SORRY THIS DIDN’T GET POSTED LAST WEEK, WE TRIED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT THE INTERNET DIDN’T COOPERATE
(Pictures: Megan with our newcomers; Peter with a new toy handed down from another family)
Wadjeni Wadja. “The visitors have come!” We are excited this week because our group has just become a bit more international. Yesterday we welcomed two Canadians to our island, Jeanne and Naomi. As many of you may know our teammates are leaving soon. Chris and Beka and Abby and Amy are entering their final weeks before leaving. A month after that Sergio and Aly and their kids will leave. We would have been the only ones left at that point on our island, but now that is not the case. We are blessed to be joined by these two ladies and to continue to function as a team.
Maybe you’re wondering what it’s like for these ladies—or anyone who comes to our island for the first time. What do they need to know? What do they do? Imagine standing on the end of a diving board. Down below the water is cold but invigorating. You can’t turn back. You can’t go in slowly. There’s nothing for it but to jump.
So what happens? Well, some of the things might surprise you. For example, they will not move into their own place for two weeks. Why? Because settling into a home takes time and effort, and at the beginning we want them to concentrate on language and culture—that is what their early days are all about. Each day is packed with learning, orienting, and practicing. We give them techniques, strategies and reasons for learning the island language and culture. We give them opportunities to look, listen and feel. Tomorrow for example, equipped with one phrase in the island language, “Hello, how are you?” they will walk around the neighborhood and say this phrase to as many people as they possibly can. Will they feel silly? Will they feel like little children? Probably, but this is endearing to their neighbors. We look foolish for the sake of building relationships. By asking for help, we show that we need them, and interdependence is a building block of relationship.
After a week of learning and orienting, what happens? Do they finally get to settle down? NO! Instead we pack them up and send them off to live in a village for a week with people who don’t speak their language. We call this a “homestay.” Is it fun? Sometimes, but not always. Is it easy? Not usually. But it does teach them a lot about normal life for an islander. This time is actually quite special. It is a time of great learning, and often (as in our case) relationships with the families from the homestay continue long after the homestay ends.
Does it make you want to come? It may sound intense, and it is, but that’s the way it is with some things. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes, hold your nose and jump.
PRAYERS ANSWERED
Naomi and Jeanne landed safely, all of their luggage made it, and they were only a little jet-lagged. They made it through the orientation and are now in homestay. The gas crisis seems to be over and lots of cars and taxis are back on the road. We have been very thankful that Peter has been very healthy and gaining weight well. Thanks for praying. The English Teaching Conference was a big success—more than 50 people attended each day and all of the major English programs on the island were represented. The recording project is going well—most of the recording is done!
PRAYERS REQUESTED
Pray for these first few weeks for Naomi and Jeanne as they dive in. Pray for stamina and flexibility and learner attitudes. There will be another leadership seminar for the local brothers and sisters this Saturday, pray for the planning and that many would come and grow. Pray for our teammates as they pack up their houses and say their goodbyes (Chris & Beka & boys only have 1 week left, Abby & Amy have 2 weeks).
