Friday, September 7, 2012

God, Yu Gutpela Wasman... and a Newsletter

We are waiting at the Saidor "airport terminal" for our flight...
A year ago, when I first came to Papua New Guinea, I don’t think I had any idea how much I would travel within the country. In the last three months alone, I’ve been in two countries, seven cities, and have flown, driven, hiked, PMV’d, scampered, and been amazed at God’s continual provision. I’ve written about some of these adventures in my latest September newsletter, describing several of the courses I’ve been involved with (if you would like a copy emailed to you, email me). Stay tuned to this blog as I write more posts, especially about my most recent escapades while on staff at a literacy course in the village of Saidor.

As a result of all this travel and transition, one of my favourite Tok Pisin praise songs is God, Yu Gutpela Wasman. I think it might be the theme song for PNG missionaries!

Ladies and Gentlemen, please prepare to board...

God, yu gutpela wasman (God, you are a good watchman)
Yu was oltaim long laip bilong mi (you always keep watch for my life)
Long olgeta hap mi go (everywhere that I go)
Long olgeta hap mi stap (everywhere that I stay)
Yu was oltaim long laip bilong mi (you always keep watch for my life)

Taim mi kalap long balus (when I fly on a plane)
Taim mi ran antap long sip (when I sail on a ship)
Taim mi kalap long haiwe bas na ran i go (when I ride on a PMV/car that just keeps going and going)
Yu was oltaim long laip bilong mi (you always keep watch for my life)

The sense of was in the song is to look out for, keep watch for, protect. So, a wasman is a man who looks out for things, is protective, or keeps watch (in the manner of the old police watchman who made his rounds late at night carrying a nightstick and a clever bowler hat).