PAPUA NEW GUINEA NEWS - February 2007.
Dear Friends,
As promised some Papua New Guinea praise and pray news follows which I have gleaned from the many emails sent by colleagues and the official PNG branch Prayerline.
Translators Training Course and Biblical Studies Course:
PRAISE.. That the TTC Acceptance committee accepted a total of 67 participants from 24 languages for the three TTC courses which will be run in April-May. 10 language teams were either turned away or deferred until next year. Praise the Lord for wisdom which allowed the committee to make good decisions. Please pray for the TTC Steering committee when they meet to also make wise decisions regarding staffing and course policies. And pray for the principal, Duncan Kasokason (BTA), and business manager, Joe McCarthy, as they begin doing the many things necessary to get ready for the course.
2. That a total of 8 participants showed up for the New Testament Introduction Course which will run until 13 March. Please pray for the 4 BTA translators: Betty Dunstan (Are), Meya Ivano (Tawala), Anselm Kuloi (Maring) and Selby Otire (Omie) and for the 4 translators working in SIL projects: Emil Ninkure and Peter Morokiki (Aitape West), Gabriel Lupasi (Ata) and Donald Ikupu (Waima), that they will learn well and be able to apply what they are learning to their work. And pray for Paul Minter as he teaches.
Also taking place until the 13th March is a new intake of students for the Supervisor Training Education Programme (STEP). Lynn Wood keeps busy with helping the STEP students to improve their English language skills, and has classes according to ability. Lynn also helps the non English speaking SIL members and some SIL employees improve their English language skills.
My good friend Tai Yari, recently resigned from his accounting work in the SIL Store after serving there faithfully for 18 years. He is at present campaigning as a candidate for the forthcoming National elections. Should Tai be elected I believe he will a good member of parliament for the Kainantu district. Over the past couple of years Tai has been President of the Lutheran Eastern Highlands synod. Please pray for godly men like Tai to be elected. The Elections will be in June.
As many of you will be aware this is the EL Nino year. 10 years ago the highlands of PNG suffered a severe drought and famine. Australia predicts that there will be famine situation as a result this year. Please pray that the people will be careful with fires and that the work of Bible Translation will not be hindered. At present there is an abundance of rain. In 1997 a dry cyclone happened in March and there was no further rain until November.
News Broadcasts and papers have reported on devastating weather disasters around the world and note that the USA seems to have been having a large share this winters and Australia with the fires. We in the south east of England have had a particularly wet and mild winter, though there have been times of strong wind.
Since starting to put this letter together, four weeks ago I have come down with a nasty cold bug, as one cold finished the next hits. The second one has really messed up my sinuses, but I am slowly winning the nose blowing war.
May you have a blessed Easter as we all rejoice in our Risen Lord Jesus.
With Christian love,
Jean |
