An August Update!

It has been a while* since you last heard from us. We thank you for your dedicated and consistent faithfulness - and so many varying expressions of support that have helped to sustain us: prayers, which do so from an all-person standpoint; finances, which do so from very practical and physical ones; and encouraging notes and social media touches which express an appreciated immediacy. The mutual edification finds me with happy, wet eyes as I (tOdd) write this. Thank you, friends.
We love you. Please know we think and pray for you often.    
 

Alyssa: has started her grade 12 (aka 'senior') year of secondary school (aka 'High School') at Ukarumpa International School (UIS)! She is completing many of her elective requirements through a teaching assistant opportunity (work study) several days a week, working in grades kindergarten, 5 and 8. She has enjoyed the challenge of learning in this way. Currently we are "open" with normal classroom environments. This has been a blessing to all of us.    

Andrew: begins his second year of college on August 25th at Bushnell University in Eugene, OR (formerly known as Northwest Christian University - an intentional change years in the making as the school sought to wisely remove their limiting and oft confusing geographical reference). After completing a successful first year (2019-2020), he will continue to major in mathematics while now also being an active member of the eSports team (yes: video gaming!).   

Cathy: is teaching at the secondary campus (UIS) with a very full load. Due to our current limited staff she is teaching 6th and 7th grade English as well as continuing her normal roll in the learning assistance department. She wrote a fantastic article/blog at the beginning of the global pandemic and it can be viewed/read here.  

tOdd: is keeping quite occupied helping provide management oversight to some of our community's key infrastructure areas (e.g. Store, Clinic and Auto Shop to name a few).      
 

Our branch here in PNG recently (August 20th) released a very helpful 'public statement' summation of where we've been and where we currently are as it pertains to current global events, our critical work here and more. As such, said full statement is listed below in italics. Please keep in mind that when it states "SIL-PNG" that it is referring to our organization as it is known here in our local context in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Much love friends - it is an honor to serve our King here as an extension of so many of you "there" (i.e in our passport 'home' country). Smile.
- tOdd & Cathy and Alyssa, too.     
 

*******
 

"From March through June, PNG saw only 8 COVID cases. In July, cases surged in Port Moresby, PNG’s capital, and have since climbed to 347 confirmed cases, with 3 deaths (20Aug). The nation is grateful to have been spared a more significant toll thus far.

SIL-PNG has taken a cautious stance to protect its staff and the people of PNG. Following a government-mandated two-week lockdown in March and in the context of several States of Emergency extending into June, SIL-PNG has cautiously resumed work that could be done safely.  It has produced and disseminated information about COVID to language communities where it works.

External restrictions continue to affect SIL-PNG’s operations, notably domestic flying (affecting SIL-PNG Aviation) and international travel. Because of scheduled departures and the repatriation of highest-risk personnel in April from PNG, SIL-PNG staff numbers are low, and no non-citizen staff have been able to return to PNG since March. Most citizen staff have been able to continue working.

SIL-PNG is facing significant challenges, including personnel shortages and the financial burden of crisis response. During this time it has been important to celebrate victories, such as developing protocol that allows translation teams to return to the language communities they serve, and the recent resumption of classes at Ukarumpa International School with appropriate cautionary measures. 

COVID response has been a team effort for the 15+ nationalities which make up SIL-PNG’s staff and many partner organizations within PNG and internationally. Please continue to pray for SIL-PNG, partner organizations similarly affected, and the people of PNG."

[ *January 7th, 2020; yikes! :oP ]