Chapter 8: Memories Relived

Velma’s Letter of Assignment

Wycliffe Bible Translators (“WBT”) announced that Velma Foreman would be going to Papua New Guinea (“PNG”) and not Brazil in South America as she thought.  She will set sail for PNG in February 1961.  She left this message for you and me today.  “He who calls you is utterly faithful, and He will finish what He has set out to do.”                (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

Living Arrangements

Helen Marten sent an aerogramme (air mail letter) to her parents in Chicagoland.  Helen opens up with a statement that she and Velma have moved into their house, albeit not yet completed.  Only one bedroom is complete, and the shower is almost enclosed – still lacking screening material to block mosquitos “from having a feast.”

Another early document shows Velma putting a coat of paint on the newly acquired twenty-five-foot dugout canoe.  The local men are constructing walls for their house using sago palm tree stems.

Helen lays out their daily schedule.

While their activities are rather straight forward, the Yessan Mayo people would stand and watch in amazement as to the “complicated things we do.”  Helen elaborates that there are nine people just watching Velma as she types on her typewriter.

1962: In later years, Helen hand wrote that this letter was mailed on 5/10/1962 and did not arrive in Chicago until 6/28/1962. Her parent’s reply letter arrived in New Guinea on 7/28/1962.  Snail Mail for sure!

The First Five Years

The two WBT missionaries are home on furlough and traveling from place to place telling their story of their efforts to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to New Guinea.  Wycliffe entered Australian New Guinea in 1956.  As of March 1967, WBT reports sixty-five languages have been entered by translators.

Helen and her partner, Velma, have translated an abridgement of the book of Genesis, Bible stories, health booklets, and a book on Jewish culture.

A Missionary’s Prayer: John Beekman

This prayer was taken from his life story, Peril by Choice.

“Lord, give me a heart of gold toward my fellow believers

a heart of water toward the lost,

a heart of honey toward my wife,

a heart of flame toward my LORD,

a heart of steel toward myself.”

Mr. Beekman was Wycliffe’s Translation Coordinator.  WBT newsletter even reported that Mr. Beekman had an artificial heart valve that echoed over the microphone during a lecture in New Guinea that caused the attendees at his lecture to give praise to God for having preserved him for his task as translation coordinator. (December 1969)

God Provides

August 1970 newsletter published by WBT shows how God enables His Word to be spread.  Helen and Velma would be lost without the help of local men and women to assist in their work of language development, literacy training, and Bible translation.  People like Sokapa, Tukpot, and Merkwusi are vital assets in God’s Kingdom.

They listen to stories phrase-by-phrase and write them down.  Then the two missionaries pay special attention to the sentence structures, paragraphs, and discourses. All necessary to do a good translation.

Translation Goals

December 1970:  Helen and Velma report that they have translated one-fourth of the New Testament – Acts, James, 1,2,3 John – are accomplishments over the past year.  The goal is to translate 20% of the New Testament per year (1,600 verses).

In 1974, eight books of the New Testament were translated – Matthew, Colossians, 1,2 Timothy, 1,2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation.

Wycliffe Bible Translators Newsletter: June 1971

Things are happening in Kubawi, say Helen Marten and Velma Foreman.  Two New Guinean literacy teachers were assigned to the village and every morning twenty-five children meet together to learn the 3 R’s.  In the afternoons Helen instructs the adults. Services are held on Sunday and during the week, and over the past two months, twenty-two Kubawi people have “thought strongly about Jesus – believed in Christ!” (Kubawi is located just east of Yessan on the Sepik River) In a separate letter from Helen and Velma, they reported that one of the parents in particular became interested in the gospel and was instrumental in getting the people to build a church with a school building in the village.

Progress Report: June 1971

Helen reports concerning an Easter weekend conference in Ambunti where seventy people from Yessan and Mayo attended along with five other tribes of over two hundred people.  The three-day meeting heard from a Solomon Island’s evangelist.  To God be the Glory!

 Literacy and Progress in God’s Word

In January 1972 Helen and Velma write on their return to the Yessan Mayo people after their stay at the Summer Institute of Linguistics (“SIL”) They are now just a brief time from their furlough to the US.  Here is the story of the progress.  “The villagers welcomed us with friendly smiles, handshakes, and even a few hugs!  Merkwusi (local man) is translating some stories and transcribing them.  Timsikay, a high school girl, is on summer vacation (the best educated Yessan Mayo) and translating some booklets from English and is also translating 1 John and Luke (further check for meaning before we record 1 John on cassette tapes).  Scripture on tape with a tape player in each village continues to be a very rewarding project. People are hearing God’s Word night and day and asking for more. It is really God’s answer for those who cannot read. In February Merkwusi, Tontimi, Wenakwo, Pitauk, and Okmar will take a canoe and trail trip to each of the other five villages to distribute the new tapes. . .and new batteries.

 Difficulties and Discouragement

In a February 1972 letter to their friends and family, Helen and Velma write about the ongoing issue of old habits – fearing the spirits – that do not seem to die.  The people say, “our livers feel bad,” which means, “we are sad.”  Here are some examples.

A young Christian woman’s barrenness is thought to be the work of a spell put on her by her father before his death.  Someone will have to work white magic in order to release the spell.  Another man said that fishing is not good because of a wrong that someone has done which has offended the spirits.  And then again, sickness is the result of wrongdoing or offending the spirits that need to be appeased.  Finally, a good yam crop can only be had by performing the right magic and giving honor to the spirits.

Helen and Velma comment, “Oh that they would exercise faith, and trust God for these things.”  “Oh that they would be willing to recognize in a practical way God’s sovereignty and be willing to accept His will.”  They pleaded with their readers to pray that the Holy Spirit would teach them (Yessan Mayo) how they can live for Christ in their own culture.”

 Love One Another

A Fort Wayne, Indiana Lutheran newspaper reported in September 1976 the arrival of Helen and Velma along with their PNG assistant, Robert Merkwuse.  On furlough, the group is traveling around the US and Canada presenting their work in PNG.  The opening sentence in the article translates “Love one another” into the Yessan Mayo language.  Listen, “Put other people into your liver.”

Father God, Thank You for the Yams

August 1979 reports the story of a man named Aamok (also spelled Amok).  Aamok, like other villagers, was a farmer.  He tells of his planting of yams in the wet season and said, “Father God helped me, and I got good meaty yams.”  Aamok was one of a few men who planted without “magic.”  After their good crop, more men planted with prayers to Father God.  (YouTube.com has Lutheran Bible Translator’s film, And it was Good Soup that records Aamok’s story of yam planting)

God’s Word in Print: Yessan Mayo New Testament

It is June 1980 and after 18 years, the New Testament is in print process for the Yessan Mayo language.  The printing was financed by Lutheran Bible Translators, their first in PNG.  The printing is being done in Hong Kong. Their beautifully colored binder and open book pictures are below.

Twenty Years of Service Celebrated

Helen and Velma returned to North America in January 1981 after twenty years in PNG among the Yessan Mayo people.  Velma writes about the great dedication of the Yessan Mayo Bible (New Testament) in November 1980, eighteen years from their beginning.

“What a day that was with many visitors arriving from neighboring villages, towns, and even Ukarumpa. The New Testaments came in boxes and crates on a double canoe along with forty visitors in the morning. The big garamut (slit drum carved from a felled tree) drum called everyone to the top of the hill for the festivities. Here, overlooking the Sepik River, the people of Mayo had prepared an open area with benches, a big table, and a shelter. Robert Merkwuse was the master of ceremonies. After some special music from string bands and a choir, each of the nineteen men and women who helped with the translation received a certificate of recognition for their work. Speeches encouraging all to use their New Testaments were given by mission leaders. Prayers of thanksgiving and dedication were offered. Aamok closed the service by reading God’s Word in his own language. A feast of roast pork, yams, greens, sago, rice, fish, cake, and cold drinks followed. In the evening we showed the New Media Bible films and then there was singing and dancing that lasted until dawn – the traditional way of celebrating an important event.”

Those Little Black Marks (Excerpt from Guideposts)

Isn’t it amazing how we take them for granted, those little black marks on paper! Twenty-six different shapes known as letters, arranged in endless combinations known as words. Lifeless, until someone’s eye falls on them. Then a miracle happens. Along the optic nerve, almost at the speed of light, these tiny symbols are flashed to the brain where they are instantly decoded into ideas, images, concepts, and meanings. The owner of the eye is changed too. The little black marks can make him love or hate, laugh or cry, fight or run away. And what do we call these incredible chain of events? We call it reading. Partly because it is such a complex process, reading is not just a habit or a skill, it is a deeply satisfying emotional experience. Something in us knows that the soundest insights, the truest wisdom, the most enduring knowledge come through this channel. The spoken word rushes by and is gone, but the written word remains. It endures. It can be consulted over and over again. Forever. How wise to read!

(From a newsletter May 1982 by Helen Marten and Velma Foreman)

Orthography in Yessan Mayo Language

In their Literacy Proposal of May 1982, Helen and Velma reported on their work in orthography (the aspect of language study concerned with letters and their sequences in words).  They report 19 letters plus 15 digraphs and 3 trigraphs.  Their report also included a summary comparison of the Sepik language with Tok Pisin (Pidgin English) and English.

Unfortunately, only 8.5% of the people have at least a sixth-grade knowledge of English – usually in the 12 to 25 age bracket.  The spoken language is generally inverse ranging from 80% vernacular at the village level to 100% Pidgin English with the outside.

God Atarre Tumaa Yenbo

In June 1982 following their return from furlough, Helen and Velma refocused their efforts to teach and instruct the Yessan Mayo people to read and study God’s Word.  The phrase above translates to “(the) Good Words of God.”

Physically, their return was met with challenges – a leaky roof, cockroaches, holes in the screens where mosquitoes could come in, broken clothesline, tank stand, and dock.  And then Velma contracted another bout of malaria.  And this time, she contracted the resistant type that required a newer medication to treat. What a welcome back!

A Christmas Letter: 1982

The closing quote in their Christmas 1982 newsletter – “Prayer is the chief thing that man may present unto God.”  (Georg Hermes, 1771-1831, a Roman Catholic Priest and noted theologian of his day)

Warsai Teacher Training Courses

January 1984 marked a new chapter in the missionary women’s life.  They arrive in Warsai where they will teach nine trainees from four different villages.  The course consists of basic teaching principles, how to teach the pre-primer, and will help them to improve their own skills in reading and writing.

Moving forward to Christmas 1984, their mood reflects the very difficult year.  The theme in 1984 was “Ritum Buk 1984” which translates as “Read Books in 1984.” Difficulties from the instructors through teachers to students were almost unbearable – even to the point to quitting!  But prayers to the Almighty saw them through the tough times. Classes are going on in both dialects in ten villages, with twenty-four teachers.  And four libraries were established to encourage reading.

1985 in Ukarumpa

Helen and Velma are very talented, yes, even multi-taskers.  While one is teaching the National Literacy Course (Helen), the other (Velma) is preparing scripture materials to be recorded on cassette tapes. Some of the tape materials will be topical, while one will talk about what the Bible says about food and the liberty of Christians not to be bound by food taboos.  And they have lots of them!  (NOTE: Velma reported that Helen had malaria five times from April to August 1985 that required lots of medication – but it keeps recurring.

The Yawu Dialect

Helen and Velma are now actively preparing God’s Word in the Yawu dialect.  Their Christmas 1985 newsletter reports that all the Scripture readings for the coming year have all been translated into the Yawu dialect.

God’s Word is alive and active in Yessan Mayo villages.  Listen to how the Holy Spirit is moving.  “Great things are happening there. A month ago, fifty-five people from a number of Yessan Mayo villages were baptized at Yessan. A number of them were from the village of Yessan itself which has been the most resistant to the Good News.”

Joy is an Attitude

It is June 1987.  Helen and Velma are back in Warsai.  Their newsletter opened with jubilation as they paddled down the muddy Sepik River with their Yawu friends.  Listen to their joy: “singing praises to God in another language, watching the magnificent crest rise on the black palm cockatoo as he watches us from his high perch, praying for sick friends, surveying the myriads of stars in the sky on a pitch-black tropical night…”

Their arrival in Warsai dampened their joy, at least for brief time. Families had left for the “bush,” after an epidemic of measles. Twenty-eight children got measles – four died. The people were scared and moved to their family units in the jungle.  As a result, literacy classes ceased, the airstrip grass was overgrown, and more!

But joy returned to the missionaries as they reviewed survey results from two villages. The churches used the vernacular Scriptures and preached from the vernacular. The literacy rate was now 20% – up 15%.  Their 1983 beginnings only revealed two men who could read and had a copy of the New Testament. Now, half of them own a New Testament and three-fourths of them read it!

Returning to Yessan Mayo villages in August found rewarding news of the gospel being shared among the people. Literacy rate is now 35% and a growth in personal use of Scripture.

Asleep in Jesus

It is December 1988 when Helen and Velma report with human sad news, but for the Christian, it is only temporary in God’s time.  “My son Patrik died,” says his father. “I am not worried or concerned.  I think like this. It is all up to Father God. Our son was something He gave to Gawina and me.  He was a present. I think like that and give thanks to God. I do not worry a lot about Patrik.”  (sic)

In the local spirit world of PNG, deaths are attributed to displeasure of the spirits or the work of a sorcerer.  Andru’s (Patrik’s father) statement of faith was encouraging to the two missionaries demonstrating how God’s grace is at work.  Their faith was strengthened!  Yes, Jesus died to sin so that we might have life!  And in faith, the Christian falls asleep (1 Corinthians) awaiting the promised return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Did you know!  There are 164 languages in the Sepik Provinces. To date (September 1989), 58 of those languages have been entered into translation programs.

Furlough 1991

As Helen and Velma return to North America, they report on the Yawu translation effort.  All of the New Testament is now handwritten. To date, 37.7% are typed and checked by villagers leaving 62.3% yet to be typed.  Velma will attempt to type as much as possible while on furlough.

Wycliffe Bible Translators Celebrates 40 Years in PNG

1995 marks the 40th anniversary of the Summer Institute of Linguistics (“SIL”) in PNG. SIL was incorporated in PNG in 1957 and began working on the Tairora language. Moving forward to 1991, SIL began working on its 250th language.  And in 1992, the 80th New Testament was completed.

Strength in Numbers

Their January-February 1996 newsletter reported great progress in literacy training.  In Warsai, seventeen participants designed two primers.  In January, a three-week training program for twenty-two participants.  The trainees did well in learning and using the primers. These same twenty-two will begin teaching ninety different classes in eleven locations in five villages.  Praise God!

Yawu New Testament Dedication

It is May 18, 1996, in the Warsai village.  The Yawu people, a dialect of the Yessan Mayo, are about to receive the New Testament in their own language. The Yawu people lived in five villages spread over a large area. The dedication was celebrated across denominations including Roman Catholic, Assembly of God, and Seventh Day Adventists.

Psalm 23:1 – in Yawu

“The Lord is the one who comes to my defense.  Therefore, I will not be short of one thing.”  The November-December 1997 newsletter reported much progress in their efforts in the Yawu villages.  In order for literacy to continue, books are necessary for people to read.  In the process are various Old Testament stories (90).  And five more books are in the works to assist people in reading literacy. (example: wildlife book and one on various birds)

Illness Strikes Velma Foreman

Helen Marten reports that Velma’s health was severely compromised with an acute episode of Addison’s Disease.  This chronic disease is a malfunctioning of the adrenal gland that requires steroid treatment for life.  Velma was sent off for a 24-hour stay in Ukarumpa for emergency treatment.

Wildlife In Abundance – Wanted or Not!

July 1997 newsletter reports an extensive list of work among the Yawu people.  A two-year stint there was more like a lifetime of work.  Helen and Velma were elated to report that two local men completed a National Translators’ course some ten years prior and translated the book of Esther in the Old Testament.

Listen to the list of wildlife that they encountered.  “A myriad of insects – mosquitoes, mud wasps that daily build dwellings in the house (even on the inside of our skirts), black ants in abundance, centipedes and millipedes, mice and rats, and snakes – all in the house.”

God Answers Prayer

In a July-August 1998 newsletter our two missionaries reported a great healing miracle of our LORD.  It was a Thursday morning in Warsai where the committee was checking the translation. A woman was running back to her house for a minute when she was approached by a village mother carrying a four-year-old child.  The child was very sick and nearly unconscious where the mother said, “he has died of fever apparently of malaria.” He would not respond to alerts, and it looked hopeless.

She carried the boy to the house of the workers where all fifteen committee men were touching the boy and prayed earnestly to the LORD.  After finishing the Lord’s Prayer, the mother carried her limp son home.  At the noon break, the men returned and happily told us the boy had recovered as soon as the mother reached her house.

Natural Disaster Claims 2,200 Lives

Helen and Velma report a tragic tsunami following a 7.0 earthquake west of Aitapei on the north coast of PNG on 7/17/1998.  The Yawu people living fifty miles away felt the tremor.  Several villages were completely washed away causing total destruction and loss of lives. By God’s grace, the Bible translation team from that area had departed two weeks prior.

Alphabets

The Old Testament is now completed in the Yawu language.  Another remarkable story for these selfless workers in PNG.  And the government pleaded with the Institute to help make another forty-five alphabets in the next two years.  The Beli people living in ten villages now have an alphabet consisting of twenty-two letters including a glottal stop and four extra-long vowels.  (June 1999)

No Vacations!

Velma suffered a medical condition called “deep vein thrombosis (“DVT”), and also a pulmonary emboli (“PE”) that required long term treatment including blood thinners (called anticoagulants).  Their treatment also included monitoring that was not possible in their primitive environment.  But the story is not about her treatment in a more cultured environment, it is about her work as she continued her treatment.   Yes, she continued doing computer work on biblical review of their translation efforts with the Yawu people.

God says, “All Things are Possible”

The time is July 2000. Velma is back following her medical incident.  The team of two is now back in action.  Velma’s absence was two years, but the people greeted her warmly (in Christ).  After Velma’s long absence, she was overwhelmed to think that she could get anything accomplished in their three-week stay in Warsai, but they were reminded, “you can do all things…” (Philippians 4:13)

As multi-tasking as the two were, they accomplished much while there. The most astounding was the “bird book” that was completed and distributed to the various literacy classes. The Yawu people even enjoyed the humor that only the locals could understand.

Oh, one last little note. A local woman delivered twins and she named them “Genesis” and “Malachi.”

And Many Believed!

Helen and Velma returned to PNG from furlough in 2002, Their return landed them in various locations including Warsai and Ambunti.  These two missionary women were extremely grateful to an Iowa man for his donation of lawn mowers.  Why?  Because they needed to cut the grass on the airstrip.

But more important than the lawn mowers are this story of two women who became ill and needed medical attention.  They were both evacuated to a medical facility where one had surgery, but the other lady died shortly after she arrived at the hospital.  Her body was flown back to Warsai days later.  Her body was met by her family.  But the message here comes from the two women who took the Gospel of Jesus Christ to these families.  And they observed this, “the family cried quietly.”  While that does not seem weird to North American society, it was very bizarre for their culture.  Prior to their conversion, they would have been loud wailing and crying for days.  Author’s note: “Asleep in Jesus Oh How Blessed.”

Somethings never change!  Yes, the bugs are still big and bite.  They reported that they used a zapper on someone bitten by a centipede.

Their welcome home was indeed a celebration.  The locals used Psalms 100:4 in their welcome home celebration: “Give thanks to Him and praise Him.”

Yawu Bible. . .And More

Helen and Velma never seem to rest.  They continually are working on multiple projects concurrently.  Yes, the Yawu translation is in its final stages and now they are finalizing the revision of the Yessan Mayo N. T. Bible. In addition, they continue to work on literacy and translating local traditions to writing to continue their reading.

A Farewell

Having arrived in PNG in the early 1960s, Helen and Velma are now ready to return to the US and Canada and their homes having served their LORD unselfishly.  In a February 2004 newsletter, the missionaries report on the final aspects of the revised N. T. of the Yessan Mayo translation.  The final manuscript will be sent off to Korea for printing.  LBT, who is now celebrating its 40th anniversary, financed the printing of the original Yessan Mayo N. T.  Eleven men served as the literacy translators from Yessan Mayo. They labored with God’s blessing in ensuring the final translation would send the great Good News of Jesus Christ and His message of salvation.

Remember, “God’s will done God’s way will never lack supply.”  And to that we say, “Amen!”

Lutheran Bible Translators Celebrates 40 Years: 2004

The 40th Anniversary bulletin comments on the changes that have taken place since its beginning.  “One constant has been our association with Helen Marten, along with her partner, Velma Foreman. They have dedicated their lives in service to the people of Papua New Guinea.”

The original New Testament in the Yessan Mayo language took eighteen years, but now the revision will be much easier – and faster.  Faster due to electricity, computers, software, and ten pastors and church leaders.

An undated Christmas newsletter from LBT’s executive director, Robert Schmitt, provides a myriad of data regarding Bible translation and literacy.  He reports:

• Between 20 and 30 New Testaments are completed each year by various Bible translation organizations.
• At the end of 2000 the New Testament has been translated into 987 languages – 274 in Africa; 241 in the Caribbean and Latin America; and 221 in Asia.
• Some or all of the Scriptures have been translated into 2,261 languages or roughly one-third of the total spoken languages in the world.
• Of approximately 3,000 languages still needing translation, 40% are in Asia; 30% in Africa; 5% in Americas; 5% in Eurasia; and 20% in the Pacific.

The Bible Translation agencies have adopted a goal entitled “Vision 2025,” which states, “Bible translation will be in progress for every language group that needs one.”  (NOTE: He says 400 million Bibleless people still wait).

Velma’s Farewell: January 22, 2015

Velma’s memorial service was conducted in her Canadian home church with tributes from many, including her co-worker of 43 years – Helen Marten.  During my research and writing of this book, I encountered her many health trials that beset this God-called woman.  She endured a deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary emboli that required her treatment away from her PNG home for some two years.  She also endured a brain tumor that required surgery.  At the same time, she had to contend with her chronic Addison’s Disease and finally her Huntington’s Chorea.

As a young woman, her pastor Sidney Kerr, asked if she would be interested in attending the London Bible College.  She responded with a resounding YES. (emphasis added) Thus began her journey studying linguistics at the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and jungle training in Mexico.

Velma dedicated her life to God’s Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20.  She held many things close to her heart, but her heart was always in Papua New Guinea – the land and its people – sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

The final sentence in her tribute says, “Velma is home, her journey has ended. Thank you, Lord.”

Helen Marten also paid tribute to her long-time friend.  It was entitled “Velma, God’s Child.”  Not belaboring her historical comments, Helen stated, “Velma Foreman was my best earthly friend for 55 years.  She will be my heavenly friend forever.”

Helen Marten Joins Her Friend and Missionary Partner

On August 6, 2023, Helen fell asleep in Jesus having lived a life of service to her LORD and Savior. In spite of her many bouts of malaria while in PNG, she developed an incurable condition called “dementia.” While her memory faded rapidly, the memories of her service and work as a missionary, literacy trainer, and Bible translator will never be forgotten. The stories included in this summary of their work in PNG have enabled many to come to faith in Jesus Christ.  To God be the Glory!