My Home Country?
Martins' Memos Special Edition |
||
| Ukarumpa | Papua New Guinea |
June 1998 |
In this special edition of Martins' Memos we celebrate and honor our son Jason Martin who graduates from Ukarumpa International School on June 23rd.
My Home Country?
I was born in Mesquite, Texas on October 1st, 1979. Then, when I was only
five months old, I went with my parents to the mission field. For most of my life I have
grown up in the beautiful country of Papua New Guinea. Although the USA is my "home
country," I have only spent about four of my nearly nineteen years in the USA during
my parents' furloughs.
On the 23rd of this month I will graduate from Ukarumpa International School. Then, two
days later, I will leave Papua New Guinea to return to my "home country" and
start a new life there.
The USA is really only my parents home country. It is actually a "foreign" country for me. The hardest part will be saying good bye to my many close friends here - friends whose home country is Papua New Guinea, and friends who will also be returning to their 15 other "home" countries. To make my transition to the USA easier, I'll be attending a Reentry Seminar for 10 days in California after arriving.
Jason and Friend Rachael at Banquet
Instead of having a high school prom, each year in late May, the parents of Ukarumpa of 11th and 12th graders plan a formal banquet and night of entertainment in honor of their sons and daughters. It traditionally is quite an elaborate affair and months of planning and preparation are involved. A formal invitation is delivered to each student. Then, about a week before the banquet, dozens of parents and other volunteers set aside their other activities and focus on the great event. The normally plain Ukarumpa Teen Center building is transformed into another world. The theme is kept a secret from the teens until the night of the big event. This year the theme was the 1950s, featuring the music, décor, food, and two hours of live entertainment inspired by the television programs of the 1950s (I love Lucy, Leave it to Beaver, Three Stooges, Elvis, Lawrence Welk, Art Linkletter, etc.)
Each year the entertainment part of the banquet program is repeated at two sittings on the following day for the benefit of the remainder of the Ukarumpa community. Each performance is packed out with several hundred people. It is fun to honor and celebrate our graduating teens!
Jason has decided to attend LeTourneau University this Fall. Jason appreciates the prayers of those who were helping him to decide. LeTourneau is located in Longview Texas, a two-hour drive from where we will be located in Dallas during furlough. It will be nice to be able to see him occasionally on weekends.
On the following pages are a number of photos celebrating Jason's first 18 + years!
We thank you for your part in our Bible Translation ministry. Your prayers and gifts
have also been instrumental in the development of our son Jason from infancy into
adulthood.
In His Grace,
Bill for Lenore & Jason Martin
