Troozshoes

Dear Friends and Family,

Our current life situation gives us a new appreciation for nomadic
peoples. :) We have been moving a LOT!

In October we had four weeks in Buan village, and during that time we
were able to input first draft translation into the computer, check and
recheck the Sam Picture Dictionary and a nearly-final-draft of the
Gospel of Mark we wanted to print in Madang, interview more individuals
and groups for Dave's fieldwork, and observe some key cultural events,
also for Dave's fieldwork. Ironically, since Dave's topic is social
harmony, one cultural event that happened was that someone placed an
anonymous complaint/threat letter on the steps of our house one morning!

The letter outlined four reasons that he, reportedly speaking for the
whole village (which many people have denied), was dissatisfied with us.
All of the reasons hinged on the fact that we were not giving the people
material items. It is true that people there do have a lot of material
needs. However, we believe this letter indicates that the author does
not understand that SIL's goals are primarily spiritually oriented, and
do not center on giving material benefits to the people, though we do
give little friendship gifts and we help the churches. The letter ended
with the statement that if we do not change what we give to the people,
then this will be our last year living in the village.

Since we received the letter, we have sometimes felt discouraged ("Is it
worth sticking it out?"), paranoid ("Who wrote that letter?"),
encouraged (as some people have expressed that they approve of our work
in Bible translation and literacy work, and want to read God's word in
their own language!). We are still working through what this letter
means, and we feel like we have been given the opportunity to share more
about what drives us in SIL to do this language work, namely, to be used
by God to see lives changed as people experience God's Word in their
own language, and how the community can be involved!

We left the village for some downtime in Madang town, and will return,
refreshed, on Thursday, to kick off our last six weeks in Buan before
our furlough and study leave next year. Some of the things we hope to
accomplish are finishing off Dave's remaining research, training two new
prep-school teachers for a neighboring Sam village (Praise the Lord for
them!), meeting with all the Sam translators to work through some of
their concerns (also financially based) and doing some more training
with them, and beginning to work with a new "Sam Translation Steering
Group" (a committee).

Thank you for your prayers, as we go through this challenging but
worthwhile time! We know that God is in control and we look forward to
seeing how he will draw Sam people to himself.

God bless you,
Dave and Sarah Troolin