Airstrip Closed – Access To Tribe Via Helicopter
As we let you know in our last update our airstrip has been closed due to the poor surface condition. We returned to the tribe last week via helicopter. The helicopter is a lot more expensive to use than the airplane so we hope it doesn’t last too long. The Simbaris have started some work on the airstrip. They have been stripping off the sod which had become very squishy and just wouldn’t dry out. That alone has been a big help but there is still the problem with rain puddling in the middle of the airstrip. To solve the problem a strip of clay needs to be laid down the entire middle of the airstrip that tapers down on the sides to shed the water. This will take a while to do. Since there is so much dirt that needs moved, a small trailer for moving dirt with our tractor is being prefabricated by our support staff out in town. The trailer pieces will need to be shuttled in via helicopter and assembled here. We’re hoping for someone willing to come in and drive the tractor so David can continue translation.
Computer Trouble and NT Dedication
A few weeks ago David’s notebook computer screen died. All his translation work was done on that computer and with all the work to be done to get ready for our translation checks he couldn’t afford for it to be down for long. So we ordered a replacement notebook and had it in hand in about 2 weeks. You may remember from a previous update how some of our believers were really encouraged by attending national believer gatherings at the Aziana tribe. Well, the Aziana New Testament has been completed and having just arrived in the country, is about to be dedicated. Mike Henderson, the main translator, was willing to bring the new notebook computer with him on his way from the States to attend the dedication. We’re very grateful for his help in bringing the computer over for us and we’re excited about the upcoming Aziana New Testament dedication. If it wasn’t for the two-day hike to get to Aziana from here we would love to go join in the celebration of the Aziana people receiving God’s Word in their own language.
Pray for Translation Checks
On Monday a consultant will be coming in to begin the final check of our translated portions of Genesis. We’ve always had trouble finding good bilinguals to use for this type of checking. The bilingual listens to the Bible text in Simbari but then needs to retell it in the trade language of Pidgin. This is not as easy as it sounds considering the HUGE difference between the two languages. Simbari has long words with lots of affixation that the translation helpers often don’t know how to put into words. In a couple weeks after this check is done, David will go out to Goroka with a couple Simbari men to continue checking the rest of the Old Testament scripture portions that we’ve translated. Please pray for the translation checks to go well.
By His Grace,
David & Shari Ogg
(Esther, Simon, Rachel & Jason too)