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PLENTY OF HANDSHAKES AND HUGS

Men from the Simbari tribe learning to read

March 9, 2007

by David Bell

Last week the Bagwido people of Papua New Guinea whooped, hollered and clapped as a group of 26 students graduated from their literacy class.

The joy of the students was summed up by one of the older students, Tino, who stood at the conclusion of the ceremonies with some impromptu encouragement.

"Look, here we are. This is the very first time we have been able to read and write in our own language. Look, we have books in our language! We can read them! We can write it down!

"Look at me," he said as he took off his hat. "I have white hair. See this white hair? I have white hair already, and I have learned to read and write in our very own language. If I can do that, all of you can do that too. We are going to carry this course now. We have the books and the materials and we are going to keep teaching it and teaching it here."

"It is a really deep kind of sense of gratitude," wrote Holly Woodard, "that we get to even be a part of things here, and that there will be this many people that will be able to read the Bible."

The Bagwido people are big planners, but in typical Bagwido fashion the planned program was delayed about two-and-a-half hours. The people couldn't start until the food was cooked for the feast that would follow.

Missionary Mark Woodard's co-teacher, a Bagwido man named Ben, was the master of ceremonies. Ben had meticulously written out the program in his little exercise book, numbering and lettering the agenda with red and blue ink. Several people gave speeches, followed by the presentation of certificates.

The students, ranging in age from 17 to a woman in her 50s, all in their finest attire, were so proud to stand up and receive a simple piece of paper with their name on it that indicated they had learned to read and write their own language.

The women and children scattered throughout the crowd occasionally jumped to their feet to do a little song and dance and parade for a student who was receiving a certificate. After getting their certificate, each student had to shake hands with a row of men. Some of the students held up their certificates and did a little jig while family members ran to join them.

There were a lot of handshakes and hugs as the students and their families gathered for their prepared feast of fish, greens, rice, noodles, coconut, pork, grub worms and a large, wild cassowary bird.

It was the last meal the Woodards would have with the Bagwido people for a while. They will be arriving in the USA this weekend for home assignment. Before leaving, Mark finished making changes to the primers and readers, and writing a 284-page teachers' literacy manual.

The Woodards' co-worker, Brian Holmquist, is going to keep a once-a-month review workshop going for all the students. The next literacy classes will start in May or June.

Brian will also press on with Bible translation and preparing materials for evangelistic Bible teaching.

Please pray that each student will become even more proficient in their reading so they are fully prepared to read God's Word with understanding.