How to join us!

Solomon Islands is in the South Pacific, near Australia, sandwiched between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. And technically, the plural sounding name is actually singular, so the proper question is “Where is Solomon Islands?” Sounds a bit off, eh?

With the closure of the POC program, the SITAG team is assembling a new orientation for us. It appears this will be around August of 2020. In the mean time, we are getting in as much training as we can to increase our ability to serve the team. Keep watching the blog for updates as we have them available!

We are committed to this long-term adventure. Field Service terms typically last 4-5 years followed by a year of Home Service. Our hope is that people will not have to wait decades for God’s Word, but with thousands of people groups waiting all over the world with no translator on task, it may take many years. God has led us to this task, and unless He leads us elsewhere, this is our priority.

Josh will be the Operations Manager at the head quarters for the Solomon Island Translation Advisory Group (SITAG), which is the center for overseeing translation efforts across the country. He will work for the Area Director of the Solomons, helping provide administrative leadership at the center and logistics and communications support for the teams of international and national translators living in the villages throughout the country.

Katie’s focus will initially be on the home where she will homeschooling all of our children. As the family gets into a routine, she will expand her roles and duties to take on other responsibilities in the areas where she is gifted.

The simple answer is yes–we are employees of Wycliffe and they pay us. There are a lot of complicated governmental rules and provisions that go with being a “minister” and working as an employee. But to answer the question, the general how is:

1. Wycliffe established this ministry and an account to fund it.
2. Our financial partners fund the account by making donations.
3. Wycliffe pays our wages from the funded ministry account.

Yes, because we are going long-term, the kiddos will be coming with us. We plan to continue homeschooling them, which frees us from concerns over distant boarding schools.

In general, yes. But that’s mostly because they are flexible, brave and each others’ best friends. They will miss their friends, and would love to have prayer partners and e-mail pen pals. We should have adequate high speed internet for video chat, so maintained contact is a realistic possibility.

Nope. We have done preparation, through research, and conversations with many fellow SITAG members who are there or have gone before. We know we will have a lot to learn and much to adjust to once we arrive, but we are committed to this and we know that God will give us the grace to survive transition after the initial excitement wears off.

Yes, we will. English is the official language of the country, but only spoken by 1-2% of the population. Because there are about 70 languages in the Solomons, a creole-type of language was developed based on English, called Pijin English. Pijin is both the lingua franca and the trade language, so we will need to learn it to communicate in the capital city.

Three easy possibilities:
• Share our ePortfolio with your church
• Have your church contact us – joshua_goshert@wycliffe.org
• Or send us your pastor’s name and number – please let your pastor know to expect our call!