Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Dallas, TX 75236
October 8, 1988
Dear Friends,
For those of you who are wondering if we've fallen off the end of
Earth or been diverted to a cannibal's feastthe answer is "no".
the
In case
The kid's adjustment to the United States has been really, well,
interesting.
The first shock was D-III's first sighting of an escalator.
We were in Hawaii going through the airport and the line
stopped.
Our
little boy, near the front of the line, wasn't certain what to do about a
moving staircase. He wasn't about to put a foot on it without permission
(and assurance) from Mommy. Now, whenever we go to a place with escalators
they want to spend all their time going up and down the silly things.
Other new experiences include toasters that pop up (in PNG they
saw
toasters in town, but none that pop up when done). That was the day's
major source of entertainment. The kids watched the toaster and we watched
the kids. We were also asked about the lights hanging above the streets,
and why we stop for the red one and went when it turned green. (They have
become proficient back-seat drivers, too.)
Probably the biggest shock to
their systems came when we gave them each a few dollars and said they
could spend it as they wished.
They
were soon in tears due to the
decisions they had to make. The store had more toys than they remembered
ever seeing before.
Speaking of spending money, we notice that Beth and D-III are very
much influenced by the PNG culture. When they buy something it is usually
a joint decision.
The other day they gave us a typical illustration of
the way they think. When in a store they saw some Tic Tacs.
D-III had
some money from his birthday, so they discussed the item and he bought
them. Later Beth went into a store while he stayed in the car.
When
leaving she said, "Don't eat all the Tic Tacs while I'm gone." Rosalind
said, "Beth, D-III bought them with his own money."
Then Beth replied,
"Yes, but we agreed to share them."
This is typical of them. They even discuss buying gum from the 25
cent gum machines in stores. It is rare, when they are together, to
make
a totally independent decision. They can do it, but they prefer to behave
as brother and sister might in PNG.
DALLAS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR
be
working
to
increase
our
support
to
more a
Language work will fill out any remaining time available. (I also plan to
woi^ on reviewing my Greek in an effort to get ready to translate the New
Testament.) I have hopes of taking in a few other benefits of being in
the area, too. One such benefit was a three week "course" introducing us
to the benefits of a MS-DOS computer. Perhaps I'll be able to pick up a
few other such
events that can help with making our program more
successful.
is
just
five
minute
walk
from
where
married.
It is also the
first
time
we
have
in
house
with
been
reading
around
75
degreesnot
quite
the
Other
computers.
and a VBS.
We have also purchased a new computer (a Toshiba 1200 FB) that will
be able to do things that our smaller ones are too small to
do.
I have
been transfering the files over to our new machine and storing them on disc
(but still keeping the old filesnever TRUST a computer.) In fact, this
newsletter was started on the TRS80-Model 102 (our smaller computer) and is
being completed on our Toshiba.
The purchase of the new computer does not mean that we will phase out
the smaller onesthey
will continue to be used due to their "user
friendly" nature. We plan to train our language helpers to use them when
we
Oh, yes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Pray for:
1. Beth and D-III's adjustment
to their first time in public
school.
2.
5.
6.
7.
She's
3.
across Dallas.
This is quite
an adjustment from the jungle.
4.
know.)
5.
Yours in Him,
Dan Wilcox
Dan and
ADDRESS
Rosalind
Wilcox
Paul
and
Leatha Weaver
406 Thornton
TERM
ADDRESS
Or. Rd.
Toledo, Oregon
97391
RECAP
Some of you have heard a recap of of our term. For those who haven't, and
for those who want it again, here is a brief description of what we feel are the
more notable accomplishments of our 1983 to 1988 term.
We built our "permanent" house. Our first term we lived in a temporary house
made mostly of village materials. This term we built again using materials that
should last longer and with better design and techniques.
We do plan a few
modifications when we return for better mosquito proofing and a bit more room
when
we need
break.
The Anangalo airstrip was built. This takes care of the difficulties we were
having with travel. Although this will involve regular maintainence, it should
not ever have to be totally rebuilt.
The people do want it to be extended
another 200 to 400 feet.
We may help with this, but probably more in terms of
knowledge and equiptment rather than labor.
On our first trip to town using the new airstrip the plane lifted off
beautifully and turned toward Madang.
Before five minutes were up Beth and DIII started the age-old custom of "are we almost there?" and "How much farther?"
We began thinking about how much faster we were getting to town and found
ourselves appreciating the normally irksome routine. By the time we were in
town we would normally have only completed about one-sixteenth of the river
better!
I have become fairly fluent in Kianing Balang. By that I mean I can almost
always express myself in the local language and say what I want to.
Occasionally I will be unable to keep up with a more complicated discussion, but
that is fairly rare. As the term ended I found myself being able to preach and
pray in the language, often expressing myself more easily than I could in the
trade languange.
Due to Rosalind's teaching the kids she has not progressed as far
We hope to arrange more time for her to do language work next termthat expectation that we are proceeding with our schooling.
as
It is
have,
with
Our phonology statement is almost through its third revision. There are no
major changesJust filling out gaps in the data presented, checking spelling,
etc. The phonology statement is the analysis of the sound system that the
alphabet is based on.
work.
Based on the work we had done in the phonology and grammar, and because we ^
have some of the people who are semi-literate in the trade language, we held our
first vernacular (native language) writers workshop. For this we flew twelve
men and women to Likan where another PBT team, William and Robin Butler, work.
This is also the home of the traditional enemies of our people. (They are now
best friends.) During the week the participants produced two small booklets of
stories that they wrote in their own language and illustrated with their own
drawings. These are the first booklets produced in Kianing Balang.
Then we had a review course and a second
writers workshop.
From this we
have three more booklets produced in Kianing Balang. We also discovered that it
is more productive to hold the workshops away from the village. When at the
village the people are too transientif they want to go hunting they go.
It is
Leadership development has really progressed in the last term. Although some
classes were held, the majority of the accomplishments were through more casual
times of answering questions, conversations, etc. This is the type of progress
made more by being there and available (and the leaders knowing that you are
available) rather than by classes or lectures.
Connected to the leadership development is the growth of the Kianele Church.
This last term the Church at Giling planted two new churches within our language
the three villages. We sent a message to each Church and were told that the
total number is 440. Now many of those are nominal "church-goers", but it is
also about half of the language group! Do note that the effort has included
both Australian missionaries and ourselves, but the major evangelistic effort
has involved mostly the local Church leaders. But isn't that what we are after?
Some of you may be (should be?) asking why a translation is necessary if the
church is growing without it. The fact is the longer we are in PNG the more
convinced that it is necessary for the Kianele people to have their own
translation. There are many areas that the trade language translation is not
understood due to the nature of the trade language. And there are many of the
people who do not now know the trade language, or who do not know it well enough
to use it for spiritual growth. Among the Kianele all really important issues
are still discussed in their heart language, Kianing Balang. Since this is the
case, Kianing Balang is the language in which the Kianele need God's word.
Matthew's version of the Christmas Story and the Resurrection have been
translated.
John.
the term convinced us that as soon as we complete the grammar statement we are
ready to really get into translation in a major way.
After completing a revision of the Christmas story I read it for the 1987
Christmas worship service. Afterwards Ambisang, my wife's village papa, came up
to me and said, "My insides really fell down when I heard that."
Experiences
like that really make us want to get on with the translation. And knowing that
many, or most, of the older people cannot really understand about following
Christ until they have God's Word in their language makes it all the more
critical.
Dear Friends,
The
the
1987 Giving
$ 9,794.35
Individuals
Churches:
600.00
2,145.83
1,950.00
1,725.36
766.38
6,364.21
21.01
50.00
500.00
135.00
200.00
5,175.00
120.00
$19,752.79
$29,547.14
dollars
that
went
through our hands (and were legally accounted for by PBT) but did not go
through our own forwarding agent.
These funds, $3000 from
Elkanah
Foundation, were totally concerned with the construction of the Anangalo
mam
airstrip and were given directly through Pioneer Bible
Translators
office in Duncanville, Tx.
1987 Expenses
Office
255.31
Telephone
0.00
Postage
Printing
96. 20
254,10
Publicity
Salary
Overseas Operating Expenses
180.32
10,500.00
11,275.53
0.00
Travel
Furlough
600.00
Insurance (Life)
Retirement Savings
600.00
617.76
Team Ministry
2,862.00
Equiptment
0.00
Medical (eyeglasses)
183.00
3,544.00
Miscellaneous
Airstrip
FICA
Gifts
$1,000.00
2,241.00
295.00
8.00
$30,967.46
1988 Budget
Salary
Medical
150
Retirement
200
Taxes
380
100
Life Insurance
110
$2,090
sub-total
Mission:
Office Supplies
Professional Expenses
10
120
Promotional Materials
20
Printing Newsletters
Postage
50
Phone
50
15
Banking Expenses
Insurance (Health)
200 (estimate)
200
100
225
20
500
Children's Education
(Correspondence)
Miscellaneous
0
10
$ 1,522
sub-total
200
Personal
Team Ministry
424
$629
sub-total
Total
X 12
budget item.
field.