If you've been reading my blog, you might remember Allen and Neisha who went to Tanna Island to bring Bible-based videos to Southwest Tanna speakers. They came back after 2 weeks of hiking around to different villages to say that all went well! They would hike in the morning, wait until dark and then show the videos. They usually finished up around 11pm and then were shown where they were going to sleep for the night. They would quickly set up their mosquito net and bedding and crawl into bed to catch some sleep before the roosters starting crowing around 4:30. Life starts early here!
One of their highlights was going into a village and were told that they were the first white man to be in the village, at least to this generation. There were no churches and no schools and the people were a little afraid of them. Since they were visitors, they met with the chief and were told if they had come years earlier, they would have ate them. Through an interpreter, the chief asked them about their view of the beginning of time. This opened the door to talk about their beliefs and hear some of what the chief believed. When they left, they were encouraged to see that the people weren't quite to afraid of them.
The impact of these 2 weeks? No one really knows but it was a great way to show the people the Luke video in the language they understand best. The N-Vanuatu men that went along with them were a part of the North Tanna Translation program and they were really encouraged by to have this opportunity.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Consultant check is finished!
Well, at least for Morris. We knew when they started that they wouldn't be able to finish all of it because Pastor Peter leaves today to attend the Vanuatu Bible Translators' conference. They usually plan on 10 days, 100 verses each day, to complete Luke but Morris had only 8 days. It went well and there's only 179 verses left to check! Even though this is an adaptation from a closely related language, there were still important changes that needed to be made. The men did say that they really enjoyed discussing the text and that they learned new truths in the process. Pastor Peter said that he's learned some important things about translation that will be helpful to him as he continues on in translation. Since this is the first book that Pastor Peter has translated, it most likely will be changed some after he has translated all the New Testament and has learned things along the way. Once the New Testament is finished, it's all read over again to catch anything that might need changing and often the first translated books need adjustments. This has been a good first step for the Whitesands translation and it's been a privilege to be a part of it.I asked Pastor Peter how he decided to be involved in translation. He first said it took many years to come to the decision. In 1986, he went to school to become a Pastor, he learned about the importance of knowing the Word and teaching others about God. Years later, when he taught in a Bible school, he realized that while most could read English or Bislama, the trade language, they really didn't understand much of what they read. Then he said that he lived near Greg and Beth Ann and could see the impact that the translation had on the people. He realized that his people needed to have the Bible in their language so he's committed to completing it in the next 4 years.
I asked Pastor Peter if he had anything to say to those who are interested in missions. He said, "I could write something formal but the important thing to tell them is to come! Just come."
Monday, November 16, 2009
From Morris: On Being Sick
I began to get sick on Sunday evening. The next morning I woke up with a mild headache and stomach cramps. As the day progressed, my headache grew. By evening I wasn’t very hungry, but still ate a normal supper. Big mistake. In the small hours of the morning, gut wrenching cramps, a frantic search for my flashlight, and a race to the outhouse, all repeated several times. And so on throughout most of my week on Tanna.
I thought that I had come prepared. I had the ridiculously expensive malaria preventative, the mosquito repellant, and a sleeping net. I had medicine for headaches. I had not anticipated this however, at least not emotionally. How can you? Malaise, a common symptom of giardia, was fueling my depressive thoughts. I had come so far, spent so much money and time in preparation for this. Why this?
Why not this? After all, was it not my intention in coming to participate in this translation program? You don’t have to hang around a group of missionaries very long before the conversation turns to stories of illness on the field, often related to the bowels. My ‘light and momentary affliction’ has been a common experience amongst those involved in this work. I was getting the full experience in just one short week. I don’t mean to paint an overly-rosy picture. I wish I would have been well. Just the culture shock of living in a new, very different place would have been enough, thanks. But, apparently not, and by His grace I am not as prone to second-guessing what’s best for me as I used to be. These islands are dotted with monuments to missionaries, both white and black-skinned, who died bringing Hope to these islands. Pastor Peter, Greg and Beth Ann have been doing this most of their adult lives. This week was nothing compared to what these and others have experienced.
I thought that I had come prepared. I had the ridiculously expensive malaria preventative, the mosquito repellant, and a sleeping net. I had medicine for headaches. I had not anticipated this however, at least not emotionally. How can you? Malaise, a common symptom of giardia, was fueling my depressive thoughts. I had come so far, spent so much money and time in preparation for this. Why this?
Why not this? After all, was it not my intention in coming to participate in this translation program? You don’t have to hang around a group of missionaries very long before the conversation turns to stories of illness on the field, often related to the bowels. My ‘light and momentary affliction’ has been a common experience amongst those involved in this work. I was getting the full experience in just one short week. I don’t mean to paint an overly-rosy picture. I wish I would have been well. Just the culture shock of living in a new, very different place would have been enough, thanks. But, apparently not, and by His grace I am not as prone to second-guessing what’s best for me as I used to be. These islands are dotted with monuments to missionaries, both white and black-skinned, who died bringing Hope to these islands. Pastor Peter, Greg and Beth Ann have been doing this most of their adult lives. This week was nothing compared to what these and others have experienced.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Back in Port Vila
Morris is feeling good again! Thanks for all your prayers. He's currently upstairs in the SIL Library working with Pastor Peter and 2 language informants. They started on Ch. 8 today and, as usual, their goal is to complete 100 verses. They were able to complete Ch. 7 on Sat. morning. My role in this is to provide tea and biscuits (kind of like a graham cracker) at 10am and then lunch for all at noon. Nothing is required in the afternoon since they usually finish around 4pm. By that time, all are very tired. We are so thankful that God enabled Morris to work last week and, on the day that they had to finish early due to something else that had to be done, the passage they were working through was fairly straight forward so they still could complete the 100 verses.
We had a restful Sunday. We had planned a day on an island with Ross and Lyndal but it rained all day, bad for our plans but good for the dry ground. We had coffee and good conversation with another SIL couple after church and then we did the same with Ross and Lyndal in the afternoon (both by the sea) followed by joining them for their church Bible study here in the evening.
We had a restful Sunday. We had planned a day on an island with Ross and Lyndal but it rained all day, bad for our plans but good for the dry ground. We had coffee and good conversation with another SIL couple after church and then we did the same with Ross and Lyndal in the afternoon (both by the sea) followed by joining them for their church Bible study here in the evening.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Day 5 on Tanna
Morris and Pastor Peter were able to get some work done before their 3:15pm flight! We went directly to the clinic upon arrival and to make a long story short, he now will begin taking medicine for giardia and we hope this is the answer to his problems. The doctor just took an educated guess and a prescription is not required to obtain the medicine from the pharmacy.
They decided to work a half day today (Sat) and they are busy at work now. I looked at Morris' pictures and don't know what all of them are but wanted to put something up here now. More to come when Morris is available.
Aerial view of Port Vila.
They decided to work a half day today (Sat) and they are busy at work now. I looked at Morris' pictures and don't know what all of them are but wanted to put something up here now. More to come when Morris is available.
Aerial view of Port Vila.
Leaving Port Vila.
Checking in the village. Pastor Peter is on the left.
Returning from Tanna with the President of Vanuatu on the plane. He was first on and first off and returned with lots of gifts from his village, including a live pig! (No, it isn't this man!)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Day 4 on Tanna
While Morris continues to have stomach problems, he did feel better and actually could eat a regular meal for dinner. However, I wonder if he regretted it?? I just realized that I never asked him if he got through the 100 verses but I'm assuming he did or he would have said something. Unfortunately, he wasn't feeling up to seeing the volcano last night so he'll have to be satisfied with the YouTube video!
Although his plane doesn't leave until 3pm, he left the village today at 6:30am so they'd be assured of having a taxi to get them into town. I think there is a plane coming in later and taxis would be busy then. Their plan was to find a place to work in town before their flight. Greg, the SIL advisor, is not coming in to continue on with the checking. Since this is the first check for Pastor Peter, they felt it was good to have Greg sit in for the first part but then let Pastor Peter finish it up by himself and language informants.
I do have a doctor's appointment for Morris soon after he lands so, hopefully, he'll get the right medicine and will feel better soon. I don't think they look for any amoeba, etc, but just do an educated guess and hope it works.
Although his plane doesn't leave until 3pm, he left the village today at 6:30am so they'd be assured of having a taxi to get them into town. I think there is a plane coming in later and taxis would be busy then. Their plan was to find a place to work in town before their flight. Greg, the SIL advisor, is not coming in to continue on with the checking. Since this is the first check for Pastor Peter, they felt it was good to have Greg sit in for the first part but then let Pastor Peter finish it up by himself and language informants.
I do have a doctor's appointment for Morris soon after he lands so, hopefully, he'll get the right medicine and will feel better soon. I don't think they look for any amoeba, etc, but just do an educated guess and hope it works.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Culture Shock
–noun
a state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is suddenly exposed to a new, strange, or foreign social and cultural environment.
I've been thinking about this phenomena lately since we're experiencing it every once in awhile. Actually, it occurs almost every time we step out the door! The feelings that come when you're experiencing it are not fun. We feel stupid and anxious. Sometimes we can't clearly put our finger on why we're feeling those feelings but we know it's because we are still adjusting to a new way of life here.
Here's a short list of the times when we have felt it:
- taking the bus (van). They don't have routes, they'll take you anywhere you want to go so you never know how long you might be in it.
-paying for anything. Why does it take us so long to figure out the coins and notes and then find out we've produced the wrong coins? They do look similar...
-sitting in a Ni-Vanuatu's home and trying to figure out the culture: what's appropiate and what's not and being surprised that some things that we wouldn't do in PNG, we can do here.
-I'm sure Morris is making adjustments on Tanna: volcano ash everywhere, sleeping under a mosquito net, using an outhouse, eating unfamiliar food, living and working with people he doesn't know very well and figuring out the best way to ask questions of the language informants during the consultant check so they understand what he's asking. He's done this before but there are still adjustments to be made.
However, one thing we've learned from living in PNG for 14 years is that it's amazing what we (human beings) can adjust to almost anything over time. To name a few from our first village: We eventually got used to using a sea toilet, cooking in a kitchen that was outside the house on a 2 burner plate, and all 5 of us sleeping on matresses under mosquito nets on the floor in one room. There wasn't much floor space but that allowed us to use one room for storage and the other room for all of our living needs. We eventually settled into a routine there - it took awhile, but we did adjust.
So when the uncomfortable feelings come, we know they will pass and it's normal. We can laugh some things off or talk through harder things. We take comfort in knowing it's a passing thing and it'll get better. Things here are becoming to feel more "normal" and that feels good!
a state of bewilderment and distress experienced by an individual who is suddenly exposed to a new, strange, or foreign social and cultural environment.
I've been thinking about this phenomena lately since we're experiencing it every once in awhile. Actually, it occurs almost every time we step out the door! The feelings that come when you're experiencing it are not fun. We feel stupid and anxious. Sometimes we can't clearly put our finger on why we're feeling those feelings but we know it's because we are still adjusting to a new way of life here.
Here's a short list of the times when we have felt it:
- taking the bus (van). They don't have routes, they'll take you anywhere you want to go so you never know how long you might be in it.
-paying for anything. Why does it take us so long to figure out the coins and notes and then find out we've produced the wrong coins? They do look similar...
-sitting in a Ni-Vanuatu's home and trying to figure out the culture: what's appropiate and what's not and being surprised that some things that we wouldn't do in PNG, we can do here.
-I'm sure Morris is making adjustments on Tanna: volcano ash everywhere, sleeping under a mosquito net, using an outhouse, eating unfamiliar food, living and working with people he doesn't know very well and figuring out the best way to ask questions of the language informants during the consultant check so they understand what he's asking. He's done this before but there are still adjustments to be made.
However, one thing we've learned from living in PNG for 14 years is that it's amazing what we (human beings) can adjust to almost anything over time. To name a few from our first village: We eventually got used to using a sea toilet, cooking in a kitchen that was outside the house on a 2 burner plate, and all 5 of us sleeping on matresses under mosquito nets on the floor in one room. There wasn't much floor space but that allowed us to use one room for storage and the other room for all of our living needs. We eventually settled into a routine there - it took awhile, but we did adjust.
So when the uncomfortable feelings come, we know they will pass and it's normal. We can laugh some things off or talk through harder things. We take comfort in knowing it's a passing thing and it'll get better. Things here are becoming to feel more "normal" and that feels good!
Day 3 on Tanna
Morris and the team were able to complete their goal of 100 verses on Wed. in spite of Morris' not feeling well. (We are 19 hours ahead of CST.) I talked to him this morning and he's still not feeling very good and is hoping to feel better as the day goes on. He's thankful that he's able to to keep working.
This is the last night that they can go to see the Mt. Yasur volcano. This 2 min. video was taken in September. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12PVLaEAnXs&feature=response_watch
Pretty spectacular, no wonder there is ash everywhere!
This is the last night that they can go to see the Mt. Yasur volcano. This 2 min. video was taken in September. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12PVLaEAnXs&feature=response_watch
Pretty spectacular, no wonder there is ash everywhere!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Day 2 on Tanna
Morris called this morning to say that he was pretty sick last night. He went back to bed until 10am and felt good enough to get through the 100 verses today. Greg and BethAnn are taking good care of him and he's enjoying working with Pastor Peter. Hopefully he'll feel better tomorrow.
I went into town to meet with another gal for lunch and good conversation. Before lunch, I meandered through the shops and open air market to see what they offered as a souvenir. So many wanted to engage me in conversation, especially the young girls who are there with their mothers. I talked at length with one person about my time in PNG. She figured I had been there since I had a PNG bilum (string bag). I used Tok Pisin and she used Bislama and we got along fine. I realize I've been hesitant to use it because it's not Bislama and might sound strange but I figure if I can understand most of what they are saying, they can probably figure out what I'm saying too. Kind of freeing!
I went into town to meet with another gal for lunch and good conversation. Before lunch, I meandered through the shops and open air market to see what they offered as a souvenir. So many wanted to engage me in conversation, especially the young girls who are there with their mothers. I talked at length with one person about my time in PNG. She figured I had been there since I had a PNG bilum (string bag). I used Tok Pisin and she used Bislama and we got along fine. I realize I've been hesitant to use it because it's not Bislama and might sound strange but I figure if I can understand most of what they are saying, they can probably figure out what I'm saying too. Kind of freeing!
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Whitesands
Morris called to say that his first day of the consultant check of Luke went well. They finished their goal of 100 verses and they were getting ready for dinner. He seemed to be doing well even though he's having some stomach problems. He's taking pictures so we all can see what it's like there!
Pastor Peter Ray is a Presbyterian pastor who is now translating the New Testament into the Whitesands language. He and his wife, Ansi, have 4 children. He has served as Chairman of the Vanuatu Bible Translation (VBT) for 4 years overseeing 15 projects. Now he feels it's time for the Whitesands to receive a new translation. One was done in the language in the 1880s but it is "out of date" and considered unintelligible by most of the 3500 Whitesand speakers. He has also been a coordinator of other Presbyterian churches in the area but he has now been relieved of those responsibilites as well as his work with VBT so that he will have the time to work on the translation. However, he is still the Pastor of his local church. He went to Australia earlier this year to receive SIL's linguistic training.
Pastor Peter will be using a recent translation of the Naka New Testament, a related language to Whitesands, and Adapt-It, a computer program, to produce a Whitesands translation. Greg Carlson, the SIL advisor for the Naka NT is now Pastor Peter's advisor and the plan is to finish it in 4 years!
Pastor Peter Ray is a Presbyterian pastor who is now translating the New Testament into the Whitesands language. He and his wife, Ansi, have 4 children. He has served as Chairman of the Vanuatu Bible Translation (VBT) for 4 years overseeing 15 projects. Now he feels it's time for the Whitesands to receive a new translation. One was done in the language in the 1880s but it is "out of date" and considered unintelligible by most of the 3500 Whitesand speakers. He has also been a coordinator of other Presbyterian churches in the area but he has now been relieved of those responsibilites as well as his work with VBT so that he will have the time to work on the translation. However, he is still the Pastor of his local church. He went to Australia earlier this year to receive SIL's linguistic training.
Pastor Peter will be using a recent translation of the Naka New Testament, a related language to Whitesands, and Adapt-It, a computer program, to produce a Whitesands translation. Greg Carlson, the SIL advisor for the Naka NT is now Pastor Peter's advisor and the plan is to finish it in 4 years!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Lelepa Island
We headed out to Lelepa Island (above) today to visit Kalo and Maina, friends of the Webbs. Ross and Lyndal lived with them for 10 days when they first arrived in Vanuatu as an orientation to Vanuatu culture and Bislama, the trade language. We drove for about 30 min. and then took a 
10 min. boat ride. SIL staff, Monique and Luwi, and their daughter Susan came along too. We were surprised to find that Survivor Vanuatu was filmed on this island and on the one next to it. See photo to right. They had some races between these two islands.
10 min. boat ride. SIL staff, Monique and Luwi, and their daughter Susan came along too. We were surprised to find that Survivor Vanuatu was filmed on this island and on the one next to it. See photo to right. They had some races between these two islands.
Kalo and Maina welcomed us into their home with papaya, bananas and young coconuts. We cut a whole in the coconuts and enjoyed the sweet milk inside. Their daughter, May, showed us her 6 day old daughter, Melody. A delicious lunch of a meat/vegetable sauce over rice, cooking bananas and greens was served. Then we headed out for a walk. Kalo's youngest brother, Mansas, came along with us. As we paused to rest a little, he told Lyndal that he'd like to turn in an application to have a translation program started for their language. This was the first time someone had approached them asking for a translation. Lyndal told him to talk to the community and see if this is something they'd be interested in and then fill out the application. But then, Lyndal had to tell them that help was short and she didn't know when there would be anyone available to help them. Tough words. How about you? You could be the one to come!
We headed back to the house for some tea and cake, Kalo and Maina presented us with gifts and then we headed home. A good day was had by all!
Tomorrow morning, Morris heads out to Tanna Island and I'll share more about the Whitesands language program. I'll be staying here to help out as I am able and Morris will return on Friday.Thursday, November 5, 2009
Bible-based Videos
Allen and Neisha Klaski, serving with Wycliffe Associates, left this morning for Tanna Island for 2 weeks to bring Bible-based videos to about 10 villages. They were invited by Ken and Mendy Nehrbass, translators in the Southwest Tanna language. Some of the videos are in Bislama, the trade language, and some are in Southwest Tanna. They will walk from village to village, eat and sleep with a host family and show the videos to each village. Some Ni-Vanuatu men from Southwest Tanna will go along with them to translate for them and show them the way. Hopefully there will be others that go along to help carry all the cargo! Their home is in Harbor Beach, MI and their Pastor and his wife were our hosts at Barnabas International's Elim Retreat that we attended a few years ago. Small world! They left 6 kids behind with Grandma and Grandpa and are here for almost 3 weeks. They will come back before we leave so I'll be able to let you know how things went.We knew that Ken Nehrbass has been experiencing pain in his kidneys due to a kidney infection but he has experienced more pain and it could be a kidney stone. He had a lot of pain last night. Another translator, Greg Carlson, the advisor that Morris will be working with, will meet the Nehrbasses at the airport and help them get set up to leave on their bush walk. They'd appreciate prayer for healing for Ken and their village video tour. Ken was in the middle of a translation consultant check when he got sick but managed to persevere to get it finished. Alan Canavan, the consultant, is now here with us but will be doing a consultant check for another team next week. We just got word that that translator is now sick. Much prayer is needed.
We did go snorkeling with Alan and Neisha before they left. What a beautiful underwater world God created for us to enjoy! We've snorkeled in PNG and Austrailia but this was the best experience. The fish were different and incredibly beautiful. I saw blues starfish that were 12" across and fish came right up to our faces in hopes of being fed.
We also took a hike up to waterfall and could swim underneath it and in other pools of water. Quite beautiful!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Erakor Island
The Webbs and us took a ferry out to a Erakor Island on Sunday. I'm amazed at how clear the water is and could easily see starfish along the dock leading to the island. There's a resort there now with a groomed path all around the island. As we walked along the path, we came upon the grave markers below. I was hoping you'd be able to read the writing on the gravestones but the one on the right is for the wife of a missionary and her death was in the late 1800s. Her dying words were something like, "I know that Jesus is mine." The left gravestone marks the deaths of 3 of her children who all died between their first and second birthdays. I stood for awhile there just thinking about all the trials and sacrifices that this family went through but what a great testimony to say that she was still trusting in Jesus through it all.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Vanuatu
We've arrived in Port Vila, Vanuatu! Ross and Lyndal Webb, the Directors of SIL Vanuatu and good friends from Papua New Guinea picked us up at the airport and have been taking great care of us! We've been learning lots about the work here and I'll be sharing about it in forthcoming blogs but did you know that Vanuatu has 110 languages and they think a Bible translation will be needed in about 60 languages? SIL is currently working in 15 languages and have completed 3 New Testaments. So there's lots of work to be done. Anybody interested?Above is the SIL office and we are staying in a 2 bedroom flat on the 3rd. floor. Ross and Lyndal conveniently live right above us. Below is our kitchen.
To the left is the view out of the window in our living room. Morris moved the chairs this morning so we could drink our coffee and look at the view.
We've been here for a little over 24 hours and to our surprise, we realize we are experiencing some culture shock. We thought we had all this "transition to another country" figured out but then we remembered that returning to PNG after a furlough always took some adjustments too. It's good to know it's normal and then remind ourselves that in a few days life will feel more normal and routine. Even though we've had some culture shock, we are really glad to be here and are looking forward to the coming days. Fortunately, the first 24 hours have been cooler than normal! :)
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