Excerpts from the Martins' Memos News Briefs - July, 1997

Martins' Memos News Briefs

Ukarumpa

Papua New Guinea

July 1997


BMXer Takes Knock on Head

"I think he is going to be alright," said the nurse on call, "but Jason has suffered a concussion due to a bad landing on his head." We hurried down to the clinic where Jason’s friends had taken him. The last thing that he remembered, he had gotten on an unfamiliar bicycle and had attempted a BMX jump that he had done easily before on his own bicycle. His friends said the bicycle had flipped in the middle of the jump and Jason landed on his head (without his trusty helmet), and the bicycle came down on top of him. In addition to a concussion, and not being able to remember anything for an hour after the incident, he also scraped patches of skin off his left temple, shoulder, side, arm and hand. After about a week of headaches and new skin growth, he has recovered fully, except for the lingering effects of a pulled muscle in his back. We were grateful to the Lord that his angels were watching over Jason that Sunday afternoon. Needless to say, Jason is now quite convinced of the need to wear his helmet every time he does any bicycle stunts!

Translator Hams It Up

In April, after some delays, Bill was granted a Papua New Guinea Amateur Radio license. He is now known as P29BM (Papa Two Nine Bravo Mike) on the ham airways. He is finding this new hobby to be a great way to relax after the mental challenges of Bible translation work. He has already talked with interesting people in far-away places such as Norway, China, Japan, India, Ireland, Estonia, Siberia, Malaysia, Russia, Australia, Austria, S. Korea, New Zealand, Finland, Sweden, Micronesia, Macao, Armenia, Saipan, Guam, Czech Republic, England, France, Canada and, of course, the USA. Do you know of a ham operator that might be interested in having a QSO (conversation) with someone in PNG? CQ, CQ anyone?

 

MK to Sojourn in Egypt and the Land of Canaan

Missionary Kid Joel Martin has been accepted into a one-semester Middle East Studies Program. The 15-week program is sponsored by the Christian College Coalition, and involves the study of Arabic, as well as studying the history, peoples and cultures of the Middle East at the American University in Cairo. It also includes a two-week tour of Israel and the Palestinian areas of the West Bank. He will receive credit for these studies at Taylor University in Indiana, where his major continues to be computer science.

Joel is working again this summer at Texas Instruments in Dallas, Texas, where he is saving money for his upcoming sojourn in Egypt and trip afterwards to join us here in Papua New Guinea for the Christmas holidays.

Tough Books Getting Polished

In June Bill and Charles completed the revision and consultant checking of the Lindrou Gospel of John. They are currently two-thirds of the way through the revision of the book of Hebrews. These books are among the most difficult to translate in the New Testament. After Hebrews, they will tackle the revision of the book of 1 Corinthians, another challenging and difficult book. Once the revision of these books is complete and they have been consultant checked, Charles will then focus on completing the draft of the remaining books and chapters of the New Testament that have not yet been translated. These include 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, 2 Timothy, Revelation, and parts of Matthew and Acts.

Charles’ goal is to translate the remaining books in draft form by the end of this year. Then the revision and consultant checking process will continue until the Martins go on furlough in June 1998 (now less than a year away!). Charles and Bill plan to work on polishing parts of the translation while the Martins are on furlough, and then they hope to be ready for typesetting soon after their return to PNG from furlough.

Lindrou People Anxious for their New Testament

Charles and Bill keep in touch with Lindrou people in the village by radio. They also have some contact with Lindrou people working in the towns of Papua New Guinea. Recently they have heard numerous reports of people in both areas who are keen to read the New Testament in their own language. "Aren’t you finished with it yet?!" is the typical question. Well, no, not quite. But we can see the "Light" at the end of the tunnel! In the mean time we are busy at it, and yet abiding by the Biblical paradox: "working hard to enter into that rest…" (Heb.4:11)

Praise Items:

Prayer Items:

Praise the Lord for protecting Jason when he fell on his head from his BMX bike.

Pray for Jason as he starts his last year of high school and applies to three colleges (Biola, Taylor and LeTourneau)

Praise the Lord that Joel has been accepted into the Middle East Studies Program. He leaves for Cairo on September 2nd.

Pray for safety and spiritual wisdom for Joel as he travels to the Middle East and interacts with Muslims during the Fall semester.

Praise the Lord that Joel is planning on visiting us here in PNG at Christmas time after his studies in Egypt. His friend Rebecca Wagner plans to come with him. :)

Pray that Joel will be able to save sufficient funds for tickets to PNG in December, and that travel arrangements can be made before he leaves for Egypt.

Praise the Lord that Charles Kowak is determined to complete the translation of the Lindrou New Testament as soon as possible.

Continue to Pray for physical, mental and spiritual strength for Charles and Bill as they push toward the completion of the first draft of the Lindrou New Testament this year. Charles still needs about $100 per month in support.

Praise the Lord for the successful completion of the Literacy Training Workshop that was held in April out in Lessau village on Manus Island.

Pray for continued commitment on the part of the 16 participants to develop vernacular prep schools in the Lindrou area in the next two years.

Praise the Lord that a number of godly people have been elected in the PNG national elections.

Pray that a PNG government of the Lord’s choosing will be formed in the next few weeks.

Praise the Lord for good health.

Continue to Pray for Charles’ father-in-law who is suffering from mouth cancer. Charles’ wife is caring for him out in the village on Manus.

We want to thank you for your part in the ministry of Bible Translation for the people of Papua New Guinea.

In his unfailing love,

Bill (1006 bytes)

Bill Martin (and Lenore and Jason).

Top of Page
Back to Newsletter Archives
Home Page