Weeks #5 and #6 - Quieter Times

Stocked shelves.

Since the fair, things have been much more low-key at the office. We’ve worked on cleaning up from the fair week, recording what was sold, and restocking the CBTC’s shelves.

Praying before the meeting.

We also got to attend the CBTC’s quarterly board meeting. They discussed the fair, reviewed the translation progress, talked through some decisions, and made plans for the upcoming months.  It has been very interesting to see the behind-the-scenes aspects of an ongoing translation project.

   

L to R: Millie, Laura Christel, Leonard, Dalton, De

L to R: Pam, Roseanna, Priska (in the back), Elijah

Priska recording
as De told a story.

After the main portion of the meeting was complete, several of the board and staff members practiced telling Bible stories in Choctaw. Priska and I recorded the narratives, though we’ll need to re-record final versions of the stories in a quieter setting in order to create a CD. Nevertheless, it was an encouraging and beneficial time for all, I think.

  

Lake Pushmataha

On Saturday of last week, Priska and I made time to visit Lake Pushmataha on the reservation again. Taking a walk after our picnic dinner, we commented that at one point during the sunset, the rosy sky matched the red soil. It was an absolutely beautiful evening!

Tracks in the sand.

The Moon and Venus.

Pine Bluff Church

At the hymnsing during the fair weekend, we had met a pastor named Emerson Isaac, and he had invited us to visit his church, Pine Bluff Baptist. Realizing that this church was not yet a formal supporter of the CBTC, Laura Christel encouraged us to go and make connections. We wanted to let them know that they were welcome to send representatives to the CBTC if they would like to offer input regarding the CBTC’s activities. So Priska and I attended their Sunday morning service and Sunday school. As usual, the sermon and Sunday school discussions were largely in Choctaw, although they sang mainly out of English hymnbooks. It was good to visit another Choctaw congregation.

This week has again been full of work at the CBTC office. Millie was feeling unwell and she was later admitted to the hospital with possible heart-related symptoms, so she has not been around to help keep us busy. We’ve missed her and are praying that she makes a quick recovery!

Pam hard at work.

On a more positive note, Pam has been at the office most days, so it has been fun getting to work with her. :) She took us out to lunch on Tuesday, and she also showed us around the hospital that was built on the reservation within the past year. We enjoyed exploring the beautiful new facility and got to see where several of the board members work, since they’re employed by the hospital. Because we went around lunchtime, most of them were out on break, but we did get to stop in and visit Becky in the health information department. It was fun to see her in a non-CBTC context. :)

This weekend we have some time off, so we are driving to New Orleans to visit one of Priska’s friends and explore the city. Should be a fun adventure! 

Week #4 - Dallas Intern Visit

L to R: Ryan, Andrew, Victoria
Dayton, Emery, me, Priska

During fair week, we also had the interns from Wycliffe's Dallas site come to visit us and help out at the CBTC booth. They arrived on the evening of Thursday, July 9, 2015, and we all got together for dinner. We hadn’t really talked with some of them since the first week of the internship process (when we were all in the TOTAL it Up program), so it was fun to catch up with them and hear what they had been working on in Dallas.

On the busiest fair days, Friday and Saturday, the Dallas interns took shifts at the booth, adding extra hands and fun conversation to help pass the long hours. :) They also assisted with the teardown/cleanup process, which was a significant help!

Priska and I at the Nanih Waiya mound.

When they weren’t busy at the fair, they got to visit the Chahta Immi cultural center to learn more about some aspects of Choctaw culture, many of which were being displayed at the fair. Priska and I also got to take them to the Nanih Waiya mound and cave area, ending the enjoyable morning adventure with a picnic lunch. 

Priska and I heading out.

On Saturday morning, we all participated in the Rez Run. Most of the interns and our Wycliffe leaders did the 1-mile fun run portion, while a few of us did the 5k (Dayton ran it, and Priska and I walked it). We also saw some of our Choctaw friends along the way. :)
  

Priska, me, and Dayton after the Rez Run. 

Leonard preaching at Hope Indian Baptist.

Then on Sunday we all got to visit Leonard’s church, Hope Indian Baptist, for the morning service.

   

At the hymnsing.

After a quick lunch (and song practice...) back at our house, we were off to the afternoon hymnsing at Elijah’s church, Pearl River Baptist. Because it was the day after the fair ended, there was a smaller crowd than normal, but there a number of churches still attended the event. The event began with a short devotional and a hymn or two that we sang all together. Then each church got up and sang a couple hymns. 

Elijah (in blue shirt) directing the
group from his church.

Leonard (far right) with members
from his church.

Pam (in purple shirt) and her son, Ragan
(sitting in front), with their church group. 

Our group at the hymnsing.

Toward the end of the afternoon, we (all the interns) were given the opportunity to sing a couple songs as well. A few weeks earlier, Elijah had asked us if we would be willing to sing, so Priska and I worked with the Dallas interns to come up with a plan. We had practiced Shout to the Lord in English and we had also learned a song in Choctaw to the tune of Amazing Grace. We were able to do pretty

Gathering for the potluck.

well, thanks especially to Priska playing the guitar and Dayton playing the piano! And it seemed like our attempt at singing in Choctaw was appreciated by the crowd—though I think they’re too kind to say otherwise. :)  

  

Emery and Priska.

Following the hymnsing, we had a potluck meal together, where we got to sit and talk with people from a bunch of the different churches. Overall, it was a really neat experience! 

Week #4 - Choctaw Indian Fair

At the fairgrounds.

The Choctaw Indian Fair is one of the largest annual events in the Choctaw, MS area. People come from all over the state--and elsewhere in the country--to experience some of the most dynamic and beautiful aspects of Choctaw culture: social dancing, stickball, traditional regalia and foods, etc.

Millie busy with fair prep.
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

Additionally, the fair is the CBTC's main event as far as raising support and distributing materials, so everyone was in high gear getting ready for this week. Priska and I spent a good bit of time sorting through the CBTC's existing inventory and then made additional copies of items needed for the fair.

Setting up the booth.
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

We also assisted Millie (the CBTC's office assistant) as she made plans for the CBTC's fair booth, gathering materials and communicating with CBTC members to create a schedule of who would be taking turns in the booth throughout the week. 

Chris and Millie at the booth.

After helping with some of the booth set-up, Priska and I were responsible for a couple slots at the booth. We also served as gofers, running back and forth between the booth and the office, and making more CDs, etc. as needed.

  

Laura Christel and Becky at the booth. 

During one shift at the booth, I had the opportunity to assist an elderly lady with some of the Choctaw materials. She didn't speak much English, so we communicated mainly through some younger people who came with her. She looked through the CBTC's hymnbook and she was also curious about some of the hymn CDs. Thankfully, we had a CD player at the booth, so I was able to play a few of them for her. She was really hoping to find the song Sweet By and By. After we 

eventually found out which disc the song was on, she happily purchased that CD as

Talking with the Choctaw lady.
(Photo by Del Archer.)

well as a Choctaw hymnbook. It was neat to see how much the old songs and the Choctaw language meant to her, and it was an indication of how important the CBTC's work is. A few younger people also came by the booth wanting help with learning more of the Choctaw language, so the CBTC actually has the potential to serve multiple generations in various ways. 

Arts & crafts pavilion.

We also got some time to see the sights at the fair, which was a lot of fun!! At the arts & crafts pavilion, a bunch of Choctaw individuals had their beading, dresses, baskets, stickball paraphernalia, and other assorted items for sale. 

  

Choctaw social dance group.

Throughout the afternoons/evenings, different Choctaw groups took turns demonstrating and explaining their social dances. Each dance represented a different animal or theme and they were a lot of fun to watch.

Accompanied by drummers, this
caller (middle) kept the beat
using his stickball sticks.

Despite the heat, participating individuals dressed in their traditional regalia and eagerly stepped to the beat of the caller and drummers.  

  

Choctaw social dance group.

Most groups had people of all ages. Also, men and women participate together in all of the dances, including the war dance—Choctaws make a point of saying that they are unique in this, since most Native American groups only allow men to participate in their war dances. 

  

Choctaw social dance group.

One day we got to see Millie and Chris’ son, Ale, participate in the dancing! He’s great fun and a bit of a ham, so he smiled for the camera as he went by. :) 

Ale's the one with the grin. :)

Choctaw Princess contestants.

One of the main events at the fair is the Choctaw Princess contest. The young woman who is chosen as the Choctaw Princess serves as an ambassador for the tribe for the next year, attending events and acting as a role model for young Choctaw women in particular.

Jasmine Hickman

Earlier in the summer, we had been given the opportunity to help one of the contestants, Jasmine Hickman, practice answering interview questions. We were excited to see that she placed 3rd in the contest. :)

Some of the kids scrambling to gain
control of the ball.

Another one of the central parts of fair week is the stickball championship games. We got to see Ale play in one of the youth games, and then we also got to watch a couple of the adult games, including the final World Series Stickball game. 

Hitting each others' stickball sticks
in an act of good sportsmanship
after the game.

Stickball is a fast-paced game
where teams attempt to hit each other's goalposts with a ball that is only slightly larger than a golfball. A total of 60 players are on the field at all times, 30 for each team.

Elijah Ben (#56) played in one of
the final games.

During the fair, the youth games were held during the day and then the adult games started at 10:00pm. One evening we had to leave the fairgrounds around that time and we were amused by the fact that the only people leaving were non-Choctaws; all the Choctaws were heading the other direction, toward the game. :)

A huge crowd gathered for the
stickball championship game.

Although generally a very reserved people, the Choctaws become very animated when stickball is involved! I really enjoyed the chance to watch the games, especially because they are so important to the Choctaw people.

Victoria and Priska watching the game.

4th of July Fun

This weekend we got to have some fun with Laura Christel her family! They had driven up from Jackson to spend the weekend working in the CBTC office, so we got to help out and enjoy the time with them as well. On Saturday, the 4th, we worked with Laura Christel to help organize a bunch of stuff in the office, while her husband, Cal, worked on running wires for new office computers. And in between all of that, we got to play with their little guys, Kinsley and Rio, who are a lot of fun!

Priska was letting Kinsley play a game on her iPod, and of course
Rio wanted to be a part of that too. :)
(Photo by Laura Christel.)

For dinner, we had some excellent ribs that Cal cooked, as well as a bunch of other yummy stuff that Laura Christel had brought. We enjoyed the food and fellowship before the Horlings headed back to Jackson that evening.

Rio and I hanging out after dinner. :)
(Photo by Laura Christel.)

After they left, Priska and I stuck around to watch the fireworks at the nearby casinos. We had a great view from the office!

The Golden Moon Casino and fireworks.

I've been so thankful for Laura Christel's efforts with the CBTC, and for all the time Cal puts into helping with the office computer system and assorted other projects, as needed. They are instrumental in the work that God is doing here, and this internship process would not be the same without them either! Despite having to make the long drive from Jackson to Philadelphia, Laura has willingly spent many hours working alongside Priska and I, teaching us how to make recordings and complete projects, discussing Choctaw culture and the work of Bible translation, and encouraging us in our work. The Horlings have welcomed us right from the start of the summer and we have really enjoyed spending time with them!

Week #3 in Mississippi

This past week has been busy with getting ready for the Choctaw Indian Fair, which is the CBTC's main opportunity to distribute their materials. We have been going through the CBTC's inventory of printed and audio-visual materials to take stock of what they have and determine how many more items are needed.

(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

Currently available from the CBTC are modern Choctaw translations of some Scripture portions, including some of the gospels (John and Mark) and some Old Testament books (Ruth, Jonah, Amos), among others. The CBTC also provides Choctaw hymnbooks, which are quite popular. In terms of audio-visual materials, the CBTC has produced 4 hymn cds, 1 of children's songs, 1 of christmas songs, an audio version of Jonah, and a dvd of children's Bible stories being read by Chief Anderson. Within the past week, Priska and Elijah have also worked to record the book of Ruth, which we are preparing to sell at the fair as well!

Priska and I with newly printed Ruth cd inserts.
(Photo by Abby Farmer.)

When it came time for us to actually create more copies of the cds/dvds, we went over to one of the Choctaw tribal offices to meet Eddie Johnson, who taught us how to use a cd/dvd duplicator tower. He and his equipment made our job a lot quicker, so we were very thankful for his time and assistance! 

Mid-week mess… :)
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

Along with updating the CBTC's inventory, we have also been updating the informational inserts that accompany the cds and dvds. It has been neat to hear some of the stories behind previous recordings, and to take part in some current recording/production processes.

The story behind one of the hymn cds.

One of my favorite parts of this past week involved working with Pam and Elijah on the storytelling project from the Arts for a Better Future week. After Pam and Elijah discussed some Choctaw word choices and storytelling preferences, we got to record Pam telling the story of Jesus and the 10 lepers (from Luke 17) in Choctaw. She enjoyed telling it and we enjoyed the chance to listen, despite only understanding a few words here and there. :) We have plans to record others telling Bible stories in Choctaw as well, with the hope of producing a cd at some point this summer.

Pam and Elijah talking through some options.
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

Getting ready to record.
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)

Discussing the story.
(Photo by Priska Lamera.)