There are over 6,700 languages in the world.

4/5/2003

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There are over 6,700 languages in the world.

A beautiful island in the south Pacific, PNG is a nation with a diversity of culture, languages and people

Wycliffe Bible Translators and sister organization SIL have been working in PNG for over 40 years. Our goal is to have translation work started in every viable language group by the year 2025.

�but many other language groups are still waiting for God�s Word.

Nestled in the majestic highlands, Ukarumpa is the Wycliffe center of operations in PNG.

Translation and literacy workers often work in very remote locations. Ukarumpa serves as a support base to meet their needs.

This support includes an auto shop,

construction department,

clinic, print shop, guest house, administration, and other departments.

The clinic staff serves over 600 Wycliffe members and their children,

as well as over 200 Papua New Guinean employees, their children,

and people in the surrounding villages.

At 8 o�clock each day, the clinic staff gathers for a prayer time, to commit the day to the Lord.

The outpatient department opens it�s doors every morning to serve the SIL employees and people from the surrounding villages, sometimes seeing more than 100 patients a day.

Our staff of nurses includes Sylvia, Esther, Alice, Lillian and Vila. They show the love of Jesus by giving caring, competent care to their patients.

Every day they treat patients with illnesses such as respiratory infections, skin diseases, intestinal parasites, trauma and malaria.

Seriously ill children are stabilized and then transported in the clinic van to the nearest medical facility, usually a two- to three-hour drive over rough road.

At the other end of the clinic, patients see the doctors or nurses by appointment. In the waiting area, Marguerite handles the paperwork and Carol answers the phones.

Dr. Jeff, a family physician, is the medical director but he also sees patients in his office and is a backup for the nurses, who consult with him on difficult cases.

Dr. Helen, our pediatrician, is kept very busy with well baby care and the specialized care needed by sick children.

Our staff nurses, Stephanie, Karen, and Jennie provide valuable assistance by seeing patients, giving treatment, and providing 24-hour on-call service.

Daniella does X-rays and assists Rachel in the lab.

Linda is in charge of the pharmacy and orders medicines and supplies.

Our goal is to keep translators and support personnel healthy and able to do their jobs, furthering the work of Bible translation.

Dr. Kim Sykora, our dentist, is assisted by Martin, Nelis and Kairo in meeting the never ending needs for fillings, crowns and cleanings!

They even do orthodontics!

The nearest fully equipped hospital is in Australia, 5 hours away by plane.

When there is a seriously ill patient, the clinic can provide 24 hour care in our �overnight� room for a

Everyone goes into high gear as the needed medical supplies, staff, medical visas, medivac insurance approval, pilots, and aircraft are brought together.

A new clinic wing was added this year to provide more exam rooms.

Henk, the clinic manager, and Stacey, his assistant, work to keep the clinic running smoothly. Deb takes care of the accounting and billing.

There are many times when our resources are limited and we don�t have enough staff to meet the many needs here.

We know that God has called us to do this work however, and that He will provide the personal stamina and staff we need to complete the task He has called us to.

It will take a team of dedicated people, including field and home assigned workers, prayer partners, and financial supporters, all working together, to see a Bible translation in progress in every language which needs one in PNG by 2025.

Author: Craig M Campbell