Creatively named…

“This is the kind of talk, this is the kind of thing that I desire. Please tell me more!” – Nate’s translation helper on hearing the first Bible lessons on the origin of all things and about who God is – see Check Report below.

Clockwise from top left: Fellas hanging waiting for the rain to stop, Elizabeth explaining something to three of our literacy students, our written daily review of our teachers in training (hint: Golp means good), students practice their reading at recess, our village headman practicing his reading, teacher training in progress practicing leading a class – check out those students closely – yup our whole family is involved.

Some have it easier than others

In-law relations can be awkward in any culture – why else would there be so many jokes about those inter-family culture clashes. Things get a little more complex when – as in Pal culture – one cannot call one’s in-laws (or even the in-laws of a brother or sister) by name.

Now imagine being a teacher and trying to do roll call when you can’t actually say the name of the person to whom you are referring. Here are a few of the ways people in the school are called by one of our teachers:

• Father/uncle
• You
• Husband of Kolovet
• Father of Makeles
• Big man

Interestingly this area of culture affects our students ability to read as well. Several of our school stories include the names of different people here in Pal. One of our guys was working so hard sounding out words and going along when all of the sudden he sounded out the name of his mother-in-law out loud. Oh boy, there was some commotion then. It is the Pal equivalent of public speaking with ones fly down... Now we make sure to warn him if he is coming to that name in a story – even yet he is a little hesitant – and who can blame him?

Our current literacy students at break, working on their reading.

Check Report -

Good news! Our checking of translated portions of Genesis and Exodus has gone extremely well. We are going to be finished a whole day early. Our helpers and the consultants have helped us identify and deal with a  few confusing passages, but over all, the translation seemed to communicate well.

Also, our helpers seemed to understand the first six evangelistic Bible lessons that we taught in front of the consultants. We are grateful for these men who have given us time away from their families to help make the work here in Pal stronger.

We will be leaving for two weeks on Wednesday – required testing for the boys at the school in town. Please be praying for rest for us and continued good work at the school here in Pal.

Thanks for praying for us!

Nate for us 5