Monday, March 03, 2008
Email update: 3 March 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
We are almost ready to leave for the village. Tomorrow we will fly to Madang by plane, then on Thursday we'll fly to Buan by helicopter. We will return to Ukarumpa on April 16th.
We have a few things to pray about and some praises:
Please pray:
- that we would be able to hold a literacy class, with ladies from Buan, to trial a Pre-Reading Primer that Sarah compiled.
- that we would be able to also hold an English refresher class to prepare the translators to attend a training course in Ukarumpa in April-May.
- that our children will have a fun time in the village and make many new friends. They are feeling a little apprehensive about making friends and feeling comfortable with the other children.
- that we would receive the updated kit house plans soon (then we need to review and approve them, send them back, and get the quote - all this before they actually start making the house, which we hoped would be started before now).
- that our village house would be in good enough shape for us to live in for the five weeks we plan to be out there.
- that our truck, which is currently in a village near where we live, would be protected and in the next few weeks we would be able to take it to Madang for safe-keeping.
- that two stressful situations here at Ukarumpa would be resolved peacefully: illegal stopping of water to the SIL Center and severe damage to one of the bridges between the outside world and the SIL Center.
Additional explanation on the previous point:
1) One of the bridges connecting the SIL Center (and other organizations in the area such as a high school and national agricultural institute) to other cities has been damaged by continual heavy rains and flooding. Currently no heavy trucks can use the bridge and that is how Ukarumpa obtains food, gas/petrol, and other things we require. We are praying that the bridge will be repaired soon.
2) There is a land dispute issue that is pending court action involving the water catchment area of Ukarumpa's non-potable town water. A local man has dismantled the water system. Most people still have rain water tanks providing them with water but, despite the heavy rains of recent weeks, some people are short of rain water. As well as the inconvenience of a lack of water there are other complications causing a tense situation in this area. Please pray for a peaceful resolution to this situation.
2) There is a land dispute issue that is pending court action involving the water catchment area of Ukarumpa's non-potable town water. A local man has dismantled the water system. Most people still have rain water tanks providing them with water but, despite the heavy rains of recent weeks, some people are short of rain water. As well as the inconvenience of a lack of water there are other complications causing a tense situation in this area. Please pray for a peaceful resolution to this situation.
We can rejoice together:
- that we have been able to complete updates to our website (http://troozshoes.netfirms.com and http://www.fbccamb.org/Page.aspx?id=191151)!
- that we have been accepted to participate in the Translators' Training Course.
- that the men's group had a really good time of fellowship at the last men's prayer breakfast last week (held in Ukarumpa once a month)!
- that we have the materials all ready for our language work out in the village.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer!
Your friends,
Dave and Sarah Troolin
