What was that I heard?

Some of my language helpers testing me on the names of various plants.

Speaking

“Lets do an experience to find out!” – Noah

 “I think what you mean is an ‘experiment’, dear.”  - Elizabeth

“That is what I said; ‘experience’.” – Noah

While the use of the word experience is uniquely appropriate for a first person interaction with the natural world, it does not communicate the same idea the word experiment does. Not a big deal in this case, but imagine the possibilities:

Nate learns to sew leaves together for roofing…you can’t see the thorns, but they sure stick with you…

“My wife just cut my ‘uia muk’.”  - Nate

“What??!!!” – village friend

“A hair cut, buddy, I got a hair cut.” – Nate

“Oh, I didn’t think you had a pig.”  - friend

(We really aren’t trying to start any strange rumors… really…)

Exercises (try these at the dinner table, or where ever laughter is appropriate…)

Instructions: try speaking these Pal phrases at normal speed. The winner is the first one to get through them without swallowing his or her tongue.

Gna kiga kopuna kumunja tupam. (I walked across the hill to get here.)

Iyak okua buh ngenga.  (I have some water here.)

Pal suka detavunga ngang migiminga. (Say it slow so I can hear you.)

 

Praying

You can be praying for us as we daily seek to build relationships, memorize words and phrases, keep our family together, and continue to adjust to the pattern of life in the bush.

You can thank the Lord with us for the good time of fellowship and direction this last week as we had some consultants (also for the supplies that will hopefully last us until our next flight in August).

People

While sitting with 6 of the oldest guys (there are two or three others) in Pal the other day, I realized that they are all younger than my dad (sorry dad.) We had a good time – they were excited to tell me stories about how things used to be – and I was delighted to hear their excitement. A little ways away, Elizabeth was rejoicing with a new mother (baby 4 days old). We would ask that you be praying for these two groups of the Pal people. With a 50% or so infant mortality rate (literally half the babies die here – something we are working on) and high instances of pneumonia/infection for the older generation, life is a bit of a tight-rope for them. We greatly desire that they all live to hear the good news in a way that they can understand.

We miss you all our friends and family. Thanks so much for being part of reaching the lost and forgotten Pal people.

Nate for the Cs.

Posted via email from PNG Time