6623 Legters Dr.

Dallas, TX 75236
October 8, 1988
Dear Friends,

Greetings in the wonderful name of Jesus.

For those of you who are wondering if we've fallen off the end of
Earth or been diverted to a cannibal's feastthe answer is "no".

the

In case

you have not heard, we are on furlough. We returned to the

States on
Feb. 26, and have been seeing supporters, visiting family, helping at
camps and Vacation Bible Schools, etc. We have represented our work in 7
states and saw supporters in 2 others. We also traveled through 7 other
states in the process. The kidsno, all of usare tired of traveling.
It is nice to be more or less staying in one spot for a while.
We are all experiencing homesickness for our village home. It isn't
that we do not like it here so much as we belong there.
Beth frequently
cries to go home. We know that we need to be here at this point in time
if we are to sucessfully return. A little understanding dulls the pain.
This does not mean that we have not enjoyed seeing youit just means that
this is not where we belong. Pray for us.

The kid's adjustment to the United States has been really, well,
interesting.
The first shock was D-III's first sighting of an escalator.
We were in Hawaii going through the airport and the line
stopped.
Our
little boy, near the front of the line, wasn't certain what to do about a
moving staircase. He wasn't about to put a foot on it without permission
(and assurance) from Mommy. Now, whenever we go to a place with escalators
they want to spend all their time going up and down the silly things.
Other new experiences include toasters that pop up (in PNG they
saw
toasters in town, but none that pop up when done). That was the day's
major source of entertainment. The kids watched the toaster and we watched
the kids. We were also asked about the lights hanging above the streets,
and why we stop for the red one and went when it turned green. (They have
become proficient back-seat drivers, too.)
Probably the biggest shock to
their systems came when we gave them each a few dollars and said they
could spend it as they wished.
They
were soon in tears due to the
decisions they had to make. The store had more toys than they remembered
ever seeing before.
Speaking of spending money, we notice that Beth and D-III are very
much influenced by the PNG culture. When they buy something it is usually
a joint decision.
The other day they gave us a typical illustration of
the way they think. When in a store they saw some Tic Tacs.
D-III had
some money from his birthday, so they discussed the item and he bought
them. Later Beth went into a store while he stayed in the car.
When
leaving she said, "Don't eat all the Tic Tacs while I'm gone." Rosalind
said, "Beth, D-III bought them with his own money."
Then Beth replied,
"Yes, but we agreed to share them."

This is typical of them. They even discuss buying gum from the 25
cent gum machines in stores. It is rare, when they are together, to
make
a totally independent decision. They can do it, but they prefer to behave
as brother and sister might in PNG.
DALLAS FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR

As I write this we have moved to Dallas, Texas, where we are going to

school. Rosalind is studying at the International Linguistic Center. She
is taking literacy and anthropology courses so
she can work on the
development of a literacy program for our people in PNG.
During this time I am studying Hebrew at Dallas Christian College in
preparation for Old Testament translation. In the remaining time I will

be

working

to

increase

our

support

to

more a

more acceptable level.

Language work will fill out any remaining time available. (I also plan to
woi^ on reviewing my Greek in an effort to get ready to translate the New
Testament.) I have hopes of taking in a few other benefits of being in

the area, too. One such benefit was a three week "course" introducing us
to the benefits of a MS-DOS computer. Perhaps I'll be able to pick up a
few other such
events that can help with making our program more
successful.

The house we are renting

is

just

five

minute

walk

from

where

Rosalind is taking her classes. It is a nice three bedroom duplex with

other missionaries all around us for neighbors. Rosalind is excited about
having

a dishwasher and garbage disposal for the

married.

It is also the

first

time

we

have

first time since we were

lived

in

house

with

air-conditioning. We have experimented and find that if we set it about 85

the house is quite comfortable. While in PNG we were most comfortable in
the 8085 range. The time we spent on the Oregon coast lowered our heat
tolerancebut not enough that we were comfortable there!
It has taken
less than a week here in Texas and we are once again happy to be warm.
Now as fall is starting we must once again get used to cooler temperatures.
When we wake up in the morning I am told how cold it is, but when I look at

the thermometer it has

been

reading

around

75

degreesnot

quite

the

freezing that we feel.

HIGH TEC FOR JUNGLE USE

Other
computers.

developments include the purchase of a printer for our

This was made possible by the donations of a high school
camp

and a VBS.

We have also purchased a new computer (a Toshiba 1200 FB) that will
be able to do things that our smaller ones are too small to
do.
I have

been transfering the files over to our new machine and storing them on disc
(but still keeping the old filesnever TRUST a computer.) In fact, this
newsletter was started on the TRS80-Model 102 (our smaller computer) and is
being completed on our Toshiba.
The purchase of the new computer does not mean that we will phase out
the smaller onesthey
will continue to be used due to their "user
friendly" nature. We plan to train our language helpers to use them when

we

return to PNG, and

of the new one.

Rosalind says she will continue to use hers instead

Oh, yes.

The computer was purchased with funds from the

offerings received from several camps and a VBS.

It appears that the rate of development in computer technology is so

great that next furlough will see another purchase. What we have is about
as good as we can now purchase when we consider our needs and what is
available. But there will be equipment and software out then that will be
able to improve our performance enough to justify another change. By that
time our needs will once again have grown (hopefully) to the point that the
improved machine and software will be worthwhile.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

Praise God for:

1.
2.
3.
4.

A safe trip to the US.

Safty in travel in the US.
Our new computer and printer.
Gifts of clothing and supplies

Pray for:
1. Beth and D-III's adjustment
to their first time in public
school.

2.

5.
6.
7.

Seeing so many of our friends

and family since our return.
All of you who support us
through finances and prayer.

Rosalind's course load.

She's

taking more hours than planned.

needed here in U.S.

3.

Dan's Hebrew class and driving

across Dallas.

This is quite
an adjustment from the jungle.

4.

We need to increase our

the Kianele people are giving

support by $2500 per month.

(If you need an explanation

for our house and airstrip

about this or want to

The care that the PBT team and

participate, please let us

while we are away.

know.)

5.

The Kianele people. We have

been very involved in their
lives and it is quite important
to us that they are constantly
in His care.

Grace and Peace.

Yours in Him,

Dan Wilcox

'OUR SCHOOL YEAR

Dan and

ADDRESS

Rosalind

OUR NEW FORWARDING AGENIT

Wilcox

Paul

and

Leatha Weaver

6623 Legters Dr.

Dallas, Texas
75236

406 Thornton

(214) 709 0754

(503) 875 4022

TERM

ADDRESS

Or. Rd.

Toledo, Oregon

97391

RECAP

Some of you have heard a recap of of our term. For those who haven't, and
for those who want it again, here is a brief description of what we feel are the
more notable accomplishments of our 1983 to 1988 term.

These are not

necessarily in order of accomplishment or importance.

We built our "permanent" house. Our first term we lived in a temporary house
made mostly of village materials. This term we built again using materials that
should last longer and with better design and techniques.

We do plan a few
modifications when we return for better mosquito proofing and a bit more room
when

we need

break.

The Anangalo airstrip was built. This takes care of the difficulties we were
having with travel. Although this will involve regular maintainence, it should
not ever have to be totally rebuilt.
The people do want it to be extended
another 200 to 400 feet.
We may help with this, but probably more in terms of
knowledge and equiptment rather than labor.

On our first trip to town using the new airstrip the plane lifted off
beautifully and turned toward Madang.
Before five minutes were up Beth and DIII started the age-old custom of "are we almost there?" and "How much farther?"
We began thinking about how much faster we were getting to town and found
ourselves appreciating the normally irksome routine. By the time we were in
town we would normally have only completed about one-sixteenth of the river

travel timenot counting delays caused by darkness, engine trouble, etc.

When
we got off the plane in Madang we were told that we not only looked better, we
smelled

better!

I have become fairly fluent in Kianing Balang. By that I mean I can almost
always express myself in the local language and say what I want to.
Occasionally I will be unable to keep up with a more complicated discussion, but
that is fairly rare. As the term ended I found myself being able to preach and
pray in the language, often expressing myself more easily than I could in the
trade languange.
Due to Rosalind's teaching the kids she has not progressed as far
We hope to arrange more time for her to do language work next termthat expectation that we are proceeding with our schooling.

as

It is

have,

with

Our phonology statement is almost through its third revision. There are no
major changesJust filling out gaps in the data presented, checking spelling,
etc. The phonology statement is the analysis of the sound system that the
alphabet is based on.

The initial description of the grammar is almost complete.

I estimate that
it has 400 to 600 hours of work left before completion. (Actually my guess is
200 hoursbut I have learned that I always guess at getting things done faster
than I actually do.) This is a major essential step for beginning full scale
translation work. Both the grammar and the phonology work involved many manhours (and woman-hours) of work.
We do not talk about the results too much
because they are hard to understand unless you have a background in linguistics.
That does not mean that the work was insignificanton the contraryit is the
basis for our future translation

work.

Based on the work we had done in the phonology and grammar, and because we ^
have some of the people who are semi-literate in the trade language, we held our
first vernacular (native language) writers workshop. For this we flew twelve
men and women to Likan where another PBT team, William and Robin Butler, work.
This is also the home of the traditional enemies of our people. (They are now

best friends.) During the week the participants produced two small booklets of
stories that they wrote in their own language and illustrated with their own
drawings. These are the first booklets produced in Kianing Balang.
Then we had a review course and a second

writers workshop.

From this we

have three more booklets produced in Kianing Balang. We also discovered that it
is more productive to hold the workshops away from the village. When at the

village the people are too transientif they want to go hunting they go.

It is

not easy to hold a course when the participants don't come.

Leadership development has really progressed in the last term. Although some
classes were held, the majority of the accomplishments were through more casual
times of answering questions, conversations, etc. This is the type of progress
made more by being there and available (and the leaders knowing that you are
available) rather than by classes or lectures.
Connected to the leadership development is the growth of the Kianele Church.
This last term the Church at Giling planted two new churches within our language

group, one at Sivisivi and one at Janing.

Just before leaving our area the

Australian Church of Christ Mission asked us for a count of the Christians in

the three villages. We sent a message to each Church and were told that the
total number is 440. Now many of those are nominal "church-goers", but it is
also about half of the language group! Do note that the effort has included
both Australian missionaries and ourselves, but the major evangelistic effort
has involved mostly the local Church leaders. But isn't that what we are after?

Some of you may be (should be?) asking why a translation is necessary if the
church is growing without it. The fact is the longer we are in PNG the more
convinced that it is necessary for the Kianele people to have their own

translation. There are many areas that the trade language translation is not
understood due to the nature of the trade language. And there are many of the
people who do not now know the trade language, or who do not know it well enough
to use it for spiritual growth. Among the Kianele all really important issues
are still discussed in their heart language, Kianing Balang. Since this is the
case, Kianing Balang is the language in which the Kianele need God's word.
Matthew's version of the Christmas Story and the Resurrection have been
translated.

Also a few verses from

John.

The little we did on this late in

the term convinced us that as soon as we complete the grammar statement we are
ready to really get into translation in a major way.
After completing a revision of the Christmas story I read it for the 1987
Christmas worship service. Afterwards Ambisang, my wife's village papa, came up
to me and said, "My insides really fell down when I heard that."
Experiences
like that really make us want to get on with the translation. And knowing that
many, or most, of the older people cannot really understand about following
Christ until they have God's Word in their language makes it all the more
critical.

Dear Friends,

Greetings in the name of our Lord.

Here is our revised 1988 financial report and furlough budget.
report simply bunches all individuals together so as to protect
anominity of those who do not wish their names published.

The
the

1987 Giving
$ 9,794.35

Individuals
Churches:

Bay Area Church of Christ, North Bend,

Or.
Central Kitsap Christian Church, Silverdale, Wa.
Cy-Fair Christian Church, Houston, Tx.
Eastside Christian Church, Albany, Or.
First Christian Church, Mill City, Or.

600.00

2,145.83
1,950.00
1,725.36
766.38

First Christian Church, Newport, Or.

6,364.21

First Christian Church, Rifle, Co.

21.01

Haltom City Christian Church, Fort Worth, Tx

Hope Christian Church, Hope, Alaska
Ladies Friendship Circle,

50.00
500.00

Sisters Church of Christ, Sisters, Or.

Nezperce Christian Church, Nezperce, Id.

Valley View Christian Church, Dallas, Tx.
Willing Workers, Buffington Road Christian
Church, College Park, Ga.
total of Church giving in 1987
Total of all giving in 1987

135.00
200.00

5,175.00
120.00

$19,752.79

$29,547.14

As occurred in 1986, there were several thousand

dollars

that

went

through our hands (and were legally accounted for by PBT) but did not go
through our own forwarding agent.
These funds, $3000 from
Elkanah
Foundation, were totally concerned with the construction of the Anangalo
mam
airstrip and were given directly through Pioneer Bible
Translators
office in Duncanville, Tx.
1987 Expenses
Office

255.31

Telephone

0.00

Postage
Printing

96. 20

254,10

Publicity
Salary
Overseas Operating Expenses

180.32

10,500.00
11,275.53
0.00

Travel

Furlough

600.00

Insurance (Life)
Retirement Savings

600.00

617.76

Team Ministry

2,862.00

Equiptment

0.00

Medical (eyeglasses)

183.00

3,544.00

Miscellaneous

Airstrip
FICA

Gifts

Safty Deposit Box

Total Expenses

$1,000.00
2,241.00
295.00
8.00

$30,967.46

1988 Budget

United States Operations;

Personal:

Salary

$ 1 150 (per month)

Medical

150

Retirement

200

Taxes

380

Children's College Fund

100

Life Insurance

110

$2,090

sub-total
Mission:

Office Supplies
Professional Expenses

10
120

Promotional Materials

20

Printing Newsletters
Postage

50

Phone

50

15

Banking Expenses
Insurance (Health)

Overseas Travel (Savings)

Emergency Travel (Savings)
Transportation
Equiptment and Supplies
Furlough Housing

200 (estimate)
200
100
225
20

500

Children's Education

(Correspondence)
Miscellaneous

0
10

$ 1,522

sub-total

Papua New Guinea

Mission

200

Personal

Team Ministry

424

$629

sub-total

$ 4,446 per month

Total

X 12

$53,352 per year

It should be noted that "dependable monthly giving" was approximately

$1,740, or $20,880 annually. This is important for our
budget planning
and plans concerning raising our support for returning to Papua New Guinea.
Other giving during the year is not scheduled
and rather uncertain so
cannot be relied on in our budget plans. That is not to say it is not
appreciatedit has often come in at just the right time and is always
very much appreciated. You will notice that if we compare the amount we
need monthly with the amount we receive we will need to raise our
dependable support level by approximately $2650 per month. Currently our
ability to raise the funds leaves the bollom line figure rather academic.
The Emergency Travel fund will be built to have an amount
sufficient
to transport the family to the States from PNG in an emergency. That
amount will then be left in savings until needed.
The Overseas Travel
fund can be met by a large gift, unexpected gifts, or left to grow as a

budget item.

Once this item is sufficient for

considered met until we return to the

field.

round trip fares it will be

When fares rise or funds are

used money will need to be added to this account again.

Those months
where we do not receive enough for the Overseas Travel Fund will need to
be made up in order for us to be able to return to PNG.