Genyem--a holistic approach

With Papuan and expat partners, a number of community development and sustainability strategies are being discussed including health training, local income-generation, and a Christian University near the main town of Genyem which would service our language area and beyond.

Another thing the people are keen to do is develop a Nimboran language curriculum in primary schools. The issue of spelling has been a major obstacle which we hope to overcome together.

Kemtuik high school children hitch a ride with Philip back to their village.

Participatory Workshop: Talking about Talking

Phil had a Papuan team come to the Nimboran area to lead a community discussion on language use. They talked about things like When do we use Indonesian, and when do we use Nimboran? How do we feel about the way we use the two languages? It is important to establish these sorts of things so we can work out the best approaches to use, and for which age groups--written translation, oral storying, recordings, visual media, dual-language material..

How should we spell our language?

At Philip's suggestion, the committee arranged for a Nimboran spelling workshop. These men are reading a traditional story aloud to test run some spelling systems.

Pak Philemon suggests a spelling change to Pak Willem for one of the songs he's translated from the Indonesian hymn book.

People try writing down some short stories..

..and discuss different ways of spelling some words.

Ibu Nelly, visiting for the day, is keen for a translation in her mother tongue, nearby Mlap. Philip is helping her adapt the Kemtuik text into Mlap using a language software called Adapt It.

Pak Thomas, left, was the Mays' main language assistant, and is now chairman of the translation committee. Pak Yohanis, right, is the secretary. He is holding three chapters that he'd translated earlier and is saying to the older men I need your help to choose the best words and to get this straight.

The spelling workshop was interrupted by a surprise visit from the local military commander. He'd heard that some westerners were at a gathering and wanted to know what was going on.

'Let's start right now!'

A funny photo, as Papuans rarely wear a watch, let alone look at one.

Pak Yosef, a chief elder over three Nimboran villages, says Let's form a translation committee right now! Who's going to head it up?

The committee is commissioned by Pak Jacob.

Village Scenes & Reunions

The last stretch of road into Sarmai Atas, where the Mays used to live.

Crossing the creek to visit their village father, Pak Lambert.

Greeting a village sister. It was an emotional occasion.

Kevin showing family photos to Pak Lambert, who can no longer walk. Everyone kept asking if Phil was the Mays' son Philip who grew up in the village along with his brother David.

Lambert sent his grandson up a tree with a machete to get some fresh coconut water.


This old friend was delighted with her loaf of bread. Wendy used to make bread in the village, so when she came back, the locals were asking for some!


In the middle is Pak Musa, former neighbour and translator. On the right is his son Keven, now 31, named after Kevin May.

A couple of banana tree trunks strapped together make a good raft.

Sarmai Atas is famous for its freshwater springs.
Pak Lewi the head church elder, effectively the senior minister.

Uh oh, termites. A family still lives in this traditional style house, which uses sago palm frond stems for the wall panels.

In better shape. Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain. Psalm 127.1 We're trusting that the Lord will be at work as translation starts up again in the Nimboran language.

Special Visitors

Kevin and Wendy May spent 7 years living and working with the Nimboran people but had to leave in 1983, and were unable to return. The texts they translated were never published because an alphabet hadn't been decided on. For nearly 30 years they and many others have been hoping that translation work would start again. They visited for 3 weeks to meet with old friends and introduce us to the Nimboran people.

Pak Jacob invited the Mays to come to the Language Centre in Kemtuik with Philip. He surprised them by inviting a bunch of Nimboran people from the village where they used to live. This is Dina, Wendy's former househelper and her sister Yosina.

Pak Jacob also took the opportunity to invite some people from Gresi and Mlap languages, both related to Kemtuik, and challenged them to take responsibility for getting translation work started.

Pak Thomas, Kevin's former language assistant.

Food is always shared at any kind of meeting.

Proud 'new father' Pak Jacob with his new foster child, Jacob Junior, who is 2 months older than his new granddaughter Kalvaria.

Some Kemtuik girls.

September Family Randoms

Autumn's arrival brought on a frenzy of pink from relatives and friends, so that's what she wears most of the time. She is 5 months, rolling, sleeping all night (bless her) laughs a lot and is very social. I caved in and started her on solids and she has made it very clear that there is no turning back.

Reuben was supposed to be helping wash the car, but he got a bit distracted.