We thank God for the news that a renter is moving into our house in the Solomon Islands today! Whew. We were beginning to think it wasn’t going to happen, but it has.
We thank our many friends who have been praying with us about this need. And for colleagues who live next door to our house who are baking a batch of welcome cookies for the new tenant and her young daughters. Sweet!
As a teenager, my Uncle Jim introduced me to the world of stamp collecting and first day of issue covers. I still have two albums of first day of issue covers from US stamps that I collected during that time.
Years later when we were living in the Solomon Islands, I started dreaming of a stamp to commemorate Bible translation in the country. I wanted stamps that would honor the work of Bible translation and the language groups who have been blessed with a completed New Testament or Bible. In 2004 I visted in to the Solomon Islands Philatelic Bureau and began dialoguing with the director about the process of getting a stamp(s) approved.
It’s been a long process and it has taken the help of a number of colleagues to make it happen, but the stamps are now printed and ready for a release in early September. Thanks, Uncle Jim for getting me started on this journey so many years ago!
Celebrating Bible Translation 2010 Solomon Islands Commemorative Stamps
Here is a description of the stamp block:
Celebrating Bible Translation:
In recognition of the declaration of 2008 as the Year of the Bible, the Solomon Islands Philatelic Bureau proudly issues this stamp “Celebrating Bible Translation.” In the words of Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua, “There is no greater place to build the character of our people than from Biblical foundations and values.”
These beautiful watercolour illustrations tell the story of the arduous task of translating the Word of God (upper right) and after many years of hard work, the arrival of the printed Bibles.
Symbolically representing the arrival of the Gospel to the islands (upper left), the Bible is carried into the church on a ceremonial canoe. Following a thanksgiving service, the people rush to purchase the treasured Bibles (lower left). As the people read the Word of God in their heart language, it brings understanding and joy and refreshment (lower right).
The open Bible in the center of the stamp block features two Bible verses, Hebrews 4:12 (The Word of God is alive) and John 17:17 (Your Word is true), taken from the Solomon Islands Pijin Bible which was launched in 2008.
A Pijin Bible on a ceremonial canoe was presented to Prime Minister Dr. Derek Sikua on the 30th Anniversary of Independence. It is now part of a Solomon Islands Bible Display and is housed permanently at the National Parliament in Honiara.
From Varisi in Choiseul Province to Natqgu in Temotu Province, Solomon Islanders rejoice in having God’s Word in their heart language. The names on the perimeter of these stamps represent the languages which now have a New Testament or Bible. With more than 65 languages spoken in the Solomon Islands, church and government leaders are committed to seeing translations completed in each one.
On September 10, 2010, we are hosting a Night at the Museum at the International Museum of Cultures. The evening will give people a chance to look around the museum (FREE of charge!), enjoy light refreshments and hear a short presentation about Bible translation and literacy around the world. We will be sharing about our new job assignments with Wycliffe. If you are in the Dallas area and are free, we would love to have you attend and bring a friend!
We hope that we will be able to meet some new friends that evening and that would lead to further opportunities to share about our ministry and in turn we will be able to see an increase in our support team.
Wycliffe requires that we have 100% of our support pledged before we can start our new assignments. Please pray that we will be effective in sharing the vision of our ministry and that the people will be responsive to joining our team. You can view/download a flyer about the event here: Night at the Museum
We have a special houseguest staying with us at the moment – Lizzie Humbu from Papua New Guinea. Lizzie is here in the USA with YWAM (Youth with a Mission) and we met her a few months ago at a workshop. She needed a place to stay and we needed someone to stay in our house while we were on a trip so she is staying with us.
After years of living in the Pacific – both Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and being on the receiving end of gracious Melanesian hospitality, it is indeed a pleasure to be able to extend a bit of hospitality to Lizzie. In a few weeks, Lizzie is hoping to move to Arkansas to attend college there. She is praying and trusting God to provide the money she needs for tuition.
It’s fun to see Emily enjoying making music with Lizzie. Playing guitar and singing with her Solomon Islands friends, was one of Emily’s favorite activities.