Lives Of SAND - Part 2

Yabru Oral Bible Storytelling Workshop and Demas’ Story

Sam Smucker November 24, 2014 August 23, 2017Our Work

We recently completed our second of five Oral Bible Storytelling (OBS) workshop in Yabru, Sandaun province. I and the four Papua New Guinean trainers arrived several days early so we could talk about the course and prepare for the times of teaching. The trainers are former graduates of the OBS…

Birthday Week

Sam Smucker October 6, 2014 August 23, 2017Our Lives

Last week was birthday week for us as our two children both celebrated birthdays. Abigail is 10 and Nathanael is 16. Now that Nathanael is 16 he is now allowed to …. well, nothing different than when he was 15. I think that you have to be 18 in this…

Oral Bible Storytelling

Sam Smucker September 24, 2014 August 23, 2017Our Work

The third Oral Bible Storytelling (OBS) workshop in Wewak finished recently. OBS is designed to help people learn a Bible story and then be able to tell the story accurately and naturally in their own language. After the story is told, questions are asked that are designed to draw out…

Happy Independence Day, PNG!

Sam Smucker September 16, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Today was Independence Day for Papua New Guinea. PNG is 39 years old today and it was celebrated here in Wewak with speeches, a parade, gun salute, and lots of red, black and yellow. What was it like? Take a tour with the pictures below.

Sepik and Israel

Sam Smucker September 8, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

There is a growing movement in Papua New Guinea (PNG) to associate with Israel. This is especially prevalent here in the Sepik. Did you notice the Israeli flag on the grandstand for the National Day of Prayer? A church raised K10,000 ($4,100 USD) for missions and sent it to help…

Covenant Day

Sam Smucker August 31, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Tuesday was “Covenant Day” also known as the “National Repentance and Prayer Day” and was a national holiday. In the Melanesian world view where the spiritual and physical are intricately entwined and the government openly Christian, this holiday takes on a very different flavour than a national day of prayer…

Cultural Documentation

Sam Smucker August 26, 2014 August 23, 2017About Papua New Guinea

Much of a person’s unique cultural identity is tied up in their language Papua New Guinea has over 820 languages making it home to almost 12% of the world’s languages. However, some of these languages are dying at an alarming rate. These languages range from a few speakers or one…

Travelling to Arop and Back

Sam Smucker August 17, 2014 August 23, 2017Our Work

The pavement ends on the West Coast road 21 miles (35 km) out of Wewak. We pulled into Arop 132 miles (220 km), 37 water crossings, 35 bridges, and 7 hours later. People pay to have this kind of adventure. I get to do it as part of my job.…

Faith vs Depression, Which Wins?

Sam Smucker August 8, 2014 August 23, 2017Moments of Reflection

As I’ve been reflecting on my recent experiences, I’ve been contemplating on what determines if faith or depression will ultimately triumph. I’ve thought about other people who have pulled through difficult circumstances like a man I met last year named Johnson. Johnson is a Papua New Guinean who lives in…

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