NEW GUINEAm\M WrtW Forwarding Agents:n * Mr anH Mra Fiala n>..ilon

Forwarding Agents:Mr. and Mrs. Dale DunlapRoute 16, Rhea RoadKnoxvilie, TN 37920

John and Bonita Pryor

Volume 7 February, 1983 Number I

As I write this letter to you all, our lovedones and friends, I'm reminded of the motto ofthe Jungle Camp where we did our training inMexico -- "Calmness in uncertainty andchange." We campers changed it to"Calmness in certain change." Such was lifeon the mission field they warned us, and wehave come to learn that that statement is oh,so true. We had planned to return to Sambanafter our Annual Meeting in January.However, I started the New Year off with whatwe thought was a virus. It was later diagnosedas a mild case of hepatitis. We realized thatour planned return to the bush would have tobe postponed.

Do I Look Bored? (Or bald)

Everything from our viewpoint suddenlyseemed very complicated. The houses PBThad rented here in Madang for the last fewyears were now being required by thelandlord. We had no place to stay. Furthermore, we were to be out of our house on January15, the day after our meeting finished. Daysthat were supposed to have been used inpacking and preparing to go to Sambanbecame days of recuperation instead. We feltwe were between the rock and the hard place.

First the Lord took care of our housing.With some shifting around among our townfolk, we were able to move into a flat near ourother house and close to our office. Thishelped because the boys were still very nearfamiliar friends and surroundings, and wewere close to the phone and transportationwhen we needed it. We'll be here untilFebruary 11. Then, we'll be moving into aleave house in town for the remainder of ourtime in Madang.

The next obstacle was moving. On theSaturday after the meeting, all our PBTerspitched in and helped us to shift into the flat.After everything was moved, we wonderedhow we could have ever managed byourselves. We really felt that the Lord wasreassuring us of His caring for us personally.We are continuing to pack things, which wehope we will be able to ship out to Sambansoon. (Incidentally, as of this writing I am

Catching up on correspondence.

much improved. Who knows, we may even beable to catch up on our enormous backlog ofcorrespondence.)So much seems to have happened since our

last communication with you. Jesse finishedup his pre-school here in Madang and hisschool with Mom as well. We were verypleased with his achievements in both. Hewill be beginning Kindergarten next weekwith Mom. He is disappointed that he will not

Bonita and Jesse in school with a "helper".

be going on with his preschool friends here inMadang, but he is also eager to get back out toSamban. He has already petitioned Bonita to

allow his friend Toea (toy-ya) to go to schoolwith him. Mom says, "We'll see."

Joshua continues to grow and develop hispersonality. His expressions are cute. "Menot go town," means "I don't want to go," or "Ididn't get to go." He seems to act a lot like I didat that age. We are hoping he'll either growout of it, or that we can mold his developmentso that he can. Usually, the boys play welltogether, but sometimes "boys will be boys."Bonita seems to have had more than her

share of infections and viruses. The last halfof 1982 was not much better than the first halfexcept that she had no more abscesses tocontend with. She summarizes 1982 bysaying, "I'm glad it's over." She has alwaysbeen such a healthy person that '82'sabscesses, infections, and viruses were asmuch a drain on her mentally as physically.We feel now, however, that she is on anupward trend and we're praying for completehealing.

The last few months of'82 were spent in theusual administrative work as well aspreparing for the Annual Meeting. However,not all of our administrative work has beenmundane. I was pleased to assist Dave andAlice Parrish allocate in the Buliva languagegroup. This involved a trip to that area and adiscussion with local leaders about the natureof our work and an "inspection" of their bushhouse that was being built. We also got towelcome and orient to the work here Steve andRhonda Hayward, PBT's newest additions toPNG. They had volunteered to work on PBT'sPioneer Lodge at Ukarumpa while waiting fortheir session of Jungle Camp in January. Wehad a real special treat when one of PBT'sBoard members. Ken Davis, visited ourBranch. Besides renewing old friendships,his insights into our Branch operations werevery helpful. As our group grows, we willcontinue to face new areas of development.

Our outlook for 1983 is very positive. Aftermy recuperative period here in Madang, wewill be moving out to Samban. Our goal is tobe conversationally fluent by September, andreally embedded in the Botin language, withperhaps some preliminary translation doneby January 1, 1984. We are very grateful forthe work that Martha Wade has done in theBotin language during our absence. It willgreatly aid us. But we view 1983 as a very

crucial year for us. If we are to translate inBotin, we have to become fluent speakers of itduring this year.

Therefore, we have some very importantprayer requests: (1) That our adjustmentback to bush living will be smooth, especiallyfor Joshua. (2) That our health begood. (3) That we will make great strides inlearning to speak Botin.

We are very grateful to you all for yourcontinued prayer support and financialsupport. We pray God's blessing upon you.

Jesse and Joshua's Corner

Me going Samban not. Jesse not. Me here.Me going swimming now--you can't. Morepresents where? Jesse got car, me not. Moretorn peas. Momma, sing song. Papa, nosinging. Me sing now Ningle Bells, NingleBells. Byebye, Joshie. (Ed. note-Translation:I didn't go to Samban. Jesse didn'teither. I'mstill here. I'm going swimming but you can'tgo. Where are the rest of my (Christmas)presents? Jesse got a car, but I didn't. Morecorn, please. Sing a song Mom; Papa, youdon't sing. Now I'll sing. Jingle Bells, JingleBells.)Guess what, I can ride my two-wheeler bike

without training wheels. It's fun. I sure gotsome neat stuff for Christmas. Our dogSchultz got run over so we had to put him tosleep: Papa explained it all to me and Joshua.I'll sure be glad to get back to Samban. See ya,Jesse.

Sharing in the Word

"Casting all your anxiety on Him, becauseHe cares for you". A few days before ourmeeting, I was resting, and at the same timewondering-"How am I ever going to get it alldone?"--preparations for the meeting,packing, and moving. The conclusion was aneasy one-I couldn't. It really bothered me, too!As my last resort I said, "Lord, you'regoingtohave to do it-I can't-It's all Yours." I didn'tfeel a great emotional relief, but rather anassurance that it would get done. And guesswhat"it did!

The boys with "Unka" David.

As a parent, it pleases me when my boyscome to me for assistance. We all must learnthat we best express our love to our Father bydepending on Him for more than justassistance-even for our total selves and thetotal outcome of our efforts. Do we careenough about Him to "cast our anxieties onHim"? He cares for us.

NEW GUINEANEWS Forwarding Agents:Mr. and Mrs. Dale Dunlap

Route 16, Rhea RoadKnoxville.TN 37920

John and Bonita Pryor

Volume 7 September, 1983 Number 2

Greetings from PNGThe first six months of this year have been

filled with a wide variety of change,frustrations, joy, and accomplishment.January and February were months ofrecuperation from hepatitis. We had to movethree times during those two months astransient housing became available.In March, our activities began to increase as

my yellow skin began to gradually turn backto white again and I felt better. At least, wewere able to get up a 20 meter dipole as ourradio antenna and I got in some visiting withfolks here and back home. We also began tostep up our language study somewhat. AndJesse, who was on correspondence eventhough in town, was allowed to attendMadang International Primary School forthree weeks. Bonita had him continue on hisBible studies while he attended Prep(kindergarten). He was thrilled to get toattend "Big School" because many of hisprevious year's Pre-School friends werealready attending there.This year's wet season was disastrous in

many areas, especially along the Sepik River.On March 10th, we learned that the Sambanairstrip was closed because of high water.But we began to prepare to head back toSamban the first of April. When the first ofApril arrived the airstrip was still closed andwe heard that people were able to even paddlecanoes down mainstreet Samban. So wemoved again, hoping that the two weeks thatwe had in the next flat would be enough to dry

out the airstrip. It wasn't, so we moved again.Finally, we decided that Jesse and I would gothe long way around, and send for Bonita andJoshua when the airstrip was dry enough forthem to land on.The first leg of the journey back to Samban

was an Air Niugini flight from Madang toWewak. The plan was to get to Angoram,borrow the ACCM truck there, and come backand get the supplies and gear that had comeup to Wewak via coastal shipping. We hitcheda ride to Angoram, whereupon we discoveredthat the truck was broken down with ajammed clutch. After working with it for awhile, we hitched a ride back to Wewak tofigure out what we'd do. We located a truckingcompany who would take our things; so weborrowed the MAF truck to get our thingsfrom the dock to the trucking company.Before we got there, the clutch went out on it.So I borrowed another truck from ChristianBooks Melanesia and somehow managed toget the gear and supplies to the truckingcompany.

We loaded up and headed out for Angoramthe next day. But we had a flat before we were10 miles out of Wewak and had to come backand get it fixed. At this point, I was beginningto wonder if we'd ever get there. But, thoughthe road was wet and there were a couple oftight spots, we made it to Angoram thatevening. On the basis of what had alreadytranspired, I put the rest of the trip in theLord's hands. The canoe ride in the next daywent without a mishap. I really was glad tohave had Jesse along with me. It kept me fromgetting homesick, and as he is such a good

traveler, he provided me with good companyall the way in.Upon arriving in Samban I was filled with

all sorts of emotions. I felt"MacArthurish" asI stepped from the canoe-"! have returned."The water was so high still that we came rightup to the house across from ours in the canoe.The place had changed; new constructionshere and there, while old familiar ones weregone. I was thankful to be back and felt goodabout being in Samban again, but I was struckby two things. (1) The water had destroyedmost of the bush around the village so I wasable to see much in and around the villageI'd never seen before. (2) The people seemed sodespondent-a "we can't do anything untilthe water goes down" attitude. (Bonita and Ifelt later that is was just as well that we hadn'tbeen in the village during the floods. Itprobably would have been too much for us.)After checking the airstrip, I radioed to

Bonita that I thought it was dry enough forher to come on in the next day, using onlyabout 2/3 of the airstrip-1500 feet. Then,Jesse and I set about getting ourselves"settled in" before Bonita and Joshua got-there.BelieveTtror-not, we had a house-guestthat very day. A board member of the ACCMwas making a tour, and Samban happened tobe his next stop. I won't tell what we ate, butI'm assured that it would have been better ifthe Head Cook had been here.Bonita and Joshua tried to get in the next

day, but weren't able to because of weather.They made it the next day. Then, the intensecleaning, repairing, unpacking, andorganizing really began. Besides what gearand supplies we had brought with us, we hadto unpack the barrels we had packed threeyears before, when we left Samban forfurlough. I made a set of bunk beds for theboys. Then we organized Jesse's schoolblackboard, desk, and bulletin board in theboys' room. In the midst of all this Joshua gota virus, and I almost got a tropical ulcer on myfoot from a cut I received trying to get Jesse'sdesk together. But, we pulled through it andtrudged on. We managed to get my radioantenna up on May 6th. It was a real circusgetting it up; and the mast is bent and the beamis askew-but it works, so I'm leaving it alone.In settling in at Samban again, one of the

most prominent areas of concern regardingthe house was our water situation. All of our

three 1000 gallon tanks leaked, and didn'tlook as if they'd last much longer. The Lordprovided for us in regard to the purchase of a5000 gallon tank, and the material to build abigger pad and hook it up to our existing waterline into the house.So, I went to Wewak to meet William, Robin

and Tyler Butler who were bringing the newtank kit (a crate 4' x 8' x 1' weighing .7 ton)around from Madang via coastal shipping,along with their new tractor and a crate oftheir own personal goods. After loading upthe next day, William rode with the truck loadof goods to Angoram while Robin and I didsome buying in Wewak. The next day we allhitched a ride to Angoram.Men from Samban had made a double canoe

(tied two together) and loaded the tank andtaken it to Samban the day before. All weneeded now was the sand and gravel to mixwith the cement to make the pad addition.I had planned to send a canoe on a couple ofruns to William's village to get it, as there isnone available in our area. William suggestedthat we backload several drums of gravel andsand on the barge that was to take his tractorto his village. It turned out to be a great idea.Instead of making possibly three or fourcostly runs to his village, we made three toAngoram where the barge was based. Eventhough there were the usual delays,breakdowns of the barge, etc., it proved to be agood idea.While we were waiting for the gravel and

sand, I made a new workbench out of the tankcrate, and began Rnishing the new officespace we were constructing underneath thehouse. We also were able to do some languagework.After the sand and gravel arrived, we were

able to pour the pad and began assembling thetank. On June 3 and 4, we assembled the tankand adjusted the old guttering to run waterinto it. With the sand we had left over, wepoured a reinforcing curb around the pad.Just before flying to Madang on the 7th ofJune, we had filled up our old header tank, andhoped that while we were in Madang, we'd get agood rain to get some water into the new tank.While in Madang, I attended an Advisory

Board meeting. Also, we celebrated Joshua'sthird birthday, gathered supplies for the nextstint in the village, and celebrated our 12thwedding anniversary. It was a real quick.

hectic trip. When we returned to Samban, welearned it had only showered once. Further,one of the local little kids had drained a lot of thewater out of the new tank before anyonerealized what he'd done. We began prayingfor rain.In the meantime, I put a new header tank

on top of the roof and prepared to put it in lineas water became available. Within a fewdays, the old header tank ran out of water andwe had to go outside and let water out of thenew tank into a plastic jug for drinking water,and use local water for washing and bathing.This went on for about IV-' weeks into themiddle of June. At last, it rained and we wereable to connect the new tank to the new headerand then the new header into the existing lineinto the house. It sure made us appreciative ofinside water. At this writing, we have about1500 gallons. With the dry months of Augustand September ahead, please pray that we'llget enough rain to get through these months.We are now into gardening time. We've got

beans, egg plant, okra, and cucumber in ourlittle plot near our house. I have alsotransplanted between forty and fiftypineapple plants. We have also cleared, andare planting a new garden out in the bush. Ihave been in on the clearing by bushknife,burning, and bamboo fence building (the hardpart is the carrying) for protection from pigsand cows. We have set peanuts, beans, andbananas and will put corn, pumpkin,watermelon, sweet potatoes and yams in it.We have also "officially" begun our

language learning schedule, in which we tryto include Vj day of study, and V-j inconversations with local people to stretch ourlanguage muscles.The first week of July we had special

visitors. Martha Wade, who lived and workedin Samban while we were in Madang, came'through with her parents and grandmotheron her way back to the States for furlough.It was a special time for us all, especially thelocal folks who felt honored that Martha'sfolks and grandmother would make the effortto come and see Samban. They were thrilledat Grandma's gameness in getting up theladders into their houses. We had a goingaway party, resplendent with local food, tosend them on their way. Mr. Wade, a teacherat Atlanta Christian College, had beenstationed here in PNG during WWII, so we

Honita and Martha UVit/c limk in-ar sonic Hotin data.had some very interesting visits.We are tentatively scheduled to return to the

States in April or May of 1984. We have a lot toget done between now and then if we are toreturn at that time. We have already decidedthat when we return for our next furlough, wemust be able to leave some translatedmaterials behind us. So these next six monthsof language learning are very critical. If wecannot provide translated materials by Mayof'84, we will probably extend our term hereon the field in order to do so. That was ourpurpose in coming here. We are willing to dothis. Please be in prayer with us so that we'llbe able to see God's plan for us in regard to ourterm here on the field.As we contemplate our return to the States

for furlough either next year, or in 1985, ourtransportation needs come to the forefront.Because of all the traveling we'll have to do,we'd like to find a van, because it will provideus with room and comfort on the road. If youknow of one that might come available then,please let us know.Please be in prayer for us in the following

areas: 1. Health. 2. A stable schedule for Julythrough December of this year for ourlanguage needs and also for the boys.Five moves in four months hasn't helped themfeel secure. 3. Patience with ourselves and thelocal people as we struggle to learn theirlanguage.My current radio schedule is M-W-F at 1100

GMT at 14.225-230Ed. note--We have delayed issuing this

newsletter in order to get as many pictures inrelating to the copy. However, one roll madeof the tank construction was destroyed at thedeveloper. Another has gotten delayed forsome reason. We will try to get more picturesin the next issue. JP)

Jesse and Joshua'sCorner

It sure is great to be back home. All myfriends have been glad to get into the frontporch toy box, too. I thought I was gonna haveto go to school by myself, but Mom let Bongwa(Bone-gwah) and Toya go to school with me.Cousin John and Cousin Amy gave us someguinea pigs too-they're neat. All of myfriends had never seen anything like thembefore either. I want a puppy now, but Poppasays I have to show I can keep care of my pigsfirst. Don't tell Poppa, but I've already got onepicked out. See ya, Jesse.I like Samban, but not the natnat

(mosquitos). I itch too much. Poppa made ussome beds. I'm on bottom and I never failed outyet. You know what I like best--"lunningcockaluks" (chasing chickens). I haven'tcaught one yet, but I will. It sure is neat now tohave our own house, my own room, and myown bed, and my own guinea pig. Poppa sayswe'll probably have more before too long, but Idon't understand how. See ya, Joshua.

Getting Into The WordThe Great Commission of our Lord has

taken on deeper meaning for us during thepast six months. We felt all along that He hadcalled us to do this work in PNG. But theobstacles, difficulties, illnesses, etc., werenever real in our imagination. And we're surethere are many others yet to come. More andmore we are appreciating His promise to bewith us until the end of the age. His presencecontinues to sustain us regardless of thecircumstances. We always thank Him for Hisfaithfulness in dealing with us. And we thankHim for extending your ministry through us.We pray that you are experiencing thefullness of His presence each day.

A , .

Papa's birthday and Jesse and Joshua help him hloir outthe candles.

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5 g 9 5 o I < = S -^ * S " I

Jesse helps Joshua tie hisshoes.

John. Jesse andJoshua and John 'shirthdav watch.