Light and Love

This Raging Light
By Estelle Laure
Genre: Realistic YA

"Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love-messy, inconvenient love-is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother."

I don't usually read realistic novels (YA or adult), especially ones that revolved around love, because that kind of story doesn't usually appeal to me. But, I saw this book in the break-room at the library and started reading it. The situation and Lucille hooked me almost right at the start.

Lucille is an intense girl who's practical but also passionate. I didn't necessarily love her as a character, but I did feel for her and was definitely rooting for her to succeed. And although this book does have romantic love, it's not all about the boy. It's more about the love Lucille has for her cute, funny sister, Wren, the love for her messed-up and missing parents, and the love of two best friends.

This novel was heartbreaking and hard, but beautiful. It is very poetic, and the poetic-ness of her writing took me a while to get used to, but once I did, I could hardly put the book down. The subject and characters in this novel are raw and real, just like life, and will remain with long after the last sentence.

I give this novel a 3 out of 5 and recommend it for 16 year olds and up.

What I learned: If Lucille could face everything she did in this novel, I have no reason to complain about the small bumps of difficulties in my life.

Those who enjoyed this book might enjoy the poem by Dylan Thomas, Do Not Go Gentle.

Let me hear you ROAR!

The Roar

By Emma Clayton

Genre: YA Dystopian

#1 in the Roar Series

"Mika lives in future London, behind the Wall, safe from the Animal Plague beyond. Or so he's been told. But ever since Ellie vanished a all year ago, he's suspected his world may be built on secrets-and lies. When a mysterious organization starts recruiting mutant kids to compete in violent virtual reality games, Mika takes the chance to search for his twin sister-and the truth." 

I want you to be aware, before you read this book, or think about reading this book, that it's part of a series. I did not know that when I was reading it, so, when I got to the ending, I was very confused, agitated, and frustrated that the author left so many unanswered questions. This was an easy mistake to make, because there was nothing on the book to indicate that it was part of a series. I hate when publishers do this!

So, all the above has a huge impact on how I viewed and will review this novel. 

If I would have known there was a sequel, the abrupt ending probably wouldn't have bothered me. However, one aspect of it would have bothered me regardless. One of the main characters disappeared at the end of the book, like the author forgot about her. One minute she was there, the next, she was gone and not mentioned again. At the end of novel, even one in a series, everyone should be accounted for, whether they're in prison, dead, missing, etc. This was not the case here. 

I did enjoy parts of this novel, though. The suspense of knowing 'the secret' (even though I had a good guess) kept me turning the pages throughout the book to see what would happen next. Also, it had some pretty unique ideas, like the animal plague, and what the mutants could do (I won't give it away). I loved the latter. I also enjoyed how the author kept the parents in the novel. They're not usually in YA fantasy/dystopian novels much (for obvious reasons) but they kept cropping up here, and it was good to see their love and relationship fluctuate like any normal teenager's. 

Ellie was my favorite character by far; I loved her spunk and spark. I was disappointed the reader didn't get inside her head more, especially since she was the first person we meet. 

Due to all these factors, I give The Roar a 2.75 out of 5 and recommend it for 12 year olds and up. I'm still debating whether or not to read the sequel or not. 

What I learned: Everything the government tells you is a lie! (Ha. ha. Joking...mostly.)

*Readers who enjoyed The Hunger Games, Ender's Game, or the Uglies, Pretties, Specials series might like this novel. 

**What about you? What do you think about reading a book, and then finding out it's a series? Do you think they should be clearly marked? Have you read The Roar? Think you might or might not now? Let me know!

Secrets and Spying

The Scarlet Pimpernel
By Baroness Orczv 
Genre: Historical Fiction, Classic 

"It is 1972 and France is in the grip of a seething, bloody revolution. Mobs roam the Paris streets hunting down royalists, barricades block any chance of escape, and every day hundreds die under the blade of Madame la Guillotine. But in the hearts of the condemned nobility there remains one last vestige of hope: rescue by the elusive Scarlet Pimpernel.

"Renowed for both his unparalleled bravery and his clever disguises, the Pimpernel's identity remains as much a mystery to his sworn enemy, the ruthless French agent Chauvelin, as to his devoted admirer, the beautiful Lady Marguerite Blakeny."

I loved this book! And lately, it's been hard for me to find books that I truly love. This novel had everything a good novel should possess: love, humor, excitement, and surprises that truly widened my eyes.

From the first page, I was hunting for this elusive Scarlet Pimpernel man, and when I realized who he was, I was completely surprised and elated. And the delightful surprises did not end there, but wait toward the end of the book like little treasures the author tosses at you. I don't know much (or anything, really), about Baroness Orczv, but this novel shows how clever and witty she is.

One of the few things I didn't particularly like about this novel was that the end seemed a bit brief. Don't worry, everything is tied up well, but I felt like with all that happens throughout the story, it wouldn't have hurt to elaborate on some of the events at the end. It seems like the Baroness (how fun to say that title) was just ready to be done spinning her tale.

Also, I wanted more interaction between the two characters, mostly at the end, for there was more to be said/done between them to my satisfaction. But, overall, this was a fantastic read, and I rate it a 4 out of 5. I recommend it for 15 year olds and up.

What I learned: Don't judge people, for you never know what's truly going on with them. The most likely costume/disguise is often the one that works best.

Readers who enjoyed this novel might also like:  The Count of Monte Cristo,  Legend, and The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.

Just Because

Just because poetry month is over doesn't mean we have to forget or ignore it until next year.  And so, I present to you a succinct, sweet little poem.

who are you, little i

By E.E. Cummings 

who are you, little i

(five or six years old)

peering from some high

window; at the gold 

of november sunset 

(and feeling that: if day

has to become night

this is a beautiful way)

Ted Dekker and Historical Fiction

A.D. 30
By Ted Dekker
Genre: Historical Fiction
#1 in the A.D. 30 series

"The outcast daughter of one of the most powerful Bedouin sheikhs in Arabia, Maviah is called on to protect the very people who rejected her. When their enemies launch a sudden attack with devastating consequences, Maviah escapes with the help of two of her father's warriors-Saba, who speaks more with his sword than his voice, and Judah, a Jew who comes from a tribe that can read the stars. Their journey will be fraught with terrible danger. If they can survive the vast forbidding sands of a desert that is deadly to most, they will reach a brutal world subjugated by kings and emperors. There Maviah must secure an unlikely alliance with King Herod of the Jews.

"But Maviah's path leads her unexpectedly to another man. An enigmatic teacher who speaks of a way in this life that offers greater power than any kingdom. His name is Yeshua, and his words turn everything known on its head. Though following him may present even greater danger, his may be the only way for Maviah to save her people-and herself."

I'm usually leery about reading books with Jesus in them that aren't the Bible, since I believe the Bible is the primary way God reveals Himself to us. However, in A.D. 30, all the words Yeshua (Jesus) says are from the New Testament, except for some words he specifically to Maviah and another woman and some words he tells her in a dream. The way the reader is able to get into the people's heads and see their culture as close as possible without going to Israel helped me better understand the Jewish culture and see Jesus' words in a whole new light.

I was also surprised at the accuracy of it as well. Obviously it's fiction, and there was not a woman called Maviah who did all of the things in the novel, but there really was a suppression in Sepphoris by Varus and Aretas's army of Bedu, and other events and people that I can't say or it will give too much away. I love when authors use real events and people in their novels; sometimes real life is crazier than fiction.

Although I enjoyed the characters and plot, I couldn't get into this book very well. I wasn't very eager to read it, and I'm not sure why. Perhaps because the world wasn't truly new to me or because I longed to spend more time with Yeshua, and couldn't, or could just read the Scriptures to hear from Him. It was a good break from Dekker's sci-fi thrillers. He mastered this genre as well as those, if not better at times.

Due to all of this, I give this book a 3.5 and recommend it for 16 year olds and up.

What I learned: Everyone is precious to God. Forgiveness is more powerful than rage.

Poetry Fun

Not all poetry is deep, about a soul-mate or what it feels like to suffer the death of a loved one. And thank goodness, or we'd all be crying our hearts out each time we wanted to read something more lyrical. Here's a poem about the silliness of the English language to end the month of April on a light note (or rhyme ;).

Foolish Questions

American Folk Rhyme adapted by William Cole

Where can a man buy a cap for his knee? 

Or a key for the lock of his hair? 

And can his eyes be called a school? 

I would think-there are pupils there!

What jewels are found in the crown of his head,

And who walks on the bridge of his nose? 

Can he use, in building the roof of his mouth, 

The nails on the ends of his toes? 

Can the crook of his elbow be sent to jail-

If it can, well, then,what did it do? 

And how does he sharpen his shoulder blades? 

I'll be hanged if I know-do you? 

Can he sit in the shade of the palm of his hand, 

And beat time with the drum in his ear? 

Can the calf of his leg eat the corn on his toe? 

There's somthin' pretty strange around here!

Machines and Monsters, Oh My!

Leviathan 
By Scott Westerfeld
Genre: YA Steam Punk
#1 in the Leviathan Series

Choose your Weapon: Beastie or Clanker

"Alek is a prince without a throne. On the run from his own people, he has only a fighting machine and a small band of men.

"Deryn is a girl disguised as a guy in the British Air Service. She must fight for her cause-and protect her secret-at all costs.

"Alek and Deryn are thrown together aboard the mighty airship Leviathan. Though fighting side by side, their worlds are far apart. British fabricated beasts versus German steam-powered war machines. They are enemies with everything to lose, yet somehow destined to be together."

This book was nothing like I've ever read before. In a good way, don't worry. First of all, it's steam punk. I've never read anything in that genre before, nor ever desired to, so I have nothing to compare this to, but it blew me away. The way that Westerfeld used facts from World War I and brought in highly imaginative creatures was so creative. I enjoyed the blurring of the lines of past and future, so that this novel truly could have taken place at any time. He always kept me on my toes, and I never knew what to expect.

The way Westerfeld used science and Darwinism was fascinating. I mean, animals that are made up of lots of other animals and can fly? So cool! Also, this book is laced with beautiful drawings that bring the reader into this unique world and help explain the machines and creatures Westerfeld invented for this tale. Without the drawings I might have been more frustrated and confused about what the creatures specifically looked like or how they worked, but since there were drawings, I could easily imagine these strange inventions in my head and didn't feel left out of the world.

This book was as different from the other novels I've read by Westerfeld, Uglies, Pretties, Specials, as a zebra is from a squirrel. I think that shows great talent on his part. But like in those books, I like how he creates new words for his characters to use, and I might have used one of them out loud at one point... And the characters! They're so funny, especially Deryn. I love her snarky humor and 'no-nonsense' attitude; she just pulls you right along with her and keeps everything fresh and funny.

The only thing I didn't particularly like about this novel was that the boy, Alek, seemed a bit 'weak' at the end. For being a Prince and a male character, I expected to pull more of his weight toward the end of the novel, especially when Deryn's soaring down ropes and threatening people. It was kind-of like Inheritance by Christopher Paolini all over again. But there's still hope! There's two more books in the series: Behemoth and Goliath. I do want to finish the series, but I'm not necessarily dying to.

I give Leviathan a 3.5 for all of the above and recommend it for 12 year olds and up.

What I learned: Oftentimes you have to take risks to grow, to change. Difficulties shape us into who we are.

Oh, Tennyson

Another poet spotlight today (because, remember, it's national poetry month!), and today it is the very talented Tennyson. As I'm sure you've noticed, all of the poets I've chosen are dead. This is mainly because those are the ones we (mostly) studied in college, so I'm not very familiar with contemporary poets. And they've lasted all of this time for a reason, right?

I've found Tennyson's poetry romantic (not in a boy-girl way), imagistic, and deep. If you haven't tasted any of his delicious poems, view this as your invitation. You won't be sorry.

The Dying Swan 

By Alfred Lord Tennyson

The plain was grassy, wild and bare, 

wide, wild, and open to the air,

which had built up everywhere

an under-roof of doleful grey. 

With an inner voice the river ran,

adown it floated a dying swan,

and loudly did lament. 

It was the middle of the day. 

Ever the weary wind went on, 

and took the reed-tops as it went. 

Some blue peaks in the distance rose, 

and white against the cold-white sky, 

shone out their crowning snows. 

One willow over the river wept, 

and shook the wave as the wind did sigh; 

above in the wind was the swallow,

chasing itself at its own wild will,

and far through the marish green and still

the tangled water-courses slept, 

shot over with purple, green, and yellow. 

The wild swan's death-hymn took the soul

of that waste place with joy

hidden in sorrow: at first to the ear

the warble was low, and full and clear; 

and floating about the under-sky,

prevailing in weakness, the coronach stole 

sometimes afar, and sometimes anear; 

but anon her awful jubilant voice,

with a music strange and manifold, 

flowed forth on a carol free and bold; 

as when a mighty people rejoice

 with shawms, and with cymbals, and harps of gold, 

and the tumult of their acclaim is rolled 

through the open gates of the city afar,

to the shepherd who watcheth the evening star. 

And the creeping mosses and clambering weeds, 

and the willow-branches hoar and dank, 

and the wavy smell of the soughing reeds, 

and the wave-worn horns of the echoing bank,

and the silvery marish-flowers that throng

the desolate creeks and pools among, 

were flooded over with eddying song. 

Nearly as Beautiful

And the Mountains Echoed 
By Khaled Hosseini
Genre: Adult Fiction 

"It begins with the heartbreaking, unparalleled bond between two motherless siblings in an Afghan village. To three-year-old Pari, big brother Abdullah is more mother than brother. To ten-year-old Abdullah, little Pari is his everything. What happens to them-and the large and small manners in which it echoes through the lives of so many other people-is proof of the moral complexity of life."

First, the likes. If you have read Hosseini's other novels, A Thousand Splendid Suns or The Kite Runner, you know something of Hosseini's beautiful, eloquent writing. His subtle similes, his vivid descriptions, and how he paints characters so that you can see and feel all of their life-joys and sorrows.

Despite that this novel was told from so many different perspectives, I got to know the characters intimately and each one seemed unique, with their own personalities.

I liked that Hosseini didn't dive into politics or religion (Islam) in this book, and splatter or even whisper his opinions to the reader, which would have been easy to do. Instead, he looks at relationships, stretches them, breaks them, and, in the end, makes them shine and sparkle even amidst pain and turmoil. This novel is primarily about what it means to be a human, to love, and to be separated from those you love. It is a beautiful book.

However, I believed And the Mountains Echoed was nearly, not quite, as beautiful as Hosseini's other novels. As I mentioned, this book is written from many different perspectives. This made the whole tale a bit disjointing and confusing. As you got to know one character/story well, Hosseini dragged you out of their head and into another character's head, who might not even know the previous character. So even though I was able to clearly picture the characters, I didn't really empathize with any of them, since I left them fairly quickly, and oftentimes didn't get to see how their story ended.

Also, this novel will definitely jerk on your heart strings. That's not a bad thing (if you like to cry), but it overall seemed too depressing to me. One of the themes seemed to be aging and death, which I don't like to swallow in large qualities. The ending was sad, but had some glimmers of hope. I didn't find it as hopeful as the endings in The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns, although those books weren't oozing joy at the end either. The characters in this book just seemed to make less honorable/good choices, even though they weren't necessarily 'bad' choices. I just expected more of the characters, or for them to change more for the good.

For the above reasons, I give this book a 3 out of 5 and recommend it for 17 year olds and up due to its deep subject matter. It does have less grisly, violent scenes than the other two novels, so that was nice.

And, I have to say, I did enjoy visiting Afghanistan again. If you're longing to take experience another country without leaving the country, try this book. Also, I recommend reading either A Thousand Splendid Suns or The Kite Runner before reading And the Mountains Echoed, as it's easier to read.

April Showers Bring... Death?

This week's poem spotlight is on Christina Rossetti, one of my favorite poets, whom I discovered in my British Literature class in college. Rossetti was born in London on December 5th, 1830 to a father who as an Italian in exile. She was a Christian highly influenced by the Oxford Movement. One of her most famous poems is Goblin Market, which I highly recommend, but which I haven't put on here because it's much too long.

I have chosen another of her poems, which is perfect for this season of flowers, rain, and yes, death.

Sweet Death

By Christina Rossetti

The sweetest blossoms die. 

And so it was that, going day by day

unto the church to praise and pray, 

and crossing the green churchyard thoughtfully, 

I saw how on the graves the flowers

shed their fresh leaves in showers, 

and how their perfume rose up to the sky

before it passed away. 

The youngest blossoms die. 

They die and fall and nourish the rich earth 

from which they lately had their birth; 

sweet life, but sweeter death that passeth by

and is as though it had not been:-

all colours turn to green; 

the bright hues vanish and the odours fly,

the grass hath lasting worth. 

And youth and beauty die. 

So be it, O my God, Thou God of truth: 

better than beauty and than truth 

are Saints and Angels, a glad company;

and thou, O Lord, our Rest and Ease, 

art better than these. 

Why should we shrink from our full harvest? Why 

prefer to glean with Ruth? 

Flying with Peter

Peter Pan

by J.M. Barrie

Genre: Fantasy (Middle-Grade)

"As he flies through the skies of London, Peter Pan spies the Darling children in their nursery. Curious, he sneaks into their house, but is almost caught. In his hurry to escape, Peter leaves his shadow behind. 

"When he returns to reclaim it, he meets Wendy Darling and her brothers, John and Michael. Soon he convinces them to fly off with him and his not-very-polite fairy to the magical Neverland, the island where he lives as captain of the lost boys. But a war is raging between the lost boys and pirates, and the evil Captain Hook wants to rid the island of the boys for good, especially the cocky Peter. Will he succeed?" 

(We probably all know the story of Peter Pan, but I included the synopsis in case it's been a while since you watched the different movie variations.)

I've always adored the tale of Peter Pan and have seen all of the movies several times. The story of a boy who can fly and never grows up draws me like a bee to nectar. And, of course, there are mermaids, which (nearly) always help any story. I can't believe that it took me this long to read this book, but I'm glad I did. And I probably appreciate it more that I'm older, because although it's written for children, there are some literary aspects, humor, and British sayings that my older self appreciated. 

Yet, reading this book took me back to my childhood and live it all over again. I, too, was a child flying freely with Peter Pan, reading stories to the lost boys, and fighting the pirates without fear. 

There are differences in this book compared to the movies, of course, but they didn't bother me because I was wholly in the world that Barrie created. And what a fascinating, fun world it is! 

One thing, however, did bother me. The author doesn't bring you very close to the characters. Sure, you hear their thoughts and feel some of their feelings, but you're always bobbing about, first to this person, then to this one, and you're never taken to the core of who the person is. In fact, I felt closer to the narrator than any of the characters because he was so effervescent. 

Usually I don't like it when the narrators pops his/her head up and talks to the reader, disturbing her from the story. But in this book, for some unknown reason, I didn't mind it. Possibly because the narrator was talkative from the beginning, and the reader felt slightly apart from the characters the entire time. I do have to say, though, that the narrator did annoy me a few times, especially when he gave his opinions on the characters and children in general. Why couldn't he let us come up with our own? 

To sum up all of this blathering, this novel is an easy, light, fun read that's sure to take you back to a younger, more imaginative you. I give it a 3.5 out of 5 and recommend it for about 9 year olds and up. 

What I learned: Everyone grows up (I'm still trying to reconcile myself to this fact...). However, it's not something to be dreaded, but greeted, like a friend. 

My favorite quote: "To die will be an awfully big adventure." 

*What about you? Have you read this book before? What are your thoughts on interactive narrators? 

Did You Know?

Did you know that April is National Poetry Month? That's right: yay poetry! Since poetry is so beautiful and is often the neglected, forgotten younger sibling of novels, I'm going to highlight a poem each week during this month. If I was a better poet, I would include my own works, but alas, novels consume all of my creative spark at the moment.

I will give two poems today since I missed last week. Our first poet will be the famous J.R.R. Tolkien. Did you know that besides writing the wonderfully-crafted world of Lord of the Rings he also wrote poetry? There's some poetry in his novels, of course (such a sneaky way of publishing poems), but I didn't know for the longest time that he also had written a few stand-alone poems. So, without further ado, I give you two marvelously written poems by the fantasy king, J.R.R. Tolkien.

Shadow-Bride

There was a man who dwelt alone, 

as day and night went past 

he sat as still as carven stone, 

and yet no shadow cast. 

The white owls perched upon his head

beneath the winter moon; 

they wiped their beaks and thought him dead

under the stars of June. 

There came a lady clad in grey

in the twilight shining: 

one moment she would stand and say,

her hair with flowers entwining. 

He woke, as had he sprung of stone, 

and broke the spell that bound him; 

he clasped her fast, both flesh and bone, 

and wrapped her shadow round him. 

There never more she walks her ways

by sun or moon or star; 

she dwells below where neither days

nor any nights there are. 

But once a year when caverns yawn 

and hidden things awake, 

they dance together then till dawn

and a single shadow make. 

Oliphaunt

Grey as a mouse,

Big as a house, 

nose like a snake, 

I make the earth shake, 

As I tramp through the grass;

Trees crack as I pass. 

With horns in my mouth 

I walk in the South, 

Flapping big ears. 

Beyond count of years

I stump round and round, 

Never lie on the ground, 

Not even to die. 

Oliphant am I,

Biggest of all, 

Huge, old, and tall. 

If ever you'd met me, 

You wouldn't forget me. 

If you never do, 

You won't think I'm true;

But old Oliphaunt am I, 

And I never lie. 

Stargirl

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli 
Genre: YA Realistic Fiction 

"Stargirl. From the day she arrives at quiet Mica High, the hallways hum with the murmur of 'Stargirl, Stargirl.' She captures Leo Borlock's heart with just one smile. She sparks a school-spirit revolution with just one cheer. The students of Mica High are enchanted. At first.

"Then they turn on her. Stargirl is suddenly shunned for everything that makes her different, and Leo, desperate with love, urges her to become the very thing that can destroy her: normal."

What I Liked: 
I loved the character, Stargirl. She's sarcastic, sweet, and bizarre. Sometimes she seems a little too good to be true, but then she says something funny or dreams something impossible, and she floats back to the earth for a time. We all could probably be more like her.

This novel is spun from some great, deep themes that every human has faced at some point-popularity, and what does it mean to be different and if that identity is worth it. Spinelli also does a good job of portraying the reality of what all humans desire, not just high-schoolers: to fit in and be included. The author also does a good job of outlining the different reactions to people (or things) that are different and the progression that it can make. Also, there are some lovely metaphors and images in this work. I love when authors take the time to make their words beautiful.

What I Didn't Care For: 
The main character/narrator, Leo. Yes, I liked him at times and understood him, but at the end of the novel, I was saying to him out loud, "Stop being a dummie! Man up, Leo!" He seemed weak and didn't change at the end as much as I had hoped, which was a slight disappointment. Because if characters in novels can't change, where's the hope for the rest of us?

Another thing that irked me about this novel was that there was so much summary. Spinelli sums up a lot of things that took place, and some of that is understandable because the novel would be much too long if Spinelli wrote out in scene-form everything that happens. But still. He could have written out a few more of the events that took place. The summary acted like a wall to the reader, separating me from the characters and the world in the novel.

I give this novel a 3 and recommend it for about ten year olds and up.

My favorite quote: "She was bendable light. She shone around every corner of my day."

What I learned: I'm so selfish! I need to care about others and serve them more than myself.

P.S. This novel has a sequel, Love, Stargirl. I haven't read it yet, nor do I have a great desire to read it, although I probably will sometime in the future.

*What books have you guys read lately? Any character traits you want to steal from the main characters? Have a lovely Easter!

A New Address

To keep my mind from spinning completely off into space, I have created a separate blog for my Wycliffe ministry. Please visit http://adventuresinbibletranslation.blogspot.com (I know, it's a mouthful; I might fix that later...) to continue reading stories and posts about Wycliffe, Papua New Guinea, and Bible translation.

This blog will continue to remain a place for my reviews on books, ramblings on writing, and outbursts of poetry. Thank you so much for continuing to visit this blog, and yes, the beautiful cliffs of Ireland. And have a happy Easter! What are you doing to celebrate the celebration of Christ this weekend?

Sign Language Impact

Signing for Impact

Tens of thousands of deaf people are locked in a world of silence in PNG, having never been taught sign language and unable to communicate with others.

Foreting and Nathalie Juhonewe, who are both deaf themselves, have a burden for ministering to the deaf of PNG. They know that establishing an accurate dictionary is the first step. In fact, Nathalie calls it a fundamental leap. She asks, "How can anyone translate the Bible into PNG's sign language if there's no dictionary to rely on and just a few established signs for Christian concepts? And most of all, how can anyone reach the deaf if they haven't acquired any language since their parents never learned to sign with them as children?

There is an old dictionary from 1994 which a team of hearing people copied from Australian Sign Language with some created signs for PNG words, totaling about 2250 words/signs. However, it needs revision to be useful for the deaf community in PNG. The sign language used in this country has developed into an independent sign language with its own native grammar and syntax.

Now that the deaf children who have used the dictionary since 1994 are adults, they are reviewing the dictionary and updating it to include signs used in their language and deleting signs that they don't use. A team of deaf people from every corner of Papua New Guinea has gathered twice yearly since 2012 and developed almost 1300 new signs thus far. The goal is a sign language dictionary that will be an up-to-date foundation for everyone who needs or wants to know the national sign language used here in PNG.

There are an estimated 24,000-30,000 pre-lingual deaf people in PNG who were not taught sign language as children. Once every deaf child starts to learn it, the national sign language would become one of the largest indigenous languages of Papua New Guinea. That's not happening yet, but Foreting, Nathalie, and others are working toward that goal.

Nathalie explained, "We minister to the deaf in the hopes of seeing every deaf child start to sign, so that they have a language to connect with other people and to learn about our amazing and loving God."

Changing lives 

Write it on the Board

Write it down

Remember when you had to go to the front of the class and write on the board? Here is a class in Back Translation Principles that is held in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea. As part of the translation process, translators take translated material and write it out in English to check it for accuracy. First it is translated word for word. Then it is rearranged to make sense in English because word order and sentence structure can be different from language to language. It's hard work and requires a good understanding of both languages. Pray for wisdom, as this training is very important to the accuracy of the translation. 

*This post was taken from the PNG Experience blog. 

The Big Exchange

A valley in Papua New Guinea

For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many. -Mark 10:45

Bible translator Neil Anderson and six Folopa men were working hard translating the Gospel of Mark in the Folopa language. But when they came to Mark 10:45,where it says that the Son of Man came to "give His life as a ransom," they hit a roadblock. How could they translate 'ransom'?

Neil explained to the men that a ransom is a price that must be paid before a captive, whose life hung in the balance, can go free. As he explained, Neil could see they understood.

"We need to ransom people all the time," one of the Folopa men said. "When a man is felling a tree and it falls the wrong way and kills someone, the clansmen of the dead person demand payment. If the relatives of the offender's clansmen don't pay, the relatives of the dead person demand the life of the offender. To save his life, we make an exchange. Pigs, shell money, and other things of value are given to the relatives in exchange for the life of the offender."

Bursting with excitement, Neil used their phrase to help him translate Mark 10:45 into Folopa. When he was done, he read it aloud. Translated back into English, the finished verse read, Jesus came to affect an exchange whereby He took the punishment of the evil deeds of many people. He came so that many people could go free and He died. 

When they heard these words, the men were deeply moved.

"We give a lot to make an exchange for a wrong," one man said. "But we have never given a person for the exchange price. Jesus did a great work for us."

Isn't it staggering to know that Christ gave His life in exchange for yours?

*This post was taken from the Wycliffe Bible Translators USA blog. 

Just Use the Same Language!

Choose One

When confronted with the task of starting almost 300 language projects in Papua New Guinea, it might cause you to think, "Why not just teach everyone the same language?" Language and culture tie together. The unique beauty of each culture is expressed best by the indigenous language. Perhaps the best way to think about it is to marvel at the creative beauty in nature. How would you choose just one butterfly? Translating languages are essential to preserving the beauty of the cultures they reside in. Scriptures that are translated in the heart language of the people become clear and understanding is enhanced when seen through their cultural lens. Pray that the untranslated Scriptures of Papua New Guinea would have a project started even this year!

I have some thoughts to add to the post from the PNG Experience blog. As I speak to people about the need for Bible translation, I receive this question a lot: "Why don't you teach the people English?" Well, there's several negative things this statement implies, such as that English is superior than the people's language that needs to be translated, and that God only speaks English.

The gospel itself is an act of translation! Christ translated himself into humanity: he took on our looks, our limitations, and our words. The essence of the gospel is that we can't act or be anything special to earn it-it's a free gift. So, people shouldn't have to be anything different or do anything different to receive the Scriptures in their own language. It's a free gift.

When we translate the Scriptures into a person's heart language, we are telling them, "You matter. God loves you just as you are. In fact, He speaks your language!"

Music to My Ears

Music to-go

Take a moment to think about how much music means to you. Music is an important part of any culture. In Papua New Guinea, songs carry the ancient traditions and stories to the next generation. It also introduces new traditions and cultural beliefs. Many language groups love taking their ancient songs and adding words of Scriptures to them. Now these songs, written in their heart language, come alive. Pray for the almost 300 languages that do not have a project started. Pray that it will become music to their ears!


*This post was taken from the PNG Experience blog. 

A Review: Firefight

Firefight by Brandon Sanderson

Genre: YA Fantasy

Sequel to Steelheart 

**Spoiler Alerts** 

(You might not want to read the following if you haven't read Steelheart yet or ever plan to). 

"Newcago is free. They told David it was impossible-that even the Reckoners had never killed a high epic. Yet Steelheart-invincible, immortal, unconquerable-is dead. And he died by David's hand. 

"Eliminating Steelheart was supposed to make life simpler. Instead, it only made David realize he has questions. Big ones. And no one in Newcago can give him answers. 

"Babylon Restored, the city formerly known as the borough of Manhatten, has possibilities, though.  Ruled by the mysterious High Epic Regalia, Babylon Restored is flooded and miserable, but David is sure it's the path that will lead him to what he needs to find. Entering a city oppressed by a High Epic despot is risky, but David's willing to take the gamble. Because killing Steelheart left a hole in David's heart. A hole where his thirst for vengeance once lived. Somehow, he filled that hole with another Epic-Firefight. And he's willing to go on a quest darker and even more dangerous than the fight against Steelheart to find her and get his answers." 

I enjoyed this book just as much, if not more so, than Steelheart. There were plenty more heart-thumping, teeth-clenching scenes, and surprises waiting around the corner, all of a more dangerous nature, if that's possible, than in the first novel. 

David and his metaphors continued to crack me up, although I did miss Abraham and Cody in this book. The other characters the reader meets-Mizzy, Val, and the other guy-didn't seem as developed as the other minor characters. And, the reason for Val's irritation at David wasn't quite explained. 

But this novel is more tense than the previous, and the nature of the Epics takes on a whole new perspective as David gets closer and closer to understanding them. 

Sometimes, I hate series. Because right when you get into one, you realize there will be another one, and it won't be out for a whole year! And by that time, you'll forget the plot and characters and will have to re-read them all over again. And who has time for that? So be forewarned before beginning this book-the last, third book, Calamity, will come out in 2016. 

I give this novel a 3.5 and recommend it for 13 year olds and up due to violence. 

What I learned: Our fears can control and weaken us. 

Again, here's Brandon Sanderson's website if you want to learn more about this series or his other novels: http://brandonsanderson.com/. 

Much Work to Do

Multitasking

There always seems to be something extra to do. Multitasking hasn't seemed to diminish anyone's work load. Living in remote areas of Papua New Guinea takes time and energy. Many translation teams are delayed in completing their linguistic efforts simply by the normal requirements of life. Many translators need to continue doing what they always do and try to squeeze translation work in when they can. Pray that communities can churches would rally around the teams and assist them with the basic life requirements so they can focus on the language work.


*This post was taken from the PNG Experience blog. 

A Review: Steelheart

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson
Genre: YA Fantasy

"There are no heroes. Every single person who manifested powers-we call them Epics-turned out to be evil.

Here, in the city once known as Chicago, an extraordinarily powerful Epic declared himself Emperor. Steelheart has the strength of ten men and can control the elements. It is said no bullet can harm him, no sword can split his skin, no explosion can burn him. He is invincible.

It has been ten years. We live our lives as best we can. Nobody fights back...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans who spend their lives studying powerful Epics, finding their weaknesses, then assassinating them.

My name is David Charleston. I'm not one of the Reckoners, but I intend to join them. I have something they need. Something precious, something incredible. Not an object, but an experience. I know his secret.

I've seen Steelheart bleed."

I haven't read many, actually any, superhero novels, so I can't say what this one is like compared to them. But it is far more unique than the Marvel or other superhero-based movies I've watched. For one thing, in this novel, the humans are fighting the superheros. Also, the whole idea that there are no 'good' epics is interesting and somewhat baffling. I'm sure Sanderson explains this more in the second novel (yes, there's a sequel, and where there's a sequel, there's bound to be a  trequel, or whatever you call a third novel...). I found it slightly hard to believe that a group of so few humans could stand against the epics, but they have some supernatural help that makes it slightly more possible.

I often laughed out loud in this novel, mainly due to David's character. His horrible use of metaphors is hilarious, and he acts just like a determined, reckless teenager would. Although there is plenty of action in this novel, the characters are very lifelike and I feel like they became my good friends at the end.

Several times the plot takes sharp turns, causing the reader to start in surprise and re-read to make sure that just happened. This story will grab you with both hands right away and not let go!

This novel is a lot of fun due to the plot, David, and the world Sanderson has created, but it also explores deep issues as well, such as: what does it mean to truly be a hero? What are the moral boundaries in overthrowing tyranny, if there are any? I'm still contemplating some of the themes Sanderson unearthed in his book.

For the above reasons, I give this novel a 3.5 out of 5 and recommend it for 13 year olds and above.

What I learned: Pride is dangerous and often deadly. Vengeance is not as powerful as love.

*If you would like more information on Brandon Sanderson or his other books, visit his site here: http://brandonsanderson.com/

Bright Moon Rising

By the light of the moon

There are many places in the world where the moon is the main source of light at night. No street lights or LED flashlights, just the moon and the starry sky. When a full moon comes up in areas like that, its brilliance is startling. In urban and suburban areas, we rarely see the brilliant light of the moon because so many other lights distract us. The Bible can become like that.

In areas where we have so may things that compete with the Bible, it can seem to lose its luster. Is it the Bible or are we distracted by competing things? In Papua New Guinea, when a New Testament is completed, celebrations are huge and people get excited. Pray for the Kandawo people who will be celebrating their New Testament dedication in April. Pray for lasting results as the Scriptures change lives and impact communities.


*This post was taken from the PNG Experience blog. 

Water to Drink

Whew! Back into the land of the cold and the dead. My mother and I just returned from a trip to Friendswood, Texas to speak to my grandparents' friends and church about my Wycliffe ministry. The Lord was good; many people seemed interested in the work of Bible translation and He added several new partners to my Wycliffe team! Please pray that more of those I spoke to will desire to be a part of the exciting transformative work the Lord is doing for His kingdom around the world.

It was also a good to spend time with my grandparents and sister, not to mention that the weather was beautiful. We spent Sunday afternoon drinking in the sun, listening to the birds chirp and watching the lovely blossoms while it was freezing up here in north Texas. Soon we will be enjoying all of the above-mentioned things up here...I hope :).


Now on to another one of those fascinating comparisons about Bible translation and Papua New Guinea from the PNG Experience blog that I highly enjoy and hope you do as well.

Abundant Water

Physical life demands water in order to survive. In Papua New Guinea, water is abundant in most places and life displays its green color everywhere. Just like the physical life craves water, so the spiritual life craves Scripture. However, in PNG, there are plenty of places where the Scriptures are not translated into the language of the area. There, the spiritual life can become quite dry...like drinking from a rock. Pray that the almost 300 languages that need a translation project started would find resources to begin.

No water here!

Wycliffe Updates

The Lord is working slowly but surely in my life. Sometimes I wish it was a tad faster, but His timing is always perfect (as I keep telling myself). So, here are some awesome things God has done in the last few days with regards to my Wycliffe ministry:

• Today I was accepted to the Canada Institute of Linguistics for their summer program. I need to take these classes before I can serve the Lord in the beautiful land of Papua New Guinea. 
• I now have 26% of my monthly financial pledges and 69% of my one-time gifts. Praise the Lord for this great jump in my one-time expenses! Again, I need to have each kind of expense at 100% before I can go overseas with Wycliffe. Slowly but surely, my friends.
• I have the opportunity to go to Houston this week to speak to my grandparents' friends and church about the awesome things God is doing through my life and Wycliffe. 

Thank you for journeying along with me in this exciting adventure! You are essential to getting God's word to those who don't have it yet. 

Learning the Value of Internships

*This post from the Wycliffe blog is about my sweet friend, Leah Doty, whom I met at training in November in Orlando, Florida. She will be serving the Lord in SE Asia as soon as she reaches 100% with her financial partnership.

Leah's family

Bible translation is in Leah's blood. It began with her grandparents, long-time translators in Southeast Asia. And it continued with her parents, faithful administrators and translators in Kenya, Thailand, the Philippines and the Solomon Islands.

 Then it came time for Leah to decide what to do. She studied at Houghton College, knowing that she wanted to work in Bible translation, but she was unsure of how or where.

Leah turned to internships with Wycliffe and SIL (one of Wycliffe's primary partners) to help her figure it out. Her first internship took her to Dallas, where she served the Language and Culture Archives department, helping former linguists archive their untapped resources.

"It was good to get perspective on what happens there," Leah recalls. "The resources we're producing need to be made accessible, (but I learned that) archives is not my life's calling."

Next Leah signed up for a internship that took her to Northeast Thailand, where she worked in Scripture engagement, facilitated workshops by assisting local Rit people in developing curriculum.

"(There) I got to contribute to the literacy of the Rit people, lending skills that were in demand," leah recounted. "It was great."

Leah's extended family 

But as the internship came to an end, Leah wasn't ready to finish her linguistics work. She was finally sure of what she wanted to do in Bible translation-linguistics in Southeast Asia, where her family has worked for generations.

"I'm excited to take and interest in peoples' language in order to communicate love and value to them-primarily, to see communities transformed by the work we do," she said.

Now, Leah is headed back to a country where she grew up, and the internship process was critical to finding her own place in missions.

"(The internships) kind-of exemplified two different sides of what Wycliffe and SIL do," Leah said. "There's a diversity of work that we do and it was good to see a couple different perspectives (of that."

Now, more than ever, Leah feels connected to a purpose bigger than herself- and, besides her family, she has her internships to thank for that.

Leah Doty 

"I want to see the message of the gospel transform society, change the world."

How Do I Get Down?

A long way down!

The rugged terrain in Papua New Guinea makes travel difficult. Can you imagine trying to get down from the top of this mountain? While they make for beautiful scenery and waterfalls, they also become barriers that make getting from one village to another almost impossible. One of the jobs desperately needed is language surveying. Surveyors travel to these rugged locations to determine more information about a language and to gauge the interest in language development projects. Pray for safety as these teams travel throughout PNG.


*This post was taken from the PNG Experience blog.