Clueless...

Elias works on learning language with dad.

If I knew what I was doing, I wouldn’t be doing it like this…

There are a few things in my own home culture that reveal my incredible nincompoopiness (is that a word?). That said, I simply avoid those things like the plague (ex: in our house: “Hey Nate, do these things match?... Nate?...”)  and all goes relatively smoothly. So, what happens when  the road of culture and language learning here in Pal runs straight through a patch of my ineptitude? My friends jump in to save me from myself:

·         “Here let me peel that.”

·         “Give me the axe, I’ll cut the tree.”

·         “You just sit there while we make the fence.”

·         “Oooh, that is enough… You’d better is let me do the next one.”

·         “What he really means is….”

Anyway, as a learner, it has been a real challenge to continue to insist on trying things that, well, highlight my klutziness in both action and speech. If you have ever spent five minutes trying to say “How should I say that?” you probably understand. If not, here are a few example phrases of the week that have my tongue twisted (I refuse to be held responsible if you end up at Urgent Care with tongue cramps from trying them.)

·         Mey kuhnuhgugul buh kuh kopul uhkuhpuhkuh pinga – “I am going to plant a bunch of yams right here.”

·         Pal deta tenongotom ‘cook food’ nongo mayandup nuh vengongotomi -  “When you want to say ‘cook food’ in your language, what do you say?”

·         Meme buh nuhmuhkuhnugam – “I forgot.”

·         Korongan ke yuh ke venga – “ I am going to check on the food.”

Helicopter Update

Thanks for praying for the helicopter situation here. The latest word is that it will be touch and go for it to be available for transport to our regional conference. Would you continue to ask for speed for the mechanics and favor from the government as the motor must come back through customs?

Solid Foundation

As for us, we have seen our Lord faithful to provide wisdom and insight to meet the challenges that come up every day. We have seen Him faithful to provide good times of teaching for Elizabeth with the boys as well. We are encouraged with the progress in our ability to hear and understand some of the conversations that we are exposed to. What a joy to be with people we like serving a God who is more than enough to accomplish His purposes through us!

Thanks for thanking Him with us,

Nate for the fam.

PS: Dance move of the week: sort of a writhing, hopping jazzy jump thingy that Nate learned from helping a couple of guys repair a radio (three! small cockroaches came out and ran up the leg of his shorts….)

Posted via email from PNG Time