Author: Keith and Elspeth Campbell

This Sunday morning brought a new experience for us. The Pastor at a local church plant visits our centre regularly as our organisation assists him in his role of coordinating the prison ministry in Lae. We gladly accepted the invitation to speak about the work of Bible translation and our supporting role. It was then made clear that he wanted me to autim tok (preach) and, yes, the service is in tok pisin. [ At the end of the service he threw me the task of publicly dedicating a newly married couple ….. that was certainly a new experience! ]

Preaching in a second language may seem a little daunting at first, but as I started preparing I realised that the vocabulary necessary for a tok pisin sermon is all there in the Scriptures. ‘Church speak’ is less involved than the tok pisin used in day-to-day living. From day one, the Tok Pisin Bible has been a primary source of becoming familiar with the language. Writing out the sermon – taken from Philippians 2 and Ephesians 4 – using the Bible to clarify certain phrases and expressions proved helpful.

Yupela olgeta i mas holim wanpela tingting tasol, na bihainim wanpela pasin bilong laikim tru ol arapela. Yupela i mas i stap wanbel tru. Filipai 2:2b

What turned out to be difficult was the actual preaching. Presenting what I had prepared was not the issue, but being content with the simplicity of the language proved to be the challenge. I wanted to say so much, to challenge the church with the need to be serving each other while focused on building each other up in Christ. To be looking to Christ as the source of that true Christian love for their brothers and sisters. The language and cultural barrier seemed to leave me searching for ways to fill the words with meaningful emotion.

It gave a real insight into why Bible translation is so critical. Many Papua New Guineans can read tok Pisin and even English, yet texts in these languages are often just a collection of words – individual meanings may be understood, but the emotion and expression behind phrases, sentences and paragraphs can be lost in the labourious task of reading. I was able to construct a tok pisin sentence, and combine sentences into a sermon….. but could I truly make it say anything meaningful?

Yet speak the Scriptures to someone in their heart language, and their minds are opened to the full capacity of expression and emotion. They hear truly the heart of God speaking to them in His powerful and beautiful word.

Please pray …

• that the people of PNG would be enabled to receive God’s word in a meaningful way
• that individual Christians, and churches would be strengthened by sound teaching

At the Lae Port we joined a celebration for the completion of a brand new dentistry clinic and day procedure unit aboard the MV YWAM PNG as she returned from her first six month outreach in Morobe Province in 2016.

Please pray that after the ship is refitted (in Townsville) it will continue to provide medical services to communities in remote locations throughout the Southern and Huon Gulf Regions of Papua New Guinea.

Let you light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5 v 16

The Pastor at our regular church invited us to speak to their Friday night youth group. Knowing that PNG church structures and norms can differ greatly from our Aussie experiences, we asked what age range comes along on the night, hoping to make sure our presentation would be appropriate. He didn’t respond clearly, so we rephrased the question slightly. “Oh, from twelve to about forty.” came the answer, making clear why he obviously felt that the question was an odd one!

In PNG churches, “youth” seems to refer to anyone who is yet to marry and start a family. It makes for interesting dynamics – the older ones are very inclusive of younger ones, and take their mentoring role seriously, and in turn, the young ones are respectful of anyone older.

We shared our journey into mission service, and some brief points about the work of Wycliffe in PNG, noting the opportunities that exist for PNG Nationals to be involved in the task of bible translation.       The highlight of the evening, for our audience at least, was the language map showing all of the completed and current Wycliffe translation projects in PNG. Everyone was keen to find their tok ples (vernacular language) on the map.

The Pastor commented that he does not use the Tok Pisin Bible in church as it is limited in its vocabulary and expression, lacking the richness of either English or tok ples. He uses his Wahgi translation in private reading, yet we have seen this godly teacher struggle with reading from the English in a clear and expressive manner during worship services – for many Nationals it takes effort and concentration to read from an English language Bible. It is no wonder that the interest in tok ples Scripture resources endures, even amongst those who have some form of English-based education.

As we farewelled the group and headed for home, God had one more blessing in store for us. The security guards at the main gate to the church property asked for a copy of one of the information booklets we gave out. There is spiritual hunger in PNG at every turn.

Please pray …

• that God would move more Nationals to get involved in translation of the Scriptures.
• that tok ples Scripture resources would lead to a greater understanding of God’s word, and highlight the relevance of the Gospel to the people of PNG.

At times we begin to feel that we are not challenged that much cross-culturally, living in a city with electricity and water supply, air-conditioning, and shops stocking the familiar foods.

Then it is often the little things that remind us of where we are. Driving behind a utility carrying the extended family in the rear… the plastic bottle collectors searching the streets for containers to repackage and sell their fuel and kerosene. And there are constant reminders in the stores that we are in a culture with very different concepts and norms from our own. Bulk packaged goods are often priced the same as, or more than, single items. [The tumblers were 48 to a carton….. do the math.]

?

Do the math….

For many people, refrigeration is a rare commodity and wages provide for just the weekly essentials, so you never see the locals buying trolley loads of groceries. Suppliers cater for the majority market, so chilled goods and other imported items can be very expensive by comparison to the staples of rice, flour and tinned meats. We wonder who actually buys some of these imported lines. The stores have gotten used to us surveying the marked down items that are sometimes weeks or months past their best before dates – a staff member grabbed Elspeth as she walked in one day, directing her to the latest batch of exotic specials!

Promotions and sales target locals also. This competition offered a pig as the major prize. There was nothing to suggest the size or gender of the beast, but a pig is a pig, and they are the ultimate commodity for many PNG families – used for paying the bride price, celebrating a success, or thanking mourners at a haus krai (wake).

Even our weekly shopping provides us with cultural experiences, and lessons to be learned.

Please pray …

• that we be open to learn from our daily experiences and equipped all the more to serve God in this place

Rudy works with a SIL team producing Tok Pisin translations of English documents – anything from education material to manuals for commercial use.

Recently Rudy wrote, “For years, I’d say that Tok Pisin is my mother tongue, the  language I grew up speaking. When asked if I know the languages that my parents speak, my answer would always be,  “No, I don’t know the language”.

(Truth, I understand most of my father’s language although I can’t speak it and some of my mother’s language). This morning I decided to read from three different languages in my devotion time, English, Tok Pisin and Suena (dad’s language).

Instead of starting with English and Tok Pisin, I decided to read Suena, the language I claim to not know well. I had tears in my eyes after reading it, it meant more, I understand everything stated in that verse, English and Tok Pisin dulled in comparison to that verse read in Suena.”

Suena           _9′Ago wenua, are Anutu meni numa puro witiro ema Tua bamubake potinua awa. Potiro zazo bowire nuso meni erama dapikaragora zazo bowire dainaise senua awa. ₁₀Tani ego ine ama kei awaise sero ago wenua awa. Utura nowera, o zebura nowera, o zebu tura nowera, nukare dapikarago ami Yesu bowi inoise bawa diro kokoinarise. ₁₁Agoro erama dapikarago meni “Yesu Kristo nu imata Tua noya,” ago sarise. Ago sara Anutu Mamera zazo bowire ike damu itaise.’ Filipai 2 v 9-11

Tok Pisin      _9′Long dispela as tasol God i litimapim Jisas na mekim em i stap antap tru. Na God i givim em wanpela nem i gutpela tru na i winim olgeta arapela nem. ₁₀Em i givim dispela nem long Jisas, bai olgeta ensel na olgeta man na ol arapela samting i stap long heven na long graun na aninit long graun ol i ken brukim skru long ai bilong Jisas na i stap aninit long em. ₁₁Na olgeta bilong ol i ken taokaut olsem, “Jisas Krais em i Bikpela.” Na long dispela pasin ol bai i givim biknem long God Papa.’ Filipai 2 v 9-11

English          _9′Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ₁₀that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ₁₁and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Philippians 2 v 9-11

Please pray …

 for Rudy as she continues to grow in her faith and share with others

• that having Scripture in tok ples (vernacular language) would lead many people to a deeper understanding of God’s word

… in person not in heart (1 Thess 2:17)

Last month, Elspeth joined 19 others in trekking to Yemli village, south of Lae. The group took 15 hours over three days to make the 3,100 foot climb, travelling on muddy paths and crossing fast flowing streams.

The occasion was a farewell for the youngest child of a mission couple, John and Amy Lindstrom. Samuel is completing Grade 12 this year, and the family will be heading to the US after Graduation in June.

Samuel was born in PNG and spent many months each year until the dedication in December 2010 living in their village home. The family began their work with the Malei translation in 1992, with the New Testament being dedicated in 2010, and John continues to work with the villagers as they proceed with the Old Testament translation project. Past blogs and newsletters have featured this Huon Gulf Cluster Project.

It was an understandably emotional time as John spoke of this being, possibly, their last time to visit Yemli. [Although, Amy indicated a strong desire to return.] Translation work represents a commitment of ten, twenty, or more years, and deep relationships are formed over that time.

…we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, beacause you had become very dear to us. 1 Thessalonians 2:8

The model of Paul’s ministry – in both word and life – continues every day in the villages of PNG.

Please pray …

• for the Lindstrom family – particularly Samuel – as they prepare for settling into life back in the US.
• for the ongoing work of translation, and for John to find effective ways to continue guiding the National teams while out of the country.

Photographs by E.Campbell and B.Noble

One of the churches we have been attending is pastored by a widower, and early last year, the church encouraged him to seek a wife to support his ministry and to be a mother to his two young children.

With the support of the denomination’s Mt Hagen Bible College, Ps Parker met with a female graduating student, and the relationship progressed to a marriage proposal. Arrangements were made for payment of the bride price, and a February 2016 wedding.

Much of this may clash with our perceptions of the role of romance and courtship in the marriage preliminaries, but the lead up to the event was still full of obvious excitement on the part of Ps Parker, and the females in the congregation were delighted to host a wedding.

The youth of the church made up the contingent of attendants, and Ps Parker’s spiritual mother and father walked him down the aisle. The officiating Pastor spoke from Genesis 2, acknowledging that God created woman to be a helpmate to the man and applied this to the way in which He had brought these two together.

Pray for this family that they would honour the Lord in their life together and in their ministry.

Last year, we met a couple in unexpected circumstances. We were looking for a church that we had dealt with in providing accommodation for a visiting pastor, and got hopelessly lost! Following directions from a helpful local, we eventually arrived as people filed in for worship… then soon realised this was not the church we were seeking. We stayed and enjoyed the fellowship, meeting Edward and Elizabeth afterwards.

Since that ‘chance’ encounter, we have shared a meal with them, discussed the state of society and the church in PNG, and compared notes on our respective adult children. These times have been all too few, as we both tend to lead busy lives.

Last Saturday, 6 February, we were invited to celebrate with them as Edward dedicated a new office building at his timber yard. Those gathered were family, friends, a number of pastors from the Lae PNG Bible Churches – and two waitskin missionaries! It was an honour to be included. This wasn’t a token event. Edward has staff devotions every Monday morning lead by Pastor James – who commented on the difference of an employer willing to pay their workers to study the bible. There were prayers for Edward and the staff, and all were exhorted to acknowledge God as the source of all blessing.

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labour in vain.   Psalm 127:1

And then came the highlight….. Elspeth was asked to cut the ribbon on the entrance to the new building!

The warmth and acceptance we have experienced from so many PNG folk is the lasting impression we expect to have of our time in Lae.

Please pray …

• thankful for every opportunity to connect with our PNG brothers and sisters
• that we see the Lord working in all of these unexpected events

Here are a few of the highlights of our Christmas in Lae, Papua New Guinea.

Carols By Candlelight at the Salvation Army School

We have formed a friendship with the Australian couple serving as Business Manager and Curriculum Coordinator for the school.

Staff Christmas lunch

We put some of our staff social funds to  use.

Christmas concert and meal at our local church

The Pastor and his wife came to visit our Centre to make sure that we were coming. It was so encouraging to be included.

Wycliffe Australia shouted us coffee as a treat

The Christmas ‘traffic jam’

The main area for water taxis was full of people. Lae is PNG’s second largest city and many come to work here from surrounding coastal communities or from islands which can be reached by open dingy. There is no ticket booking office, so people come and wait for an available seat. Market sellers are on hand with drinks and snacks.

Christmas breakfast with a Wycliffe couple

Alan and Ritva Brown are translating for the Kovai language group on Siassi Island, and are staying at the Lae Guesthouse for a two week break over Christmas. We enjoyed a decadent treat with our poached eggs… real bacon!

We were also able to see and talk with our children over the internet. Christmas afternoon was spent swimming and playing a game with Australian friends.

During the pre-Christmas maintenance closure, our daily devotions included a traditional hymn, looking into what influenced the writer, and the theology behind the lyrics. The classic carol “Hark! The herald angels sing”, is often sung at Christmas events, but draws us to look beyond the manger to the cross.

“Mild He lays His glory by,   Born that man no more may die                                    Born to raise the sons of earth,  Born to give them second birth”

We rightly join the multitude of angels in singing of God’s glory at our Saviour’s birth. (Luke 2:14)

We all must proclaim the message of the cross as strongly throughout the year ahead.