My first trip out of the U.S. in my work with United Bible Societies was to Curacao. The Bible Society of Curacao was translating the Bible into the beautiful local language Papiamentu. Papiamentu is based in Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, English, and French. It also has some Arawak Indian and African influences. Papiamentu is one of the few Creole Languages of the Caribbean that has survived to the present day. Papiamentu is predominately a spoken language among the local people of Curaçao, Bonaire, and Aruba. In Curacao, it was a joy for me to go to a church service in Papiamentu and understand the majority of the sermon.

I spent about two weeks there installing and training their computer person in the complete process of input and revision of the translation. He was of Chinese origin. He told me about the confusion the teachers had when he and his brothers were registered at school. In Chinese, when a person writes his or her name, he writes the surname first and the first name second. So at school, he and his brothers all have the same first name and different last names. He was a great student and took precise notes of each procedure. His diligence produced a great translation.

The General Secretary of the Bible Society provided me with lodging in a beautiful hotel with a private beach. At that beach, I got a terrible burn on my back diving to see the gorgeous marine life. Also, at breakfast, which was served on the verandah of the hotel, the Barika Hèl (yellow Belly) birds would come and steal the sugar crystals from my sugar bowl or share my watermelon, mango or papaya.

The second time I went there, the General Secretary and his family allowed me to stay with them. It was a great time getting to know his children who enjoyed having Nutella and sprinkles on their bread for breakfast.

This time I not only trained on how to use the software but I had a ride on the Secretary’s boat. We also visited the floating market in Willemstad where wooden boats from Venezuela came alongside the canal to sell freshly caught fish and tropical fruits and vegetables. However, now, after the problem of illegal immigration from Venezuela, the market only sells local goods, and it is not the same.

I remember these training trips very specially. Love was present everywhere.