Supporting Bible translation in Papua New Guinea

April 2014

Teaching in PNG
Recently my roommate and I were able to host several Papua New Guinean teachers for a meal. The ladies
were attending a professional development course at our Ukarumpa Training Center.
Many teachers in PNG desire (or see the need for) further training as they face the daily challenges of huge
classes and the task of teaching children how to read without any books or materials. Theres also the
challenge that the official language of education in PNG is English but most children do not understand the
language and many teachers are not fluent speakers.
Recently staff from our Training Center teamed up
with the National Department of Education (NDOE)
to facilitate a Creative Phonics Course. The linguist
facilitators taught the attendees how to analyse and
create teaching materials for children in their own
vernacular languages. Teachers learned how to
teach reading by analysing their unique language for
building block sounds (phonemes), and then use the
phonemes to build word lists and write basic stories.
Its much more effective to teach young students in a
language that they understand, and the teachers were very excited to build their skills in this area.
The Creative Phonics Course students were actually teacher representatives from 24 teacher colleges in
PNG. After completing the course, these educators then delivered the phonics instruction to almost 4,000
Papua New Guinean elementary teachers and teacher trainees.
Pray for

Encouragement for Papua New Guinean

teachers facing challenging tasks.

Peace as I transition out of my job and prepare

for furlough.

A loaner vehicle for the month of August.

Email:
rachel_stanton@wycliffe.org
Address:
PO Box 1 (349)
Ukarumpa, EHP 444
Papua New Guinea

Our Sunday afternoon lunch was filled with

cross-cultural teacher and linguist jargon and was
thoroughly enjoyed by all. I was, however,
convicted to pray for the teachers working in the
many bush schools of PNG. These teachers have an
awesome and important task. Please pray with me
that the teacher participants will continue to be
encouraged and strengthened as they teach their
students!

Contributions:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862-8200
www.wycliffe.org
Wycliffe accepts tax-deductible contributions by mail or at wycliffe.org. If by mail, please include a
separate note indicating, Preference for the Wycliffe ministry of Rachel Stanton, Account # 219508.

Taking Stock
Every year in June there is a population shift in Ukarumpa as families and individuals leave for or return from
furlough. This year, Im joining the outgoing crowd and find myself joining in on departure countdowns and
Theres so much to do before I leave conversations.
Im in the midst of project completion mode at school and am handing over responsibilities to the person taking
over my job. Im also trying to work out details for my time in the US. Im thankful that so many things are working
out smoothly. I now have a car to use from September onwards and am only looking for a loaner vehicle for the
month of August.
Ive also been preparing to reconnect with my partners in the US. Ive been thinking back over the last four years,
wondering what stories I should share about the work that God has been doing in PNG and my life. This field term
has not always been easy, but I can see Gods hand at work, and Im looking forward to sharing in a few months!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their storythose he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. ~ Psalms 107:1-3

Furlough Q&A
How long will you be here? I will be in the US for about ten months; I plan on returning to PNG in May 2015.
What will you be doing in the US? In addition to spending time with family and reconnecting with all of my
partners, I will continue serving with Wycliffe in the work of Bible translation. Since I support Bible translation by
educating missionary kids, my furlough work assignment will be to build my school administrative experience. Im
looking forward to interning in a US school and learning more about school leadership.
Isnt this your vacation? Actually, no. For most missionaries, furlough is just as busy as our work in PNG, and
only a portion of that time (just like in a regular job) is allotted for vacation.
Will you come to visit my area or church? I would love to! Contact me to get your church or group on my
schedule.
Do you still need our support of prayer and finances? Most definitely! The transition back to US culture is
often a challenge for overseas workers, and a common occasion of spiritual warfare; your prayers are extremely
valuable! In addition, your faithful giving remains my primary means of financial support as I deal with the higher
expenses of life in the US (everything from doctor visits to vehicle needs to housing expenses).

You or Me
Melanesian Pidgin, the trade language often used in
Papua New Guinea to communicate between the
many different languages has the word Yumi
pronounced You-me. Yumi translates to mean
both we or us. In language development and
Bible translation...there cant be just you or me. It
has to be Yumi. A team effort is required and
partnerships are essential.
Thank you for participating
in the Bible translation team!
(The PNG Experience http://thepngexperience.wordpress.com)