VANUATU

Joan and I spent last weekend in Australia with a team of BMW missionaries going to Vanuatu. They are studying at Wycliffe which has the premier training program for Oceana for rendering a language to writing and doing translation work. Our team is here for the year in preparation for their work in Vanuatu. There are more than 100 more languages in Vanuatu that do not have the scripture in their language. This team of three couples and a single lady are planning to do pioneering work on one of the more remote islands of Vanuatu. These are the islands made famous by missionary John Patton about 100 years ago. These islands were formerly called New Hebrides and populated by cannibals. When asked about the prospects of being dinner for a native, Patton said: “if I can but live and die serving and honoring the Lord Jesus, it will make no difference to me whether I am eaten by Cannibals or by worms;” While this modern team of missionaries will not face cannibals, it is going to be tough living conditions and difficult work. But they carry the same commitment and reckless abandonment to self as Patton.