Bible Translation and a Trip to Epi Island

As I boarded the small Islander twin prop airplane last week, I looked up to notice that the ceiling was being held together by duck tape.  And, as I looked out the window of this small 9 passenger craft, I noticed the paint over the right wheel cover was chipped and peeling with the tail of a small gecko visible from just beneath the wing.  I found comfort in knowing that Vanuatu has very few airplane crashes and has to keep it's reputation high since tourism is one of its biggest industries.

I was on my way to Epi Island with Pastor Meriam Naunga and her husband David, who is a man-Epi (from Epi Island).  It had been over 10 years since David had been home, and even more than that since Pastor Meriam had been there.  The purpose of our trip was to join with other people from Epi and some from New Zealand and Australia at the small village of Nikaura to celebrate with the people of the Lewo language as they dedicated their newly published New Testament in the Lewo language.  We were also eager to spend some time with David's family at a different location, White Coral, near Laman Bay.

Here are some pictures to help tell the story:

And we are up in the air with a nice view of Bauerfield International Airport in Port Vila.

 A quick trip to the north and we are landing on the tiny airstrip at Laman Bay on Epi.  Yes, the beach was just as close as it looks!

Laman Bay Airport

David immediately was recognized by relatives and friends and warmly greeted.

We waited for several hours so that a couple more loads of people could be delivered to the island before we began the trek across the island to Nikaura.

It was market day at Laman Bay!  People from other places on the island had come to sell produce to the passengers of the Big Sista inter-island ferry which was due in any moment.  Pastor Meriam was greeted by a nice woman who turned out to be her sister-in-law!

Hard to believe, but there are smart phones on this fairly remote island and the little ones know how to use them.

We all loaded into 4 pickup trucks and began our one hour trip to the eastern side of the island.  The road was not paved in most places, but the steep hills had concrete tracks which made the trip possible. 

Debbie Early, the lady in the blue dress, moved to this island in the early 1980's with her husband as missionaries with Summer Institute of Linguistics to begin the work of translating the New Testament into the languages of the people.  You can see the remnants of the foundation of their house.  

 Ross and his wife Lyndal are the current SIL missionaries living on Epi to help the people learn to read their New Testament and to guide the people in using it.

After passing through several small villages we arrive at this lovely place called Nikaura.  This is where Ross and Lyndal live and one of the locations where they are working.

This big building is called the nakamal.  It is the meeting place of the village and the place where we joined for a welcome from the chief of the village and later for our meals.

The beams of the roof are trees - big ones!  I could not imagine how they got them lifted up and also wondered how they would stay when it seemed like they were held in place only with ropes.  I learned that although many of the homes were flattened in the big cyclone of 2015, the nakamal withstood the category 5 storm!

Some of the chiefs and leaders of the village wore their traditional dress the day of the dedication as part of a drama.

School was canceled for this big day!

There were many people who walked and came by truck to take part in the dedication.

Special salusalus (flower leis) were prepared to hang on the special guests.

Robert Early has worked together with several national translators over the last 35+ years to translate 3 different languages on the island of Epi.  He was warmly welcomed by everyone!

The dedication day began with a drama enacting the arrival of the light of the gospel to the island of Epi by way of missionaries.

The chiefs received the Word of God and are carrying it to their people.

I tried to imagine what it would be like as one of these islanders to have the Bible in English or French or even Bislama (the trade language) but not be able to read God's Word in my heart language.  This is an important step for these people.  We had a real photographer present who is a Christian living in Vanuatu helping to promote the work of translation.

Robert Early shared some words and then read publicly the first words from the Lewo New Testament.  The older man standing beside him was the chief who welcomed him to his village and gave him land to build a house.  He sang "Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee" in the Lewo language.

These people from the western side of Epi are cutting down a banana tree - a small drama representing the challenge they are receiving to be the next ones to dedicate their New Testament in the Baki language.

This is the sales office where people could buy their first Lewo New Testament and MegaVoice audio Bible.  

Our last morning in Nikaura I rose early to see the sunrise and discovered that the island of Lopevi was smoking.  It is a volcano island and has been erupting until just the last few years.  It was easily visible from Nikaura, as well as another island to the north called Ambrym which had two bright red glowing volcanoes which could be seen at night.

Lopevi on the left side of the picture and the sun rising in what seemed to be the south - I'm somewhat directionally challenged.

Soon after sunrise, Pastor Meriam and I boarded a pick-up truck and drove back to Laman Bay to join David who had left yesterday after the dedication.  We were dropped off at the market which we had visited a few days before and began walking along the black sand beach to David's family's home.

I was delighted to meet David's family.  This is the burao tree (a type of hibiscus) that stands in the center of his father's yard.  Wherever a branch touches the ground, it takes root.  Hence, its crazy shape.

David with his adopted father, Joseph, and his wife.  Joseph is a translator.  He has dedicated many years of his life to translating the Bislama hymnal to his language Lamenu.  He is now 73 years old, diagnosed in 1986 with diabetes and also now with some vision problems.  He is hoping that the hymnal will be dedicated along with the Lamenu New Testament next year.

David was sad to see that fiberglass boats are much more plentiful than the hand carved canoes that lined the beaches not too many years ago.  I thought you might like to see Willie, David's nephew, pull the canoe out to the water and climb aboard to deliver a crowbar to David so he could harvest some anemones for our dinner.

That's how you do it!  You can see David's head sticking out of the water on the left side of the picture below.

There were three people on the canoe in the center!

This is what David harvested from the sea for us.  Seeing it didn't make me feel really hungry!  I trusted him that they were edible.  He told me they were the thing that Nemo lives in, so I figured they were anemones.  He also roasted the pretty pink shell to the right.

Lucy is married to David's brother and Martina is their youngest.  She sat with Pastor Meriam and I on the beach along with her other sister-in-law, Naomi.

Martina taking a ride in the canoe.

They called to her and told her to wave at me.  She did!

Preparation for the evening meal was a complicated affair.  Pastor Meriam used a particular shell to literally scrape those giant bananas at the lower left of the picture until she had a bowl of pinkish mush.  Then she spooned a dollop of it onto one of the big leaves (island cabbage) and carefully rolled it and placed it in the pot.  Lucy and Irene got the privilege of washing the sand out of the anemones and then slicing them so they would lay flat.  Naomi at the back put together the lapalp kolan (a very special kind of cooked pudding).  She took banana mush placed on a big flat leaf, then plunked some anemone on top.  After that she carefully rolled it up and then tied it with some bush rope.  Last, it was placed on the fire that had been getting hot nearby.

The sun went down before dinner was ready so I didn't get a picture of my dinner plate which was actually a blessing.  I was given a big serving of laplap kolan.  I think it might have been more difficult to finish it if I was able to look at it.  I was asked multiple times what I thought of it.  I kept saying that it was good and I wasn't really lying!  

The day ended with the family gathered together.  David shared God's word and Pastor Meriam prayed for all.  The next morning everyone came to say good-bye.  Hopefully, it won't be 10 years before this family is able to get together again.

When we got to the airport, David and Meriam took a walk over to the beach where they had a good look at Laman Island where David's family came from originally.

We got back on the same plane that we arrived on.  The ceiling was still held together with duck tape. 

I praise the Lord for the privilege of traveling with these two ministry partners to an event that represented a lifetime labor of love.  Pray for Ross and Lyndal who will remain on Epi helping to get the islanders engaged with their New Testament and hopefully walking with Jesus more and more everyday.  Pray for Bible translators around Vanuatu who are working hard to learn one of the 110 different languages in Vanuatu, get it written down, and then work with the people to translate the New Testament into their language. 

Ross shared a devotional from Psalm 119:18-20 when we were together in Nikaura.  Verse 20 says, "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times."  Pray that all of us will long for God's word with a consuming desire to know Him.

From Pioneer Area to Phase One District

LOOKING BACK!

With great excitement, Nazarenes from five congregations in Port Vila gathered at a rented municipal hall in November 2007 to celebrate what we thought was our first District Assembly.  We were joined by Rev. Jesse Middendorf, the General Superintendent in jurisdiction over the Asia Pacific region at that time, Rev. Verne Ward, the Asia Pacific regional director, Rev. James Johnson, the Field Strategy Coordinator for South Pacific Field, and their three wives.  The Church of the Nazarene in Vanuatu had 17 members at the time and two organized churches and three preaching points.  It was a grand celebration with special music presented by the various congregations, a big meal together, and our hearts were encouraged to continue moving forward.  We weren't really a district yet.  We were a Pioneer Area.  We had some growing to do!

L to R: Rev. Verne Ward, Jr., Rev. James Johnson, Rev. David Potter, Rev. Dr. Jesse Middendorf.

Mary Tasso and Pastor Meriam Naunga prepared the food for our meal together.

Rev. Peter Isaac joined the Tebakor and Fres Wota congregations in a special song.

NOVEMBER 2016

On Saturday, November 26, 2016, the Churches of the Nazarene in Vanuatu met together for their 10th annual assembly this time on the district land located at Erakor.  It would be our last time to gather as a "Pioneer Area."  A large canvas tent had been rented for the occassion and the local congregation had worked hard to construct a beautiful corrugated tin church for some of the activities.  For the weeks leading up to the assembly, work crews showed up almost daily to build a toilet facility and to lift up every valley, make every high place low, and the rough places smooth.

A two-stall toilet block being constructed at the district property.

Working together to level the land for the large tent.

The assembly began on Thursday night with all the churches meeting in the newly constructed Erakor Central Nazarene Church - the seventh Nazarene Church to organize in Vanuatu.  

Ladies like the two pictured below decorated the inside of the church with beautiful blue and white fabric and gorgeous flowers.  This is Pastor Meriam on the left with her daughter Ronah who had just returned from university studies in Fiji.

All five Port Vila Nazarene churches were represented along with members from the church on Aniwa Island and Tanna Island.  Yes!  The Nazarene Church in Vanuatu has grown!  This year there are 179 members attending seven organized Nazarene churches on three islands with four congregations who are not yet organized as well as four other locations where people are receiving the Word of God!  Praise the Lord!

Music has been an important part of our gatherings since the beginning!  After the preaching on Thursday night, each of the congregations were given time to share the special music or dramas that they had prepared.  In the picture below, the children and pastors of Black Sand Nazarene Church shared Bible verses that they had learned and what each verse meant.

The District Assembly began Saturday morning, November 26th.  The ladies helped to make the tent that was rented from the government disaster office look as beautiful as possible.  It was exciting to see not only adults arriving for the assembly, but lots of young people and children too!  

Our Field Strategy Coordinator, Rev. Harmon Schmelzenbach and his wife, Cindy, were able to be with us.

District Superintendent, Rev. Peter Isaac led the assembly with great enthusiasm!

Harmon shared lots of encouragement and Peter translated.

During the breaks, there were opportunities to fellowship together.  

Pastor Timothy and Pastors Gideon and Aline from the Prima Nazarene Church.

Pastor Letin from Black Sand Nazarene and Pastor Meriam from Malapoa Nazarene Church.

Bennett Isaac and Malapoa Nazarene Sunday School teacher, Christopher.

District assembly means LOTS of reports!  There are also new district leaders to be elected and district ministers' licenses to be given.

Pictured above, the nine pastors who received a district minister's license for this next year.  There are also nine locally licensed pastors.  The number of women who are feeling God's call to be pastors is growing.

Before the assembly closed at the end of the day, the pastors had prepared a special drama showing the Light of the gospel being shared first by the missionary and then by each new person that received the Light.

At a strategic point in the drama, Harmon stepped forward to declare that the Church of the Nazarene is officially a Phase One District!  This was met by enthusiastic cheers from the congregation!

The pastors who had performed the drama then shared a specially written song for the occasion expressing their joy in this important historical moment.

The next day, Sunday, all the churches gathered again at the tent to worship together and to celebrate the graduation of Pastor John Nato from South Pacific Nazarene Theological College.  

As principal of SPNTC, David had a few words to share.

Pastor Anthona led a student choir.

Pastor John shared his testimony.

For the first time in his life, Pastor John has completed an educational program - the Pastor's Course of Study - and earned a Certificate in Ministry.  When he was in grade school, the family had no more money to pay his school fees.  So he dropped out of school.  This was a very proud day for him and his entire family as he was recognized for this huge achievement.

One of the traditions in Vanuatu is to hang a flower ring or a long piece of cloth around the neck of someone you want to honor and to douse them in baby powder.  John stands nearly covered in "honor!"  His mother and father stand beside him, as well as his sisters and their children.  Pastors Seul and Letin (right) have co-pastored with John at Black Sand Nazarene Church for the last 2 years.

Following the graduation we all shared a special meal together.  The graduate was seated at a table with his father and missionary leaders.  Even though the day was very warm and humid, he refused to take off his graduation gown.  This was a special day like none he had ever experienced before, and it seemed he wanted it to go on for as long as possible!

One of the Erakor Nazarene Church members is a chef.  He is also a gifted food artist.  When he saw the preparations being made Sunday morning for the meal, he went to work carving some papayas to decorate the head table!  What a blessing!

These are exciting days for the Church of the Nazarene in Vanuatu, but we anticipate the coming days to be filled with even greater things!  The Vanuatu District wants to move to Phase Two in just one year!  What does that mean in specifics?  It means that there will need to be more than twice the members as this year, the number of organized churches should at least double, and we will need to be ready to ordain 10 pastors as elders!  That is a very ambitious goal, but the pastors and Christians were eager to work together to do their best to reach it.  Please partner with us in prayer to see these incredible goals realized.  Pray that as we grow in numbers, we will grow stronger in our faith, deeper in our relationship with Christ, and more like him in his love.

"I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;

I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;

let your glory be over all the earth."

Psalm 57:9-11