The Many Ways to Serve Bible Translation

As support staff here in Ukarumpa, we can sometimes feel removed from the front lines of Bible translation. We know we are serving in critical roles here, and for Scott managing the security program, that role never ends. For Kathy, especially during the school break, though, it is easy to perceive herself as disconnected from the ultimate purpose we are here to serve. So, it has been a blessing to have the time to serve the Bible translators directly in some different ways. Some translation teams with children use this time to go to their remote villages for several weeks as a family, leaving behind homes and pets that need care. Kathy has been blessed to help feed dogs, birds, and even a mountain cuscus (a PNG marsupial the size of a possum but much cuter). Translators often have weeks of preparation before heading to their villages,including dehydrating food and preparing literacy materials. By us helping with the dehydrating process, and collating and stapling booklets, a translator is freed up to continue their language work. We are reminded in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 that we each make up the many different parts of the Body of Christ, the Church, with our different gifts and skills, and all are needed and important members. So use the gifts God has given you to serve Him in whatever way He enables you to serve! 

Above: Kathy with Emerald, a rainbow lorikeet. Just another unconventional way we can serve Bible translation! 

Our New View

We moved to another rental house last week, abutting the back perimeter fence and overlooking the village behind our center. The view is beautiful, but it also reminds us to pray daily for the even more remote villages who have far less access to medical care, electricity or clean water. During this election, many people will walk for many miles to get to their regional polling places to cast their votes. Please continue to pray that all people will be fairly represented and that God’s will shall be done in this PNG election. 

Prayer Points

• Papua New Guinea: Pray for a peaceful election time and that God’s hand would guide all involved.

• Bible translation: Pray for the checking of the Odoodee New Testament, which is 75% complete at this time.

• Our roles in PNG: Praise that Kathy finished the school year well, and even stayed healthy! Pray for Scott’s wisdom and discernment as he serves the security needs in Ukarumpa, especially during this election season.

• PNG missionaries: Pray for good transitions for those who have recently returned to their passport countries on furlough.

• God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people. 

We’ re never bored...

The last month has been very busy for both of us, but we are grateful for your prayers and God’s provision through it all. On May 8th and 9th the U.S. Ambassador visited Ukarumpa. On May 18th Scott made an emergency trip to Port Moresby to assist another mission with a significant security incident. On May 25th we paid our respects to a long term missionary who passed away while in country. On May 26th, students from Ukarumpa International School attended their annual banquet, which is a prom-like event held each year. As we approach June, Kathy is preparing her students for final examinations. Graduation will soon follow and then many families will travel with their graduates back to their passport countries. Locally this is known as “Cry Week” because there are so many goodbyes. Missionaries and “third culture kids” are acutely aware of how painful these transitions are, but try to approach them with intentionality, transparency and love. We miss our family and friends back home, but we are grateful to help others going through this process and know that our roles ultimately support Bible translation efforts here in PNG.

Above: Kathy’s 7th grade class with their water-powered rockets, which were successfully launched as part of their Term 4 Astronomy unit. The Grade 10 Biology class also successfully dissected cane toads and rats as part of their zoology unit, but fortunately those pictures are not shown here.

Photo Credit: Victoria Weaver 

Opportunities

It is a blessing that, even while serving in a remote location like Ukarumpa, we still get opportunities to connect with U.S. officials and Wycliffe representatives who are willing to travel here to meet with the expatriate community and hear about our work and our needs. Ultimately, we know it is God providing for us daily and we are grateful that He hears us, no matter where we are! 

Above: Kathy and Scott with the U.S. Ambassador, Counselor Affairs Officer & Assistant Regional Security Officer in Ukarumpa. Photo Credit: Erik Lofgren 

Prayer Points

Papua New Guinea: Please pray for a peaceful election time, that God’s hand would guide all involved. Elections peak in our region of the highlands in June and July.

Bible translation: Pray for the Kamano Kafe translation team who are filming a video about the effects of sorcery. Pray for successful production, and that people’s hearts would be reached with their message.

Our roles in PNG: Pray for Kathy to finish the school year well, and for the graduating seniors to transition well. Pray also for Scott’s wisdom and discernment as he negotiates through challenging situations.

God’s provision: Praise for how God is providing for our needs through His people.