Month: July 2019

This is the third and last blog post about some of the translation projects happening in our Morobe Province.

The grass withers, the flowers fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40 v 8

The MUSIM people (approx. 2,000) living around the Francisco River area are working with Eyvind Olafsrud (from Norway) and are currently drafting the gospel of Mark. Eyvind’s prayer request is for continued community ownership of the translation work.

The TAMI New Testament has been 100% drafted, but with the advisor and consultant checking still to be completed, a dedication may occur in 2024. Annie is continuing with training and leading women’s’ Bible studies with changed lives as the Good Seed takes hold in their lives. Please pray for Kim & Annie Colich from USA who are working on challenging the villagers later this year with the SALT course, “a “Scripture Use” program that (1) equips national pastors and leaders to effectively use the translated Scriptures in their ministries; and (2) inspires a love, wonder and understanding of God’s Word in the vernacular.” [Source https://thesaltproject.blogspot.com/ ]

The NUMANGGANG New Testament was dedicated in 2006 after 29 years, with the Old Testament translation beginning in 2008. David Hynum, (from USA) has continued to work with the translation committee and now the Old Testament has been 100% drafted. The Old Testament will need to be checked, revised and consulted before publishing and dedicating which could still take a few years. Please pray for the translation team as they now have various health issues that come with age.

Many plans are in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19 v 21

With the move to Ukarumpa, we won’t be seeing so much of our local teams and their co-workers, assisting with communication, regular supplies, hosting training workshops & events, etc.

The grass withers, the flowers fades, but the word of our God                      will stand forever.                                                 Isaiah 40 v 8.

The KOVAI New Testament, including significant portions of the Old Testament, has been drafted and is waiting to be consultant checked in 2020. Alan & Ritva Brown (from UK & Finland) are requesting prayer for the upcoming consultant check, and for James, the main village translator, as his family grieves for their daughter Wendy who recently drowned.

 

 

The LAUGAI KALA orthography (the conventional spelling system of a language) was approved in early 2019. Please pray that the translation committee can continue their work on Mark’s gospel and some worship songs, with the print and audio forms planned for release to the community at the end of the year.

The YAMAP community are working to preserve their tok ples (heart language) with the formation of tok ples primary schools, using literacy materials produced by the translation team. Later this year two men from the translation team (Isaac and Elias) will travel to Ukarumpa to attend the Initial Skills course, designed for language workers who would like to attend other translation training courses but do not have sufficient English and computing skills to meet the entry requirements. Pray for Sonya Paoli (from USA) and the translation team as they plan next year to have the book of Luke, a gospel of Luke Bible study series, and audio recordings completed and published.

The MENYA people (approx. 20,000), dwelling in the north Tauri River area and its tributaries, celebrated the dedication of their New Testament in February 2018. Carl & Pat Whitehead (from USA) are hoping and praying that the people will have a desire to see the Old Testament translated. They are considering facilitating a Culture Meets Scripture workshop which will challenge the participants to consider how their thoughts, words and deeds harmonize / fit with the Scriptures. Carl & Pat’s prayer request is that the Lord will raise up more people who are interested and willing to take ownership of further translation, and that they will have the wisdom to know how to encourage the people and proceed with the work.

Many plans are in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose                                     of the LORD that will stand.                      Proverbs 19 v 21

We are working towards our move to Ukarumpa for Keith to take on the Ukarumpa Finance Manager role in September. Our personal focus will no longer be on the Morobe Province so much as on the Bible translation movement within Papua New Guinea.

The grass withers, the flowers fades,  but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40 v 8

The MIGABAC people (4,000+ pop.), after 22 years, are preparing to dedicate their New Testament on 26^th July in print, audio, and digital forms. Steve & Debbie McEvoy (from USA) are thankful that the community has already expressed an interest in continuing the translation work for the Old Testament and that training of the people for this new translation work has begun. Please pray that the hearts of the Migabac people will be open to God’s Word as they read and listen to it so that lives are changed.

The NEK people (2,000+ pop.) last year printed and dedicated Esther, Ephesians, Colossians and Titus. Katri Linnasalo (from Finland), translator, asks prayer for Pastor Mainuka Yunamu as he is scheduled on 24^th July to begin the six week intensive Hebrew 1 course at the Ukarumpa Training Centre designed to assist national translators to continue being involved with the Old Testament translation.

Matt & Christy Taylor (from USA) having been working amongst the NUKNA people for around 16 years, and are in the process of a village check of Matthew 1-21. The NUKNA New Testament is about 70% drafted with a mini-dedication of the 10 Pauline epistles planned for 2020. Please pray for the 10-day Scripture use course that teaches about ‘God’s Story’, an overview of the entire Bible and the themes that run through it, planned for late July this year.

The PATEP New Testament dedicated in 1987 has no new copies available for the young and new readers, so a reprint is planned after a read-through and revision. This is currently being completed by five Patep men from different villages together with Linda Vissering [nee Lauck] (from USA), one of the original translators. Linda’s prayer request is for wisdom, strength and good health as the team work together, and for the ongoing revision process.

Many plans are in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19 v 21