For a while now, my theology of suffering has been well defined. It's a
topic I often do not engage people in, because often people find comfort
in their coping mechanisms and so I do not seek to alter their
mechanisms and hope for them that life doesn't serve them up something
that would challenge them.
If we're going through suffering and I hear:
"I'm sure God will turn this into something good for you one day." I
understand that people are trying to comfort me, and I take it as that.
But I do not agree with the basic premise that:
1 - God is using and maybe even causing my suffering
2 - That the good would be for me or my family
3 - That the idea of a future good would somehow assuage the current
suffering.
Every epithet spoken betrays basic assumptions, but I take it for the
good intentions that people mean, because it's often hard to know what
to say to someone when you want to comfort them. Sadly, some people
take these sayings and let it turn into reasons why they hate Christians.
Last night, seemed to have a theme for me, which is always a bit spooky
because that is how God speaks to me. Through repeated themes that I
notice around me.
We watched this sermon:
http://marshill.com/media/rebels-guide-to-joy/the-rebels-guide-to-joy-in-suffering
It says in words my thoughts regarding suffering in ways I could never put it. The first 47 minutes of this sermon hit the NAIL ON THE HEAD for me.
then at night I read myself to sleep with the book
"Sleeping Coconuts" which I'll talk about later. In the chapter I read, the missionaries involved were going through a lot of suffering and learning how to grow closer to Christ through it.
So, here is my basic theology of suffering.
-For me almost everything boils down to your relationship of closeness with Christ.
-God is good, and He WILL work all things to His good.
-We are not assured that we will ever see any good to us while on this earth. There is no gaurantee of that.
-So the question you have to ask yourself is this.... Do I care enough about God to care if He accomplishes good? Do I care enough about God and His kingdom, that if you told me today 'the rest of your life is going to be miserable, and you will see everyone you care about die, and you will be destroyed and then die in misery'... that I would still choose to follow Him?
-We know God delights in giving us good things, but we have no guarantee of them.
-So how well do I know Christ? How well do I love God? How much in love with the person of Him, the true person, not the one I've convinced myself is real... but the REAL GOD. How well do I know Him? And do I know him well enough to say 'yes' to the question above? Would I still follow Him?
Of course no one hopes for that. No one wants the bad stuff. Well, some people run around wanting to be martyrs, at least until they see true suffering. Some people run around feeling and acting like they are suffering when they are not, because they feel they are somehow more righteous. But they are just being prideful and silly.
Christianity is not about rules. It's not about do's and don'ts. It is about coming to know Jesus Christ so well, that you fall in absolute love with Him and can't tear yourself away.
Let's rephrase the question:
-Do you love your wife or child enough to stand in front of a moving bus to protect, wind up in a hospital bed for the rest of your life?
Most people would answer 'yes'. Well then, every day you're not in a hospital bed is a good day!
And every day spent in a hospital bed, is an opportunity to let people see that the difference in your life is Christ.
Let the nurses ask 'why doesn't that one complain as much as the others?'
If we put our minds on heaven, our limitations are not on this earth, suffering takes on a whole new connotation.
But being able to live with suffering well is a coin toss.
My prayer for Christians going through suffering is that they find a way to draw closer to Christ.
My prayer for people around Christians who are suffering is that they see what being close to Christ means and are compelled to fall in love with Christ themselves.
But don't take my word for it. Listen to Paul in Philippians, he was pretty much an expert on suffering.
1/10/2013
Stippin'
My son wrote this to a friend in an email and I thought it worth posting
====
Tok pisin vbs is going on over here and ive been involved in that. Its over now whooohooo. Dont get me wrong, its a lot of fun, but its sooooooo exhausting. I worked with a group of younger kids. They were really a handful, but they were also really funny and nice. Some of my favourites in the group were Joel (his name is joel but he pronounces it Jo-el), delma a sweet little girl who grew really attached to me over the last week, and marli. Marli is a little guy who kept on bringing me rocks and calling them his "stippin" (Turns out he was trying to say they were good skipping rocks, but with most of his top teeth missing, it's really hard to understand him). Oh yeah, he also bit my knee for some reason, although it didnt really hurt. Anyways, as usual, vbs was fun but very draining. I miss you a lot.
====
On a side note, words like 'draining' and 'exhausting' should not be spoken by children. Not unless their holding a decaf frappecano in one hand.
====
Tok pisin vbs is going on over here and ive been involved in that. Its over now whooohooo. Dont get me wrong, its a lot of fun, but its sooooooo exhausting. I worked with a group of younger kids. They were really a handful, but they were also really funny and nice. Some of my favourites in the group were Joel (his name is joel but he pronounces it Jo-el), delma a sweet little girl who grew really attached to me over the last week, and marli. Marli is a little guy who kept on bringing me rocks and calling them his "stippin" (Turns out he was trying to say they were good skipping rocks, but with most of his top teeth missing, it's really hard to understand him). Oh yeah, he also bit my knee for some reason, although it didnt really hurt. Anyways, as usual, vbs was fun but very draining. I miss you a lot.
====
On a side note, words like 'draining' and 'exhausting' should not be spoken by children. Not unless their holding a decaf frappecano in one hand.
Video
This is what my wife and the kids did this week:
http://youtu.be/2XGdbW37E1k
I went intending to shoot some video of them working so we could show it while on furlough, but the sound of those kids praising, got to me, and I stuck around long enough to throw together this short video that hopefully gives you a small idea of the incredible nature of this event.
http://youtu.be/2XGdbW37E1k
I went intending to shoot some video of them working so we could show it while on furlough, but the sound of those kids praising, got to me, and I stuck around long enough to throw together this short video that hopefully gives you a small idea of the incredible nature of this event.
1/08/2013
Cruel Math
Today 5% of the children who came to this 1 week Baibel school, prayed
to receive Jesus in their heart.
that's 25 kids approx.
the VBS started 4 years ago.
which means 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 (assuming none more do similiarly in the 2
remaining days)
that is 100 children from the valley, from all different lains and villages.
Given a recent study by the Barna Group in the U.S. with 2 faithful
parents: 93% of youth stay faithful
with 1 faithful parent: 74%
with 0 faithful parents: 53%
So crunching the numbers, assuming the WORST, if these children return
to homes with 0 faithful parents, 53% of them will remain faithful.
Assuming those numbers even apply in this culture...
Given 100 children, with a 53% rate of losing faith, that's still 47
adults in PNG who will one day remain faithful, possibly marry others,
have children and increase the percentages that they will have children
who remain faithful.
After only 4 years of VBS, we've begun a multi-generational series of
increasing the odds that a person will hold onto the Christian values
that we teach.
Assuming the numbers remain the same,
100 people every 4 years, coming to a saving knowledge of Christ,
47 of those making it to adulthood.
here's the math
2013 = 43
2017 = 86
2021 = 129
(after 12 years, some of these kids will be having kids which changes
the percentages to 74%, or 74 kids every 4 years)
2025 = 203
2029 = 276
2033 = 349
2037 = 422
(after 16 - 20 years, that generation will be having kids, possibly
moving us up to 93% remaining faithful, or 93 kids)
2041 = 515
2045 = 608
This math is horrible to consider, because it means we have to measure
faith, when it's lost, the odds that it'll be lost, it's horrible math
to consider. I hate it when people do this kind of math. It doesn't
factor in the Holy Spirit, it doesn't factor in other outside influences.
It's cold, hard, emotionless, number crunching that is probably
completely inaccurate. But it does show us 1 thing.
The Tok Pisin Holide Baibel Skul is 1 week out of the year. It isn't our
main jobs, it's something we as a community do 'on the side' (as are
hundreds of other things). But the real impact it has is good. The
potential impact it has is incredible.
In July 2012, the PNG population was counted as 6.3 million.
Assuming we did NOTHING other than that 1 week a year, it would take
270,967 years to see every single person in PNG find Christ.
PNG's growth rate is 26 births for every 1,000 people, per year.
That's 144,900 new babies a year.
PNG's death rate is 6.56 deaths for every 1,000 people, per year.
that's 41,328 people who die, per year.
which means each year the population grows by approximately: 103,572 people
(actually the population growth rate is 1.96%, which means closer to
1.2million per year, but I'm unsure how the factbook is calculating that
unless people are coming IN to the country from other countries).
That's a lot of new people each year who need to hear.
That's a lot of sand filling in the holes we're digging, trying to make
an impact.
Chad, why on earth did you tell us this? This is completely depressing.
You're taking something we were celebrating, 24 kids deciding to turn to
Jesus, and making it a depressing statistic? Why man why? Why must you
make our work look like we're digging holes in sand, with the sand
falling into the hole nearly as fast as we can dig it? Why?
Because I want to show that God doesn't work like the world works. We
can not crunch numbers to show the work of the Holy Spirit. We can not
measure our progress through statistics and formulas. We should not
attempt to define something so infinite as eternity with Christ, by
something as finite as a ruler or a calculator.
Any one (or more) of those kids could turn out to be a PNG Billy Graham,
a revival could start, the impact could become exponential. It's not the
only work we do, it's only 1 single week! A vacation week no less. We
have 51 others to do more stuff with.
What we're doing here, is immense. All that digging in the sand is
worth it if we see even only one more soul in heaven.
Today we celebrate 24 lives that accepted the gift of the purchase price
Christ paid for them.
And we do so, knowing that the world may mock our efforts, they may tell
us it is pointless, they may call us fools.
But someone much more important than they, said something far more
meaningful:
Mark 16:15 (some of Christ's last words:)
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all
creation.
to receive Jesus in their heart.
that's 25 kids approx.
the VBS started 4 years ago.
which means 25 + 25 + 25 + 25 (assuming none more do similiarly in the 2
remaining days)
that is 100 children from the valley, from all different lains and villages.
Given a recent study by the Barna Group in the U.S. with 2 faithful
parents: 93% of youth stay faithful
with 1 faithful parent: 74%
with 0 faithful parents: 53%
So crunching the numbers, assuming the WORST, if these children return
to homes with 0 faithful parents, 53% of them will remain faithful.
Assuming those numbers even apply in this culture...
Given 100 children, with a 53% rate of losing faith, that's still 47
adults in PNG who will one day remain faithful, possibly marry others,
have children and increase the percentages that they will have children
who remain faithful.
After only 4 years of VBS, we've begun a multi-generational series of
increasing the odds that a person will hold onto the Christian values
that we teach.
Assuming the numbers remain the same,
100 people every 4 years, coming to a saving knowledge of Christ,
47 of those making it to adulthood.
here's the math
2013 = 43
2017 = 86
2021 = 129
(after 12 years, some of these kids will be having kids which changes
the percentages to 74%, or 74 kids every 4 years)
2025 = 203
2029 = 276
2033 = 349
2037 = 422
(after 16 - 20 years, that generation will be having kids, possibly
moving us up to 93% remaining faithful, or 93 kids)
2041 = 515
2045 = 608
This math is horrible to consider, because it means we have to measure
faith, when it's lost, the odds that it'll be lost, it's horrible math
to consider. I hate it when people do this kind of math. It doesn't
factor in the Holy Spirit, it doesn't factor in other outside influences.
It's cold, hard, emotionless, number crunching that is probably
completely inaccurate. But it does show us 1 thing.
The Tok Pisin Holide Baibel Skul is 1 week out of the year. It isn't our
main jobs, it's something we as a community do 'on the side' (as are
hundreds of other things). But the real impact it has is good. The
potential impact it has is incredible.
In July 2012, the PNG population was counted as 6.3 million.
Assuming we did NOTHING other than that 1 week a year, it would take
270,967 years to see every single person in PNG find Christ.
PNG's growth rate is 26 births for every 1,000 people, per year.
That's 144,900 new babies a year.
PNG's death rate is 6.56 deaths for every 1,000 people, per year.
that's 41,328 people who die, per year.
which means each year the population grows by approximately: 103,572 people
(actually the population growth rate is 1.96%, which means closer to
1.2million per year, but I'm unsure how the factbook is calculating that
unless people are coming IN to the country from other countries).
That's a lot of new people each year who need to hear.
That's a lot of sand filling in the holes we're digging, trying to make
an impact.
Chad, why on earth did you tell us this? This is completely depressing.
You're taking something we were celebrating, 24 kids deciding to turn to
Jesus, and making it a depressing statistic? Why man why? Why must you
make our work look like we're digging holes in sand, with the sand
falling into the hole nearly as fast as we can dig it? Why?
Because I want to show that God doesn't work like the world works. We
can not crunch numbers to show the work of the Holy Spirit. We can not
measure our progress through statistics and formulas. We should not
attempt to define something so infinite as eternity with Christ, by
something as finite as a ruler or a calculator.
Any one (or more) of those kids could turn out to be a PNG Billy Graham,
a revival could start, the impact could become exponential. It's not the
only work we do, it's only 1 single week! A vacation week no less. We
have 51 others to do more stuff with.
What we're doing here, is immense. All that digging in the sand is
worth it if we see even only one more soul in heaven.
Today we celebrate 24 lives that accepted the gift of the purchase price
Christ paid for them.
And we do so, knowing that the world may mock our efforts, they may tell
us it is pointless, they may call us fools.
But someone much more important than they, said something far more
meaningful:
Mark 16:15 (some of Christ's last words:)
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all
creation.
Banana Bread
This week we're all four helping out with the Tok Pisin Holide Baibel Skul (Vacation Bible School).
Kendal is helping with registration
Calvin and Sydney are doing performances, teaching, helping with small groups and other events.
I am not really helping so much as shooting some of it on video and making a recap video.
The valley around us consists of several Villages (aka tribes). On Day 1 there were 485 children which is a record high for day 1. Day 2, 580. I've yet to hear what day 3 is. AND, that is without the nearby Bae' village because the river was too high to cross.
This happens once a year, through the planning and coordination of several people spearheaded by 1 family who traditionally puts it on.
The kids learn Scripture, use it, memorize, are taught it through skits, teaching, puppetry, play, crafts, etc. Our prayers are that we can change the country by discipling the future generations into saving relationships with Christ.
Each day the kids come, and they sign in, and they get 1 slice of banana bread (or some sweet bread) and a cup of water. Since the entire event is coordinated by volunteers, and since there are no bakeries near by, a very practical question is, how do you get that much banana bread?
In day 1, there were 43 loaves consumed. I'll post a video on it shortly. 43 loaves, at around 12 slices a loaf, that's a Lot kids, and a LOT of banana bread. My son counted, because he was the one saying 'only take 1 please' (wan tasol).
So how did we get that much bread? Weeks in advance an email blast went out to community asking for people to volunteer to make sweet bread.
Kendal made 12.
5 days of school, at 43-50 loaves a day, with 1 person able to make 10-12 loaves.
That's 250 loaves needed, and at 10 loaves per household, that's 25 households volunteering to make banana bread.
So, when I say, that what we do here, is much more than our passport jobs, this is one of those things I meant.
Since it is during school break, my wife baked loaves of bread, and then volunteered to do registration.
And several others from this community are getting involved.
I showed up to record my family working, that was it. But when I heard nearly 600 kids praising God in song, reciting memory verses, my heart was stirred and I let the camera run.
There are times in ministry when you see despair, and there are times when you see hope.
When you see 600 kids in a room, reciting Ephesians, singing 'We love to praise God' (mi laik presim God), that's one of those 'hope' moments.
Hope for the future of the children, their families, their tribes, their region, their country.
I'll post the video soon.
1/07/2013
Price of Food
Props to a friend who compiled this data for US and UK comparison to where we live. I'm taking her info and editing (stealing) it for a U.S. audience only.
One of the most common questions we get asked is, "What do you eat?" The photo below was taken in the store here in the Ukarumpa centre. As you can see, we are fortunate to have access to basic food supplies. We generally have an adequate range of key ingredients, though we can never guarantee that a particular product will be in stock at the time we need it!
Eggs and cheese seem to alternate between available and not. We have a relationship with a local national family who brings us eggs weekly.
Sliced bread is usually available but the only one who eats it is our son for his cheese sandwhiches. So when there's no cheese, the leftover bread starts to mold (quickly).
Ice Cream - this is RARELY available, and when it is, we forget to check, so we rarely eat ice cream.
Meat - Chicken is most common, beef second most, fish is VERY rare, and pukpuk (crocodile) is eaten more often than fish.
Juice - so expensive we almost never drink it, but it is available. However this picture here of Orange Juice, that's a VERY rare find. The best you can hope for for Orange juice is Concentrate Orange Drink called Sunkist. It is nothing like freshly squeezed California/Florida O.J. something we never get here. I don't even know how the photographer got that picture of that can of juice. That's how rare it is.
Milk - most often is formed from milk powder (Syd's job is to make milk every other day), sometimes, we can find low fat boxed milk. Boxed milk won't spoil as quickly, and doesn't need refrigeration until opening.
(oh yes, Fridges here are very small compared to a typical American refrigerator)
In 2012, everything in this picture in the U.S. would cost you $21. The price for these items here at the same time, was $51. In 2004, it was $21
CHEAPEST US PRICE (in U.S. dollars) : 2012 - $21
CHEAPEST PNG PRICE: (in U.S. dollars) 2012 - $51
A market basket is a collection of items economists use to measure inflation. I tried to gather a basket of goods that most closely resembled the market baskets used in the US. Of course I couldn't collect exactly the same items that are used in our home countries. For instance, I used UHT boxed milk, as fresh milk isn't available in our store. I didn't include fruit and vegetables because oranges and apples (which I was planning to put in the basket) are out of stock here right now.
Fortunately we are able to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and beans from local growers at an early morning market here on the centre. The prices are often lower than they would be in our home countries, and so we are eating a lot of market produce right now!
I would love to do this same sort of comparison for you regarding our Medicine.
When we first got here, our Malaria medication (taken weekly) cost something like $1.00 cents per pill.
Now it costs $14.37
So we stopped taking Malaria medication. Malaria meds are to stop you from GETTING malaria, and we don't need it as much up in the highlands.
For me to go into the village for 3 weeks however, I need 9 pills (9 weeks). So it cost me $129.28 to buy medication to help me avoid getting horribly sick and thus stopping my work in recording the Luke video. The funny thing is, this is one of the CHEAPER malaria meds, the more expensive ones are more than double that per pill.
Food and medication costs are rising, the Kina is losing strength against the dollar.
EVERY person sent to here a year ago, with 100% financial support, is now (thanks to these increases) at least 10% lower.
For us, our son needs constant medication, if I buy over $1500 in medicine this year, (which I will, I will buy closer to double that) our insurance will give me 80% of whatever I spend OVER the deductible. So, each January (this month) I file a claim to get back 80% of the money over $1500 that I spent.
It takes about a year to see that money realized in my accounts and verify it.
None of this is complaining. I'm trying to give an honest account for where your money goes.
The truth is:
we live in an expensive place. The primary reason it is expensive is because it's hard to get to. Shipping, fuel, etc all calculate into the price.
Internet is expensive
Medication is expensive (yes you can buy cheaper medicine in country, but we have a huge conterfeit drug problem in this country)
Food is expensive if you want to eat American staples. Often to save money, we eat food from our garden, and cut down on meat and bread.
One of our favorite questions when we're home is:
"So what is a special treat for you?"
(please note the context is WHILE WE'RE IN PNG... last time I made a post like this I said 'hot dogs' and all furlough long people were feeding me hot dogs.... these are special treats while HERE)
answers:
-soda - we all have 1 soda per week. (At $2 each) with our home made pizza for Family Pizza and Movie night (we watch dvd's)
-ice cream - if we get an ice cream cone, it's maybe once per quarter? We just rarely do this.
-Macaroni and Cheese - when someone sends us Kraft... the kids go ape.
-Fish - I've lived here 6 years, I've had fresh only when I visit the coast, which is less than once a year.
-Anything 'instant' - Crystal light packets, ranch dressing mix, anything that doesn't require preparing from scratch. And when I say scratch, I mean, we can't buy ricotta cheese, or cottage cheese, it has to be made first. My wife constantly has a yogurt starter ready, so she can have yogurt occasionally.
-you name it. Anything that we don't have available to us regularly. Anything that makes prepping a meal easier. And in truth, compared to constant availability of things in the U.S. I rather like the fact that our family can get excited over simple things. We got a baggie of Taco bell hot sauce, and a baggie of Pizza hut parmesian cheese a while back and we used it sparingly over several weeks. It was a taste of home, and it was great.
You show me anyone in the U.S. who gets all excited over a packet of cheese!
And for all of that, we're not suffering, we're not starving. Look at our pictures! We eat home made foods that have to be thought out and prepared. My wife spends a half day each week menu planning, and then schedules shopping around her busy work schedule. That's how she runs the house, and she does a good job.
We don't eat junk food, we don't eat many sweets, we eat wholesome home made stuff. It's tiring for sure, but it's affordable, and healthy and we're happy.
It's helpful when you read this information from me, not to think 'wow, they're bad off' .... because that would be the temptation. And in all honesty if you think that way, it doesn't hurt me at all, sometimes it compels you to send me a packet of sauce! (-;
But the truth is, we're not bad off, we're different off. We don't have a million varieties of pickles on the shelf. We have to consider before buying soda, if we can afford it. But we're not worse off by any means. In fact we come to adopt an appreciation for things that most people overlook or take for granted.
If anything is negative about it, it's how silly we feel when we get somewhere more civilized and feel like the out-of-towners gawking at everything:
'Gee Ma', look at all them differnt types of breads they got!'
'that Sure is a lot to choose from.'
'Hey Jethro, check out these newfangled lights that turn on with a switch!'
'Bet you won't get shocked no more when you turn them things on!'
Yeah, we go through a few days of that... and it's a little inside joke that not everyone understands. If you ever are shopping in the store, and see someone having spasms holding some food... literally the joy is filling their face, the surprise, the shock, and their bodies are jittering from excitement... they may even scream 'Honey! Come here,... they have... OLIVES in a JAR!'
Kindly go up to that person, put your hand on their shoulder, and say 'Hi, I'm (state your name), welcome to the U.S. how long have you been gone dear?'
--END NOTE:
I should probably say that in posting this, I might make other missionaries upset. Please don't read this and think 'well then shoot, I won't send this Beef Jerky in this care package to these other missionaries then'. This is very much my (a male) perspective. There are a LOT of people who miss many many things about their home country's foods. I don't happen to be one of them. I rarely think to myself 'Gee I really miss ....some food....' Although, I'm still craving that badito.
One of the most common questions we get asked is, "What do you eat?" The photo below was taken in the store here in the Ukarumpa centre. As you can see, we are fortunate to have access to basic food supplies. We generally have an adequate range of key ingredients, though we can never guarantee that a particular product will be in stock at the time we need it!
Eggs and cheese seem to alternate between available and not. We have a relationship with a local national family who brings us eggs weekly.
Sliced bread is usually available but the only one who eats it is our son for his cheese sandwhiches. So when there's no cheese, the leftover bread starts to mold (quickly).
Ice Cream - this is RARELY available, and when it is, we forget to check, so we rarely eat ice cream.
Meat - Chicken is most common, beef second most, fish is VERY rare, and pukpuk (crocodile) is eaten more often than fish.
Juice - so expensive we almost never drink it, but it is available. However this picture here of Orange Juice, that's a VERY rare find. The best you can hope for for Orange juice is Concentrate Orange Drink called Sunkist. It is nothing like freshly squeezed California/Florida O.J. something we never get here. I don't even know how the photographer got that picture of that can of juice. That's how rare it is.
Milk - most often is formed from milk powder (Syd's job is to make milk every other day), sometimes, we can find low fat boxed milk. Boxed milk won't spoil as quickly, and doesn't need refrigeration until opening.
(oh yes, Fridges here are very small compared to a typical American refrigerator)
In 2012, everything in this picture in the U.S. would cost you $21. The price for these items here at the same time, was $51. In 2004, it was $21
CHEAPEST US PRICE (in U.S. dollars) : 2012 - $21
CHEAPEST PNG PRICE: (in U.S. dollars) 2012 - $51
A market basket is a collection of items economists use to measure inflation. I tried to gather a basket of goods that most closely resembled the market baskets used in the US. Of course I couldn't collect exactly the same items that are used in our home countries. For instance, I used UHT boxed milk, as fresh milk isn't available in our store. I didn't include fruit and vegetables because oranges and apples (which I was planning to put in the basket) are out of stock here right now.
Fortunately we are able to buy fresh fruit, vegetables and beans from local growers at an early morning market here on the centre. The prices are often lower than they would be in our home countries, and so we are eating a lot of market produce right now!
I would love to do this same sort of comparison for you regarding our Medicine.
When we first got here, our Malaria medication (taken weekly) cost something like $1.00 cents per pill.
Now it costs $14.37
So we stopped taking Malaria medication. Malaria meds are to stop you from GETTING malaria, and we don't need it as much up in the highlands.
For me to go into the village for 3 weeks however, I need 9 pills (9 weeks). So it cost me $129.28 to buy medication to help me avoid getting horribly sick and thus stopping my work in recording the Luke video. The funny thing is, this is one of the CHEAPER malaria meds, the more expensive ones are more than double that per pill.
Food and medication costs are rising, the Kina is losing strength against the dollar.
EVERY person sent to here a year ago, with 100% financial support, is now (thanks to these increases) at least 10% lower.
For us, our son needs constant medication, if I buy over $1500 in medicine this year, (which I will, I will buy closer to double that) our insurance will give me 80% of whatever I spend OVER the deductible. So, each January (this month) I file a claim to get back 80% of the money over $1500 that I spent.
It takes about a year to see that money realized in my accounts and verify it.
None of this is complaining. I'm trying to give an honest account for where your money goes.
The truth is:
we live in an expensive place. The primary reason it is expensive is because it's hard to get to. Shipping, fuel, etc all calculate into the price.
Internet is expensive
Medication is expensive (yes you can buy cheaper medicine in country, but we have a huge conterfeit drug problem in this country)
Food is expensive if you want to eat American staples. Often to save money, we eat food from our garden, and cut down on meat and bread.
One of our favorite questions when we're home is:
"So what is a special treat for you?"
(please note the context is WHILE WE'RE IN PNG... last time I made a post like this I said 'hot dogs' and all furlough long people were feeding me hot dogs.... these are special treats while HERE)
answers:
-soda - we all have 1 soda per week. (At $2 each) with our home made pizza for Family Pizza and Movie night (we watch dvd's)
-ice cream - if we get an ice cream cone, it's maybe once per quarter? We just rarely do this.
-Macaroni and Cheese - when someone sends us Kraft... the kids go ape.
-Fish - I've lived here 6 years, I've had fresh only when I visit the coast, which is less than once a year.
-Anything 'instant' - Crystal light packets, ranch dressing mix, anything that doesn't require preparing from scratch. And when I say scratch, I mean, we can't buy ricotta cheese, or cottage cheese, it has to be made first. My wife constantly has a yogurt starter ready, so she can have yogurt occasionally.
-you name it. Anything that we don't have available to us regularly. Anything that makes prepping a meal easier. And in truth, compared to constant availability of things in the U.S. I rather like the fact that our family can get excited over simple things. We got a baggie of Taco bell hot sauce, and a baggie of Pizza hut parmesian cheese a while back and we used it sparingly over several weeks. It was a taste of home, and it was great.
You show me anyone in the U.S. who gets all excited over a packet of cheese!
And for all of that, we're not suffering, we're not starving. Look at our pictures! We eat home made foods that have to be thought out and prepared. My wife spends a half day each week menu planning, and then schedules shopping around her busy work schedule. That's how she runs the house, and she does a good job.
We don't eat junk food, we don't eat many sweets, we eat wholesome home made stuff. It's tiring for sure, but it's affordable, and healthy and we're happy.
It's helpful when you read this information from me, not to think 'wow, they're bad off' .... because that would be the temptation. And in all honesty if you think that way, it doesn't hurt me at all, sometimes it compels you to send me a packet of sauce! (-;
But the truth is, we're not bad off, we're different off. We don't have a million varieties of pickles on the shelf. We have to consider before buying soda, if we can afford it. But we're not worse off by any means. In fact we come to adopt an appreciation for things that most people overlook or take for granted.
If anything is negative about it, it's how silly we feel when we get somewhere more civilized and feel like the out-of-towners gawking at everything:
'Gee Ma', look at all them differnt types of breads they got!'
'that Sure is a lot to choose from.'
'Hey Jethro, check out these newfangled lights that turn on with a switch!'
'Bet you won't get shocked no more when you turn them things on!'
Yeah, we go through a few days of that... and it's a little inside joke that not everyone understands. If you ever are shopping in the store, and see someone having spasms holding some food... literally the joy is filling their face, the surprise, the shock, and their bodies are jittering from excitement... they may even scream 'Honey! Come here,... they have... OLIVES in a JAR!'
Kindly go up to that person, put your hand on their shoulder, and say 'Hi, I'm (state your name), welcome to the U.S. how long have you been gone dear?'
--END NOTE:
I should probably say that in posting this, I might make other missionaries upset. Please don't read this and think 'well then shoot, I won't send this Beef Jerky in this care package to these other missionaries then'. This is very much my (a male) perspective. There are a LOT of people who miss many many things about their home country's foods. I don't happen to be one of them. I rarely think to myself 'Gee I really miss ....some food....' Although, I'm still craving that badito.
1/06/2013
Badito
I was post producing Galations chapter 2 in the Maia language today.
To do that, you read along in the language (you only need to know how to
read phonetically, no need to understand the language), and you listen
to the recording and then clean it up.
In verse 18 I came across the phrase 'umiasese winor suruv udia badito.'
I have no idea what that means. (If I had to guess, I would say
'circumcision group')
But the way he said 'badito' suddenly in my head a flash of a taco bell
7 layer burrito came up, then my stomach responded with a growl.
I do NOT miss hardly any foods from the U.S. but for a brief moment
there, I was hankering for a badito.
To do that, you read along in the language (you only need to know how to
read phonetically, no need to understand the language), and you listen
to the recording and then clean it up.
In verse 18 I came across the phrase 'umiasese winor suruv udia badito.'
I have no idea what that means. (If I had to guess, I would say
'circumcision group')
But the way he said 'badito' suddenly in my head a flash of a taco bell
7 layer burrito came up, then my stomach responded with a growl.
I do NOT miss hardly any foods from the U.S. but for a brief moment
there, I was hankering for a badito.
Rude Awakening
It was bound to happen, and I'm glad it happened to me. It's barely worth mentioning but I thought it might be fun for my readership to know.
You know that reaction we all have when a feather is tickling our face, as we lie asleep? We naturally move a hand up to shoo it away. Well, last night that happened to me at 3am. Only it wasn't a feather it was a cockroach, and I didn't shoo it away, I squashed it. It was below my eye, and apparently I squished it good enough that the liquid on my face is what woke me up. I opened my eyes to see the roach limping away under my pillow.
So of course I bolted up, half asleep. Once I realized what had happened, I washed my face and went back to sleep.
It really wasn't traumatic so much as interesting. Apparently, I'm able to kill pests even in my sleep!
My wife was like 'ooh gross'. Meh. Not as bad as if it had gone into my mouth. And I'm very glad it was me and not her. Of course I have seen some mouse turds on her pillow, I sure would hate to wake up to that happening.
Time to get out the bug bombs and mice traps again.
1/03/2013
Big man in small world
Learned to Fight
http://pngboyd.blogspot.sg/2012/12/ive-only-learned-how-to-fight.html
There has been an increase in blogging about Papua New Guinea lately.
From time to time we cross post to each others blogs when we come
across something good. On the right of my blog here, you'll see links
to some of these other active blogs.
The article above, is written well, and strikes at the heart of the
highland's mentality.
When doing this work in PNG I get asked 2 questions a LOT:
1 - It says on the world factbook that PNG is a christian nation.... so
why are you working so hard there?
Answer: claiming to be Christian is a worldwide phenomena, and it is no
gaurantee of a saving relationship with Christ. We are working to
engage people in the Scripture, to see it change lives. The highlands
PNG culture is very much still a warring, fighting, violence, tit for
tat, based culture. We are striving to create Bibles that people will
engage with because it is in their heart language. Without that, there
is no foundation with which to begin building true decisions for
salvation and discipleship.
2 - Why can't they just learn English, or Tok Pisin and use those Bibles?
Answer: they can, and have, and it has very little impact. It would
have as much impact as if you understood French and read a French
Bible. Yes you get the words and their meaning, but does it impact your
heart? Does it have the deep resonating truth to it? Imagine not having
a Bible in your own language. It wouldn't be far fetched to think that
Jesus Christ only came to save the French. Or that he was some figure
that only the French admired.
We live among experts in this field. The things I've learned about
culturally communicating the Gospel have surprised me. The complexities
that this country has in reaching people, is such a daunting task, that
I honestly have to answer a lot of meaningful questions with:
-You don't really understand what I'm trying to say until you've lived
here for a while.
So trust me when I say, this blog post, nails a tiny portion of the
difficulty translators face.
I'm going to try and summarize a very small portion of the dilemma:
The highland culture (over half the country) has precious few strong
male role models. The culture is patriarchal. So, sons are treated as
royalty because your inheritance is based off having a son. If you are
a wife and produce no son, then when your husband leaves or dies, you
have no right to the land you're on. With no land, you have no garden,
and no food, and no income. So boys are treated like royalty and girls
are put to work.
When you treat boys like that, they grow up without discipline, and as
such can become womanizers, philanderers, fighters, lazy workers, etc.
Enter the AIDS epidemic. Men with multiple wives, moving from place to
place, spawning countless other sons who will grow up like them.
When those boys become men, they have little to do, and so, often they
can get in trouble. One rapes a woman from a different family line.
Then her brothers come and beat him up. Then his friends go and give
them a beating. In the process someone dies. Then others come and kill
in revenge, and it's an escalating cycle that pauses for periods of
peace but never really ends.
You killed ours, so we kill yours, and on it goes.
But when the truth of God reaches into a life and changes it, you end up
with men who try to walk the narrow path. They face all kinds of
opposition. Imagine you're a well known fighter, the tribes go-to-guy,
and there is revenge to be had, they all come to you expecting you to
lead them in the charge and you say 'Christ has changed me, I choose to
forgive!"
They all start shouting 'but without you we'll lose the fight! You have
to come kill them with us or we'll die! Do you want to see your own
family die?'
It takes a very strong man to stand his ground and try to convince his
family to forgive. And remember, men of strong character are rare. Not
unheard of, but rare.
And that is the scenario in a nutshell that we see so often. So in the
Boyd's blog above when they say 'I only learned to fight'..... that's
the truth of it.
The few men of character I have met, are trying HARD to get literacy and
the Bible into their tribes language. They understand and have seen the
changing power that can get their family out of this destructive cycle.
Several of them hold youth rallies and try to become role models for
others. These men are men we get behind and support and try to help
them succeed because they fight an uphill battle.
We have stood there, stunned, and watched these fights. They are not
theoretical. We have seen women and children flee for their lives,
we've seen houses burned down, we've seen fighting, we've been among
violence, since the day we've arrived. It is their culture, and so it
does not shock them as it shocks us. It is not something we were
familiar with when we first came.
Now we are. We can sense the telltale signs of impending violence. We
are alert to it, and know when to get indoors.
And it makes us so extremely sad, because the work is like rolling a
boulder up a hill.
But then, there are moments, when someone steps out and stands up among
their people for what is good.
There are people like that. They face extreme opposition. They face
death frequently. They are swimming against the flow.
So we pray for men and women like this. We pray for the difficulties
they'll face. And they know they'll face them. They know the moment
they stand up and say 'Yes, we want to see God's Word in our language!
And we know it may cost us our home, our loved ones, and our lives, but
we want this to happen!" These are modern day champions that we stand
with and fight for.
Translating the Bible isn't a theoretical work, people put their lives
on the line to see it happen.
Join us in praying for these people.... that they be safe, and that
there be more of them.
There has been an increase in blogging about Papua New Guinea lately.
From time to time we cross post to each others blogs when we come
across something good. On the right of my blog here, you'll see links
to some of these other active blogs.
The article above, is written well, and strikes at the heart of the
highland's mentality.
When doing this work in PNG I get asked 2 questions a LOT:
1 - It says on the world factbook that PNG is a christian nation.... so
why are you working so hard there?
Answer: claiming to be Christian is a worldwide phenomena, and it is no
gaurantee of a saving relationship with Christ. We are working to
engage people in the Scripture, to see it change lives. The highlands
PNG culture is very much still a warring, fighting, violence, tit for
tat, based culture. We are striving to create Bibles that people will
engage with because it is in their heart language. Without that, there
is no foundation with which to begin building true decisions for
salvation and discipleship.
2 - Why can't they just learn English, or Tok Pisin and use those Bibles?
Answer: they can, and have, and it has very little impact. It would
have as much impact as if you understood French and read a French
Bible. Yes you get the words and their meaning, but does it impact your
heart? Does it have the deep resonating truth to it? Imagine not having
a Bible in your own language. It wouldn't be far fetched to think that
Jesus Christ only came to save the French. Or that he was some figure
that only the French admired.
We live among experts in this field. The things I've learned about
culturally communicating the Gospel have surprised me. The complexities
that this country has in reaching people, is such a daunting task, that
I honestly have to answer a lot of meaningful questions with:
-You don't really understand what I'm trying to say until you've lived
here for a while.
So trust me when I say, this blog post, nails a tiny portion of the
difficulty translators face.
I'm going to try and summarize a very small portion of the dilemma:
The highland culture (over half the country) has precious few strong
male role models. The culture is patriarchal. So, sons are treated as
royalty because your inheritance is based off having a son. If you are
a wife and produce no son, then when your husband leaves or dies, you
have no right to the land you're on. With no land, you have no garden,
and no food, and no income. So boys are treated like royalty and girls
are put to work.
When you treat boys like that, they grow up without discipline, and as
such can become womanizers, philanderers, fighters, lazy workers, etc.
Enter the AIDS epidemic. Men with multiple wives, moving from place to
place, spawning countless other sons who will grow up like them.
When those boys become men, they have little to do, and so, often they
can get in trouble. One rapes a woman from a different family line.
Then her brothers come and beat him up. Then his friends go and give
them a beating. In the process someone dies. Then others come and kill
in revenge, and it's an escalating cycle that pauses for periods of
peace but never really ends.
You killed ours, so we kill yours, and on it goes.
But when the truth of God reaches into a life and changes it, you end up
with men who try to walk the narrow path. They face all kinds of
opposition. Imagine you're a well known fighter, the tribes go-to-guy,
and there is revenge to be had, they all come to you expecting you to
lead them in the charge and you say 'Christ has changed me, I choose to
forgive!"
They all start shouting 'but without you we'll lose the fight! You have
to come kill them with us or we'll die! Do you want to see your own
family die?'
It takes a very strong man to stand his ground and try to convince his
family to forgive. And remember, men of strong character are rare. Not
unheard of, but rare.
And that is the scenario in a nutshell that we see so often. So in the
Boyd's blog above when they say 'I only learned to fight'..... that's
the truth of it.
The few men of character I have met, are trying HARD to get literacy and
the Bible into their tribes language. They understand and have seen the
changing power that can get their family out of this destructive cycle.
Several of them hold youth rallies and try to become role models for
others. These men are men we get behind and support and try to help
them succeed because they fight an uphill battle.
We have stood there, stunned, and watched these fights. They are not
theoretical. We have seen women and children flee for their lives,
we've seen houses burned down, we've seen fighting, we've been among
violence, since the day we've arrived. It is their culture, and so it
does not shock them as it shocks us. It is not something we were
familiar with when we first came.
Now we are. We can sense the telltale signs of impending violence. We
are alert to it, and know when to get indoors.
And it makes us so extremely sad, because the work is like rolling a
boulder up a hill.
But then, there are moments, when someone steps out and stands up among
their people for what is good.
There are people like that. They face extreme opposition. They face
death frequently. They are swimming against the flow.
So we pray for men and women like this. We pray for the difficulties
they'll face. And they know they'll face them. They know the moment
they stand up and say 'Yes, we want to see God's Word in our language!
And we know it may cost us our home, our loved ones, and our lives, but
we want this to happen!" These are modern day champions that we stand
with and fight for.
Translating the Bible isn't a theoretical work, people put their lives
on the line to see it happen.
Join us in praying for these people.... that they be safe, and that
there be more of them.
1/02/2013
Put a Camera On It
The PNG culture requires repetition in training. Most cultures do. Select few are audio learners (like me), many are visual learners. Some are tactile learners (like my daughter). I'm finding more and more people are visual.
My philosophy is, if I'm going to receive any kind of training, I might as well set up a video camera and record it. More times than not, it'll be useless footage.
One time, not long ago, I did this, and it turned out to be a very good thing. I made a 1 hour long video of my day of training learning to village video dubbing.
I covered the equipment, the cabling, the software, the setup, the generator, even how to put oil in the generator.
And I spent very little time putting this video together. Thanks to iMovie on my mac, the video looks nice, but took very little time to produce.
I figured I would only use it for my own personal reference.
But then I ran into a lady living in the Solomon Islands who wanted a copy so she could learn to do recording.
Then I ran into a guy asking me to split it up into smaller segments so people who needed to know equipment could, people could see how to use the generator, etc. So I chopped it up into 7 sections, with the final section being replaceable by other future sections on the Software we choose to use.
I had no idea that setting up the camera would produce a DVD that people would want, nor that I would refer to so frequently. Who knew?
My philosophy - you don't know, so put a camera on it. Yeah, it takes some forethought and some time, but it SAVES a lot of time and effort and helps a lot of people.
Saying Goodbye
This week we say goodbye to two families that have been doing good work
here in PNG.
Both families are leaving due to health issues concerning their children.
There is an emotional connection with friends as they leave. Our kids
have to say goodbye to friends from their classes, we have to say
goodbye to neighbors and co-workers.
There is a business connection with friends as they leave. Work that
was being done, suddenly is not being done.
I have come to understand during my time on the field, that God uniquely
suits individuals to do ministry. No two ministries are identical.
It takes up to 3 years to fill an empty job position. God knows that,
and often times we've seen Him provide miraculously faster than that.
It takes this long because it takes a long while to get the word out
about a need. Then for someone to decide to fill that need, then for
them to raise the support they need. Along the way any number of things
can happen to keep them from making it to the field. (Health issues,
financial issues, etc).
It takes a tremendous effort to get someone into a new job on the
mission field. (Imagine all the work it takes to fill a role in your
place of employment.... now add Visa restrictions, take away the
salary,... do interviews over the phone from 6,000 miles away.... etc)
So when someone leaves, it's sad on many levels. And I have personally
believed that no ministry gets replaced. We are all individuals who
make new circles of friends, have different skills and influences and
interests. When you come to work here, you are not simply doing a
single job. You are pouring the entirety of yourself into multiple roles.
You have devoted yourself, your being, your life's energy, your toil to
a solitary purpose. As a result, it's much more than a job. As a
result, the impact a single person makes is immense. You work your main
job, you forge relationships, you do odd jobs on the side, you go into
villages on the weekend, you help in church ministry, you help in random
odd jobs and ministries, and before you know it, you're using up every
last ounce of yourself into ministry. And you're loving doing it.
So when someone leaves, they never get truly replaced. They almost
always leave a hole, some more gaping than others.
I did this experiment with the kids the other day:
If you take a ziplock bag and fill it with water, and poke sharp pencils
through it, the water will not seep out.
The reason for that is the plastic bag is made of long chains of
molecules called polymers. (poly=many, mers=molecules). These polymers
are what enables the bag to stretch. Pushing the sharp pencil through,
simply pushes the polymers to the side. Their flexibility allows them
to continue to form a strong seal around the pencil.
When you remove the pencils, the holes will allow water to flow out.
Our community is a lot like that. When someone leaves, a hole is made.
We can all flex and stretch to fill the immediate need and keep the
water inside the bag. Doing so, often takes us away from our primary
purpose. The pencil while plugging the hole, can't be used for
writing. The community flexes to make the life easier of whoever is
filling the hole, but because they are flexing, they are stretched. It
is not a permanent solution, because inevitably the water will come out.
We live like that. While we mourn the loss of people who leave on an
emotional level, we're stretching ourselves to fill the gap on a ...
'business' level or a practical level. It's a ripple effect, because if
I have to drop one chore, someone else has to pick it up, and so on and
so on.
I say all of this, to convey the situation in its entirety. This
happens frequently. In many ways we are like brow beaten boxers who take
it on the chin. And no punch comes so hard as when someone with a skill
set, so rarely duplicated has to leave.
This week we say goodbye to a family who came here to do Bible
translation. That's the biggest blow of them all, because that is our
main goal. They are leaving prematurely and we are sad for them, and
for us, and for our work. We know they do not wish to leave, but they must.
When I say that we have a need for people, I do not mean we have a need
for specific people with specific skillsets. All to often people think
'well I have no skill useful in the mission field'. If you think that,
you are wrong.
The single most important skill is willingness. Obedience rates a close
second. If God is putting it on your heart to do something in missions
work, then what you may not realize is that He has already equipped you
with the skills you need, and has already designs on slotting you into
the right job. Your challenge then is to find it. I can guarantee you
that if God is calling you to such work, there is someone out there
looking for someone just like you.
here in PNG.
Both families are leaving due to health issues concerning their children.
There is an emotional connection with friends as they leave. Our kids
have to say goodbye to friends from their classes, we have to say
goodbye to neighbors and co-workers.
There is a business connection with friends as they leave. Work that
was being done, suddenly is not being done.
I have come to understand during my time on the field, that God uniquely
suits individuals to do ministry. No two ministries are identical.
It takes up to 3 years to fill an empty job position. God knows that,
and often times we've seen Him provide miraculously faster than that.
It takes this long because it takes a long while to get the word out
about a need. Then for someone to decide to fill that need, then for
them to raise the support they need. Along the way any number of things
can happen to keep them from making it to the field. (Health issues,
financial issues, etc).
It takes a tremendous effort to get someone into a new job on the
mission field. (Imagine all the work it takes to fill a role in your
place of employment.... now add Visa restrictions, take away the
salary,... do interviews over the phone from 6,000 miles away.... etc)
So when someone leaves, it's sad on many levels. And I have personally
believed that no ministry gets replaced. We are all individuals who
make new circles of friends, have different skills and influences and
interests. When you come to work here, you are not simply doing a
single job. You are pouring the entirety of yourself into multiple roles.
You have devoted yourself, your being, your life's energy, your toil to
a solitary purpose. As a result, it's much more than a job. As a
result, the impact a single person makes is immense. You work your main
job, you forge relationships, you do odd jobs on the side, you go into
villages on the weekend, you help in church ministry, you help in random
odd jobs and ministries, and before you know it, you're using up every
last ounce of yourself into ministry. And you're loving doing it.
So when someone leaves, they never get truly replaced. They almost
always leave a hole, some more gaping than others.
I did this experiment with the kids the other day:
If you take a ziplock bag and fill it with water, and poke sharp pencils
through it, the water will not seep out.
The reason for that is the plastic bag is made of long chains of
molecules called polymers. (poly=many, mers=molecules). These polymers
are what enables the bag to stretch. Pushing the sharp pencil through,
simply pushes the polymers to the side. Their flexibility allows them
to continue to form a strong seal around the pencil.
When you remove the pencils, the holes will allow water to flow out.
Our community is a lot like that. When someone leaves, a hole is made.
We can all flex and stretch to fill the immediate need and keep the
water inside the bag. Doing so, often takes us away from our primary
purpose. The pencil while plugging the hole, can't be used for
writing. The community flexes to make the life easier of whoever is
filling the hole, but because they are flexing, they are stretched. It
is not a permanent solution, because inevitably the water will come out.
We live like that. While we mourn the loss of people who leave on an
emotional level, we're stretching ourselves to fill the gap on a ...
'business' level or a practical level. It's a ripple effect, because if
I have to drop one chore, someone else has to pick it up, and so on and
so on.
I say all of this, to convey the situation in its entirety. This
happens frequently. In many ways we are like brow beaten boxers who take
it on the chin. And no punch comes so hard as when someone with a skill
set, so rarely duplicated has to leave.
This week we say goodbye to a family who came here to do Bible
translation. That's the biggest blow of them all, because that is our
main goal. They are leaving prematurely and we are sad for them, and
for us, and for our work. We know they do not wish to leave, but they must.
When I say that we have a need for people, I do not mean we have a need
for specific people with specific skillsets. All to often people think
'well I have no skill useful in the mission field'. If you think that,
you are wrong.
The single most important skill is willingness. Obedience rates a close
second. If God is putting it on your heart to do something in missions
work, then what you may not realize is that He has already equipped you
with the skills you need, and has already designs on slotting you into
the right job. Your challenge then is to find it. I can guarantee you
that if God is calling you to such work, there is someone out there
looking for someone just like you.
1/01/2013
Sleeping Coconuts
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/17/my-take-rebuilding-your-life-and-your-faith-after-the-storm/
These people are friends. We support them, most recently by installing a
VSAT dish in their village (arop) as well as producing audio recordings
of the Scripture that has thus far been translated.
This is their story as documented by CNN and FoxNews and themselves.
I've only just begun reading their book Sleeping Coconuts.
Here is the TV interview
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1974426927001/missionary-family-brave-tsunami-to-help-community
These people are friends. We support them, most recently by installing a
VSAT dish in their village (arop) as well as producing audio recordings
of the Scripture that has thus far been translated.
This is their story as documented by CNN and FoxNews and themselves.
I've only just begun reading their book Sleeping Coconuts.
Here is the TV interview
http://video.foxnews.com/v/1974426927001/missionary-family-brave-tsunami-to-help-community
Video Update
youtu.be/q-gBW0I_d24
I wanted to make a video at the end of the year to talk about what we
had done, what we were doing, giving thanks to all, and the like. But
the more I tinkered with it, the more the burden of getting Scripture
into the hands of people in PNG affected me, and the video took a huge turn.
I did two drafts of this video. The first one, was a sort of a 'this is
what happened in 2012' and it had stats and info, and upon review folks
told me it was too much. And it was. This is a much more simplified
version, which isn't as informative, but I think you get the point.
We support Bible translation with our work. I also work to get already translated Scripture recorded and distributed in audio/video form for the people of Papua New Guinea. The need is huge. We need recordists, editors, financiers, prayer support, managers, project coordinators, new equipment etc. Some jobs (like post production) can be done without traveling overseas. If you are interested contact me at chad_owens@sil.org thank you
I wanted to make a video at the end of the year to talk about what we
had done, what we were doing, giving thanks to all, and the like. But
the more I tinkered with it, the more the burden of getting Scripture
into the hands of people in PNG affected me, and the video took a huge turn.
I did two drafts of this video. The first one, was a sort of a 'this is
what happened in 2012' and it had stats and info, and upon review folks
told me it was too much. And it was. This is a much more simplified
version, which isn't as informative, but I think you get the point.
We support Bible translation with our work. I also work to get already translated Scripture recorded and distributed in audio/video form for the people of Papua New Guinea. The need is huge. We need recordists, editors, financiers, prayer support, managers, project coordinators, new equipment etc. Some jobs (like post production) can be done without traveling overseas. If you are interested contact me at chad_owens@sil.org thank you
12/23/2012
Merry Christmas 2012
If you are interested in learning how to financially support this ministry, please email me at chad_owens@sil.org
12/19/2012
turning stuff down
In my life, I have passed up free trips.
I've passed up a work trip to London, to Las Vegas, to multiple places.
This week I passed on a trip to Thailand.
Why?
Partially because I am a family man and dislike being away from my
family much. With this new job, I've got an invite to spend weeks away
from home every month if I want. I have to prioritize.
Partially because of circumstances and timing.... for example going to
Thailand means I don't get to celebrate Easter with family and friends.
and partially because I do not have the world traveller bug. There are
people who chomp at the bit to go see some other place in the world. To
experience it, to say they've been there, and done that.
I am a solitarily focused individual. Sometimes I get so focussed on a
task, that days go by before I realize 'oh, I haven't stepped outside
yet'. or 'oh, when was the last time I ate?'
I'm sure I would enjoy Thailand, but I would bemoan leaving behind my
work and my family for the duration of time I'd be gone.
Not to mention I'm a big guy and riding around in a plane isn't always a
fun thing for me.
So... my life is a cornocopia of missed travelling opportunities that
others think I'm crazy for having passed up.
I don't get stir crazy, I don't get island fever, I don't miss shopping
malls and restaurants. And all that tells me I'm perfectly suited to be
here, although I have no idea how I ever got up the gumption to get
here, but I am here, and I love it here, and I don't really desire to go
bouncing around to other places I don't like as much.
And so all the people thinking 'you're crazy I would LOVE to go do that
and experience that'.... more power to you. I find that attitude makes
people very restless where I live.
NOW, if you yanked away my internet connectivity, suddenly I would get
horrible island fever. I would be chomping at the bit to get somewhere
with access.
I think differently than many non-geek people.
I would one day, enjoy taking the entire family to London. I think
visiting the world is better if you have someone to share the experience
with you.
I've passed up a work trip to London, to Las Vegas, to multiple places.
This week I passed on a trip to Thailand.
Why?
Partially because I am a family man and dislike being away from my
family much. With this new job, I've got an invite to spend weeks away
from home every month if I want. I have to prioritize.
Partially because of circumstances and timing.... for example going to
Thailand means I don't get to celebrate Easter with family and friends.
and partially because I do not have the world traveller bug. There are
people who chomp at the bit to go see some other place in the world. To
experience it, to say they've been there, and done that.
I am a solitarily focused individual. Sometimes I get so focussed on a
task, that days go by before I realize 'oh, I haven't stepped outside
yet'. or 'oh, when was the last time I ate?'
I'm sure I would enjoy Thailand, but I would bemoan leaving behind my
work and my family for the duration of time I'd be gone.
Not to mention I'm a big guy and riding around in a plane isn't always a
fun thing for me.
So... my life is a cornocopia of missed travelling opportunities that
others think I'm crazy for having passed up.
I don't get stir crazy, I don't get island fever, I don't miss shopping
malls and restaurants. And all that tells me I'm perfectly suited to be
here, although I have no idea how I ever got up the gumption to get
here, but I am here, and I love it here, and I don't really desire to go
bouncing around to other places I don't like as much.
And so all the people thinking 'you're crazy I would LOVE to go do that
and experience that'.... more power to you. I find that attitude makes
people very restless where I live.
NOW, if you yanked away my internet connectivity, suddenly I would get
horrible island fever. I would be chomping at the bit to get somewhere
with access.
I think differently than many non-geek people.
I would one day, enjoy taking the entire family to London. I think
visiting the world is better if you have someone to share the experience
with you.
Traim hat
2nd to last day before Christmas break.
I put a wire in my Santa hat and taped it to my helmet, driving around my ATV like this to be festive.
I set down the helmet to walk inside, and through the window I see a PNG man, bald, walk up to it and stare at it.
We call this 'aigris' aka 'envy' (eye fat). The man was envying my Santa hat. I kept my eye on him wondering if he might try to snatch it.... but he didn't, he stood next to it for five minutes, staring at it.
When I came out, he shook my hand, and then did something in the culture called 'Traim Tasol' (give it a shot ---try it that's all--).
He didn't ask, didn't inquire, didn't use the word please. He simply said in mumbly Tok Pisin
'You will give me that hat, because my head is being cooked by the sun!'
and I said 'no'.
he replied 'you will give me that hat, my head, it is hot, the sun is cooking it.'
I replied 'you can go into town and buy one at Papindo'.
'no' he said 'give me that hat, my head is cooking, I need it.'
I decided to stop pursuing the conversation and left before things got ugly. As I left, several people started giggling at the man.
That is a traim tasol. He gave it his best shot.
Another interesting part of the culture, is that most likely now, he will tell a story about how an uncaring ex-pat had 2 hats, and wouldn't spare 1 for him, because his head was hot.... hopefully he doesn't allow that to justify him vandalizing my fruit trees or something. We'll see. If suddenly my ripening bananas are missing, I'll know why. What a story that would make 'how my wearing a santa hat caused my family to lose some bananas'.
I put a wire in my Santa hat and taped it to my helmet, driving around my ATV like this to be festive.
I set down the helmet to walk inside, and through the window I see a PNG man, bald, walk up to it and stare at it.
We call this 'aigris' aka 'envy' (eye fat). The man was envying my Santa hat. I kept my eye on him wondering if he might try to snatch it.... but he didn't, he stood next to it for five minutes, staring at it.
When I came out, he shook my hand, and then did something in the culture called 'Traim Tasol' (give it a shot ---try it that's all--).
He didn't ask, didn't inquire, didn't use the word please. He simply said in mumbly Tok Pisin
'You will give me that hat, because my head is being cooked by the sun!'
and I said 'no'.
he replied 'you will give me that hat, my head, it is hot, the sun is cooking it.'
I replied 'you can go into town and buy one at Papindo'.
'no' he said 'give me that hat, my head is cooking, I need it.'
I decided to stop pursuing the conversation and left before things got ugly. As I left, several people started giggling at the man.
That is a traim tasol. He gave it his best shot.
Another interesting part of the culture, is that most likely now, he will tell a story about how an uncaring ex-pat had 2 hats, and wouldn't spare 1 for him, because his head was hot.... hopefully he doesn't allow that to justify him vandalizing my fruit trees or something. We'll see. If suddenly my ripening bananas are missing, I'll know why. What a story that would make 'how my wearing a santa hat caused my family to lose some bananas'.
12/18/2012
Png santa
Kiss
Photos
Odd Cat
under the category of 'is no one else seeing this?' Last night I was an
a christmas party in Port Moresby, everyone perfect strangers to me, and
it was an Australian family's home. So naturally I put on my best
manners and behavior. Removing shoes, I went to sit. A few moments
passed and their cat came up and started sniffing my feet. Which I
thought odd enough. Even though I dislike cats, I'm not cruel to them,
so I ignore it. My payment was the feeling of sharp teeth into my
foot. The cat, was so enthralled by my feet, that it tried to eat them!
Still not wanting to be rude or call attraction to myself, I shooshed
the cat away, who quickly ran off in shame as if knowing it should be
biting human feet.
When I went to step outside, I found the cat with it's head inside my
shoes (which were left by the door) sniffing away.
Something about my foot odor was like ...well.. catnip to that cat.
and no one else seemed to notice this oddity. So upon leaving I asked
the cat's owner 'does you cat enjoy sniffing feet?' which I thought was
an odd question and he simply said 'oh yeah, don't mind that.'
Apparently, the cat, was a habitual foot odor addict.
a christmas party in Port Moresby, everyone perfect strangers to me, and
it was an Australian family's home. So naturally I put on my best
manners and behavior. Removing shoes, I went to sit. A few moments
passed and their cat came up and started sniffing my feet. Which I
thought odd enough. Even though I dislike cats, I'm not cruel to them,
so I ignore it. My payment was the feeling of sharp teeth into my
foot. The cat, was so enthralled by my feet, that it tried to eat them!
Still not wanting to be rude or call attraction to myself, I shooshed
the cat away, who quickly ran off in shame as if knowing it should be
biting human feet.
When I went to step outside, I found the cat with it's head inside my
shoes (which were left by the door) sniffing away.
Something about my foot odor was like ...well.. catnip to that cat.
and no one else seemed to notice this oddity. So upon leaving I asked
the cat's owner 'does you cat enjoy sniffing feet?' which I thought was
an odd question and he simply said 'oh yeah, don't mind that.'
Apparently, the cat, was a habitual foot odor addict.
POM
city of PNG called Port Moresby. This city has grown so much over the
past 6 years that it is like a completely different country from the
rest of PNG.
There is a mall, shops, restaurants, a movie theatre, paved roads
without potholes, fluent English speakers and the culture is entirely
different. Standards of dress, social etiquette, it's all a very
different place in many ways.
I came down to configure a VSAT network for the main offices, our
property of flats (apartments), and our partner's offices (BTA). This is
the third trip from my department, the other two were made by co-workers
trying to get this VSAT to work.
It is Weds now and I'm prepping to fly back to the highlands. I feel
very out of place here in Moresby because I don't know my way around
well, but also because there is all this Christmas decor up,
advertisements, commercialism that I'm so unused to seeing unless I
travel back to the U.S. or Australia. It's odd.
And yet, there is this feeling 'they have everything here, is there
anything I need? Anything my family needs me to pick up?' for the life
of me, I can't come up with anything. I should be like a kid in a candy
shop. I don't even want to eat in the restaurants.
Some people absolutely love living here because it feels more civilized,
with cable modem internet, and satellite television, cell phone
coverage, nice roads. They even have a rush hour. I'm glad for those
people because we need folks living in this capital city to get work done.
But I feel hedged in, the living situation here is somewhat crowded,
there is traffic noise, and neighbor noise. I wasn't expecting to have
to make that mental transition inside the same country.
Last night I was invited to a social event, a Bible study group was
having a Christmas party. I try to always take advantage of
opportunities to meet new people, especially in this country. You never
know when you might make a relationship that helps you get work done.
Right off the bat, I met an Aussie man who needed help putting his
Security cameras onto the LAN. He'd been trying all day. I helped him,
and it took about ten minutes. He was happy, and so was I, because I
firmly believe in making oneself useful. He then was able to show me
his security cams around his complex and how he could view them on his
Galaxy phone.
I noticed also the pepper spray by his front door, and the bars on the
windows and doors. Crime is not an unexpected thing in the towns, but
then, have you read the news lately in the U.S. crime is everywhere.
It is most definitely an interesting place. I feel like a country
bumkin come to see the big city. I have finished the work, and I am
ready to go home. I fly out in a few hours. I leave behind three
properties that now have internet access with the ability to record and
report on it using a homegrown system our dept. came up with.
12/13/2012
Wonderful Night
Years ago when we first came here, we were advised to consider adopting some of the singles into our family so that they could have some small portion of family life. Being an aunt or an uncle, would help them during times when they were away from family. During our training there were several single ladies (who are the backbone of translation work!) who we got to know and became aunts to our kids.
Come Christmas time, our first year, we decided, rather than mourn the loss of Christmas traditions we can no longer do, we would adopt new ones.
One of the ones we adopted was our annual Christmas movie night.
We invite all the singles (usually ladies) to our home to share in our family. We light a fire, rearrange the furniture, make multiple types of soup, and show
It's a Wonderful Life
and usually
Miracle on 34th Street. (this year we don't have time, and also some people don't like the plot around Santa).
We share in soup and getting to know people that we haven't had a chance to know. Part of my reasoning is that I want the single ladies to know that if they have need, they can call a man to do 'man stuff' instead of feeling stranded and helpless. (for example, their gutters are clogged, or their water pump is failing).
Each year we see so many new faces, and we wonder if this tradition is as important to others as it is to us.
Today we got this email.
"I'm coming, this is the only Ukarumpa Christmas tradition I do, I'm looking forward to it."
That really brightened up my wife's day.
Of course I, being a student of film, have to resist the urge to launch into a diatribe as to why this film is the Quintessential Christmas Movie...
so now I just print out all my trivia and hand out sheets!
-Chad
Other new Ukarumpa traditions we do:
-Christmas tree hunt
-cookie baking/decorating, giving to the neighbors
-hiding pickles the elf (whoever finds him the most gets to open the first gift on Christmas morning)
-Christmas eve soup
-Birthday cake for Jesus
-Advent novel
-Advent calendar of daily family activities
-cookie exchange (we're foregoing this one this year)
-...plenty more.
12/12/2012
What I do #1
I decided to try a new recurring thread called 'What I do'. (at least I hope it's recurring... I'll try to make it so)
because when people ask me what I do, I find that there are a whole lot of answers to that question.
It's best to focus on one answer at a time.
AUDIO - Post Production
I turn this:
into this:
Someone (if not me) has recorded some material for the village to be heard. Most often it's Scripture in their heart language.
The above is Matthew Chapter 12 in the Onobasulu language. The Onobasulu live in the Southern Highlands and at last count there were 1000 native speakers of this language.
In post production work, I take out the mistakes, the multiple takes, and match the spoken word to the written Word. But how do I do that? I don't speak Onobasulu! I take the Scripture in front of me, and listen, and can most often read it phonetically even though I have no idea what I'm reading unless I open up an English version at the same time. I'm checking for mistakes and errant sounds.
-I remove rooster crows
-I remove dog barks
-I remove mistakes
-I lessen the pops that 'P's make
-I dullen sharp "S" sounds
-I remove long pauses
(for those who took Prof. Nash's editing course at Biola, you all remember 'the..purpose...of...editing....' speech he gave.)
What I can't fix is when people pronounce the words wrong, which has to be caught by the people who speak the language... and when it's caught... I fix it.
Finally, I make it all sound good enough for FM radio, but most often it's heard over a small audio player.
I learned how to do all of this decades ago in college, and then updated my learning a few months ago. So I'm not nearly as elite as some of the pro's, but what I lack in perfection, I make up for in production speed.
I've been averaging 3 chapters a day since I took this job, which is a tremendous amount of output when you consider that we have a year backlog of work to do.
I am finding it incredibly satisfying to be able to go home at the end of the day and say 'Today, I completed 3 Chapters of Matthew for Audibible!' or 'Today I put a box of 30 players in the hands of the translator who is taking it out to the village next week!'
next in what I do thread: - recording!
because when people ask me what I do, I find that there are a whole lot of answers to that question.
It's best to focus on one answer at a time.
AUDIO - Post Production
I turn this:
into this:
Someone (if not me) has recorded some material for the village to be heard. Most often it's Scripture in their heart language.
The above is Matthew Chapter 12 in the Onobasulu language. The Onobasulu live in the Southern Highlands and at last count there were 1000 native speakers of this language.
In post production work, I take out the mistakes, the multiple takes, and match the spoken word to the written Word. But how do I do that? I don't speak Onobasulu! I take the Scripture in front of me, and listen, and can most often read it phonetically even though I have no idea what I'm reading unless I open up an English version at the same time. I'm checking for mistakes and errant sounds.
-I remove rooster crows
-I remove dog barks
-I remove mistakes
-I lessen the pops that 'P's make
-I dullen sharp "S" sounds
-I remove long pauses
(for those who took Prof. Nash's editing course at Biola, you all remember 'the..purpose...of...editing....' speech he gave.)
What I can't fix is when people pronounce the words wrong, which has to be caught by the people who speak the language... and when it's caught... I fix it.
Finally, I make it all sound good enough for FM radio, but most often it's heard over a small audio player.
I learned how to do all of this decades ago in college, and then updated my learning a few months ago. So I'm not nearly as elite as some of the pro's, but what I lack in perfection, I make up for in production speed.
I've been averaging 3 chapters a day since I took this job, which is a tremendous amount of output when you consider that we have a year backlog of work to do.
I am finding it incredibly satisfying to be able to go home at the end of the day and say 'Today, I completed 3 Chapters of Matthew for Audibible!' or 'Today I put a box of 30 players in the hands of the translator who is taking it out to the village next week!'
next in what I do thread: - recording!
POWA , electricity
Electricity here costs 50 cents per kilowatt hour.
We run fluorescent lights because of that. It's saves a lot of power
over incandescent, but the lighting is not as warm. As a result
sometimes for a special treat, we turn on the 2 incandescent lamps we
have and turn off the fluor. lighting just to feel sane for a while.
We run at least 8 fluor. tubes (short ones not long ones), 12 hours a
day around the house as security lighting.
I have been introduced to an in country supplier of LED tubes. To
install them, you have to remove the starter, and plug in the bulb.
That's in.
Now in the U.S. you're probably saying 'what is a starter?' Our
fluorescents don't have those, but elsewhere in the world they do. It's
what causes the ARC spark that gets the light to power up, and it gets
the juice from the ballast inside.
THESE LED tubes will save us money on electricity. But there is more.
PROS:
-they are instant on. No more flickering at 2am when you're up to use
the bathroom and the fluor. lights strobe blink you to death while they
come on.
-less UV rays
-cost less to operate
CON:
-the light takes some getting used to (not hard)
-the bulb costs ten times as much as a normal fluor. bulb.
I tend not to adopt early LED technology because I find that they LED's
tend to fail not long after manufacture if they're going to fail. When
a friend asks me about the light I always say 'it's 10,000 times
brighter than the sun' which is totally untrue, but to many LED light is
still mystical and magical and so I tend not to bog down the
conversation with facts when no one is actually seeking them.
BUT... here we go.
Gonna get geeky here with some math.
Fluor bulbs come in 2 sizes here.
long = 40watts
short = 20watts
They cost about $2 and 4$ respectively not counting starters which are
around fifty cents.
ONE 20 watt bulb burning for 12 hours is (20W x12) = 290watt hours in a
single day. In a month that's around 7200watt hours, or 7.2
Kilowatt/hrs. At $.50 per kilowatt/hr that's $3.60
$3.60 per bulb, per month is what I'm currently paying in electricity.
AND that doesn't count any of my inside lights. EACH time you turn on a
fluor tube, the ballast has to kick up the voltage and burns 1/2
kilowatt hour. So simply turning it on twice is 1 KWHour.
Right now my son is walking around counting all of our light bulbs....
so I'm making an assumption that we have around 20 bulbs.
that is around $72 per month, if we assume the on/offing equals the same
as the security lights being on straight for 12 hours. But it's a huge
assumption.
At the cost of $22.95 per LED tube, which burns exactly HALF the
wattage, plus has no ballast on/off time used.... PLUS is instant on so
no strobe effect...
we save 1/2 of that.. which is:
$36 p/month.
To fully equip my house with these LED tubes, that will cost me $459.
They are rated to last 50,000 hours which is ten times that of the
normal fluor tubes, and since they cost ten times as much, I figure the
price in bulb replacement over time, will be about even, so I won't
factor that in.
Which means, if I take the total install cost, of $459 and divide it by
the savings per month of $36, in 12.75 months, I'll be at the break even
point.
ASSUMING the cost of electricity doesn't change (which it will most
likely increase over time).
So, assuming that the bulbs last at least a year and a month, we'll have
made an installation change that takes moments to do per light, and
continue to save money.
BUT, that isn't the value add. It's just the economics of the thing.
The value add is the instant on, for us. We absolutely hate the
flickering strobe effect.
And the value add for the rest of the community is that we run on
emergency generators which are nearly maxed out. By decreasing our
power consumption, we save ourselves money, and save the entire
community money and effort on the generator upkeep.
It's a smart choice.
Now all I have to do is wait until we get some more in stock....
I'll be installing 2 around the house and seeing if the family can
adjust to the new light.
-chad
We run fluorescent lights because of that. It's saves a lot of power
over incandescent, but the lighting is not as warm. As a result
sometimes for a special treat, we turn on the 2 incandescent lamps we
have and turn off the fluor. lighting just to feel sane for a while.
We run at least 8 fluor. tubes (short ones not long ones), 12 hours a
day around the house as security lighting.
I have been introduced to an in country supplier of LED tubes. To
install them, you have to remove the starter, and plug in the bulb.
That's in.
Now in the U.S. you're probably saying 'what is a starter?' Our
fluorescents don't have those, but elsewhere in the world they do. It's
what causes the ARC spark that gets the light to power up, and it gets
the juice from the ballast inside.
THESE LED tubes will save us money on electricity. But there is more.
PROS:
-they are instant on. No more flickering at 2am when you're up to use
the bathroom and the fluor. lights strobe blink you to death while they
come on.
-less UV rays
-cost less to operate
CON:
-the light takes some getting used to (not hard)
-the bulb costs ten times as much as a normal fluor. bulb.
I tend not to adopt early LED technology because I find that they LED's
tend to fail not long after manufacture if they're going to fail. When
a friend asks me about the light I always say 'it's 10,000 times
brighter than the sun' which is totally untrue, but to many LED light is
still mystical and magical and so I tend not to bog down the
conversation with facts when no one is actually seeking them.
BUT... here we go.
Gonna get geeky here with some math.
Fluor bulbs come in 2 sizes here.
long = 40watts
short = 20watts
They cost about $2 and 4$ respectively not counting starters which are
around fifty cents.
ONE 20 watt bulb burning for 12 hours is (20W x12) = 290watt hours in a
single day. In a month that's around 7200watt hours, or 7.2
Kilowatt/hrs. At $.50 per kilowatt/hr that's $3.60
$3.60 per bulb, per month is what I'm currently paying in electricity.
AND that doesn't count any of my inside lights. EACH time you turn on a
fluor tube, the ballast has to kick up the voltage and burns 1/2
kilowatt hour. So simply turning it on twice is 1 KWHour.
Right now my son is walking around counting all of our light bulbs....
so I'm making an assumption that we have around 20 bulbs.
that is around $72 per month, if we assume the on/offing equals the same
as the security lights being on straight for 12 hours. But it's a huge
assumption.
At the cost of $22.95 per LED tube, which burns exactly HALF the
wattage, plus has no ballast on/off time used.... PLUS is instant on so
no strobe effect...
we save 1/2 of that.. which is:
$36 p/month.
To fully equip my house with these LED tubes, that will cost me $459.
They are rated to last 50,000 hours which is ten times that of the
normal fluor tubes, and since they cost ten times as much, I figure the
price in bulb replacement over time, will be about even, so I won't
factor that in.
Which means, if I take the total install cost, of $459 and divide it by
the savings per month of $36, in 12.75 months, I'll be at the break even
point.
ASSUMING the cost of electricity doesn't change (which it will most
likely increase over time).
So, assuming that the bulbs last at least a year and a month, we'll have
made an installation change that takes moments to do per light, and
continue to save money.
BUT, that isn't the value add. It's just the economics of the thing.
The value add is the instant on, for us. We absolutely hate the
flickering strobe effect.
And the value add for the rest of the community is that we run on
emergency generators which are nearly maxed out. By decreasing our
power consumption, we save ourselves money, and save the entire
community money and effort on the generator upkeep.
It's a smart choice.
Now all I have to do is wait until we get some more in stock....
I'll be installing 2 around the house and seeing if the family can
adjust to the new light.
-chad
12/11/2012
Saber In the Village
I got this email today from a translator in the village who was encouraging our efforts in producing audio Bibles.:
The last time out in the village, we gave out 9 of the sabers that came from project funding. I put onto those sabers whatever recordings that I had that were ready. We passed them out to the translators and I showed them how to use the sabers. [Others] were taking pictures as we were doing this. The smiles on their faces say it all. Sorry that I cannot show you all the smiles of the villagers in each village! But, at least I can show you the translators' faces. May God bless you for your hard work - May He give you peace - May you know the blessing that your work has been.
The Pain of Shipping
My kids are so awesome, months ago they thought ahead to work with me to
order gifts for people, mom, brother, sister, etc.
I told them to estimate double the cost of the item from Amazon, and we
would hope they arrive in time for Christmas.
So, we wait.
As we wait the kids see other things to give and start to spend their
hard earned money (we don't give an allowance, but we give them work
opporunities)
Today I got a package, and each gift they had ordered was well beyond
double the price, because not only did TAX get added, but shipping and
import fees.
So I'm looking at the kids, and haven't got the heart to tell them how
much it really costs, so I tell them,
you pay what you planned, and I'll pay shipping.
Most of my 'gift giving' this year was paying for intangibles like
shipping costs... but I wanted to encourage the spirit of planning ahead
and generosity.
Still, you should have seen their faces when they realized they had
forgotten about their online purchases... they ran around, calling in
the debts, scrounging their funds and gladly turned them over to me.
They worked that hard to make sure they could have a gift to give someone.
This is the second year in a row where I have been touched deeply by the
generosity of my kids. Sure they may complain about dinner, or about
other things, but they never ever complain about spending their last
dollar (Kina) when it comes to getting something for someone else.
I was never that unselfish as a kid, I was never that giving at their
age. They must get that from their mother.
I married well. (-;
order gifts for people, mom, brother, sister, etc.
I told them to estimate double the cost of the item from Amazon, and we
would hope they arrive in time for Christmas.
So, we wait.
As we wait the kids see other things to give and start to spend their
hard earned money (we don't give an allowance, but we give them work
opporunities)
Today I got a package, and each gift they had ordered was well beyond
double the price, because not only did TAX get added, but shipping and
import fees.
So I'm looking at the kids, and haven't got the heart to tell them how
much it really costs, so I tell them,
you pay what you planned, and I'll pay shipping.
Most of my 'gift giving' this year was paying for intangibles like
shipping costs... but I wanted to encourage the spirit of planning ahead
and generosity.
Still, you should have seen their faces when they realized they had
forgotten about their online purchases... they ran around, calling in
the debts, scrounging their funds and gladly turned them over to me.
They worked that hard to make sure they could have a gift to give someone.
This is the second year in a row where I have been touched deeply by the
generosity of my kids. Sure they may complain about dinner, or about
other things, but they never ever complain about spending their last
dollar (Kina) when it comes to getting something for someone else.
I was never that unselfish as a kid, I was never that giving at their
age. They must get that from their mother.
I married well. (-;
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