PNG Chronicles

Most readers of this journal have heard of Wycliffe Bible Translators, and probably know something about it. Fewer people know about SIL International. In order to understand the purpose of Charlie and Amie’s mission at Ukarumpa in Papua New Guinea, one first needs to understand the mission and methods of SIL and Wycliffe in Papua New Guinea.

Disclaimer:  While some of this information has come from investigation I’ve made on the SIL and Wycliffe websites, much of it is based on conversations with Charlie, Amie, and others stationed in Ukarumpa, as well as assumptions and conclusions I’ve drawn from my observations and very limited personal experience with SIL while in Papua New Guinea.  As such, you should not consider this report to be authoritative – it is my opinion. 

 

SIL International, initially known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics and referred to as “SIL” – which, when spoken, is spelled out and not pronounced “sill” – is an academic and educational organization. It is the organization that gives the Wycliffe Bible Translators entry into most countries through their educational commitments. Many countries would have problems with providing credentials to a religious organization whose purpose is to translate the Bible so that the people of the country can be brought to salvation by knowing Jesus Christ. The same country can be quite comfortable with allowing entrance to an organization whose promise is to provide academic research into the languages of the people of the country, and to train the citizens of the country in the skills necessary to build, operate, and maintain the infrastructure necessary to support that research effort. I should note that JAARS – another Wycliffe sister organization – works with SIL in this infrastructure support/training mission, but I don’t know enough about the interrelationship to speak to that, so I hope anyone from JAARS won’t be offended when I attribute JAARS’ work to SIL.

SIL also runs guest houses in many of the larger cities within Papua New Guinea. These guest houses are available for a closer resupply and rest post for missionaries who are in the field, and are safe havens for those that are traveling. Some, the one in Madang for example, are favored vacation spots for the budget-minded missionaries. The guest houses serve as training grounds for nationals learning to run/manage that type of business, and help pay for themselves (reducing the costs for SIL members) by being open to the general public.

Wycliffe is specifically targeted at translation of the Bible.  “…Wycliffe organizations believe Bible translation is part of the Great Commission’s mandate given to the Church…” and “Wycliffe’s vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best” are the two statements that I think best summarize the Wycliffe purpose.  Or perhaps the name known to most of us – “Wycliffe Bible Translators” says it best of all. 

Wycliffe provides most of the funding and staffing to SIL.  Temporary positions, from very short term missions of a week or so, on up to two years, are through Wycliffe Associates.  “Wycliffe Associates” is also the title given to those who are working through this organization.  WA’s, as they’re also known, are technically volunteers, not employees of Wycliffe.  They are responsible to raise funds for their expenses involved in their volunteer effort.  Charlie and Amie’s current status is as Wycliffe Associates. 

If the commitment is for greater than two years, one must become a Wycliffe ‘member.’  Although Wycliffe members still need to raise their funding through partnerships with friends, family, and churches, members are technically employees of Wycliffe.   Since the translation of a Bible can take anywhere from 15 to 35 years, the translation effort is led by a “member.” 

It should be noted here that while we think of the missionary as “the translator” in reality they are the leader of a team of translators.  Typically, I think, one to several native-speakers of the subject language is recruited (and paid, although not highly) to assist in the translation effort.  This was a key take-away for me as I spoke to one of the translators: The translation effort results in discipling one or more, usually several, nationals, and in giving them a deep insight into the Holy Scripture.

So how does Ukarumpa fit into this picture?  Papua New Guinea is an extremely rugged, mountainous country.  The population groups grew up in isolation from each other due to the topography of the land.  The fact that neighboring populations were frequently at war with each other assisted the topography in enhancing this isolation to the point that there are nearly 800 languages within the country of Papua New Guinea.  That’s around 25% of the total languages on Earth.  This means the Bible translation effort within the country is enormous.   [Update:  The percentage of total languages is closer to 12% than 25%.  See comments below.]

Ukarumpa is the center of that translation effort.  The vast majority of the Wycliffe translators are based in Ukarumpa, where they come to resupply, get medical assistance, and, when they are not in the field doing active, local language research, perform their translation effort with the aid of a linguistics center, and with the aid of the technology available in Ukarumpa.  Time in Ukarumpa can also provide a much needed break from the difficulties and stress of living in a remote, isolated village. 

Ukarumpa, while certainly not being the same as a town in the United States, is a very western-looking village.  It has well-groomed dirt roads, a grocery store, a hardware and building materials store, a gas station, a vehicle-repair shop and parts counter, and a construction office.  It also contains the SIL administrative offices and the Finance Office, which operates similarly to a bank for SIL members – Wycliffe members and associates who are stationed in (or operate out of) Ukarumpa, as well as local employees of SIL. 

The operation of this infrastructure is part of the education provided for the citizens of Papua New Guinea.  Nationals are trained as auto mechanics and in how to operate an auto repair shop.  Nationals are trained in the various roles needed to operate a grocery store, a hardware store, and in construction work.  This training is done by missionaries who are skilled in those areas and have responsibility for those departments at Ukarumpa.  In addition to the skills learned, the local economy is greatly boosted since all of these trainees/employees are paid competitive wages – from a Papua New Guinean perspective.

In addition, Ukarumpa is the home of Ukarumpa International School (UIS.)   This is a K-12 school with international accreditation.  The purpose of the school is to provide a high quality education for the missionaries who are doing the translation work, and for the other missionaries who are the support infrastructure for Ukarumpa.  Teachers and administrators are needed for these schools (Primary and High School,) increasing the population of Ukarumpa.

Since many of the translators must spend a significant amount of time in the field, once their children reach their teen years, they can leave them in the student hostels in Ukarumpa while UIS is in session.  And that’s where Charlie and Amie, as hostel parents, come in.  Their job is to be the parents to a number of these students  each school term.  This includes ensuring they’re fed and clothed, but certainly goes well beyond that.  I think the description on the Wycliffe Associates website says it pretty well:

 

 

In this role, for which I believe Charlie and Amie have been gifted, the hostel parents are enabling the work of the translation of the Bible in Papua New Guinea.  

 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 30th, 2008 at 5:54 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.