What God Has Joined Together - The Gware and Arina Nanong Story

What God Has Joined Together “The Gware and Arina Nanong Story”

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By Charles Micheals

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What God Has Joined Together “The Gware and Arina Nanong Story”

Winter Park, Florida

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© 2012 Charles J. Micheals

Published by the Aiyura Valley Historical Society

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the publisher.

ISBN: Pending

Third Printing 2015 (Not for Sale)

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission.

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

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What God Has Joined Together “The Gware and Arina Nanong Story” My thanks go to the following people who helped make this book possible:  Richard and Helen Nanong Nanumea, Helen is the daughter of Gware and Arina Nanong.  Gail Nanong, daughter of Gware and Arina Nanong.  Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet, husband Len was SIL Store Manager.  Darrell Lancaster, SIL Store Manager.  Larry Seibel, SIL Store Manager.  Ken and Cindy Najar, Ken worked as an accountant at the SIL Store.  Rev. Paul Senff, Lutheran Pastor who married Gware and Arina Nanong.

A special word of thanks goes to my wife Barb for her patience with me during the time it took to collect material and to write this book. She encouraged me to keep working on this project and gave advice on many practical things. She also helped with editing and proofreading. Without her help, this work would not have been completed. Many others, too numerous to fully name also helped with various remembrances for which I am grateful.

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Gware and Arina Nanong Valued Missionary Staff Few men and women today are willing to give themselves in full time service for the sake of the Gospel.

Fewer still are those who are willing to leave their homes and towns and give themselves in humble mission work where few know your name or understand the cost.

While many may not know Gware and Arina Nanong or their family, they stand among the Papua New Guinea heroes of faith who gave sacrificially to the work of the Gospel. For 38 years, Gware and Arina worked with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) in Papua New Guinea, leaving their homes and friends to do so, and in all those years they were found faithful in their labors, to their family, the church and to their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Gware & Arina Nanong (Photo Courtesy of SIL PNG Archives)

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Gware & Arina with children - Front Row: Andy, Helen, Gail Arina is Holding Ngabi (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Prologue As Paul in the New Testament had faithful workers such as Timothy, so the church in Papua New Guinea had such workers. Gware and Arina Nanong are among those faithful workers from the church in Papua New Guinea and as such deserve to be named among the Papua New Guinea heroes of faith.

Thus the words Paul spoke to Timothy in the book of Philippians ring true for the Nanongs and a new generation of Christian workers in Papua New Guinea:

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.

For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. Philippians 2:19-22

While the list of Papua New Guinean Christian workers is long and many have given their very lives for the Gospel’s advance in their own land, few have labored in such humble circumstances as Gware and Arina, in a supply store and in government relations work for the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Papua New Guinea. However, as humble as these circumstances are, the Scriptures testify to God’s power at such times.

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’ says the LORD Almighty. Who dares despise the day of small things. Zechariah 4:6 b, 10a

While the efforts of the Nanongs may seem small to men, these efforts have produced a harvest of souls for the Gospel. In the years the Nanongs have labored in the Bible translation work with the Summer Institute of Linguistics, 185 language communities received the translated Scriptures and almost two million Papua New Guineans now have access to God’s Word in their own language. An additional 100+ Bible translation projects are now underway for another quarter million Papua New Guineans!

Yet, while this book gives tribute to the Nanong’s efforts, it is being written to the glory of God alone. It is God who sovereignly chose Gware and Arina and their family for this special work and brought them

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to repentance and salvation and it is God who has done the mighty acts spoken about in this book as He has worked by His Holy Spirit in and through the Nanongs.

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Growing Up Years Gware and Arina Nanong are in some ways an unlikely couple from Papua New Guinea to have gotten married. Gware is from the coastal area of Morobe Province and Arina is a highlands girl from the Eastern Highlands Province. Beside the issues related to growing up hundreds of miles away from each other, they come from two distinct parts of Papua New Guinea (coastal and highlands) and also grew up speaking different languages. However, God’s design in bring these two people together is part of a wonderful story that continues to live on even today.

Gware was born on April 18, 1952 to Nanong & Ladon Ahendi. They lived in Yanga Village, located on the northern coastal plain of the Huon Peninsula near the city of Lae and spoke the Bugawac (Alternative names: Bukawa or Yom Gawac) language. Gware’s father was a driver with Goroka Coffee, and his mother was a housewife and the family gardener who died when Gware was six years old. The Bugawac people did not have any part of the Bible in their language until the New Testament was finished in the year 2000, by missionaries from Lutheran Bible Translators.

Arina was born June 18, 1959 to Ose & Maso Awana. They lived in Umayompa Village located in Aiyura Valley near the rugged Bismark Mountain Range. They spoke the Gadsup language. Like the Bugawac people, the Gadsup not have the Word of God until the New Testament was finished in 1981 by Chet and Marge Frantz, translators with Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL).

Umayompa village located in the trees at the left end of the SIL Airstrip (Photo Courtesy of Helen Nanumea)

Arina’s father was a carpenter at the SIL center at Ukarumpa which is located in Aiyura Valley, part of the Eastern Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea. Ose worked under the direction of David Cummings (who later became the President of Wycliffe Bible Translators International). He helped build

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the SIL Linguistic Library at Ukarumpa, among other things.

Maso was a housewife and the family

gardener.

SIL Linguistic Center 1960s Center, Ukarumpa Mission Center- Aiyura Valley, Papua New Guinea (Photo Courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Translators Archives)

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Education and Christian Faith Gware started school in 1962 and attended Butibum Primary School.

In 1963 he transferred to Bowali

Primary School and received his Grade 6 Certificate in 1968. He attended Busu High School from 1969 – 1971 and completed grades 7 – 9.

Arina began her education in 1964 at Professor Schindler Community School, located in Aiyura Valley.

This local community school was set up by Professor Charles Schindler. Professor Schindler was a wellknown professor from Queensland, Australia who retired and moved to the highlands of New Guinea in the late part of the 1940s where his son, Aubrey Schindler and his wife Ancie headed up a small, but growing government agricultural station in Aiyura Valley where Ukarumpa is located. Arina received her Grade 6 Certificate in 1970 from Professor Schindler’s School. (To learn more about Professor Schindler’s School, read the book, The Kind Professor http://issuu.com/cbmicheals/docs/the_kind_professor, by Charles Micheals)

In 1970, Arina was asked to go to the School of Nursing in Goroka, but things did not work out for her to attend. Instead, she went to a girl’s vocational school in Tarabo, Okapa District, but Arina’s Aunt Arime Auko soon took a trip to the school and took Arina back to her home since the family felt she was too far away.

When she returned home she began working at Ukarumpa and helped out at the Nazarene Hostel Children’s Home as a ‘house-girl’, helping with the upkeep of this missionary children’s home. Thus in a humble way, Arina had become part of the work of Bible translation, just like her father had.

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Gware’s Work With the Summer Institute of Linguistics While Gware was a 9th grade student at Busu High School, Darrell Lancaster, who was the manager of the SIL missionary supply store at Ukarumpa travelled to Lae to interview potential staff. One of the schools Darrell visited was Busu High School to interview students. This was the first time Gware had heard about SIL. Gware showed interest in being interviewed and as a result was offered a position in the SIL store at Ukarumpa.

Before long, arrangements were made for Gware to head to Ukarumpa. After collecting his things and saying his good-byes, he travelled by an SIL aircraft (small Cessna 206 airplane) from Lae up to Ukarumpa. It was January 1971, and Gware too had become part of the Bible translation task by commencing work at the SIL Store.

Arina did not start working at the store until February 1981. She was hired by John Szymanski, who was filling in as Store Manager while Fred Jessup was on a furlough, visiting his supporting churches and family in the United States.

1976 - SIL Members’ Store (Photo Courtesy of Darrell Lancaster)

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Gware became a Christian in 1972 while attending an SIL Employee Retreat. Arina became a Christian at age six through the witness of the ‘Three Aunties’ (Doris, Olive and Elsie McClure). These three women left their work at an SIL Children’s Home named after them (DORELO – Dor –Doris, El –Elsie, O Olive) and started work in the nearby village of Ukarumpa and helped plant the local Aiyura Evangelical Church.

These three older single women from Australia had come to New Guinea to host one of the Children’s Homes on the mission center of Ukarumpa. They eventually started a Sunday School for the nearby children of the Aiyura Valley, where the SIL mission center was located. As the Sunday school grew, so did the number of believers and so the ‘Three Aunties’ left their work at Ukarumpa and moved to the village of Ukarumpa and planted a church.

Dorelo Children’s Home (Photo Courtesy of Ruth Milligan)

From that church grew a number of trained pastors who soon took over leadership at the church after receiving theological education and it was in this church that Arina grew up along with her parents and siblings.

Read about the Three Aunties in this book written by Charles Micheals:

http://issuu.com/cbmicheals/docs/what_god_can_do.

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Doris, Olive and Elsie McClure in the Aiyura Evangelical Church (Photo Courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA Archives)

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Gware and Arina Meet At Ukarumpa Gware met Arina for the first time at the main entrance of the SIL Store on February 24, 1972.

Gware

was working in the Hardware section of the store and Arina was working at the Nazarene Hostel. Arina walked in to get lunch and when Gware saw her he took an interest.

They managed to see each other whenever they could as there was no cultural barrier to stop them from doing so. One day after a 21st birthday party attended by Gware and Arina at Jeff & Val Bailey’s house, Gware took Arina home to her village on his blue Honda 100 motorbike. That evening, Arina introduced Gware for the first time to her parents.

Gware (standing) and Enda Sigrupoi (Headmaster at Professor Schindler’s School) in front of the store (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Since they both worked at the Ukarumpa SIL center and had been introduced to Western culture they spent some afternoons playing basketball together and going to movies at the KSS Movie Theater at

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Kainantu, a nearby small town. Eventually, in October 1974, Gware brought Arina down to Lae to meet his family during the Lae Show. Plans were then laid for Gware and Arina to be married.

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Gware and Arina Nanong Get Married Gware and Arina Nanong were married on January 18, 1975.

Sadly, Arina’s father had just recently

passed away. Since Gware was soon to be on his way to Sydney, Australia for training, they decided to get married before he left.

They were among the first Papua New Guineans to be married on the Ukarumpa center. They were married in the Christian Club building that was used for social activities and for Bible studies. They picked the Christian Club building because they wanted a simple wedding and it was available.

Rev. Paul Senff, the Lutheran pastor from the American Lutheran Church Mission at Raipinka (a small settlement about 20 miles from Ukarumpa) married them. Gware was a member of the Lutheran Church and so Pastor Paul, being a Lutheran Pastor and one of the few pastors in the area licensed to marry people, was asked to marry them.

Gware & Arina Nanong with Pastor Paul Senff with local national Pastoral Assistant (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

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2011 - Christian Club where Gware and Arina were married - Now the ‘Tok Ples Bible Distribution Center’ (Photo Courtesy of Craig Campbell)

Mr. Auko Apananka, Arina’s paternal uncle, gave Arina away and Gware’s ‘was papa’ (adopted father) stood with Gware. Sopera Keneqa led the music during the service.

Pastor Paul preached a message on the theme, “Remain Within My Love”, from John 15: 9-10 and John 17:23. Pastor Paul’s first point was that as the Father had loved them, so that is how Gware and Arina should love each other. Paul’s second point was that they should keep God’s Commandments and if they did these things they would remain in Christ’s love. Paul concluded by reading from I Corinthians 13 and reminding Gware and Arina what love is and if they failed at this they should remember the words of I John 1:9.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” John 15: 9-10 (NIV)

“I in them and you in me - so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” John 17:23 (NIV) 17 | P a g e

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9 (NIV)

Pastor Paul closed the marriage ceremony by reading a poem of Amy Carmichael that was quoted by Corrie Ten Boom at the conclusion of the 1974 Plenary Session of the International Congress on World Evangelization which Paul had attended in April of that year.

“We follow a scarred Captain, Should we not have scars?

Under His faultless orders, We follow to the wars, Lest we forget, Lord, when we meet, Show us Thy hands and feet”. (Amy Carmichael) There were many visitors at the wedding from both Gware and Arina’s families. members also attended.

A wedding reception was held in Aseranka Village, after the wedding

ceremony.

Signing marriage papers (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

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A number of SIL

Gware & Arina Nanong ready to be married (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

The happy married couple (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

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Wedding guests (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

Names of wedding guests (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

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Gware & Arina Nanong with Gware’s Uncle Nabob Silingwaga (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

It is significant to note that after Gware and Arina got married they were able to finish their education.

Dick Harder, who was a teacher at the SIL Primary School, supervised Gware and Arina’s studies with the College of Distance Education (CODE), which included advanced courses in English, Math and Commerce. They both graduated in 1976 and a graduation ceremony was held in the Meeting House at Ukarumpa.

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The Nanong Family Gware and Arina’s first child, Joyce, was adopted from Arina’s aunt when Joyce was three years old.

Joyce was born on October 22, 1972, followed by Andy on August 5, 1975, Gail on December 27, 1977, Helen on January 25, 1980 and Ngabi on September 29, 1984.

Arina, Gail and Andy Nanong (Photos Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

Arina and Gail Nanong

Gware and Arina did a lot for their children. To provide for them they worked hard at home and work, did extra gardening and sold food at the market to make sure the fees were paid for Primary School and High School. They also looked after their spiritual needs and made sure their children attended church and Sunday School at an early age.

Gware and Arina instilled many good values in their children. They grew up knowing the value of hard work, honesty, hospitality to people from all walks of life in addition to the values of keeping a home and doing housekeeping, cooking and looking after children. Their children today have mentioned that they grew up in a happy home where most importantly the Word of God was shared by their parents.

Not only did Gware and Arina share Scripture and Christian songs with their children, but they were also faithful to pray with and for them.

As in all families, at times there was a need for discipline of the children and when they did go astray Gware and Arina never gave up on their children. While scolding and punishment were necessary at

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times they have never turned their backs on their children, but have continued to give them their love even in trying times.

Gware and Arina became role models for their children when they were still young and also for the community by taking responsibility for leading a gospel singing group. This group of young men and women they led from the SIL Ukarumpa Center and from the nearby Aiyura valley villages would come and practice songs at their home and then would sing for Sunday morning services at Ukarumpa Village and surrounding villages as far off as Ontenu and Norikori. Many village churches were visited and the Gospel was shared in song and testimony.

Every Thursday evening was also a time for family devotions, often with their daughter Helen playing the guitar for praise and worship and the family gathered around for singing and Gware and Arina sharing from the Word of God. On occasion, other family members took turns sharing from the Bible. It was a time of spiritual encouragement. One Scripture that has remained a favourite has been John 15 which contains the story of the Vine and the Branches and a reminder that in following Christ there is a cost as the world will hate the work of Christians because they hated God first.

John 15 also reminded the Nanong family that God had chosen believers to bear fruit that will last for eternity. That chapter took on real life flesh and blood for Gware and Arina as they still to this day, continue to share the Gospel and thus have touched the lives of not only their children, but many people in the communities where they have lived. Many lives been won for the Gospel and the faith Gware and Arina passed down has sustained their children’s faith in God.

As the Nanong children were getting into their teenage years, one of the Nanong’s favorite holiday or weekend activities was the family mumu (a special meal cooked in banana leaves in a pit over hot rocks).

All of the family would pull together by helping prepare the food, putting it in the pit and sharing it on the verandah of the house at the SIL Center in Port Moresby.

Gware and Arina enjoyed playing sports with their children as well as playing on teams. Not only were Gware and Arina players, but they were also patrons for a basketball team of both men and women.

They played games at the SIL Ukarumpa basketball courts and also had games in Kainantu, Yonki,

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Goroka, Lae and Mt. Hagen. Gware and Arina also played tennis, taking part in the Tennis tournaments that co-worker Ray Leach organized. They also enjoyed playing volleyball.

1985 – Gware & Arina preparing a mumu (Photo Courtesy of Ken Najar)

1986 - Andy Nanong at Aiyura International Primary School (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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1986 - Andy Nanong at Aiyura International Primary School play (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

2000 - Ngabi and Helen sitting, Gail standing (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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2002 Gail, Andy, Helen and Ngabi (Photo Courtesy of Helen Nanumea)

2010 Gware with Helen (Married Richard Nanumea) (Photo Courtesy of Gail Nanong)

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December 2011 Rupaleke Trent Nanumea (Photo Courtesy of Helen Nanumea)

2008 - Tamang is ‘Gware’ and Tinang is ‘Arina’ in the Bugawac language (Photos Courtesy of Gail Nanong)

2011 - Andy and Gail (Photos Courtesy of Gail Nanong)

The children of Gware and Arina are now adults.

Their daughter Joyce’s children are Michelle,

Clyde, Brady, Yatuseng and Colleen and they live and work in Port Moresby. Andy is married to Karen and they have four children, Sheldon Peter, Aidan Emmanuel, Kenneth and Helen Brianna and they live and work in Ramu. Gail is married to Radford Tagenua and they have three children, Daniel Alexis, 27 | P a g e

Brady William and Benjamin and live in Lae. Helen is married to Richard Namunea and they have one child, Rupaleke Trent and they live and work in Port Moresby. Ngabi is married to Anne Marie and they have two children, Joseph Westcott and Ruben and they live in Lae.

May 2012 – Some of Gware and Arina Nanong’s Grandchildren- (L-R) Brady William Tagenua, Joseph Westcott Nanong, Kenneth Nanong, Daniel Alexis Tagenua, Sheldon Peter Nanong, Benjamin Tagenua (sitting on Sheldon's lap), Rupaleke Trent Nanumea (sitting on Daniel's lap)(Photo Courtesy of Helen Nanumea - Nanong)

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Gware’s Work Gware started off at the store as Hardware Buyer Supervisor in January 1971 when Darrell Lancaster was the Store Manager. Gware quickly worked his way up the ranks of the store and became the Hardware Manager at the store.

As part of the store’s training program, in March 1975 Gware was sent to Sydney, Australia to work for seven months (March – September) with BBC Hardware. Arrangements for Gware’s travel were handled by the New Guinea Department of Labor and Employment office in Goroka through an agreement between the Australian and New Guinea governments and BBC Hardware.

Gware was met in Sydney by staff from the BBC Hardware. They helped him settle in and begin work at the BBC hardware store there. In Sydney, Gware lived with an Australian family on Archer Street in North Sydney as part of a ‘Home Stay’ arrangement.

The BBC store Gware worked at was located at 413 – 421 George Street. Each day Gware walked five minutes from his home on Archer Street to the Chatswood Train Station. Then he travelled 10 minutes by train using the North Shore Line train going from the Chatswood Station in North Sydney over the Harbour Bridge and into the city, getting off at Central Station. He would then walk another ten minutes to the BBC store.

The train travel cost him $4 a week, out of the $112 dollars that he was receiving per fortnight as part of the training. In his spare time, especially on the weekends, Gware played soccer with the Penrith Soccer Club.

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1980 Chatswood, NSW, North Sydney train station (Photo Courtesy “Opsbooks’ Photostream” Flickr)

Point A - Archer Street, Point B - Chatswood Train Station, Point C – BBC Hardware, George Street- Walking time from home to train station – 10 Minutes (Photo Courtesy of Google Maps)

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BBC Hardware (Former Nock & Kirby’s Store) George Street 1950s (Photo Courtesy of NSW State Library)

2000s - George and York Street Frontage and BBC Hardware (Former Nock & Kirby’s Store) (Photos Courtesy of NSW State Library)

Gware was trained at BBC Hardware by the General Manager, Mr. Jack Hannigan. As part of his core training, Gware did Hardware counter sales work and also learned how to create window displays. This training also involved learning about a wide range of hardware products, equipment and terminology as well as becoming familiar with power equipment and how they were serviced.

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Gware handling chain saw equipment with BBC General Manager Mr. Jack Hannigan (Photo Courtesy of Gware Nanong)

Gware also received training in the area of ordering, stock control and stock rotation, and learning facts about the hardware stock. Training time was spent on issues related to customer service and marketing.

This included training in the area of merchandising, stocking shelves, advertising and creating display signage and staff relations.

Gware again proved himself to be a quick learner. Despite the change of culture and being away from home from his new wife Arina, Gware worked hard and won the respect of his boss and co-workers.

With his friendly disposition he won the admiration of many Australians he came in contact with.

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Gware with BBC staff (Photo Courtesy of Gware Nanong)

Nock and Kirby Hardware window display (Photo Courtesy of NSW State Library)

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Gware with BBS staff (Photo Courtesy of Gware Nanong)

Part of Gware’s training involved a specialized training course on Schlage Locks, run by Schlage Australia.

He completed the Schlage lock training and received a certificate of completion on August 2, 1975, signed by Alan J. Davis, the Schlage Sales Manager. As part of his locksmith training, Gware was given a set of locksmith tools. When he got back to the SIL store at Ukarumpa, he bought a key cutting machine from Singapore.

For many years after Gware’s return to Ukarumpa, he helped do most of the lock work on the buildings at Ukarumpa as well as helping many homeowners get into their homes when they locked themselves out. He also did a significant amount of work rekeying locks when keys were lost, which provided a much needed service in a part of the country where locks were difficult and expensive to purchase.

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Gware receiving locksmith training (Photo Courtesy of Gware Nanong)

Schlage certificate (Photo Courtesy of Gware Nanong)

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Gware’s last day of his stay in Sydney was on September 16, 1975, which was Independence Day for Papua New Guinea (PNG). Independence Day was celebrated in style in Sydney at the PNG Haus on Clarence Street. A pig, which was air freighted down by the newly created PNG airlines Air Niugini, was mumued (cooked in a traditional style in a pit over hot stones and covered with banana leave and dirt).

On September 15, the last Ansett and Trans Australia Airways Australian aircraft flew into Port Moresby.

On PNG Independence Day Air Niugini took over that route, and so Gware flew back to Papua New Guinea on September 17 to his new and independent country on his own country’s airlines!

TAA Airlines (Photo Courtesy of Gail May)

1975 Air Niugini Airlines (Photo Courtesy of Aussie Airliners)

Post Courier (PNG) Independence Day Newspaper, September 16, 1975 (Photo Courtesy of the Post Courier)

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When Gware returned from Australia, he picked up the hardware work at the SIL Store at Ukarumpa with enthusiasm. Not only was Gware a natural when it came to all things hardware, but his ability to order the right hardware goods at the right price and displayed correctly all served the members of SIL well.

The stock in the hardware section provided not only needed supplies for staff serving at

Ukarumpa, but also for the Bible translation teams who lived in the villages scattered around the country.

1975 (L-R) Timothy Lalo, Gware Nanong, Tom Inato (Photo Courtesy of Mavis (Creagh) Goodlet)

The Hardware Department that Gware managed carried a full line of tools, screws and nails, electrical and plumbing supplies, fishing supplies, batteries, chain, bush knives, shovels and garden seeds in addition to cookware, kitchen utensils and sporting goods. As a result of Gware’s leadership, the store soon became recognized in the valley for having the best hardware supply. Therefore, people from the local villages, from the nearby Agricultural Station and Aiyura National High School often purchased hardware items at the store.

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Gware Nanong - Hardware Manager (Photo Courtesy of Darrell Lancaster)

Gware Nanong - Hardware Manager (Photo Courtesy of Darrell Lancaster)

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1976 - Larry Seibel and Gware (Photo Courtesy of Larry Seibel)

One of the necessary goods that the store carried was Coleman Lanterns and their spare parts. These hard to find items in the country were appreciated by the people at Ukarumpa at a time when the Ukarumpa center was on generator power during the day, but the generator was shut down at night.

These lanterns were a life line especially for translators living in remote villages who had no access to electricity.

Gware was often called on to give advice on the type of lantern to purchase as well as becoming the expert repair man on Coleman lamps. He not only repaired lanterns, but also trained others to repair lanterns as well.

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1976 - Larry Seibel and Gware (Photo Courtesy of Larry Seibel)

1992 - Gware Nanong in the Kitchenware Department (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Since Gware was a natural leader and did such an outstanding job in the Hardware section he was asked to take on a much larger responsibility of becoming the Assistant Store Manager. This work involved the oversight of all areas of the store’s operation. This included not only the hareware section, but also the housewares area and the much larger grocery and warehousing sections.

1985 – Josiah Dauyi (Hardware Manager), Gware Nanong (Assistant Store Manager) and Charles Micheals (Store Manager) (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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1985 - Gware Nanong at store mumu and in his office (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

An extra job that Gware had in the store was one few store managers in other countries had to contend with. It was overseeing the shipment of personal effects of the SIL members back to their home country. This important work involved the lodging of government paperwork, booking ocean liners, arranging for local transportation of crates from Ukarumpa to the coast and the charging out of all expenses to the right cost centers. This was a particuliar challenging job because shipments not only meant booking passage for crates to Australia, but also Asia, Europe and the United States.

Gware’s careful attention to detail and his desire to assist the work of Bible translation always resulted in the shipments being done on time and at the lowest possible cost. In all the years of shipping goods for members, no shipments were lost and none delayed other than those due to shipping changes beyond his control. There were occasional anxious days when shipments seemed to have gotten lost, but they always arrived at their desitination safe and sound.

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Gware’s job as the Assistant Store Manager was one he held for around ten years and it was the job he held in 1991 when he was asked by SIL to move with his wife and family to Port Moresby to take up responsibilities as an SIL Representative, helping out with government relations work and handling oversight of the missionaries for SIL who were moving in and out of the capital city.

1985 – Personal effects shipment (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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SIL Members’ Store (Photo Courtesy of Darrell Lancaster)

Store Staff in 1976 - Expats L-R- Darrell Lancaster, Len Creagh, Roger McIvor and Linda Lowe. New Guineans - Middle Row (L-R) Gware Nanong (3rd f/left), Tom Inato (next to Gware), Sorak Bani (Pink shirt), Bayuna (next), then Timothy Lalo (next to Roger – expat with arms folded), and Enoch Aranka. Front Row (L-R) Mick, Hensen Mafisim, Kueti, Yatu, Mathew Waram. (Photo Courtesy of Darrell Lancaster)

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Arina’s Work With the Summer Institute of Linguistics Arina

started working at the SIL Store in 1981 when John Szymanski was the Manager. She began

working as a cashier and after doing well in that position was promoted to the Accounts Section where she worked as a Banking Clerk. She stayed in that job until she and Gware moved to Port Moresby. On occasion she was called upon to work as a cashier if one of the regular cashiers was sick or on vacation.

She also helped with a variety of other office jobs.

As a cashier at the store Arina was known for her friendly service to the customer and a willingness to go out of her way to assist customers. She was often called on to give training and assistance to new cashiers and as the Banking Clerk to gave training to new accounts section staff.

Janet Joseph and Arina Nanong (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Arina’s work in the acccounts section was a critical one that ensured that the financial accounts were properly recorded and banked each day. Arina’s attention to details ensured that the money that was handled was in a responsible and timely manner.

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Arina’s work meant dealing with not only charge transactions, but also handling the money that the store collected in sales each day. As a credit to Arina’s strong Christian faith and sterling characture, no money ever went missing in the accounts!

Steve Bebeno & Arina Nanong in office Arina Nanong & Pita Kasito in office (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Arina Nanong at store devotions

Mare Seseko, Arina Nanong, Ken Najar, Umuna Bonabate in store office (Photo Courtesy of Ken Najar)

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Gware and Arina and their family were well liked and respected leaders not only in the store, but leaders in the nearby Aiyura Valley. Gware often helped out at village church services and together with Arina and their children helped out at youth gatherings. They were often called upon to provide leadership for sports activities and Gware often took the lead in Bible studies at the store.

Gware Leading staff devotions at the store (Photo Courtesy of Larry Seibel)

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Store Managers During the time at the store, Gware worked for Store Managers, Darrell Lancaster, Len Creagh, Larry Siebel, Stan Neher, Fred Jessup, John Szymanski, Chuck Micheals, Jim Knowlton and Tim Lueders. Arina also worked for John, Fred, Chuck, Jim and Tim.

Darrell Lancaster

Len Creagh

Larry Seibel

Stan Neher

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Fred Jessup

Jim Knowlton

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Charles Micheals

Tim Lueders

Other Staff Gware and Arina Worked With At The Store:

Len Chipping (Store Accountant) (Photo Courtesy of SIL-PNG Archives)

Gware Nanong and Ken Najar (Store Accountant) (Photo Courtesy of Ken Najar)

Jean Peters (Store Accountant) (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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1980s - Store Staff

1985 - Store Staff Front Row (L-R) Umana Bonabate, Bob Joseph, Pupunawa Waropi - Second Row (L-R) Steven Bebeno, Jim Moufa, Enoch Aranaka Sorak Bani, Janet Joseph - Third Row (L-R) Arina Nanong, Noria Tapo, Bayaba Yantaki, Silas Biriba, Pita Kasito - Fourth Row (L-R) Chuck Micheals, Gware Nanong. Divas Wamaneso, Daioso Baname, Anselm Kuloi, Anta Uto, Ken Najar (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Attending a Bible Dedication One

of the highlights for any staff who serve in the work of Bible translation is attending a Bible

dedication. One of the dedications Gware was able to attend was a very significant one for the country.

On November 24, 1985, the Bible Translation Association of Papua New Guinea (BTA) dedicated their first New Testament translation project. Yaom Lawai was the main translator and with his leadership and the help of Lau Kalep, Yatu and the Iwal people, they finished the New Testament. A dedication was held that day and a number of staff working with SIL attended.

Charles Micheals and Gware Nanong were staff from the store who received an invitation to attend the Iwal Bible dedication.

They met other SIL staff in Lae, a coastal town and departed by boat from there in the early morning on November 23, 1985.

By mid-afternoon, the boat

arrived at the site of the dedication and visitors were greeted by dugout canoes which carried the passengers from the boat to the shore.

After arriving on

shore, visitors were ushered into the village past dozens of men in festive PNG clothing and beating their kundu drums.

After a time of sitting with the village men and getting to know each other, all the visitors were given a meal and then were able to rest. At night, each guest (Photo Courtesy of SIL PNG Language Resources Web Site)

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was provided a host village family and home to sleep at. The next morning the dedication was held and the very first Bibles ever written in the Iwal language were dedicated to the Lord and handed out to the people after the ceremony. In the afternoon, the visitors took the trip back by boat to Lae and then by road to Ukarumpa the next day.

1985 - Gware Nanong on the boat to the Iwal Bible dedication (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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1985 - Gware Nanong sitting next to Utula Samana (Premier of Morobe Province) at Iwal Bible dedication (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Gware Nanong and Charles Micheals on the boat to the Iwal Bible Dedication - November 24, 1985 (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Iwal Bible dedication- November 24, 1985 (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Iwal Bible dedication village - November 24, 1985 (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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The Move to Port Moresby In

early 1991 SIL asked Gware and Arina and family to move to Port Moresby, the capital city, and

become government and public relations officers. Since Gware had handled government paperwork at the store, it was a natural fit for him to handle a larger responsibility of the paperwork that the PNG SIL Branch needed to operate in the country. Arina’s work in the Store’s accounting office also made her a natural fit to take up office work in Port Moresby.

The move to Port Moresby was a challenging move for the Nanongs. Since the need for Gware to begin work in Port Moresby was urgent, he went first in March while Arina and the family stayed behind at Ukarumpa where they had a home on the Ukarumpa Center. In August, Arina and Joyce joined Gware in Port Moresby while Ngabi stayed for a short while with relatives at Ukarumpa until they could find schooling for him in Port Moresby. The older children attended a boarding high school in Kainantu, a nearby small town.

One morning after Gware and Arina had moved to Port Moresby, Chuck Micheals was sitting in his second floor office at the store at Ukarumpa, which overlooked the market area. He noticed Ngabi sitting by himself. Soon, one of the village women looking after Ngabi came into Chuck’s office and said Ngabi wouldn’t go to school because he missed his parents. She asked if Chuck would talk to Ngabi.

Chuck went down to meet with Ngabi at the market and let him know his parents were being taken care of and so was he and that the Lord was watching over their families while they were apart. Chuck told Ngabi he would contact his parents and let them know he was okay and that he missed them and that he needed to do what his parents would want him to do and that was to go back to school.

After

praying with Ngabi, Ngabi decided to head back to school.

Shortly afterward, space opened up in the schools in Port Moresby and so Ngabi was able to join his family there. Gware and Arina were very happy to have him back with them again.

During this time Andy, Gail and Helen were students at Kainantu High School. Andy finished his studies in Kainantu at the end of 1993 and then moved to Port Moresby in early 1994. Gail finished her studies in Kainantu in 1993 and went on to attend Aiyura National High School in 1994 and 1995. Gail moved

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to Port Moresby at the end of 1995. Helen finished her studies in Kainantu in 1995 and then went on to attend Blackheath and Thornburgh College in Charters Towers, Queensland, Australia for three years.

Helen then moved to Port Moresby at the end of 1998 and finally the Nanong family was all together again.

When Gware and Arina first lived in Port Moresby, they lived in an SIL flat (a two story home with an office) in the town area known as Gordons. It was quite a distance from the airport and the government offices where Gware and Arina worked plus, it was in an area of town that over the years had grown to be unsafe. So, SIL sold that property and in 1993 the Nanongs moved into a home on the newly built Bible Translation Association (BTA) complex.

In 1994 they moved again, this time into a home in the area of town known as Tokarara.

That too proved

challenging due to crime in the city and being separated from other SIL staff living in Port Moresby. Finally, in 1999 SIL purchased five houses in a compound formerly owned by the construction firm, Fletcher Morobe. The new complex allowed all SIL staff working in the area to safely be together, while allowing for a guesthouse for translation teams working in the area. It also had a small pool and a barbeque area that everyone enjoyed.

Gware and Arina had a variety of jobs for SIL while in Port Moresby. However, they all were included in one major job category of government or public relations.

SIL Five-Plex Housing Compound (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

In addition to regular office work that needed to be done, Gware and Arina arranged pick-up and dropoffs of SIL staff at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby. This was not always easy work since pick-ups and drop-offs were often early morning or late night.

The pick-up and drop-off work also meant helping staff with luggage, assisting as they were able to with issues related to customs or quarantine problems and pick-ups and drop-offs at hotels and guest 57 | P a g e

houses. Things were especially challenging when medical emergencies of SIL staff from Ukarumpa required immediate attention and assistance for medical evacuation to Australia for treatment.

A significant amount of work needed to be done for SIL with various government agencies and so Gware was often involved in delivering and helping process papers associated with work permits, visas, custom and quarantine papers associated with SIL members’ personal effects as well as goods for the SIL store at Ukarumpa. This involved waiting for hours at times for paperwork to be approved and then quickly bringing them to the airport for delivery by SIL airplanes to Ukarumpa.

In addition to the work that Gware and Arina did for SIL, they also gave themselves to the work of the church, helping with church; preaching, teaching and assisting with youth group activities. Gware also became a Deputy Member of the PNG Department of Lands and Physical Planning, Surveyor General’s Place Names Committee.

This important committee adopts rules of orthography and nomenclature,

and standardizes pronunciation, in respect to place names in the country; and investigates and determines the priority of the discovery of any geographical feature; and considers and determines any proposed alteration in a place name; and assigns a name to any place in the country.

During the years that Gware and Arina and their family worked in Port Moresby there were a number of security incidents which threatened their lives. However, due to the providential hand of God, on each occasion God spare them from serious injury or death.

On one occasion, Gware had just picked up an SIL family at the Mapang Guest House (where staff stayed as they were moving in and out of Port Moresby) and headed to 7 Mile Road, which was the road leading to the Port Moresby’s Jackson’s Airport. As Gware and the staff were coming up a hill near the National Broadcasting Corporation office, they were unaware that they were driving into a shootout between police and some rascals (thieves). Just as Gware reached the top of the hill, the rascals who were coming from the 5 Mile Settlement fired a shot and the bullet went straight through the front windshield or windscreen missing Gware’s face by an inch and hitting the back window. The SIL family that was in the van was not hurt, but Gware got a small cut on his hand from the broken glass.

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On a second occasion, Gware and Arina took their children to Koki Market on a Saturday afternoon, to buy sago for Arina to cook. Gware parked the brand new SIL van

at

the

car

park

and

Helen

accompanied Arina into the market.

After buying their market goods the family got back into the van and just as Buying Goods at the Koki Market (Photo Courtesy of Ragnar’s Voyage Web Site – www.sbragnar.com)

they were driving out to go to the main road, a group of drunken men approached the vehicle. Sensing trouble was ahead Gware slowed down.

Gware stopped when they prevented the van from moving forward. The rascals demanded the van keys and then swung a bush knife at Ngabi sitting in the passenger’s seat. By the grace of God, the bush knife turned and the blunt end came down, missing Ngabi.

In a split second all the family scrambled out of the van.

However, the last one out of the van was

Helen and as she emerged from the van a large burly man approached the van and tried to push Helen back into it. God gave Helen supernatural strength and she pushed the man out of the way and she was able to run to where everyone else was safety gathered. The men then got into the van and drove off.

As the Nanongs stood at Koki Market shocked, they watched the new van being driven away with all of their market goods. As the men drove away, the bystanders realized what had happened and began throwing stones, coconuts and whatever they could lay their hands on in their bid to stop the van.

Miraculously, not even the glass on the van was shattered.

Gware’s niece happened to be at the market and picked up the family and drove them to the Boroko Police Station where they filed a stolen vehicle report. However, by the time the police got the report the thieves used the van to rob a gas (service) station up the road from the Koki Market. The van was retrieved three hours later near Kaugere Settlement and brought to the Badili police station where it 59 | P a g e

was picked up by the Nanongs in good condition. Later, SIL sent a national colleague, Micky Senkai to Port Moresby to provide much needed comfort, support, encouragement and counseling.

On a third occasion Gware, Arina, Gail’s son Daniel and Joyce’s youngest daughter and Helen were in the SIL Kijang vehicle driving down to Waigani, near the government buildings. After stopping at a traffic light as Gware began to pull forward when the light turned green a speeding Toyota Hilux truck, driven by a drunk driver, came speeding toward the Nanongs and smashed the vehicle they were in.

Gware and Helen missed being smashed to death by inches as the drunk driver hit the front of the vehicle. The crash was so significant that the impact turned the vehicle the Nanongs were in the opposite direction. As bystanders came running to assist the Nanongs, they also tried to stop the speeding car, but it sped off toward another area of town.

In their shocked state, with two children crying and with the help of bystanders the Nanongs went to the Police Station which was just a few meters away. They also carried to the police station the parts of the car that fell off! It was after this incident, Helen was able to share a testimony in church the next Sunday and give praise to the Lord for God's grace and mercy and how God’s angels protected their lives.

As the Lord protected the Nanongs in the previous incidents, so the Lord protected Gware and Arina again when they were held up at the Bible Translation Association (BTA) headquarters (where they had offices). Again God’s protection was evident as they were unhurt. Later it was discovered the Nanongs gave the thieves their own money rather than the money from BTA.

A last incident happened at a store in Port Moresby. The Nanongs were shopping in the store and their daughters, sensing a few men were up to no good, remained on the alert. Quickly, the rascals jumped over the cash registers and robbed the store. Shots rang out, but the quick thinking of the Nanongs brought them to the ground and just in time as the shots were directed in the area where they were.

The shots flew over their heads and again their lives were spared!

In all of these times of trouble the Nanongs were spared serious injury. While the devil and danger lurked in many corners, God provided safety. The words from Psalm 91 have been a comfort over the 60 | P a g e

ages to many who risk their lives for the sake of the Gospel and they have also sustained the Nanongs in their trials.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

(Psalm 91: 1-4, 14-16 NIV)

Noria Tapo, Mare Seseko, Gware & Arina Nanong and family, Chuck & Barb Micheals - Nanong’s home church in Port Moresby (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Visit To The United States – Washington D.C. Although

Gware had visited Sydney, Australia and both Gware and Arina visited Brisbane, Australia

where their daughter Helen attended school, neither had visited the United States. This was where the majority of the SIL members came from, where a large amount of support services were located and the government offices that issued work permits and other official documents for SIL members. Therefore, SIL arranged a visit to the United States for them in 2003.

Most of the arrangements and travel was handled by Chuck and Barb Micheals, who were co-workers and good friends of the Nanong family. They had moved back to the United States to work with the organization there and so were called upon to be the Nanongs hosts in the USA.

Once travel arrangements and documentation was made with government officials for them to stay in the United States for a few months, the Nanongs took off from Port Moresby via Singapore to Heathrow, London on July 9, 2003. That same day they took a British Airways flight from London to the USA and the Dulles airport, located in Washington D.C., arriving in the afternoon. Chuck and Barb drove out to Washington D.C. to meet them and travel around the United States with them, visiting various Wycliffe Bible Translator and SIL offices, family and friends and famous landmarks.

One of the highlights of the trip in Washington D.C. was a visit to the Papua New Guinea (PNG) Embassy on July 10, 2003.

This embassy is

responsible for approving all the work permits for SIL in Papua New Guinea. arranged

with

the

A visit had been

Papua

New

Guinea

Ambassador, Mr. Graham Michael, by Ron Gluck, the SIL International government relations official and former pilot with SIL in Papua New Guinea.

Nanongs and Micheals with Ambassador Graham Michael (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Although the arranged visit was only to be for around 30 minutes, it was obvious a friendship was struck up immediately between the Ambassador and the Nanongs. As a result of this friendship, the Nanongs,

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the Micheals and Ron Gluck were taken out to lunch by the Ambassador where the entire meeting and lunch time lasted three hours!

During the meeting with the Ambassador, he mentioned that the work SIL was doing in Papua New Guinea was very good for the people of PNG and he was very happy to have SIL work in his country. The Ambassador recounted his time as a student when attending the Aiyura National High School near the SIL center where he worked part time sweeping floors at the SIL Airport Hangar at Ukarumpa to earn pocket money. He mentioned how well the SIL staff had treated him and how much he liked working with them.

During their time in Washington D.C. the Nanongs also visited the SIL International office on Pennsylvania Ave. There, the office staff, the Micheals and the Nanongs gave thanks to the Lord for the friendship that had been established between SIL and the government of Papua New Guinea.

Lunch with the Papua New Guinea Ambassador Mr. Graham Michael - (L-R) Charles & Barbara Micheals, Ron Gluck, Ambassador Michael, Gware & Arina Nanong (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Ron Gluck arranged for the Micheals and the Nanongs to stay in the home of Pat and Ann MacDonald, friends of the organization’s house in Alexandria, Virginia on the following Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights. That allowed the Nanongs and Micheals to take in the sights of Washington D.C. and the surrounding area.

Gware and Arina Nanong and the Micheals stay at the home of Pat and Ann MacDonald (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Eating dinner on fine china and crystal ware (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals) The Prince and the Princess beds

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The MacDonald’s house was beautifully decorated and outfitted. Meals were eaten on fine china and they used crystal ware. One of the stories told while in the home was the ‘Princess and the Pea’. In the morning Barb inquired of Arina if she felt a pea in the bed and had a backache. Arina said she felt the pea and had a backache! Barb then declared her a Princess and Gware a Prince! Fitting titles for the Nanongs in such a place like Washington D.C.

Among the sights they visited were the White House where the President of the United States, George W. Bush and his wife Laura and family lived. They also visited a number of memorials of past presidents of the United States and other famous landmarks.

The Nanongs at the United States White House- Home of the United States President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Arina and Barb Micheals at the Korean War Memorial (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Washington Monument Visit (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Lincoln Memorial Visit

Gware and Arina and Charles and Barbara at Mount Vernon Birthplace of George Washington, the first president of the United States (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Nanongs and Micheals visit the Tomb Of The Unknown Soldiers

Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial Visit

Gware and Arina with U.S. Government workers who had just been in Port Moresby

A visit was also made to Mount Vernon, the homestead of President George Washington who was the first President of the United States. In the small bookstore and gift shop at Mount Vernon a number of people dressed up in period costumes from the time of the American Revolution in 1776. In talking to these actors, the Nanong’s discovered that one couple had just returned from Port Moresby where they had done work for the United States government!

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Visit To The United States – JAARS Center - Waxhaw, North Carolina After spending a few days in Washington D.C., they traveled by road to the SIL JAARS Center located in Waxhaw, North Carolina, arriving there on July 14, 2003. JAARS is the technology hub for SIL and where they help with the visa applications for SIL members heading to work in Papua New Guinea. A number of meetings were scheduled and various JAARS departments were visited.

One of the main visits was with Mr. Jim Akovenko, the President of JAARS. Gware and Arina presented Mr. Akovenko with a traditional Papua New Guinea laplap (cloth skirt) used by both men and women in Papua New Guinea.

Mr. Akovenko expressed deep appreciation to the Nanongs for their many years of service to SIL.

The Micheals and Nanongs with JAARS President, Jim Akovenko (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

A tribute to Gware and Arina was published a short time later in the JAARS magazine, called Beyond. It mentioned the 30 years of faithful service they had given to the work.

While in Waxhaw, the Micheals and Nanongs stayed at the Penn Lodge. However, the Nanongs and Micheals had dinner on the night they arrived at the home of Bob and Linda Keizer, former co-workers for SIL in Papua New Guinea. Linda had worked in the store at Ukarumpa and Bob had worked in the Auto Shop there.

Bob and Linda arranged opportunities for Gware and Arina to share at a meeting at the JAARS Center.

They also arranged for a special Open House for those who knew the Nanongs from their time in Papua New Guinea. While in the area, the Nanongs and the Micheals visited Tim and Vicki Micheals, Chuck’s brother and sister-in-law.

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Gware and Arina at the JAARS Center, Waxhaw, NC (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Gware and Arina with Bob and Linda Keizer

Gware and Arina Nanong with Jim Akovenko – JAARS President (Courtesy of JAARS Beyond Magazine 2003)

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Nanongs Visit Tim and Vicki Micheals on Trip to JAARS (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Visit To The United States – Wycliffe Bible Translators, Orlando, Florida After leaving the JAARS Center it was a long day’s drive on July 16, 2003 to the headquarters of Wycliffe Bible Translators, located in Orlando, Florida. The office complex had recently been opened and there was a lot of excitement in the building. The Nanongs stayed with John and Lucy Tumas, former workers with SIL in PNG (Lucy worked in the store with the Nanongs). The Micheals stayed in the apartments that Wycliffe had built near their offices.

A tour of the facility was arranged, including time spent in the Wycliffe WordSpring Discovery Center (now called Discovery Center). Time was spent seeing the hundreds of Bible on display in the main office area as well as the variety of other artifacts and statues in the buildings.

WordSpring Discovery Center in 2003 (Photo Courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Translators)

Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA Headquarters (Photo Courtesy of Hunton Brady Architects)

Wycliffe Bible Translators Discovery Center in 2011 (Photo Courtesy of Wycliffe Bible Translators)

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After visiting the Wycliffe office in Orlando Florida, and meeting the Interim President of Wycliffe Bible Translators, Mr. Jim Swartzentruber, and a few former members who worked in Papua New Guinea, it was time to head to the international headquarters of SIL International in Dallas, TX.

Vern and Carolyn Broadfield with Nanongs in Orlando (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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(L-R) John Tuman, Doug Haag, Jean Peters, Kate & Walter Willett, Barb Micheals, Arina Nanong. Ginny & Dan Rath, Gware Nanong in Orlando (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Visit To The United States – International Linguistic Center, Dallas, Texas After

leaving Orlando on July 18, 2003 the Micheals travelled for several days to the International

Linguistic Center located in Dallas, Texas. On the way to Dallas, they travelled over the fourth longest bridge in the United States, the 18.2 mile long Atchafalaya Basin Twin Bridges. The twin bridges are an amazing engineering feat built over the Atchafalaya Basin, which is the traditional flood plain of the Mississippi River. It still functions as such in times of high water, usually associated with traditional spring runoff and flooding.

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge(Photo Courtesy of the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge Web Site http://explow.com/atchafalaya_basin)

Before being ‘controlled’ by the Corps of Engineers, two-thirds of the mighty Mississippi used to flow to the Gulf of Mexico through the Atchafalaya Basin. Now huge levies hold back the Mississippi River and direct two-thirds of the flow through Baton Rouge and New Orleans. In times of high water more gates are opened to allow excess flow from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin. What makes the

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Atchafalaya Basin Twin Bridges different from most is the bridges are traveling along in tree tops along much of its almost 20-mile length.

While visiting the International Linguistic Center (ILC) in Dallas, Texas, Gware and Arina toured the facility, spoke at a Sing and Share Sunday evening meeting in the Activity Center, attended a Papua New Guinea Prayer Meeting, and were guests at an Open House on July 21, 2003 at the home of Lois Whitby, of current and past SIL members who were either on furlough in the Dallas area or assigned to work at the ILC.

The Nanongs in Dallas, Texas at the ILC Center (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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The International Linguistic Center (ILC) (Photo Courtesy of ILC)

Nanongs With Papua New Guinea Co-Workers in Dallas (L-R around the circle) John Camp, Gwen Hurd, Carol Johns, Linda Huffman, David Huffman, Don Davis, Kathy Bruce, Nancy Beversdorf, Hope Bowling, Ruth Ray (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

In addition to these visits, the Nanong and Micheals were able to visit the Micheals’ daughter Maria and husband Josh Mishler where they were able to celebrate a special birthday party for the Mishler’s son and the grandson of Chuck and Barb Micheals.

Ryan Mishler turned one year old and so a birthday

party was held at the home of Josh and Maria who work for SIL and at the time assigned to work at the ILC.

st

Nanongs at Ryan Mishler’s 1 Birthday (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Gware and Arina at the Sing and Share Time (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Gware and Arina – Dallas, Texas Cowboys!

(Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Arina Nanong and Barb Micheals (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Visit To The United States – Omaha, Nebraska and Chicago, Illinois Leaving Dallas, TX on July 29, 2003 on the way back to the Chicago, Illinois office where the Chuck and Barb Micheals worked for Wycliffe, the Nanongs and Micheals stopped at the home of Chris and Rachel Wassenaar in the Omaha, Nebraska area. Rachel is the daughter of the Micheals.

Nanongs with the Micheals and Isaac and Jenny Micheals (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Nanongs visit famous Golden Arches (McDonalds) (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Arina with Micheals’ daughter Rachel (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Arina in the corn fields of Iowa (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

After visiting with the Wassenaars in Nebraska and admiring the tallest corn crops and one of the world famous ‘Golden Arches’ McDonalds restaurants, the Micheals and Nanongs loaded up the vehicle and headed to the Micheals’ home in Chicago, Illinois and the Wycliffe office there where the Micheals worked.

After visiting the Wycliffe office in Chicago and having an open house there, Gware and Arina were pressed into missionary service by being on staff at a Wycliffe Bible Translator’s five day linguistics and Bible translation conference called, Total It Up, put on for college students considering Bible translation work.

As soon as that week was finished they helped out on staff at the Wycliffe Jungle Jump Off (JJO). JJO was a week- long mission simulation in the forest of Illinois designed to give high school students from nearby churches a taste of living in another country.

Gware and Arina represented one of the

‘unreached’ people of Papua New Guinea. The JJO participants had to learn some basic words in their language, reduce it to writing and learn to speak a little bit during the week.

Gware and Arina at Jungle Jump Off (JJO) (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Nanongs Help Church Youth Group at JJO learn about missions (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Nanongs Visit with David and Ruth Snyder David was Former SIL PNG Branch Director (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Nanongs Visit with PNG Friends (L-R) Ed Horton, Cathy Krekel, Gware and Arina, Chuck Micheals, Pat Brien, Mary Horton (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

On the 4th of July, or Independence Day in the USA, the Nanongs and the Micheals attended a Chicago White Sox Baseball game with the Micheals’ son Isaac and his then girlfriend Julie and their daughter Jenny. This was the first professional baseball game the Nanongs had seen. A highlight of the game was actually after the game when the baseball game was finished and the spectators were walking to the car.

Before heading to the ground floor of the baseball stadium, the two families stopped to watch the spectacular displays of fireworks being shot off from all areas of the city.

The firework displays

continued for almost 30 minutes. It was a night not soon forgotten.

Nanongs attend a Chicago White Sox baseball game (Photos Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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(L-R) Gware, Arina, Barb, Julie, Isaac and Jenny Micheals

Jenny Micheals, Gware and Arina Nanong, Isaac Micheals and Julie with Chicago, Illinois skyline (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Visit To The United States – Kalamazoo, Michigan After a short stay in Chicago, Illinois the Nanongs and Micheals travelled by car to Kalamazoo, Michigan to visit the Micheals’ family and their home church. Chuck’s brother, Bill Micheals and his wife Mari and their two boys Jeremy and Chris visited Papua New Guinea in 2000 and got to know the Nanongs there. A return favor was given by Bill and Mari when they arrived in Kalamazoo. They arranged for an Open House for the Nanongs and for Gware and Arina to ride on a yellow school bus!

Seeing ‘Old’ Friends Again – Bill and Mari Micheals (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Special Ride on a Yellow School Bus (Photo Courtesy of Bill Micheals)

Yellow school buses are not used in Papua New Guinea, where most children walk to school.

The

Nanongs had seen these busses in movies, but never close up. Bill and Mari arranged with the local school system a special ride on the yellow school bus all by themselves. The bus driver took them around as he normally would, picking up children for school, stopping along the way to hoist out the stop sign and putting on the flashers when picking children up.

Gware and Arina not only visited the Micheals family, but also spoke on Sunday, July 27, 2003 at the home church where Chuck and Barb Micheals attend, Second Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This church supports the work of Chuck and Barb and their support work of Bible translation in Papua New Guinea. Their youth pastor, Mr. Fred De Young had visited Papua New Guinea in the mid1990s and got to know the Nanongs at that time.

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Gware and Arina with Dr. Warren Lammers – Pastor at Second Christian Reformed Church (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

In addition to speaking at the church, a special Open House was hosted in honor of Gware and Arina.

Visitors who heard about the Bible translation work in Papua New Guinea, members of the church and the Micheals family came to meet the Nanongs.

A special cake, light meal and refreshments were

served. Displays about the work of Bible translation work and the country of Papua New Guinea were set up. The Nanongs gave a brief presentation of their work in their country.

Nanongs and Micheals at the Open House in Kalamazoo (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Gware and Arina Nanong Meet PNG WW II Soldier Ernie Voss (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

A special highlight of the Open House was the attendance of Ernie and Lucile Voss. Ernie and Lucille had supported the Micheals for many years and Ernie fought in World War II in New Guinea and helped

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liberate the country. He brought with him a 1944 New Guinea newspaper about the battles of New Guinea.

Gware and Arina with Mike and Brenda Perton (Brenda is Barb Micheals’ Sister) (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Gware and Arina with Jim and Jan Leonard (Jan is Barb Micheals’ Sister) (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

Chuck Micheals, Chuck’s Mother Sue, Chris and Bill Micheals with Gware and Arina at Sandy Pines (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Visit To The United States – MK (Missionary Kid) Wedding - Jackson, Tennessee Just back

before leaving to head to

California

and

eventually back home to Papua New

Guinea,

the

Nanongs

travelled with the Micheals down to Jackson, Tennessee to attend the wedding of two MKs (Missionary

Kids)

that

the

Nanongs and Micheals knew from SIL in Papua New Guinea.

Paul Lutz and Becca Tomlinson Nanongs and Micheals at the Lutz wedding (Photo courtesy of Charles Micheals)

were married and an enjoyable evening was spent with the Nanongs visiting with lots of other MKs they knew from Papua New Guinea.

Gware and Arina with Jim and Ginny Tomlinson at the wedding (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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After the wedding, The Nanongs and Micheals stopped in Nashville, Tennessee to visit Ken and Cindy Najar and their three children, Kristin, Joseph and Jonathan. Ken had worked at the store and helped train Arina in the accounting work of the store. Cindy was a teacher at the Primary School during the time they were in Papua New Guinea.

Nanongs and the Najars (L-R) Joseph, Ken, Jonathan, Cindy, Arina, Gware and Kristin (Photo courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Visit To The United States – California with Randy and Colleen Karcher On August 23, 2003 Gware and Arina left Chicago, IL and flew to California where they were shown around the area by Randy and Colleen Karcher and their two children Rachael and Chris. Randy and Colleen worked in Government Relations for SIL in Port Moresby for many years and worked side by side with the Nanongs.

Randy and Colleen, Rachael and Chris Karcher (Photo Courtesy Randy Karcher)

After spending several days in California visiting Disneyland and a few other attractions, it was time for the Nanongs to fly back home to Papua New Guinea. They flew from Los Angeles, CA through Melbourne, Australia and then through Brisbane, Australia and then on to Port Moresby to complete their around the world trip!

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Planning For Retirement Gware retired from SIL on December 13, 2008.

However, in order to allow him to collect retirement

funds from the Papua New Guinea retirement fund to build a house back on his customary land, he officially retired in July 2008 and continued on as a volunteer until December.

Several retirement

parties were held in honor of Gware. Around this time, Arina decided to finish working also so they could retire together, so she too finished working for SIL.

Amazingly, Gware had served SIL and Bible translation work for 37 years and Arina had served SIL for 38 years! Upon retirement Gware and Arina moved back to the land of Gware’s family and they built a retirement home where they live today.

Gware and Arina’s home in Lae (Photo Courtesy of Gail Nanong)

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In Appreciation for 38 Years of Service With SIL and Bible Translation Work in Papua New Guinea!

2003 - Gware and Arina Nanongs at the Micheals’ apartment in Chicago, IL (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Epilogue In 2009, Chuck and Barb Micheals had the opportunity to return to visit Papua New Guinea with a group of young people on a short term mission trip called GET Global (Go Experience Translation). Chuck and Barb visited Ukarumpa as part of the trip and during the time they were there, Gware and Arina travelled up from Lae to spent time with them.

Gware and Arina also participated in a welcome at the store along with the Micheals and assisted in a church service in a local village church. They also helped with a Papua New Guinea mumu after the service for the GET Global young people.

2009 – Gware and Arina Nanong - GET Global village visit (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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2009 - Gware & Arina Nanong and Chuck & Barb Micheals Meet at Ukarumpa (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

2014 - Gware & Arina Nanong and Chuck & Barb Micheals again meet at Ukarumpa (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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In 2014, Chuck and Barb Micheals again had the opportunity to return to visit Papua New Guinea with a group of young people on a short term mission trip called GET Global (Go Experience Translation).

Chuck and Barb again visited Ukarumpa as part of the trip and during the time they were there, Gware and Arina travelled up from Lae to spend time with them. During this time, Chuck was able to present to Gware and Arina a copy of this book.

2014 - Gware & Arina Nanong and Ngabi with Chuck & Barb Micheals In front of the SIL Store at Ukarumpa (Photo Courtesy of Charles Micheals)

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Bibliography BBC Hardware Store (Formerly Nock and Kirby’s Store), Online Photo, City of Sydney, Australia <http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/council/documents/meetings/2006/CSPC/160306/16-0306_CSPC_ITEM5.pdf> BBC Hardware Store (Formerly Nock and Kirby’s Store), Online Photo, NSW State Library, <http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemLarge.aspx?itemID=13521> Commercial Development Monitor - December 08, Online Posting, City Of Sydney, Australia: 3 <http://www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/AboutSydney/documents/cityresearch/CommercialDevt MonitorDec08.pdf> Kainantu District, Online Posting, Wikipedia < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kainantu_District> Independence Day, Souvenir Issue, Post Courier Newspaper, September 16, 1975: 1 MapQuest, Online Posting, Map from Chatswood to Downtown, Sydney, June 7, 2012 <http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1R2GGHP_enUS460&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf .osb&biw=1220&bih=710&wrapid=tlif133909469772810&q=Epping,+North+Sydney+map&um= 1&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=0x6b12a3c2aca242f3:0x5017d681632b690,Epping+NSW,+Australia&gl=us&ei=tP bQT9bNNJCo8ATvx9G_AQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAgQ8gEwAA> Memories of Independence Day in PNG – 1975 and 1976, Online Posting, Malum Nalu Blog Site, September 29, 2010 < http://malumnalu.blogspot.com/2010/09/memories-of-independence-day-in-png.html> Morobe Province Language Map, Online Posting, SIL PNG Language Resources <http://www.sil.org/pacific/png/show_maps.asp?map=Morobe> Nanumea (Nanong), Helen, 2012, email, May 20, 2012 Nanong, Gail, 2012, Online Posting, Facebook Message, May 19, 2012 New International Version, [Colorado Springs]: Biblica, 2011. BibleGateway.com. Web. June 2012.

Nock & Kirby’s Window Display, Online Photo, NSW State Library <http://acms.sl.nsw.gov.au/item/itemLarge.aspx?itemID=12790> Senff, Paul, Personal Interview, June 4, 2012

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2012 - Gware & Arina Nanong and daughter Helen gathering Information for this book (Photo Courtesy of Helen Nanumea Nanong)

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About The Author

Charles

Micheals is a native of Michigan and lived the first thirty years of his life there, eventually

working in the grocery industry. In 1985 his wife Barbara and their four small children joined Wycliffe Bible Translators and moved to the country of Papua New Guinea (PNG) where they worked with the internationally known non-profit linguistic organization, SIL International (formerly the Summer Institute of Linguistics). Charles served in a variety of administrative roles in PNG, including managing for 15 years the SIL Membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Store where Gware and Arina worked store, serving several years as the Chairman of the SIL PNG Job Evaluation and Wage Review Committee and on the SIL PNG Executive Committee.

During their 15 years of service in PNG, Bible translation work was completed in 67 languages and over 100 additional Bible translation projects were started. Today, almost 180 language communities, representing 1.8 million people in PNG have access to the Scriptures in their own languages.

In 2000, Charles and Barbara moved back to the USA and Charles served for several years as the Regional Director for Recruitment for Wycliffe, living in the Chicago, Illinois area. In 2004 they moved to Orlando, Florida where Charles served for six and one half years as the Vice President for Recruitment Ministries for Wycliffe. He currently heads up Wycliffeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Management Recruitment Department and speaks at various mission conferences and colleges each year. Barbara coordinates several Wycliffe short term mission trips each year.

Charles holds a BS degree in Food Distribution from Western Michigan University and a MA degree in Organization Management from Dallas Baptist University. He served on the Board of Directors for The Finishers Project, a non-profit mission dedicated to helping people in the second half of life find places to serve in missions. He has also been involved in helping create and develop Mission Teach, a ministry dedicated to helping place teachers in MK (Missionary Kid) mission schools around the world and 94 | P a g e

Military Believer, a growing ministry dedicated to helping military personnel who are leaving the military, find opportunities for service in global missions.

Charles has also authored a number of articles about the work of SIL in PNG and other historical articles about life in the Aiyura Valley in PNG. (http://issuu.com/cbmicheals)

Both Charles and Barbara are members of Saint Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s church in Sanford, FL and are involved in a variety of church activities there. Charles serves as an elder at the church.

However, they are still

members of Second Christian Reformed Church, in Kalamazoo, Michigan which is the church that commissioned them for their work with Wycliffe.

All four of their children are actively supporting

missions and church ministry work. Two of their four children are serving with Wycliffe around the world.

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