(view from the top of nobnob near the tower)
In Madang Province, at the top of nob nob hill sits a wireless bridge that connects to Divine Word University.
about 4 years of effort goes into that statement.
4 years ago, the reality of having inter-connectivity to remote parts of the country was only a hope. Having that connectivity to POPULAR areas of the country was still only a hope. 4 years ago we had no relationship with Divine Word University or their IT department.
Nobnob is the place that hosts our training for people first coming into this country (and surrounding countries). It is like a jungle boot camp. But a little less so now that they have high speed internet.
For those that remember when my family went through this camp nearly 5 years ago, we went 'black' for 6-14 weeks. No email, no web browsing, no way to really contact us.
Today, the new trainees have cell phones with data access, and laptops. Is it a luxury?
Well sure any technology can be used luxuriously. Calling family and emailing them instead of writing letters that you hope will arrive via airmail... is technically a luxury. (one that makes living here more sustainable). But it is also a useful tool. Imagine getting sick in the village and having no way to call for help.
Even WITH the ability to call for help, last month we lost a dear member of our community to illness that came on quickly in the village. She was able to call for a medical evacuation, and sadly, passed away during the flight. Without communication technology, we wouldn't have known about it for a very long time.
Of course these are extreme examples. The more practical day to day application is that translators can receive communications from anywhere in the world to get their work done, as well as make backup copies should their laptops get damaged or stolen in transit.
As I write this two co-workers are flying to another remote region to install VSAT technology (I'll be doing this next month to Buka) which will bring them online for the first time in the Wewak and Aitape area.
THIS IS A HUGE win for Aitape and for Bible Translation, because it means that the work can continue without a physical presence (if someone has to return from the village, they can remotely help with the translation). It should speed things along greatly in the work.
I always get so excited when we get more and more connectivity and I get to see the ways God uses it.
Before this year is over, we'll have seen nearly 80% of our vision from 5 years ago come to reality. It's been a slow and patience requiring process because of the many obstacles in our path, but God is smoothing them.
I don't know God's mind or His timing, but part of me is excited as we're doing the installs hoping that God is preparing a time of harvest... hoping that finally these obstacles that have come down have come down at the same time for a reason, and that we are seeing God laying the foundations of something GREAT to come!
