blog aug 29
POC day 21
Yesterday we built drum ovens. One of the ways that translators can bake over an open fire is by cooking inside an old 5 gallon tin drum. Using sheet metal, a kerosene drum, a hammer and rivets you can make a nice little oven that'll cook 2 loafs of bread over an open fire. Making this is fairly inexpensive and it makes a good gift to leave with our wasfemili (the family taking care of us in the village) when we leave.
It was an interesting exercise, having flammable materials, sharp metal, long wire, hammers, cutters and all manner of tools in the workshop with about 20 people all working at the same time. In America this situation would be a tough one from an insurance perspective since most people were in sandals and had no protective gloves or goggles or anything. I was amazed no one got hurt as many of the people had never used a drill before in their lives.
There are a significant portion of single women in this group. We have about 24 students, all different nationalities, all different skill sets, here to accomplish their part in Bible Translation. The POC training process is to help familiarize us with the country's culture and language. Yesterday we were taught how this is really a male centered society and how life for women here is very tough. So these single women are learning that they have a very tough life ahead of them here and yet they are excited and energetic about the task ahead of them.
It turns out my stomach bug was Giardia (sp?) So I've begun taking pills to resolve that and I believe I'm starting to feel better. I caught Kendal's head cold so at the moment, we have a son recovering from a 2 day stomach flu, a wife with a head cold, a husband with Giardia and a head cold, and a daughter as happy as the day she was born. If you can pray for our health we would appreciate it. We are giving ourselves the freedom to not feel too guilty when we miss out on some activities because we need to rest. For the most part though, we're pushing through.
It is hard to explain this experience. God is working in our lives, preparing everyone here. We are growing close to each other, which is a vital part of forming the teamwork skills required in a multi-cultural environment. Trying to understand a different culture and a different person is sometimes an intimidating task. The challenge is to not let our misunderstandings frustrate us as we try to work towards Bible translation, and so far, we're getting along quite well.
There have been two significant advances in that department. A game night in which we all relaxed and enjoyed each other, and today, our half day of prayer. We prayed for many things, folks and partners back home (you), each other, the leadership here, the work, the people. We grew together as we prayed.
One of the things that came out of it was that we were informed that one of the translators who had gone through training with another one of the students here, died last night. He was a 31 year old from Costa Rica who had his airplane tickets in hand for August 31 to go to Malaysia to be a Bible translator. I have not met him but a student here knew him from a previous class he had taken. Someone from this very course, one year ago, has now gone on to the Lord. His training completed, his tickets in hand, and yet the work was never begun. God apparently saw his work as complete and took him home. And so today there were many tears for a man we had never met but shared a common goal with.
And so I'm thankful to be here. We're so thankful to be in our place of assignment and have already put a few months into the work. Giving thanks in all things is really a discipline. There are a lot of people who left their home only 3 weeks ago and are suffering homesickness. One friend was told today her grandmother will pass away soon and she realizes she will not see her again in this life. And yet, today, a day with such discouraging news, was turned into a day full of praise and thanksgiving to God. I think there are two secrets to a successful life as a missionary as I'm looking around at these fabulous people God has allowed me to share this experience with.
1 - Attitude. I am learning to discipline my attitude to the mind of Christ and it truly is a daily miracle.
2 - Turning hardship into worship. No one denies there is hardship, but none of these people have let it defeat them.
If you would pray for us, in whatever way you feel led having read this, we would be appreciative.
Overall our attitudes are very healthy here, we are enjoying this experience and we can see it's value. I will have a very wide smile when I can say I have completed this course because I will know that I did so only on God's strength and not my own.
