With Christmas, New Year's and Boxing day, I've fallen a bit behind in blogging.
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a Happy New Year!
Well let's see, what is going on around here.
Weather, it's rainy.
Bible Translation - there is a new dedication soon. Auhelawa NT dedication in Milne Bay. This particular translation has an interesting story.
Dr. David Lithgow, father of one of the current leadership here in PNG, began a translation here and it was finished by national translators who took over the project.
you can read more about the good Doctor at
http://www.pastornet.net.au/renewal/journal4/lithgow.html
Note that his wife's name is Daphne.
So that dedication is coming up, great story, there is a book about it. His son isn' the only missionary to have been raised here and then stayed through adulthood.
Yesterday we trained and equipped a literacy worker team to go into the village and use their radio for email. For me direct interaction with language workers is rather exciting because it is my chance to give them superior support and make them feel less isolated while they are in the village.
The better job I can do here, of equipping them, the less devastating a technical failure when I'm not around will be.
What else is going on?
Hmmn, extra curricular activities,
Kendal has begun involvement in a vacation bible school. Next week the two of us will be hiking through a nearby village inviting all the national boys and girls in the area to come and attend.
I have signed up to help with the audio team during Sunday services. I'll be setting up microphones and the like to help with the morning audio.
An interesting side note there. Many people wear multiple hats (have several jobs). Some are their technical jobs for being here, and others they do for fun, or involvement. I've yet to see a ceiling on how active you can be here.
Well the main sound guy was also a manager in Aviation. And sunday morning there was a medical evacuation, something that the Aviation manager needs to handle.
Ironically the only other guy on the audio team was his aviation deputy manager.
So... since the medical takes priority, it was touch and go as to whether or not church on sunday would have any audio.
Honestly, we deal with power outtages enough that not having audio would have worked out fine too, but it has become a luxury we've become accustomed to. Hearing the pastor way in the back without him having to shout is often considered a good thing. (-;
So, even though I've joined the audio team because I'd enjoy it, and Kendal has joined the VBS team because she'd enjoy the ministry, a side effect is that we're also accomplishing supporting other ministries as we free up others to do their OTHER jobs as well.
It is an interesting community and the way we serve an interact creates a strong support base.
People do come and go often, as is the nature of living overseas and having furloughs. But it always seems like when someone leaves a huge hole is created, but slowly, somehow, that hole is weaved back together, not always as strong as before, but able to allow functionality until the original person returns.
For this reason as well as social reasons, seeing people leave permanently is always difficult. Not only do you lose the proximity of a friend, you have to work twice as hard. (-;
But, we are very excited as January is the month of returns! People are coming back! We're very excited to see new life breathed into the place, see new faces that have been gone longer than we've been here!
It means more work for me in CTS, as I'll be setting up all their email and accounts and access etc. But it is well worth it!
