I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder. Thy power throughout the UNIVERSE displayed. Then sings my soul, my Savior, God to thee, how Great thou art..."
These words to this well-known hymn have an much deeper meaning to me since my team landed in the Solomon Islands this past Wednesday. No pictures or descriptions could have prepared me for the beauty that I encountered when I stepped off the plane onto the island of Guadalcanal. The capitol city of Honiara, Guadalcanal, is on the coast, and the Pacific Ocean stretches sparkling blue in plain view of the Bible Translation base where our house is located. I am struck by the incredible green-ness this area, with trees which contain coconuts, bananas, and starfruit among other exotic plants. In my journal I wrote,"If this is fallen earth, I cant wait to see what heaven will be like."
I see beauty in so much more than my Island surroundings. I also see it in the faces I have encountered. Our team has had the opportunity to interact with the missionaries on the SITAG (Solomon Islands Translation Advisory Team) base, and it has been increadible to hear thier stories of God's faithfulness as they serve him. I also see beauty in the smiles of the Solomon Islanders I have passed on our various shopping excursions in Honiara. They seem to be an overall friendly, gracious people. Because I only speak a little Pigin, my interactions have been limited, but I'm seeing firsthand that a smile can go a long way.
These past few days have been filled with firsts: my first conversation in Pigin, my first time riding in the back of a pickup truck on the left side of the road, first time drinking coconut juice, first time raising my eyebrows following the typical Solomon Islands greeting, and one of the first times I have truely felt like a minority. Our group has been shopping and recieving on-site training in culture and language as well as undergoing training in the art of Biblical storytelling, which is especially important in oral cultures like the Solomons.
Today we prepare for our departure to the Island of Maliata. We leave early tomorrow morning for the four-hour boat ride. In Maliata, those in our group who took the Arts for a Better Future training in Dallas will be putting on a workshop at the Festival of Pacific Arts about how to use local art forms to meet specific needs in their communities for the glory of God. Although we did not go through the arts training, a team member named Laura and I are going along for support. The Festival of Pacific Arts also takes place in Guadalcanal so three team members are staying behind in Honiara and helping with a booth put on by SITAG. This booth will inculde maps of langauges of the Pacific as well as dispays of all the New Testaments which have been translated in this area.
Prayer requests for the upcoming week:
- Safe travel to Malaita as well as safety for the three girls who will stay behind to help with the booth in Honaira
- We will be staying will host families in Malaita. Pray that I will be able to form a bond with my host family and that I can be a blessing to them. Also pray that I can have confidence with speaking Pigin to them
- For the Arts half of the team as they will be presenting their workshop four times this week.
- Laura and I as we will be in a support role to the arts half of the team this week. Pray that we can serve them well and be willing to be flexible as we don't have a defined role.
- That I would live in constant dependency on Christ and remember that God's strength is made perfect in my weakness.
- Green all around--vegeation explosion!
- Smiles on the Islanders faces
- Beautiful view of the ocean
- Slowly gaining confidence in speaking Pigin
- Testimonies of God's faithfulness
- Praising God with teammates while washing dishes
- Beautiful white flowers everywheree which I put in my hair
- God's Word and teammates who share a passion for it
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