There is a reason that people like reading authors like Clive Cussler or Tom Clancy. The reader can vicariously experience an adventure through the medium of the page without leaving the comfort of their recliner, beach chair, or favorite nook. The stories (fortunately) show us only the highlights of the adventure and don’t waste endless pages talking about how many times the main character took a potty break or waited in line or clipped their toenails. The reader gets only the details that carry the story forward and the rest is left out.

Missionary stories are much the same and, I think, that is one of the reasons that missionary life seems so exciting or so attractive to the Christian reader. Biographies, newsletters, blogs, sometimes even personally scribbled letters share the highlights and spare the reader the humdrum details of daily life.

It is the humdrum details, though, help the reader understand the missionary better, gain a clearer picture of what is involved in “the going” aspect of the Great Commission, and might even give the reader a whole new dimension of understanding and clarity in prayer. What does a day in the life of a Bible translator look like in Uria Village, Papua New Guinea?

It is often pointed out that Jesus went out early in the morning to pray, before it was light. Not always, but often, our village days started when the sky was starting to blush in the east, with Bible study and prayer. Missionaries don’t do this because they are so much deeper spiritually than others. They do it for survival. Out in Uria Village there is no Christian radio piping preaching, encouragement, and uplifting praise music into the house. We usually just hear the sound of the bamboo growing (you can hear it grow after a hard rain), the raucous call of the friar bird, or the clack, clack, clack of someone chopping dry firewood with a dull machete.

After a bit, I would usually head down to pull-start the small generator and plug in the water pump. Our two main tanks sit on the ground and water must be pumped up to the roof so that we can have running water in the house. Angela would start preparing breakfast and getting the kids up and around. If we had it, she’d cook oatmeal or rice, I’d percolate coffee on the stove top. Sometimes it was pancakes or scrambled eggs. While eating breakfast we talked with the support staff in Madang on the 2-way radio, reporting in and doing business (supply or food orders, logistics, and one morning a week a devotion together).

At work together away from Uria Village in Madang, the Provincial Capital

At that point, depending on what was on the agenda, I’d head the 50 feet or so to the translation office (our original house) to meet with my Somau Garia co-workers to work on training, translation, or other stuff. If they were not scheduled to be working with me, I’d usually retreat to my home-office to study and prepare for coming sessions. However . . . 

The Bible translator is also the local carpenter, plumber, electrician, Head Master, civil engineer (sort of), ambulance driver, advisor,  first-aid giver, preacher, and teacher. Thus, any “emergency” can take the agenda and toss it right out the window–and often does. Common agenda breakers: medical runs to Walium, the aid station about 15 miles south and east of Uria or to Madang, about 40 miles away; repairs on the house; building of coffins when someone has died and needs immediate burial; first aid; prayer for the sick or dying; road repairs to our four-wheel drive trek; repairs to any number maintenance on the house or mission station. Other occasional interruptions: hikes to distant villages to train or teach or preach or mobilize or for funerals. Some of our greatest adventures have happened off the agenda at 2 a.m. I’ll leave those stories for other posts.

At mid-day we would all break for an hour or so. I’d join my family for a simple lunch, the guys would eat a light lunch and refresh themselves. A few of the afternoons a week, if they men were not in Uria to work on translation, I’d do maintenance or yard work. The mission station requires a lot of maintenance as we average about 190 inches of rain each year. When it’s not raining the equatorial sun takes its toll.

Angela and girls visit with Garia ladies, 2003.

Angela and kids of course worked on school during the day and the kinds of chores that none of us escape–laundry, cooking every meal from scratch, house work, etc. Angela spent time in the afternoon with local ladies and their children–being Jesus and being a good friend.

Dinner prep usually started around four, dinner at five or five-thirty. The evening was for baths, and reading together (we read out loud to the kids stories like The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings and of course the Bible) and sleeping. Sometimes there would be evening events, but not usually.

Sound pretty droll? In these moments, these daily regularities, Jesus showed up–in a kind word, in the text we were working on, in an exhortation, a laugh, always a living, breathing presence in us working through us. The adventurous stuff? Icing on the cake.

Opportunity Abounds!

You have an opportunity to be part of the daily presence of Jesus amidst the Somau Garia people and part of the adventure, too. You can join the provision team by clicking here to visit our Donate page. You can join the prayer team by clicking here to drop us an email to let us know of your commitment to pray with us.

Thank you, friends. A bit of good news–today a family joined the provision team and a family joined the prayer team. PTL!