, relaxing dinner with the team out in town, during which we had wonderful conversation and some good laughs!

Again, more details to follow. Just a quickie for the sake of letting everyone know the team is doing well, is safe, and is gearing up for conference.

SVCC Team Arrives in Mibu!

Yesterday (friday) was a very exciting day for us. A team from Sun Valley was able to make it into Mibu after their long travels from the US. But their arrival didn't come without the unexpected. They were, after all, traveling to Papua New Guinea where anything can happen... and often does!

Actually as it turns out, one of the team, Dennis McMains got stuck in the capital city, Port Moresby, due to overbooking on Air Niugini. It was looking like Dennis wasn't going to be able to make it into Mibu, about which we were all soooo disappointed. However, after arriving the next day in Goroka, our helicopter pilot, Ray, very graciously offered to fly him in this morning (Saturday)! We await his arrival as I write this!

Meanwhile, yesterday the team hit the ground running in Mibu. Kevin, Joey and Geoff hiked down to Mibu to shoot a pig and bring back the meat, which was quickly converted to 'pork' burgers and then to life sustaining energy for the team. The ladies had a great afternoon of 'girl' time up at our house, catching up with Shannon, asking questions, praising God as they received news of Dennis' safe arrival and the plans to bring him into Mibu.

We're super joyful that the team is here and that the team is soon to be complete! We're so thankful that with the slight mess with the airlines in Port Moresby that God has seen fit to work out a way for the whole team to be in Mibu with us. And we're looking forward to sharing the vision of Mibu Ministry, fellowshipping together, and giving the team a chance to fellowship with the church here in Mibu!

Thank you for your continued prayers!

(In the pictures... Kevin Kramar going for the kill. And the team greeting Mibu people upon arrival.