You've read in earlier blog entries that there's a serious problem of break-ins here at the SIL center, both in work areas but often in missionary homes. In the first 21 days of August there were 27 break-ins or attempts. This doesn't count the break-ins in surrounding villages either, though these targets aren't as attractive to the thiefs, nor as frequent.
There has been much concern on everyone's part and fear throughout the valley, because the "raskols" are no longer running away when an alarm goes off or when confronted by people. Even the hired outside security firm on the center is fearful since they patrol mostly alone. The local police are understaffed, sometimes uncooperative, and considered incompetent, despite our attempts to provide written reports and witness accounts.
With investigation, it appears that all the thiefs come from one village, Ukarumpa. As the center here is also known as Ukarumpa, you can conclude that this is the closest village to us. You can also believe that this village has probably benefited more from SIL than any other village in the valley
Other villages in the valley are angered by these incidents. They also believe SIL has rewarded Ukarumpa with benefits instead of holding Ukarumpa accountable as a community for this problem. (Perception but not true.)
The center's leadership decided to approach the Ukarumpa village leaders today after lunch and convey that the relationship between the SIL community and Ukarumpa community has been broken and ask that the community restore their honor by actively turning over the raskols to the police.
Julie and I decided to go along, even though I don't speak Tok Pisin and Julie doesn't catch it all. In all, about 20 missionaries went to support the SIL leaders and to show the villagers that our personal relationships are important and remain.
We missionaries met just inside our property and prayed for a while for God to have control and for protection for each of us. We then crossed the "bridge" (more like walking on a tightrope because of loosely attached and deteriorating materials) in smaller groups and walked up the wide path to what didn't look like it but was the village square.
We got there shortly before 1:30 pm and experienced PNG time, which means that enough people didn't gather until 2 pm for the meeting to start. Actually, people kept arriving until the end, around 4 pm.
A number of members, employees and friends mingled with the Ukarumpa village people in a positive demonstration of togetherness. Our Director felt he conveyed the pain and anguish that the security situation is causing our members and employees, highlighting that extended security issues could close our Ukarumpa center, leading to the Bible translation work and support needing to happen elsewhere in the country.
Disappointingly, but not entirely surprisingly, the community dialog centered on a number of issues in the past, some years in the past, that distracted and deflected from the ownership of the current security situation. However, it highlights that these issues of the past are important to the Ukarumpa village community! We have good grounds to continue to dialog with the village leaders and work toward a solution. This is just a step on a very long and changing road.
Please keep praying for peace, for safety and for good communication as we move forward in continued dialog.
There has been much concern on everyone's part and fear throughout the valley, because the "raskols" are no longer running away when an alarm goes off or when confronted by people. Even the hired outside security firm on the center is fearful since they patrol mostly alone. The local police are understaffed, sometimes uncooperative, and considered incompetent, despite our attempts to provide written reports and witness accounts.
With investigation, it appears that all the thiefs come from one village, Ukarumpa. As the center here is also known as Ukarumpa, you can conclude that this is the closest village to us. You can also believe that this village has probably benefited more from SIL than any other village in the valley
Other villages in the valley are angered by these incidents. They also believe SIL has rewarded Ukarumpa with benefits instead of holding Ukarumpa accountable as a community for this problem. (Perception but not true.)
The center's leadership decided to approach the Ukarumpa village leaders today after lunch and convey that the relationship between the SIL community and Ukarumpa community has been broken and ask that the community restore their honor by actively turning over the raskols to the police.
Julie and I decided to go along, even though I don't speak Tok Pisin and Julie doesn't catch it all. In all, about 20 missionaries went to support the SIL leaders and to show the villagers that our personal relationships are important and remain.
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| Like walking a gangplank |
We got there shortly before 1:30 pm and experienced PNG time, which means that enough people didn't gather until 2 pm for the meeting to start. Actually, people kept arriving until the end, around 4 pm.
A number of members, employees and friends mingled with the Ukarumpa village people in a positive demonstration of togetherness. Our Director felt he conveyed the pain and anguish that the security situation is causing our members and employees, highlighting that extended security issues could close our Ukarumpa center, leading to the Bible translation work and support needing to happen elsewhere in the country.
Disappointingly, but not entirely surprisingly, the community dialog centered on a number of issues in the past, some years in the past, that distracted and deflected from the ownership of the current security situation. However, it highlights that these issues of the past are important to the Ukarumpa village community! We have good grounds to continue to dialog with the village leaders and work toward a solution. This is just a step on a very long and changing road.
Please keep praying for peace, for safety and for good communication as we move forward in continued dialog.
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