Roni, a fourth grade teacher and Amarasi speaker, lives with his family in a small mountain community in West Timor, Indonesia.  After school and in the evenings, Roni works on translating the New Testament into his own language.

One day, the family’s dog, Jaga, was missing. They looked everywhere for the dog, but he could not be found. Jaga had wandered away and they felt sad.

A while later, Jaga wandered into a nearby village and people asked, ‘Whose dog is that?’  Someone in the village recognized the dog and they said, ‘It belongs to Roni, the teacher.’  Others said, ‘No, it belongs to the man who is translating the Bible into our language.’

Jaga moved on to another village community and people started asking the same questions again and received the same answers.  Jaga moved from community to community.

Word reached Roni that Jaga had been seen in nearby villages so he started to look for his dog.  When he reached the first village, the people told him that Jaga had moved on, but they wanted to hear about the Bible being translated into their language. Roni happily told them about the translation work and that the New Testament in Amarasi would soon be completed.  Everyone was excited to hear the news and some even asked if they could pray for him.

Roni continued to look for Jaga in the villages where he had been seen. In each village it was the same – Jaga had moved on, but people wanted to know about the Bible translation.  At last Roni found Jaga. He was very skinny, but happy to go home to the family.

The Amarasi New Testament is nearly completed.  Pray for Roni and the translation team as they finish the translation. And thank God for Jaga and his missionary journey that helped spread the good news about Bible translation.

The United Nations has designated September 8 as International Literacy Day.  In many developed countries, the day passes without much fuss.  Here in the Solomon Islands it is celebrated well.

Each year, the organizations who support literacy programs plan a special event in the capital city of Honiara.  This year the event began with a parade through town and participants marched to the National Art Gallery where a large tent and chairs for guests was set up.

Speeches were read by children who had written essays, the Solomon Islands Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education spoke, and songs were sung.  Listen to one of the songs here: [youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMobu-lIREc’]

My favorite part of the literacy day celebrations is seeing the groups of women from reading classes who come to celebrate.  They often have matching t-shirts and proudly carry a banner with the name of their group.  Stories they have written are on display.  They are members of an exclusive club – women who have overcome many obstacles to learn to read and write. Their pride in the accomplishment of learning to read displaces years of disappointment and shame. What a joy to share in their celebration.

This year the Literacy Association of the Solomon Islands had tables set up with paper and pencils and everyone was invited to write a story.  The stories were compiled into a book for all to see and those who contributed were allowed to choose a free book from the book table.

While wandering around and taking in the displays, this illustrated story caught my eye:
It is a drawing of the Pijin Bible by an inmate at the national prison.  The text says,

“When I was a small child, I didn’t read the Bible and didn’t know what the Bible said about life. But after attending literacy classes, I could read and understand what the Bible says about my life. The Bible teaches me the right way to live.”

What a joy to read that story.  I was pleased to hear that literacy classes were still going on in the prison (I helped start them a number of years ago) and the Pijin Bibles placed in the prison on the day it was launched, are being read today. The teachers who volunteer at the prison asked where they can get more copies of the Bible for the eager inmates who want to read it.  A new delivery of Bibles is due in at the end of month and we can help them out.

This illustration had no text, but perhaps none is needed.

When we first came to the Solomons, we were largely involved in helping to organize International Literacy Day.  It’s wonderful now to see Solomon Islanders from many different sectors and organizations championing literacy for their country.

Our latest newsletter is available here as a download: September 13 Matzke Prayer letter

Tim and I both joined Wycliffe as school teachers.  In fact, that is where we met – in a small multi-grade classroom at a cross-cultural training course Wycliffe held in south Texas back in 1989.  We were happy to use our skills as teachers to support the work of Bible translation.

After serving as teachers of missionary kids for many years, our interest in literacy grew and we able to use our teaching skills there.  When our daughters reached school age, Martha home schooled them for a while and then they attended Woodford International School in the Solomon Islands. In the USA, they  attended Christian and public schools.

When we began considering coming back to the Pacific, Sarah’s educational needs were an important consideration.  She is happily settling into Ukarumpa International High School at the SIL center in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

Since we will be leaving soon and missing events like ‘Open House’ and parent teacher conferences, we spent yesterday meeting with some of Sarah’s teachers.  What a blessing to meet these teachers dedicated to the education of missionary kids. We were impressed with each of the teachers and confident that Sarah will have a great school year here.

Tim and I spent years teaching other missionary kids and now it is our turn to benefit from the ministry of a group of gifted teachers who will be providing a quality education for Sarah and the other students at the school.  We are grateful for each of these teachers – and those whose photos I failed to take!

If YOU are a teacher or know a Christian teacher who would like to serve overseas and be a part of Bible translation, let us know.  There are lots of needs for teachers of missionary kids all over the world.  The adventure awaits…

Mrs. Bowers, Sarah’s choir director

Mr. Voth, Sarah’s Physics I teacher

Mr. Noble, Sarah’s Computer Applications teacher from the UK

Mr. Matusumaru – Sarah’s PE teacher from Japan

Miss Rigsby, Sarah’s Pre-Calculus teacher (from DALLAS!)

Sarah will be staying at the Townsend Youth Hostel here at the Ukarumpa Center.  As we mentioned before, the Driggers keep the hostel running and will be responsible for Sarah on a day to day basis.  However, during breaks and in case of emergencies, we needed a ‘loco parentis’ (local parents) to be here for her.  Asking John and Brena Bruner to step into that role was a natural choice.

The Bruner Family worked in the Solomon Islands with us and Sarah grew up with their boys.  Included in this photo is Kairu, a Papua New Guinean student who is living with the Bruners this school year.When the translation project they were involved in was completed they moved to Papua New Guinea so the boys could go to school here. Sarah hadn’t seen the family for six years, but it didn’t take long to reconnect.  I think ‘Aunt Brena’ is happy to have some girl company.

We are thankful that John and Bruner are happy to take on the role of Sarah’s local parents and help her make this transition.

The closest town to the Ukarumpa Centre is Kainantu.  Tim and I decided to venture there this morning to check out the shops and pick up some supplies Sarah needed.  The store on the center has run out of a lot of school supplies.

To get to Kainantu we walked to the gate of the center and waited for a PMV (public motor vehicle).  After 10 minutes or so, a van came to the gate and passengers climbed out.  We climbed in and found the PMV sat for a few more minutes waiting for more passengers before it started.  The PMV made a couple more stops before heading to Kainantu.  The trip took us about a half and hour and cost us $ .75 each.

We walked around a few stores and picked up some items. On the way home we were able to catch a ride with friends who we saw in town and were returning to the center in their truck.  I’ll let the photo gallery fill you in on what we saw. 

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When friends and family heard that we were planning on Sarah going to school in Papua New Guinea while we lived in the Solomons, there were more than a few raised eyebrows.  Responses ranged from, “Really?”, “How does she feel about that?”, and “We could never do that!”

With those responses, I’ve wondered if I should feel guilty about being separated for most of Sarah’s last two years of high school.  If Sarah had said she really wanted to stay put in Dallas to finish high school, we would have honored that. Sarah has wanted to come to school in PNG.

We have been in PNG for a week and on the Ukarumpa center here in the highlands since Monday.  Sarah met some of her classmates on Sunday and was met by a group of classmates at the airstrip when we arrived here on Monday morning.  The kids, parents and school staff have been friendly and welcoming.

On Tuesday we went to the youth hostel where Sarah will be living to meet with her hostel parents, Marty and Sara Driggers.  With an easy going style and warm smiles they made all three of us feel good about the transition.

To help ease the transition, Sarah has been eating lunch and dinner at the hostel and only coming ‘home’ at night to sleep at the house where we are staying.  Starting Sunday night she will be living full time at the youth hostel.

Sarah has jumped into school and activities.  She is making friends.  The hostel parents say she is fitting in just fine.  We are so thankful.

One of the realities of coming to a school this size is that Sarah does not have the wide choice of classes and AP classes she can take.  But the experience of living in a new country and going to school and living with kids from all over the world will have lifetime benefits for her.

It reminds me of houseplants that decorate the house all winter long.  They can grow and provide beauty inside the house.  But come spring when you can put them outside, they grow like crazy and have a whole new beauty.

Will I miss having Sarah around?  Yes.  But how can I not be happy about her being in this place where she will thrive and grow in new ways?  There are sure to be challenges along the way, but sometimes that’s when we grow the most.  I’m looking forward to seeing the new growth and maturity in Sarah that will come with this experience.

Just before we left the USA, I asked Sarah why she was excited about moving to PNG.  Her response, “I’ve prayed about it and I just feel like that is where God wants me to be for the next two years.”  And really, isn’t that the best growing environment; right where God wants us to be.

We appreciate your prayers for our family as we are all in new places; Tim and I as mostly empty-nesters, Emily making her life in Arlington, TX and Sarah here in Papua New Guinea.

On Monday morning we were picked up at the guesthouse and taken to the MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) hangar where we would catch our flight to Ukarumpa.  We had a van load as there were two flights that morning.  With school starting and families returning from furloughs, there are more people traveling to Ukarumpa.

The three of us had to climb on the scale to get weighed and then our baggage.  We pay for the trip by weight.  Tim and I saw a few people we knew from years back and we spent some time catching up with them as we waited for the flight.

The flight up to Ukarumpa was about an hour and 15 minutes in 7-seater Kodiak plane.  The scenery was beautiful.  Some of the kids from Sarah’s class came to welcome her as well as our friends the Bruners.  We know the Bruners from the Solomon Islands and John and Brena will be Sarah’s ‘loco parentis’ – local parents, while she is here.  Sarah will stay in youth hostel, but the Bruner’s will be her local guardians for any issues that come up in our absence.

We walked down to the school and talked to the registrar about Sarah’s schedule and the vice principal gave us a tour of the school.  We also visited the youth center and met the youth director. After that, Tim went to the computer and technology services office and was able to borrow a modem so we can be on the local server and have internet.

Sarah and I visited the store on center.  I am continually shocked at how expensive everything is here.  We bought Sarah a note pad and a few pens and headed back to the house.

Monday night we had dinner with the Bruners.  It’s great to catch up with our friends.

Here are some photos from the day:

Sarah on the flight

Image 1 of 11

On Saturday morning, we headed to the airport to board our flight for Port Moresby, the capital city of Papua New Guinea.  At the end of our two our flight we cleared immigration and customs and exited the airport where an employee of SIL was waiting to meet us and take us to the mission guesthouse where we stayed for the weekend.

As we were walking to the van we saw a group preparing to welcome someone who must have just arrived from overseas.  How would you like this kind of welcome?

Sunday morning, our friend Stephen came and picked us up and took us to a Baptist church for the morning service.  We were a bit late in arriving and the usher marched us down to the some of the only seats available – in the front row as luck would have it.  At least the congregation was singing a song and all standing as we walked in.

After church we went back to the guesthouse where Sarah stayed.  Stephen dropped Tim and I at a nearby shopping area so we could look into buying a SIM card for our phone.  There were none available so while Tim stood in line at an ATM to get some cash, I spotted a friendly looking woman and asked her help in how we could catch a bus to the big shopping mall.

The mall is truly amazing.  It’s a modern three story building and is very western-looking. We have nothing like it in the Solomon Islands.  We purchased a SIM card, found a little lunch and took a bus back to where we had started our adventure. Lucky for me, Tim had a good sense of where the guesthouse was from the shopping area and we walked back.

As we returned to the guesthouse, Sarah was heading to the mall with some MK’s she had met.  Two of the girls will be classmates of Sarah’s and recognized her from Facebook.  It was great to meet some of the kids from her school already.

Sunday night Stephen came and took us back to his house.  His wife, Elizabeth, and their daughters had put together a feast.  Three women on a missions trip from Dallas were also there and a man who has come to do maintenance for a year.  It was fun to meet up with these folks and Stephen’s extended family.

I had brought Elizabeth a market basket from the Solomon Islands as a gift.  Later, Elizabeth gave me a beautiful ‘bilum’ (string bag) from her home province of Enga.  What a fun memory. 

We wanted Sarah to meet Elizabeth and Stephen so she knows someone in Port Moresby. When she comes home to the Solomons at Christmas, she will probably need to spend a night or two in Port Moresby on her own.  It will be nice for Sarah to have ‘family’ there to help her out if she needs it.  Stephen, Elizabeth and Sarah exchanged phone numbers before we parted for the evening.

We have been back in the Solomons for almost a week now. It has really gone fast. The first few days we concentrated on getting our cargo that was shipped off the wharf. We accomplished that on Friday afternoon and have slowly been getting things put away.

This week we have opened a checking account, gotten our cell phones up and running, purchased internet time and dongles and learned how to purchase power for our house.

When we left the Solomon Islands four years ago, we closed our account with the electrical company. When renters started living in the house, they had to have ‘Cash Power’ installed. The same power company provides the service, but a special meter was connected to the house that uses a pre-pay system.

Now when we need power we go to the electricity office located in one of the shopping malls and tell them how many dollars of power we want to purchase and they sell us a voucher with a special code. When we get back to the house, we punch the code into the control panel of the meter and we are good to go.

We will need to be on our toes to make sure we don’t run out of power unexpectedly. The power is generated by diesel fuel-fed generators. The fuel is imported and expensive so electricity is expensive as well. Tim calculated the cost of the power here – we are paying ten times as much as we did in Dallas. I can tell you that I have become fanatical about turning off lights and ceiling fans.

Another project for this week was to complete Sarah’s application for her student visa for PNG. We needed a couple of documents we didn’t have including a medical report and a chest x-ray.

We found a doctor who could do the exam right away and she sent us to the hospital for the x-ray. Once at the hospital we had to walk to the far end of the complex to the cashier’s office. This is the window where you pay for x-rays, medical tests, morgue charges and embalming. The charge for the x-ray was $20 Solomons – less than $3.00 US!

There wasn’t much of a line in the x-ray department and soon we had the film in our hands. There is no radiologist at the hospital to read the x-ray – the one radiologist the Solomon Islands has is currently in Taiwan for six months. We took the x-ray back to the doctor who read the film and signed the x-ray form for the visa.

We were able to lodge all the documents at the Papua New Guinea High Commission and were told to check back on Thursday – the last day to pick up the visa before we leave on Saturday.

On Tuesday, Tim was at the High Commission to lodge our visitor’s visa application and was given Sarah’s passport with a TWO year student visa stamped inside. Yeah!

(It’s now Wednesday)

Today I went back to the bank to pick up our checkbook. You know you live in a small place when the woman at the bank saw me and went and got my checks without asking who I was or what I wanted. She pulled out the ledger for me to sign for the checks when she noticed that the checks said, ‘Watzke’ instead of ‘Matzke’.

The remarkable thing about getting checks here is that someone with a rubber stamp with removable type and an inkpad actually stamps the account number and name on each check. So, it’s back to the bank tomorrow to pick up another checkbook with the correct spelling.

While I was out this morning I went to a small grocery store that often has a ‘mark down’ area. Usually things in this section are nearly to their ‘best buy’ date. With the high cost of food here, I’m happy to buy things that are marked down. Today there was a bag of ‘icing sugar mixture’. Icing sugar is the Australian name for powdered sugar and ‘mixture’ means that some corn starch was added to keep it soft.

In this case, the corn starch didn’t work and the bag was full of hard clumps of sugar. It wasn’t enough to put me off – I figured I could sift it again and it would be ok. I took the sugar home and sifting it was slow and not very effective. I tried hammering it with a small meat mallet, but that only turned the big lumps into small ones.

Then I decided to try something drastic. I pulled out the meat grinder attachment for my Kitchenaid mixer and started feeding the lumps into that. Warm, almost finely grained powdered sugar began falling out of the holes. Success! I’m not sure when I will need the sugar, but I will have to try and use it before it returns to cement again.

a new use for a meat grinder – powdered sugar grinder

Sarah is transforming her bedroom from the Narnia theme of her youth into bright and funky teenage colors. She won’t be using this room much, but she is enjoying making it look fresh and new again and ready for her return at Christmas.

Out with the old Narnia theme

Another project we will need to tackle is cleaning out our rain water tank. Rain water is collected from the roof, runs through gutters and into a fiberglass water tank below the house. Tim filled our 5 gallon water cooler and carried it up to the house for us to use for drinking water. He held a small plastic strainer under the watertank tap as he filled the cooler to catch anything that might be in the water.

Apparently the strainer isn’t fine enough because today when I filled a jug with water, I noticed little mosquito larva ‘swimming’ in the water. We will have to clean out the gutters and put in the gutter screens we brought to keep them cleaner. The water tank will need to be cleaned out and then refilled when it rains again. Basic living in the tropics takes a lot more time than it does in the USA. We are looking forward to being well set up and functional!