Atthe very top ofthe Linguistics Library in Ukarumpa, Eastern Highlands, a decorative pattern accentsthe end wall. This pattern is a reminder of its designer, Veda Rigden.
Veda was in her mid-fifties when she first went tPNG in 1969 to volunteer her art skills for six months. She had taken early retirement from teaching high school art in Auckland, NZ. She extended her stay and volunteered to not only designthe building’s decorative pattern, but also to climb upthe scaffolding to completethe original painting.
While working as an illustrator, Veda sawthe need for translators and felt called to help. Most people would say that it is way too late for a person intheir mid-50’s to think about getting linguistics training and starting a translation programme. Nevetheless, she went to Australia, around age 56, attendedthe SIL school of linguistics, and returned tPNG equipped to engage inthe work.
Partnering with Dorothy Price, Veda worked withthe Karkar-Yuri translation project for the better part ofthe next two decades. This isolated people group in Sandaun Province has about 2000 speakers. Veda continued to work well into her seventies, until she retired (again) in 1990. However, she continued to be involved inthe translation program from her home country of New Zealand untilthe New Testament inthe Karkar-Yuri language was published in 1994.
Veda’s original six month stint turned into 21 years. Veda once wrote that after her first retirementoshe could have stayed at home, eating cucumber sandwiches and having cups of tea withthe vicar, but given that she was still able, she would rther be out somewhere serving God. Now when people look up and see mosaic patterns painted atthe top ofthe Linguistics Center, it remindsthem of Veda, and her example that no one is ever too old to obey what God is tellingthem to do.
Veda has had her last retirement. Recently, she went to be with her Lord, at age 97, and is now residing inthe presence ofthe One she served faithfully all her life.
