"Let the Many Islands Rejoice" -AS TOLD BY GEOFFREY JACKSON

OFF TO THE ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC

In 1978 we went overseas for the first time to attend an international convention in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.  I still remember listening to a missionary give one of the talks in Hiri Motu. Even though I could not understand a word of what he said, his talk motivated me to become a missionary, to learn other languages, and to give talks like that one. At last, I saw a way to combine my love for Jehovah with my love of language.

To our surprise, on arriving back in Australia, we were invited to serve as missionaries on the island of Funafuti, in Tuvalu, formerly called the Ellice Islands.  We arrived in our new assignment in January 1979.  There were only three other baptized publishers in of Tuvalu. 

Learning Tuvaluan was not easy.  The only book available in language was the "New Testament."  There were no dictionaries or language courses, so we decided to learn from 10 to 20 new words each day.  But we soon realized that we did not understand the correct meaning of most of the words we were learning. Instead of telling people that divination was wrong, we were in fact telling them to avoid using measuring scales and walking sticks! We did, however, need to learn the language in order to conduct the numerous Bible studies that we had started, so we kept on trying. Years later, one of those  with whom we studied in those early days told us:  "We are so happy that you can speak our language now. At first, we didn't have a clue what you were trying to say!"

On the other hand, we had what some might call the ideal situation for learning a new language. As there were no homes available to rent, we ended up living with a Witness family in the main village.  This meant total immersion in the language and village life. After we had not spoken English for a number of  years, Tuvaluan became our main language.

Before long, many started to show an interest in the truth. But what could we use to study with them?  We had no publications in their language.  How could they do personal study? When they started coming to meetings, what songs could they sing, what material could they use, and how could they even prepare for the meetings? How could they ever progress to baptism? These humble people needed spiritual food in their own language! (1 Corinthians 14:9) We wondered, 'Would publications ever be produced  in Tuvaluan, a  language spoken by fewer than 15,000 people?  Jehovah answered those questions, proving to us two things:  (1) He wants his Word proclaimed "among the islands far away," and (2) he wants those whom the world view as "humble and lowly" to take refuge in his name. -Jeremiah 31:10; Zephaniah 3:12.

Next time:  "Let the Many Islands Rejoice" -AS TOLD BY GEOFFREY JACKSON - TRANSLATING SPIRITUAL FOOD

From the Watchtower magazine