Apr-Jul: I'll be in the South Pacific.
Dedications are only the beginning
Thank you for your prayers and concern during my illness; I recovered fairly quickly under the circumstances. Apparently, I had the same bug that everyone else did; unfortunately, I was out in the village when it struck. But God was good, and my friends were here supportive and very kind.
Last weekend, we drove west through the highlands to attend the East Kewa New Testament dedication, which was a moving and inspiring ceremony.
This beautiful land is home to the East Kewa people.
Colorful East Kewas look on during the dedication ceremony.
Work started on the New Testament in 1958, and the book was finally dedicated July 2. Progress had halted for nearly 40 years (about 1965-2003), but God brought together the right people at the right time to get the job done.
Karl Franklin started work among the East Kewas in 1958 and spoke at the New Testament dedication 47 years later.
The East Kewa area is torn by violence and dissipation. During the ceremony, the heartfelt cry of the people was for renewal and transformation by the power of God’s Word.
Burning an effigy symbolized the people’s desire to put off the old sinful nature.
Singers and dancers call to symbolic corners of the East Kewa region, “Come to the Lord.”
An East Kewa man holds his New Testament for the first time.
This little boy will grow up with God’s Word available in his mother tongue.
Tuesday, I interviewed a couple who just finished working on a New Testament in a people group — the Kamula — who had been cannibals until the 1970s. In the early 1970s, a chief named Dekapowe began to believe that there had to be a better way to live. He had heard of white men downstream and decided to go in search of them. The white men, it turned out, were Australian missionaries. In 1974, in response to Dekapowe’s visit, John and Edna Partridge helicoptered into Kamula land and preached the Gospel. In 1990, the Kamula wrote to SIL requesting someone to come translate the Scriptures for them. Iska and Judy Routamaa answered the call, and they and their Kamula co-translators completed the New Testament and dedicated it on March 19 of this year. During the celebration, the people performed a victory dance carrying the New Testaments in their hands. Four decades before, the dance had been a celebration of victory in battle, and the people had danced with the heads of their enemies. What a glorious transformation: death is defeated by Life!
I have realized more and more that a New Testament dedication is not an end; it is only a beginning. The people of East Kewa finally have their New Testament, but they desperately need transformation by the power of God. The Kamula have their New Testament, but now they must study it for themselves and learn that their God is stronger than the evil spirits many still fear. As our team leader, David Snyder, said, the people now have their Sword, and the battle can finally begin.
Tonight, two Papua New Guinean translators and their families joined us for dinner. Aluis and Nafian both worked with Wycliffe translators among their own people, and now they have begun working with neighboring people groups to help them translate Scriptures. These men and their families have tremendous stories of salvation and God’s work in their lives. Working as missionaries inside their own country is not easy. They experience overt Satanic attacks, and they face cool receptions by people groups who say they want a white missionary instead. But they know Him whom they have believed, and they are persuaded that His Truth must go forward.
This weekend, we are traveling to Madang, and Tuesday, some of us will leave Ukarumpa for two weeks on Wuvulu Island, where we will attend a New Testament dedication and a one-week Scripture-use course. The trip to Madang is a mini-vacation. The trip to Wuvulu should be really good. It’s supposed to be a beautiful island, and it will be exciting to see what God is doing there. I will return to Ukarumpa July 25, Lord willing.
Please pray for the East Kewa and Kamula peoples, and please pray for the translators we met this evening: Nafian and Aluis. The battle is real, and in some cases it has only just begun.
Please pray for creativity and energy as I continue interviewing, writing, and editing. I’m keeping busy here. The communications department has only one full-time staff member, and he’s a videographer, not a writer. There is more than enough to do. I’m writing stories and reports based on our trips and interviews; I’m working on a couple of publicity brochures; and I’m helping edit other team members’ work. It’s great.
Please pray for me as I consider my future. In a month’s time, I may be making some serious decisions about what’s next.
categories papua new guinea
Comments
Comment from Slope
Time: July 7, 2005, 10:01 am
Rock on Bolt! Glad to hear you are feeling better, it sounds like you’re getting to see some awesome things.
Comment from tank
Time: July 8, 2005, 8:14 am
All those newspaper editing skills are coming to good use.
Comment from Scuttle
Time: July 12, 2005, 8:25 am
Wow, I thought that I was busy!! I am glad to hear that God is working over there. I am still praying for you!!
Comment from Anonymous
Time: July 15, 2005, 3:29 pm
I am jealous. I wish I could go back to PNG. It is good to hear that things are going well for you over there. If you need anything while you are in Ukarumpa look up my parents George and Debbie Bender. They have been there since 89′ so they can probably help you with anything you need or want to know. I was talking to them and mentioned that you were there. They would love to help out if you need anything. Their extention is 4681. They live on the top of the hill. My dad works at aviation and my mom works in the guest house you should look them up.
Did you get a chance to snorkle much in Madang? Or hike much? I love Madang it is a lot of fun. My mom used to head up arranging the short courses at POC and we used to go up there and help with stuff. It was a lot of fun.
Anyways I have to get back to work. Don’t have too much fun. Make sure you bring back a lot of suviners and stuff. But if it is wood or has feathers and stuff on it make sure to mail it to yourself instead of carrying it.
ttyl,
Bubbles
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