The Carwile family arrived earlier than planned at Avevete. The Papua New Guinea(PNG) government released an issue to restrict domestic air travel and ground travel for two weeks beginning 22 March. As we had planned to leave only a week later, and were ready to go, we got permission to up our timetable and leave Saturday March 20th. There is a phased restriction in place, which after a month is up for a review, in response to the increase in COVID19 cases in PNG.* (Update: As of the sending of this newsletter the government has extended these restrictions as well as making the restrictions more strict. We still have over 2 months here left so we're not concerned, but this makes it more likely that government orders could affect our return to Ukarumpa in July.)
Our area of ministry continues untouched at this time.
Though one of the training courses at the mission center has been canceled, the remainder of the courses, including the one in October the Pamosu translation team desires to attend, are still viable. We fervently pray that all eight of the Pamosu translators can attend this course!
After talking with the village leaders and the community on Easter Sunday, it was decided that we will continue to hold weekly writer’s workshops like we did last year.
During the first workshop Felicity, Marie, and Norman acted out a parable read by an advocate for Bible translation and literacy. In the story a man has to decide how to keep his pig (the trade language) from ruining his garden (the heart language). Both the garden and the pig are valuable, and the man must decide how to make a place for each where they will be safe.
The anthology that was compiled last year is an example of how the Pamosu speakers continue to use and preserve their heart language.
Trial copies of the anthology compiled last year have been distributed for revision. It was a joy to see authors reading their names and finding their neighbors’ stories and reading to one another. Everyone seemed pleased with the photo illustrations Brenda had chosen to accompany stories.
Jason has been meeting with the Pamosu translators and doing some electronics maintenance. They are working on crafting a manual for the care of electronics in addition to their language learning.
It has been a while since the Carwile family’s support team at the mission center was introduced. This support team helps us prepare for travel to Avevete (at times chopping vegetables to dehydrate), looks after our home on the mission center while we are away, and prepares for our return to the mission center by stocking the fridge! They regularly check on us during our time in Avevete via radio/phone, pray with us, and when we are at the mission center they play with us. Our support team came to PNG the same year we did.
Megan Reed is a nurse at the mission clinic and Courtney Davis teaches music with the international school.
Our family was pleased to welcome Megan back to PNG from her time in the USA on February 24th.
Courtney plans to travel to the USA in June. Please pray with us as she navigates travel, and rejoice with us that the rest of the music department is in PNG so she can leave her work here for a time with an easy mind.
Jason and Brenda are both immensely grateful to God to continue in this translation program with the Pamosu speakers, enabled by partners both in PNG and around the world.
Thank you,
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