Yes, dear friends, there is a way to say it's Christmas time in Mesem. The words are literally Jesus Christs' Being Born Time Is. The word "la" which means, "arise, stand, born, happen" and several other things depending on the context is a word in Mesem that I quite like. I like the idea that "laladn" can mean not only birthday, but also arising. That the name of Jesus "arises" in this land and in the land of Papua New Guinea has been our long standing goal and prayer.
As I write this Neil is at the nursing home conducting a service and I remained home with our injured son to write, cook, pick up pine needles and ask God for new direction for the year 2009. Even as I do these things, I am reminded of an expression my friend Elyce used when she prayed for us and for the Mesem. Elyce would say, "Lord make Your Name great among the Mesem".
So this Christmas we bless you, are thankful for you, and pray that God's Name is made great in all the earth.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
The Mesem "Magic" Stone
Many years ago a village elder told us the story of a magic stone that the spirits in the rain forest had given to the Mesem people as a gift. Whenever the Mesem went hunting with the stone, they were guaranteed success. They would go out, set their traps and be guaranteed success the following day. We asked what had happened to the stone, and were told that no one knew where it was, but it was suspected it had been taken by people living in an area closer to the coast.
So, it was with great surprise that a friend of Neil's approached him and told Neil that he had the stone in his possession. He asked that it be taken to the US to undergo tests to find out the source of it's power.
The stone is safe and will be evaluated for age and we are amazed at the detailed work on the stone given that no metal tools were known in Papua New Guinea until last century. We'll keep you posted on what we learn but many of you heard us tell this story some 15 years ago when we began working with the Mesem. It's quite the modern day mystery!
So, it was with great surprise that a friend of Neil's approached him and told Neil that he had the stone in his possession. He asked that it be taken to the US to undergo tests to find out the source of it's power.
The stone is safe and will be evaluated for age and we are amazed at the detailed work on the stone given that no metal tools were known in Papua New Guinea until last century. We'll keep you posted on what we learn but many of you heard us tell this story some 15 years ago when we began working with the Mesem. It's quite the modern day mystery!
Friday, December 5, 2008
A Quick Update
Three weeks ago, Yangga Tumbe, our dear brother in Jesus and Neil, stood side by side on a mountain in PNG and shared this moment for a photo. Yangga has long stood by our side since that first day in 1995 when he knocked on our door and asked, "Do you believe in binding satan in Jesus Name?". He told us that after months of frustration, God had told him to come and see us. After months of frustration on our end, the answer to our prayer came at our door and knocked!
Yangga's valuable insights into Mesem culture helped us to better understand the obstacles faced by our Mesem friends and their animistic world view. Yangga continues to be a pillar in the Christian community among the Mesem.
Neil is home and an update will soon appear in your mailbox (just after I get the expense report turned in). The goals of this trip were for the most part accomplished. We have some outstanding prayer concerns that continue to be a matter for intercession but we are rejoicing that the Mesem have told us that they are anxious for a 2011 typesetting deadline with 2012 as the prayerfully anticipated date for the Mesem New Testament dedication.
More to come. Rejoicing in the One who exploits the darkness.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Home Again
At this writing, Neil should be 36,000 feet above ground, or sleeping in an airport somewhere. It was a wonderful experience on Skpe to talk with Jerry Jacob who spent two of the last three weeks with Neil, and get a feel first hand for the situation to which we will be returning in just a few months.
Neil had a very productive time with the Epistles of John and Jude and reception to the Gospel of John was very positive. Likewise the people were very pleased to meet Jerry for the first time and here him give his full support to the task at hand and his desire to see us be able to give our full attention to translation and reading through the scripture. Pastor Giegere Wenge also attended the meeting, thus lending his continued support to this endeavor and confirming that although we officially work under a different covering, our ministry will remain much the same as it has always been and we are working together for the glory of Jesus Christ. There was further enthusiasm where we shared our prayerfully chosen "deadline" of 2011 to have the scripture checked and ready to be brought back to the US for typesetting. The time has come for the Word of God to be in the hands of the people.
It's been a long road and never without challenges. I was reading Paul defense of his ministry at the end of 2 Corinthians. It's a pretty exhaustive list of "things that could go wrong" so that in weakness, the power of God would be evident. While I have yet to be shipwrecked (I once boasted I never had come down with dengue and got it three months later so I'll qualify with 'yet'), there were quite a few things on his list I have experienced to some degree and found difficult. Yet even as Paul clings tenaciously to his integrity and his calling, reinforcing principles found throughout scripture, he also boasts in the sufferings with which he was entrusted. His ministry as an apostle would not be valid without them. That's quite a statement, from quite a man, who was the best travelled, most liked, most disliked, and, since he could preach all night, undoubtedly the longest winded missionary of first century fame. Somehow, the trials fit into God's picture for finishing well among the Mesem.
Neil will be home in 30 hours. I'll write more later. Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.
Neil had a very productive time with the Epistles of John and Jude and reception to the Gospel of John was very positive. Likewise the people were very pleased to meet Jerry for the first time and here him give his full support to the task at hand and his desire to see us be able to give our full attention to translation and reading through the scripture. Pastor Giegere Wenge also attended the meeting, thus lending his continued support to this endeavor and confirming that although we officially work under a different covering, our ministry will remain much the same as it has always been and we are working together for the glory of Jesus Christ. There was further enthusiasm where we shared our prayerfully chosen "deadline" of 2011 to have the scripture checked and ready to be brought back to the US for typesetting. The time has come for the Word of God to be in the hands of the people.
It's been a long road and never without challenges. I was reading Paul defense of his ministry at the end of 2 Corinthians. It's a pretty exhaustive list of "things that could go wrong" so that in weakness, the power of God would be evident. While I have yet to be shipwrecked (I once boasted I never had come down with dengue and got it three months later so I'll qualify with 'yet'), there were quite a few things on his list I have experienced to some degree and found difficult. Yet even as Paul clings tenaciously to his integrity and his calling, reinforcing principles found throughout scripture, he also boasts in the sufferings with which he was entrusted. His ministry as an apostle would not be valid without them. That's quite a statement, from quite a man, who was the best travelled, most liked, most disliked, and, since he could preach all night, undoubtedly the longest winded missionary of first century fame. Somehow, the trials fit into God's picture for finishing well among the Mesem.
Neil will be home in 30 hours. I'll write more later. Thanks for reading. Thanks for praying.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Today's Meeting
Tuesday is an important day for the future of the ministry among the Mesem. While we can never know God's reasons for allowing specific things to occur, we do see how God has used challenges to redirect and to bring together the Mesem in a way that previous has no occurred. Jerry Jacob, the area director for Oceania in AGWM, will be with Neil and Giegere Wenge, Director of Education for the Lutheran Seminary and a long time friend, as the three travel to Hobu to address the ministry of Bible translation and Bible teaching among the Mesem. They are "wanbel" as is said in PNG: they are of one heart and one mind concerning the Lord Jesus and the ministry in which we are working.
The Mesem area has traditionally had just one church, which is Lutheran. More recently, Mesem speakers who have moved to town have joined Assembly of God churches. This has caused friction due mostly to different "misunderstandings" of the gospel. To see the leadership of the two churches stand together in prayer for the Mesem, for us, and for the translation of the New Testament and the continuation of the Bible Correspondence Program is a powerful statement.
Please join us in prayer that all that occurs, brings glory to Jesus.
The Mesem area has traditionally had just one church, which is Lutheran. More recently, Mesem speakers who have moved to town have joined Assembly of God churches. This has caused friction due mostly to different "misunderstandings" of the gospel. To see the leadership of the two churches stand together in prayer for the Mesem, for us, and for the translation of the New Testament and the continuation of the Bible Correspondence Program is a powerful statement.
Please join us in prayer that all that occurs, brings glory to Jesus.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Photographs and Memories
Today's photos did wonders for me. I confess, I was down about the truck, Wayung's continued oppression and the loss of the wallet and contents. Neil has come through a great deal and loves the rain forest and the people and the land. He finds these other hassles a necessary part of life, and indeed it is. I am a bit slower to rebound, as I find, after many years, I am very tired. At times I have asked, "Could we possibly have an uneventful time?".
So when Neil sent the photos this morning from the capital of PNG, I was really thrilled. I saw our house in the village. Tony was raised there. We tackled home schooling together there. I had the "joy" of skinning my first sheep there. I guess it has been the place of a many "firsts" and many tired and difficult evenings and many nights of saying, "God I thought I knew you but know I have seen you face to face". I would be poorer had I never lived in Samanzing.
I hope as you have the time, you will go to the photo gallery at www.vanaria.org or www.vanaria.info and look at the pictures of the people for whom you have prayed, and given and participated in giving the gospel not only to them but to their children, and should He tarry, to their children's children's children.
If you ever get time, do read Elizabeth Elliot's book No Graven Image. I believe it is the truest missionary book every written. It's supposed to be a novel, but anyone who has lived the life can tell you that she expresses there what so many of us feel, but which often is left out of books that require that the ends be neatly tied together. Nothing is neatly tied together in life. Jesus death was not neat. It astounds, confuses and offends. To those who choose to embrace His sacrifice, it also saves.
To pull together my thoughts: those closest to us realize that the last several years have been a painful and at times nonsensical journey. The unbelievable has been believed, the outrageous has occurred and when we cried out for help, it has seemed that God did not answer in the way we would have anticipated, but brought us along a new path. But when I look at the photos of the places we have lived, and to which, Lord willing, we shall again soon return, then I realize that the entire picture is so grand, involves so many people, and like most things of an eternal and perfect nature, doesn't make perfect sense from a mortal, finite perspective. But if Christ would have died to save just one, then for me, and thee and all of these, it is worth it.
Photographs are a wonderful thing. They let us visualize what we know in our heart.
So when Neil sent the photos this morning from the capital of PNG, I was really thrilled. I saw our house in the village. Tony was raised there. We tackled home schooling together there. I had the "joy" of skinning my first sheep there. I guess it has been the place of a many "firsts" and many tired and difficult evenings and many nights of saying, "God I thought I knew you but know I have seen you face to face". I would be poorer had I never lived in Samanzing.
I hope as you have the time, you will go to the photo gallery at www.vanaria.org or www.vanaria.info and look at the pictures of the people for whom you have prayed, and given and participated in giving the gospel not only to them but to their children, and should He tarry, to their children's children's children.
If you ever get time, do read Elizabeth Elliot's book No Graven Image. I believe it is the truest missionary book every written. It's supposed to be a novel, but anyone who has lived the life can tell you that she expresses there what so many of us feel, but which often is left out of books that require that the ends be neatly tied together. Nothing is neatly tied together in life. Jesus death was not neat. It astounds, confuses and offends. To those who choose to embrace His sacrifice, it also saves.
To pull together my thoughts: those closest to us realize that the last several years have been a painful and at times nonsensical journey. The unbelievable has been believed, the outrageous has occurred and when we cried out for help, it has seemed that God did not answer in the way we would have anticipated, but brought us along a new path. But when I look at the photos of the places we have lived, and to which, Lord willing, we shall again soon return, then I realize that the entire picture is so grand, involves so many people, and like most things of an eternal and perfect nature, doesn't make perfect sense from a mortal, finite perspective. But if Christ would have died to save just one, then for me, and thee and all of these, it is worth it.
Photographs are a wonderful thing. They let us visualize what we know in our heart.
Monday, November 17, 2008
In Neil's Own Words
Here are some excerpts from Neil's email that gives some summary of the events of the past few weeks. I have shortened some sentences and added explanatory notes so if it's in black, then I edited it for explanation. I deleted information that really wouldn't make sense unless one lives there.
In the morning - while at Lae I went out to get a coffee & some window cleaner for the truck. One of our kinsmen from the governor's family was watching the truck while I was at Samanzing; he had his family and while on the way back from getting the coffee and window cleaner the rear drive shaft came mostly off. Fortunately, there were wrenches behind the back seat of the truck and I was able to remove the remaining u-joint, pick up the shaft from along the side of the road and using the front wheel drive only, get myself back to the Lae G/H in time for my bus to Nadzab.
Once I sort out the wallet issue (missing a large sum, credit cards, licenses), I'll figure out what to do with the truck.
Joel "had a psychotic episode" after about 4 days. Actually, he started slipping off after two days and by day three Dick decided to chain his feet together. That was the morning after Joel came up the the house around 1:00 AM and slammed the door so hard I thought it would break. At the first crash I woke from a sound sleep and jumped to my feet - from out of the sleeping bag - ready to fight whoever was coming in. By the third strike of the door I realized it was Joel. So I did nothing - absolutely nothing. I did not get back into bed, I did not take a step, I did not sit or kneel, I didn't even check the time of night as I was thinking any sign of life from inside the house would only encourage him. Eventually he wandered off.
He spent the rest of the time hobbled; his feet tie together with a chain. It was pretty sad, but Mungnga Dick is pretty sympathetic. He feels like satan is purposely attacking Joel simply because no one did more for the community than Joel. At least it was nice to hear someone say something nice about Joel.
My speech at Ogao, Bilima, Hobo & Samanzing went pretty well. Every one seems sympathetic. Most people think it is a good idea for Jerry to come and also tell the story. Dick explained people are just glad we will be coming back. He said - and Yangga too - that people had been bothering them since last June asking if we really intended to come back.
(We have never been gone for a full year and it has now been 15 months since they last saw us. That was still within the recovery period of Neil's accident.)
People also seem to universally like the idea of having the NT completed by 2011. I asked Dick what he thought he might do once we were done and he said he wanted to teach people about what the Bible says. He gave me - for you, because you lead Bible studies, a diagram he drew on his own based on Hebrews comparing the world before and after the birth of Christ. It's pretty interesting.
Yangga reports the big issue at the last parish conference - last December - was adult literacy. So may be something is there. This is very positive, as it indicates they would help themselves in terms of teaching adults to read. We have prepared the material ages ago and it is ready for them and would help us continue our focus on completing the scriptures in the next couple of years and providing Bible teaching as well.
So all in all, all has gone pretty well. It really felt good rolling through those epistles.
Once I sort out the wallet issue (missing a large sum, credit cards, licenses), I'll figure out what to do with the truck.
Joel "had a psychotic episode" after about 4 days. Actually, he started slipping off after two days and by day three Dick decided to chain his feet together. That was the morning after Joel came up the the house around 1:00 AM and slammed the door so hard I thought it would break. At the first crash I woke from a sound sleep and jumped to my feet - from out of the sleeping bag - ready to fight whoever was coming in. By the third strike of the door I realized it was Joel. So I did nothing - absolutely nothing. I did not get back into bed, I did not take a step, I did not sit or kneel, I didn't even check the time of night as I was thinking any sign of life from inside the house would only encourage him. Eventually he wandered off.
He spent the rest of the time hobbled; his feet tie together with a chain. It was pretty sad, but Mungnga Dick is pretty sympathetic. He feels like satan is purposely attacking Joel simply because no one did more for the community than Joel. At least it was nice to hear someone say something nice about Joel.
My speech at Ogao, Bilima, Hobo & Samanzing went pretty well. Every one seems sympathetic. Most people think it is a good idea for Jerry to come and also tell the story. Dick explained people are just glad we will be coming back. He said - and Yangga too - that people had been bothering them since last June asking if we really intended to come back.
(We have never been gone for a full year and it has now been 15 months since they last saw us. That was still within the recovery period of Neil's accident.)
People also seem to universally like the idea of having the NT completed by 2011. I asked Dick what he thought he might do once we were done and he said he wanted to teach people about what the Bible says. He gave me - for you, because you lead Bible studies, a diagram he drew on his own based on Hebrews comparing the world before and after the birth of Christ. It's pretty interesting.
Yangga reports the big issue at the last parish conference - last December - was adult literacy. So may be something is there. This is very positive, as it indicates they would help themselves in terms of teaching adults to read. We have prepared the material ages ago and it is ready for them and would help us continue our focus on completing the scriptures in the next couple of years and providing Bible teaching as well.
So all in all, all has gone pretty well. It really felt good rolling through those epistles.
The walk out of the village was not as bad as I was anticipating. I spent a night at Bilima on the way out. So last Saturday I was there and told them our whole story; and our plan to finish by 2011. In the morning I shared a message at church. And in the afternoon I finished walking out to Hobu. I was a little slower than in the past, but not by much. Yannga helped up Bung Mountain; he carried the computer up for me. But from there on - the next four hours it was just me and all my gear.
Everyone in the Mesem world sends you there morning, mid-day, afternoon and night. (There should learn a faster to way to 'say hi'. That means they told him to say oluga-gasiga- mbuga) They seem to be kind of impressed that you got ordained. (I had been a licensed minister for about 24 years-obviously, I make decisions slowly). They were all anxious to hear Tony stories. They have no doubt that he is taller than me as they feel like he takes after you. But they all agree that he will be like me in one important way. When I tap the top of my head and say he'll look like me later, everyone laughs and so far no one has disagreed.
Well, I am counting days now. Two weeks from today I am on the plane home. It is still much too far away and I am trying just to focus on each leg that remains, 5 days POM, 4 or 5 days Lae, then Ukarumpa, then back to Port Moresby, then I'm outta here.
Will write soon. (I'll send some pics, too)
Neil Arrives in Port Moresby
After a long weekend of waiting for news, an email came through this AM that Neil has safely arrived in Port Morseby (aka "POM") to meet Jerry Jacob, the Oceania director and our news boss. Jerry is a wonderful guy who works in Fiji with his wife Karen and has spent many years on the mission field in settings similar to ours.
Neil's arrival occasions a further prayer request for a misplaced valuable that would be the cause of some significant logistical concerns. (How's that for oblique wording?) He was trying to see if he could recover the item and so had little time to write and update on the rest of his time with the Mesem.
Now that Neil and Jerry and in POM, they will be meeting with church leadership on the national level and then fly to Morobe Province to do the same. Phil and Kim Rojak, who have long served in Melanesia but will be serving their first term in PNG, will be heading out in May, Lord willing, and Jerry will be looking at the ministry opportunities and well and the settings in which our two families will be working. Phil is a nurse by profession and Kim is gifted in compassion ministries and their experience and expertise will be a great blessing.
I anticipate hearing more from Neil today and will be able to report on the rest of the time with the Mesem and how God has answered in recovering the item we are praying about.
Neil's arrival occasions a further prayer request for a misplaced valuable that would be the cause of some significant logistical concerns. (How's that for oblique wording?) He was trying to see if he could recover the item and so had little time to write and update on the rest of his time with the Mesem.
Now that Neil and Jerry and in POM, they will be meeting with church leadership on the national level and then fly to Morobe Province to do the same. Phil and Kim Rojak, who have long served in Melanesia but will be serving their first term in PNG, will be heading out in May, Lord willing, and Jerry will be looking at the ministry opportunities and well and the settings in which our two families will be working. Phil is a nurse by profession and Kim is gifted in compassion ministries and their experience and expertise will be a great blessing.
I anticipate hearing more from Neil today and will be able to report on the rest of the time with the Mesem and how God has answered in recovering the item we are praying about.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
The Far Side of the Moon
When I was a kid I was fascinated by the space program and like most Americans, there was not a single space mission that we did not follow with anxious anticipation. It was always a tense time when the astronauts would circle the moon and for a period of time it was not possible to have any radio contact with earth.
I jokingly refer to Neil's current situation as being "on the far side of the moon". It is always hard to explain that even in this day and age of cell phones and email, there are places in the world where it is not possible to send or receive a message short of a human being physically carrying the message from one point to another. So it is that as of last week, Neil has been incommunicado with us and will remain so until he emerges from the Mesem area in two weeks time.
This is a good picture of what it means to bring the gospel to people everywhere. While radio and TV and cell phones are marvelous things, God came to us personally, in the flesh. He went in person, touching, reaching, living amongst us to communicate with us on a personal level. He came down and spoke to us face to face. Bringing the gospel to all people everywhere still requires that some of those who bring the message go to places that are otherwise unreachable, and bring the Good News that God longs to be reconciled to us.
We appreciate your love and prayers while Neil is in a place where we can not get word of his well being and we appreciate all the more that Jesus came in the flesh to seek us out and to enter into our world to tell us He longs for us to return home to Him.
I jokingly refer to Neil's current situation as being "on the far side of the moon". It is always hard to explain that even in this day and age of cell phones and email, there are places in the world where it is not possible to send or receive a message short of a human being physically carrying the message from one point to another. So it is that as of last week, Neil has been incommunicado with us and will remain so until he emerges from the Mesem area in two weeks time.
This is a good picture of what it means to bring the gospel to people everywhere. While radio and TV and cell phones are marvelous things, God came to us personally, in the flesh. He went in person, touching, reaching, living amongst us to communicate with us on a personal level. He came down and spoke to us face to face. Bringing the gospel to all people everywhere still requires that some of those who bring the message go to places that are otherwise unreachable, and bring the Good News that God longs to be reconciled to us.
We appreciate your love and prayers while Neil is in a place where we can not get word of his well being and we appreciate all the more that Jesus came in the flesh to seek us out and to enter into our world to tell us He longs for us to return home to Him.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The Accapella Arrival and the PIlgrim's Progress
We returned from our first field term in 1992 and Neil wanted to arrive secretly and spend the entire night going from house to house soaping the cars of our friends with the words "Their Baaackkk!". I still can't remember if that's from a movie or an advertisement that was touting insecticide but either way, it would have been great fun.Our return that furlough was probably the most amazing welcome I can ever recall. There were over sixty friends at the airport and after we greeted everyone, someone started singing accapella till many joined in the refrain from Amazing Grace:
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come
Tis grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace will lead me home".
Neil is "home" in Papua New Guinea tonight and heading to the village tomorrow. He got to Ukarumpa and visited friends, picked up the Gospel of John, 1, 2, 3 John and Jude and purchased supplies. The computer adaptor was left behind in the rush so Johanna had a new one made and he was able to send this photo from the Smith's computer before he headed out. Here he is with our friend Susie and her husband Leo, who buried their oldest daughter recently. Susie worked in our house enabling me to work on translation and we became quite close friends and daily prayer partners. Their faith is amazing.
Before Neil left, we had the blessing of attending Minister's Institute in Falmouth for three days. We had never attended before and it was refreshing to our souls. I sat there at one point and felt really joyful. It's been a long time since I have felt joyful. I have had moments when I could see the light on the horizon, but not a time when I had a clear sense of vision for what lies ahead or even a renewed sense of energy. There was a tremendous focus on waiting on God and prayer and I needed that message to remind "my help comes from the Maker of Heaven and Earth.
So now we enter the time of silence when it is not possible to get messages in or out. I have a number of meetings over the next few days but Tony has been super helpful and we are reading through Mark together. Those who know the history of the work, know that every time we have tried to bring scripture to people, something extraordinary has happened to challenge or delay the delivery of the scripture. We cannot give up now with the New Testament so close to completion and the people so eager for the Word. So I look back at and remind myself that God who oversaw the break-ins, assaults, accident and robbery and sees all that transpired before and after, is the same Lord who has promised to "see us home".
I love Pslam 84 where we are told "Blessed are those who strength is the Lord, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage". My own strength is long expended but His is not. OK pilgrims...let's go.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
October and November and What God Makes New
Tommorow Neil leaves for Papua. In recent years, the months of October and November have been full of intense emotions for our family: the burning of the village, waking with paralysis in Bangkok, terminal diagnosis of Rosaria, the horrific accident that nearly has scarred our family, a painful anniverary last year and now Neil returns to a place that has been the center of our lives, and your prayers for years. He arrives on the anniversary of at least three pivotal events in our lives. The last week of October and the first week of November have been so full, I feel that were I to write all the events down, it would seem so unlikely that as one friend said, "It sounds like a Frank Peretti novel".
We just returned from "Minister's Institute". It is three day and two night retreat for Southern New England Ministers and it was a time of prayer and worship unlike anything I have experienced in recent years. We stayed in an attitude of prayer for nearly three hours. There was again the reminder of the scripture, "I will restore the years the locusts have eaten".
No one doubts that past Octobers and Novembers have been marked by tragedy, setbacks, assaults, and more. But God has given us a promise. Believing that promise he returns. This time tommorow, Tony and I will be like all of you, holding the ropes for Neil, as he goes down to mine for "gold".
All of you have stood so faithfuly with us and with expectation in prayer for the Mesem people. There is a Bible correspondence program. Mesem people have professed that Jesus is the only way. There are schools for teaching not only reading, but the Word of God. This has happened only because you have stood on the promise of God to answer prayer. His Character is such that He has done just that.
Tommorow we say good-bye to Neil and we have little ability to stay in contact. (We have no email and we do not know who has our satellie phone making it unlikely Neil will be able to purchase a SIM card). By prayer, we are as close to Neil and our Lord, just as you have stood so closely by us. We are trusting that the Lord will make this October and November different than any other: we are trusting He will restore the years/months, that have been so difficult for us in the past.
"Faithful is He who has called us, Who also will do it".
Pace, Kath
We just returned from "Minister's Institute". It is three day and two night retreat for Southern New England Ministers and it was a time of prayer and worship unlike anything I have experienced in recent years. We stayed in an attitude of prayer for nearly three hours. There was again the reminder of the scripture, "I will restore the years the locusts have eaten".
No one doubts that past Octobers and Novembers have been marked by tragedy, setbacks, assaults, and more. But God has given us a promise. Believing that promise he returns. This time tommorow, Tony and I will be like all of you, holding the ropes for Neil, as he goes down to mine for "gold".
All of you have stood so faithfuly with us and with expectation in prayer for the Mesem people. There is a Bible correspondence program. Mesem people have professed that Jesus is the only way. There are schools for teaching not only reading, but the Word of God. This has happened only because you have stood on the promise of God to answer prayer. His Character is such that He has done just that.
Tommorow we say good-bye to Neil and we have little ability to stay in contact. (We have no email and we do not know who has our satellie phone making it unlikely Neil will be able to purchase a SIM card). By prayer, we are as close to Neil and our Lord, just as you have stood so closely by us. We are trusting that the Lord will make this October and November different than any other: we are trusting He will restore the years/months, that have been so difficult for us in the past.
"Faithful is He who has called us, Who also will do it".
Pace, Kath
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Rally the Troops to Pray
With Neil's departure for PNG at hand, I would like to ask you to please commit this trip to daily prayer. It's not the "trip" that is the issue but the battle that takes place whenever we are ready to deliver more scripture. Those of you who have been part of this work for years, know full well the amazing events that have occurred whenever we have been engaged in delivering scripture or seeing people come to acknowledge the Lord. Your prayers have made the difference.
While in PNG Neil will be dealing with several challenging issues ranging from technical issues (where are the Neos and are they functioning?); to deeply spiritual issues (divisions among the people all based on false understandings of Christianity); to other more personal issues that will impact our future work and how we will carry it out upon our return. We are asking you to pray like never before that God speaks clearly and gives us assurance and peace about the direction we need to take to complete the New Testament so the Mesem need wait no longer.
On a personal note: he will be in PNG on the annivesary of accident that nearly claimed his life. The severity of that injury and the months of physical recovery and the toll of emotional stress have only been endured by the grace of God and helped by your prayers. You have stood with us for years. We ask that as we continue down the "home stretch" that you ask others to join us in prayer as well. Please refer them to the website, or ask them to write us personally for details if that helps them pray with more confidence.
We want to see Jesus Name made great among the Mesem.
While in PNG Neil will be dealing with several challenging issues ranging from technical issues (where are the Neos and are they functioning?); to deeply spiritual issues (divisions among the people all based on false understandings of Christianity); to other more personal issues that will impact our future work and how we will carry it out upon our return. We are asking you to pray like never before that God speaks clearly and gives us assurance and peace about the direction we need to take to complete the New Testament so the Mesem need wait no longer.
On a personal note: he will be in PNG on the annivesary of accident that nearly claimed his life. The severity of that injury and the months of physical recovery and the toll of emotional stress have only been endured by the grace of God and helped by your prayers. You have stood with us for years. We ask that as we continue down the "home stretch" that you ask others to join us in prayer as well. Please refer them to the website, or ask them to write us personally for details if that helps them pray with more confidence.
We want to see Jesus Name made great among the Mesem.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
If it's Sunday it's church, if it's Tuesday it's the nursing home, if it's Wednesday then..
OK, I'll be honest, sometimes I forget where we are from one week to the next. This is not because I don't enjoy travelling and being congregations all over New England but because with so little time remaining till Neil departs the calender is colour coded with colours on top of other colours so I can hardly read what I've penciled in on any given day. (To those of you who have seen my writing, you might argue that the colours have nothing to do with it). Yet, I do see we are committed for 14 of the 16 days till her departs. If it gets to be a bit of blur, then it's a good blur. It's the blur of churches that care, of retreats to prepare for what lies ahead, and meetings to share the easy yoke and light burden of sharing with Jesus in seeing His Name made great among the Mesem people.
So if I stumble your way, looking like a deer caught in the headlights, know I've been travelling a bit but that I'm so thankful for your care for us, and for the Mesem. (And if you feel so inclined, a bit of Gingko for the memory would help). Day by day we make progress translating, more commit to pray and we see that the Lord has opened new avenues of ministry.
Thanks for hanging in with us. Our God is faithful
So if I stumble your way, looking like a deer caught in the headlights, know I've been travelling a bit but that I'm so thankful for your care for us, and for the Mesem. (And if you feel so inclined, a bit of Gingko for the memory would help). Day by day we make progress translating, more commit to pray and we see that the Lord has opened new avenues of ministry.
Thanks for hanging in with us. Our God is faithful
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Back to Papua New Guinea
It is with great joy that we can report Neil's scheduled return to Papua New Guinea (PNG) on October 23. Well, he begins the journey on the 23rd but more likely will get to the Mesem closer to the 28th. The flights alone total 24 hours in the air, and once he arrives he has to get from the capital, to Morobe Province, and from there he'll need to purchase food and supplies to bring with him into the rainforest. Those supplies are not just our personal staples, but basic first aid items that are needed by so many of our Mesem friends; malaria medication; tools to repair those things on which the harsh environment has taken its toll. One of the many things he will carry with him is the Gospel of John, completed just prior to our furlough last year as well as four other epistles for the people to read for the first time. It is hard to explain the joy we feel that the Mesem can resume reading the scriptures, studying each book they receive for the first time, asking questions and discussing these things with Neil. It's an answer to prayer...the fervent prayer of the many friends and churches who have stood so faithfully with us for two decades and those who have joined us with such commitment in recent months.
While Neil is gone, I will continue to work on Acts, continue the nursing home chaplaincy, Alpha, and the weekend preaching schedule. As I know that Tony never reads this blog I will boast as his mom that he will continue to concentrate on school, basketball (he just took home his first MVP) and accompany me as I speak in churches in Southern New England. I am immensly proud of him. He has endured a great deal in the last two years and yet from the time of Neil's accident onward he has continued to demonstrate a quiet strength as he takes on the increased responsibilty that comes with becoming a young man.
On a personal note: over the years we've heard coworkers share some of the difficulties communicating their struggles to those at home. We realize that there are good reasons for this: time, distance, living cross culturally for extended periods and other factors. However, what I want to say here for all the world to know is that we have been blessed with the most supportive and loving group of friends and churches who have cheered us on through every obstacle that could possibly arise. Our “support base” (or better stated “the Body of Christ from a variety of church traditions) has blessed us, prayed for us, and stood fast and believed with us when it seemed that all of life was an uphill battle. Not only were you the hands of Jesus to us, we find that our best “cheerleaders” have been the very ones the Lord has used to help us keep going when we thought we didn't have another step within us. On behalf of my family and the Mesem people I want to thank our friends from a variety of church backgrounds who together with us rejoice that there is “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, one God and Father of all”. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. And He shall surely accomplish His will.
While Neil is gone, I will continue to work on Acts, continue the nursing home chaplaincy, Alpha, and the weekend preaching schedule. As I know that Tony never reads this blog I will boast as his mom that he will continue to concentrate on school, basketball (he just took home his first MVP) and accompany me as I speak in churches in Southern New England. I am immensly proud of him. He has endured a great deal in the last two years and yet from the time of Neil's accident onward he has continued to demonstrate a quiet strength as he takes on the increased responsibilty that comes with becoming a young man.
On a personal note: over the years we've heard coworkers share some of the difficulties communicating their struggles to those at home. We realize that there are good reasons for this: time, distance, living cross culturally for extended periods and other factors. However, what I want to say here for all the world to know is that we have been blessed with the most supportive and loving group of friends and churches who have cheered us on through every obstacle that could possibly arise. Our “support base” (or better stated “the Body of Christ from a variety of church traditions) has blessed us, prayed for us, and stood fast and believed with us when it seemed that all of life was an uphill battle. Not only were you the hands of Jesus to us, we find that our best “cheerleaders” have been the very ones the Lord has used to help us keep going when we thought we didn't have another step within us. On behalf of my family and the Mesem people I want to thank our friends from a variety of church backgrounds who together with us rejoice that there is “one Lord, one faith, and one baptism, one God and Father of all”. Hitherto hath the Lord helped us. And He shall surely accomplish His will.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
You Do All Things Well
It was a year ago in August that we arrived in the US. We were exhausted. The death of friends and family overshadowed what was already a year of constant stress. Yet we had experienced God's mercy in Neil's miraculous survival when his neck was crushed in a horrific accident and he was so severely injured that plastic surgery was necessary to ensure his survival. The robbery that occurred while Neil and the driver were on the roadside was almost a "non-event" as it paled in comparision to everything else that happened. To be honest, I thought to myself, "There is nothing left to take and I have nothing left to give". While it would be wonderful to say that as human beings we never hit that point, it would not be honest. Only One does "all things well".
One year later I want to say to our God, "You do all things well".
Last year I couldn't see how to move an inch forward. It had to be done, but there was still so much to do and no inner strength with which to do it. Yet we are told that His strength is made perfect in weakness and so we have experienced it. I remember when one of our leaders said to us, "You might feel like you are falling, but you are falling into a safety net."
One year later, as the tickets are booked for Neil to bring scripture back to PNG, and I am working on translation again, and we have been commissioned, and I have been ordained, and Tony is reminding us to pick up friends for youth group....what can I say but "He does all things well".
Neil needed the extra time because we faced enourmous stress when we returned to PNG and in attempting to complete the checking of Matthew there was never a moment when he was without emotional pressure which would have helped him to physically heal. I needed the extra time to just recover from having lost my friends, my cousin, and nearly my husband. Emotionally and spiritually, I was spent. Tony needed time to have a year that was free from assault, injury or seperation from us due to trauma. God knew we needed time. He gave it to us and He did it in a way that built us up, caused no loss to the Meem and as usual: gave time for others here in the US to come to Christ.
Yet, one year later, we are back at work full time with the Mesem New Testament. The situation in the Mesem area is such that working with the AG will only widen the acceptance of the New Testament among the Mesem. So three tired and discouraged people who left Papua New Guinea last year are now refreshed, supported, affirmed and able to focus on the only goal that really matters: That the Name of Jesus Christ is Exalted Among the Mesem.
I read yesterday, "A moment of God's favor is better than a year of our labors". Amen Lord. Pour on your favor, Oh Lord, that your Name is glorified.
One year later I want to say to our God, "You do all things well".
Last year I couldn't see how to move an inch forward. It had to be done, but there was still so much to do and no inner strength with which to do it. Yet we are told that His strength is made perfect in weakness and so we have experienced it. I remember when one of our leaders said to us, "You might feel like you are falling, but you are falling into a safety net."
One year later, as the tickets are booked for Neil to bring scripture back to PNG, and I am working on translation again, and we have been commissioned, and I have been ordained, and Tony is reminding us to pick up friends for youth group....what can I say but "He does all things well".
Neil needed the extra time because we faced enourmous stress when we returned to PNG and in attempting to complete the checking of Matthew there was never a moment when he was without emotional pressure which would have helped him to physically heal. I needed the extra time to just recover from having lost my friends, my cousin, and nearly my husband. Emotionally and spiritually, I was spent. Tony needed time to have a year that was free from assault, injury or seperation from us due to trauma. God knew we needed time. He gave it to us and He did it in a way that built us up, caused no loss to the Meem and as usual: gave time for others here in the US to come to Christ.
Yet, one year later, we are back at work full time with the Mesem New Testament. The situation in the Mesem area is such that working with the AG will only widen the acceptance of the New Testament among the Mesem. So three tired and discouraged people who left Papua New Guinea last year are now refreshed, supported, affirmed and able to focus on the only goal that really matters: That the Name of Jesus Christ is Exalted Among the Mesem.
I read yesterday, "A moment of God's favor is better than a year of our labors". Amen Lord. Pour on your favor, Oh Lord, that your Name is glorified.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Moving Forward and other Furlough Idioms
It seems that every furlough we learn new terms or expressions we missed out on when we were oversees. Remember, "Murphy Brown, not"? I can still remember asking, "Who is Murphy Brown and why would someone end a sentence with "not"?
So we are "moving forward" now and I like and understand this expression very well.
Neil is looking to travel to Papua New Guinea and has begun the process of checking flights. He'll coordinate that with our regional director who will visit the ministry among the Mesem, as well as key church leaders in our province and in the nation. Neil is planning to return with 1, 2 and 3 John, and Lord wiling, Jude, just in case he has some "spare time"! After a year away we expect there to be a lot of eating, talking and catching up, Melanesian style, before they get down to the business of studying the translated scriptures.
On the home front Tony continues to pursue basketball with a joyful enthusiasm and I will be working on the New Testament as well as taking speaking opportunities on the weekend. Right now my big computer challenge is to get a file typed in unicode to open with the correct characters when I switch between OpenOffice and Word.
It's been a "journey" which sounds heaps better than saying, "This has been a trip" :) but we know you who have so faithfully prayed for and followed the events that have occurred the closer we have come to completing the scripture, are well aware that it was a truth said in jest when Elyce coined this work, "Frank Peretti Live". At times I have debated whether to chronicle the last four field terms and have concluded that had I not been there, I would probably think the writer was embellishing the story. Not so, it's all true.
As we pray this ministry "home", lets celebrate as we watch the Lord accomplish what we could never do ourselves.
Faithful is He who has called you, who also will do it.
So we are "moving forward" now and I like and understand this expression very well.
Neil is looking to travel to Papua New Guinea and has begun the process of checking flights. He'll coordinate that with our regional director who will visit the ministry among the Mesem, as well as key church leaders in our province and in the nation. Neil is planning to return with 1, 2 and 3 John, and Lord wiling, Jude, just in case he has some "spare time"! After a year away we expect there to be a lot of eating, talking and catching up, Melanesian style, before they get down to the business of studying the translated scriptures.
On the home front Tony continues to pursue basketball with a joyful enthusiasm and I will be working on the New Testament as well as taking speaking opportunities on the weekend. Right now my big computer challenge is to get a file typed in unicode to open with the correct characters when I switch between OpenOffice and Word.
It's been a "journey" which sounds heaps better than saying, "This has been a trip" :) but we know you who have so faithfully prayed for and followed the events that have occurred the closer we have come to completing the scripture, are well aware that it was a truth said in jest when Elyce coined this work, "Frank Peretti Live". At times I have debated whether to chronicle the last four field terms and have concluded that had I not been there, I would probably think the writer was embellishing the story. Not so, it's all true.
As we pray this ministry "home", lets celebrate as we watch the Lord accomplish what we could never do ourselves.
Faithful is He who has called you, who also will do it.
Friday, August 29, 2008
My Desk Blotter
During much of the 1980's we were employed full time in secular vocations. Anyone who thinks the ordinary working man or woman works "9 to 5" is not yet of age for a full time job. Everyone other adult knows that our "full time" jobs are very intense not only in terms of our time, but our emotions, and our the intellectual challenges we face in the workplace. Keeping our Christian witness on the job is one of the great priviledges and challenges anyone can face.
The last three years of my secular employment in the US, Neil and I were in the process of making the transition to missions. We were involved in ministry in the local church and been recognized as clergy by our governing body, but we continued in our regular jobs until the time was right to go overseas and serve. At times I felt a great tension inside between my need to give my all where I was living and my anticipation of the ministry that lay ahead. An accountant from Boston who loves theology, reading, teaching and fine dining, does not easily make the move to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. The idea was daunting and in truth, "pushed the envelope" of my sense of what I could and could not do.
God did not, of course, call us to do what we can in our own strength accomplish. He called us to what we can in His strength accomplish. So, for the last three years I had a note jotted on every page of the blotter on my desk. It was the simple quote from Thessalonians, "Faithful is He who called you, who also will do it".
It has been one year and two weeks since we arrived in the US in the midst of many uncertainties. It has been 20 years, to the day, since we began our orientation in Madang, Papua New Guinea. If you had asked me 20 years ago if I thought I would be able to survive, much less thrive, in PNG for two decades, I would probably have said "No". If you had asked me a year ago today if I thought within 12 months I would be revising the Book of Jude so Neil can bring it to our coworkers in a few weeks time I would have said, "Maybe. If the Lord wills it so".
The path has not always been easy, smooth, nor clear but it has been His path. He knows where He is taking us and He knows the way to get there. I am confident He can take us all the way home.
Faithful is He who called us. He is doing it.
The last three years of my secular employment in the US, Neil and I were in the process of making the transition to missions. We were involved in ministry in the local church and been recognized as clergy by our governing body, but we continued in our regular jobs until the time was right to go overseas and serve. At times I felt a great tension inside between my need to give my all where I was living and my anticipation of the ministry that lay ahead. An accountant from Boston who loves theology, reading, teaching and fine dining, does not easily make the move to the rainforest of Papua New Guinea. The idea was daunting and in truth, "pushed the envelope" of my sense of what I could and could not do.
God did not, of course, call us to do what we can in our own strength accomplish. He called us to what we can in His strength accomplish. So, for the last three years I had a note jotted on every page of the blotter on my desk. It was the simple quote from Thessalonians, "Faithful is He who called you, who also will do it".
It has been one year and two weeks since we arrived in the US in the midst of many uncertainties. It has been 20 years, to the day, since we began our orientation in Madang, Papua New Guinea. If you had asked me 20 years ago if I thought I would be able to survive, much less thrive, in PNG for two decades, I would probably have said "No". If you had asked me a year ago today if I thought within 12 months I would be revising the Book of Jude so Neil can bring it to our coworkers in a few weeks time I would have said, "Maybe. If the Lord wills it so".
The path has not always been easy, smooth, nor clear but it has been His path. He knows where He is taking us and He knows the way to get there. I am confident He can take us all the way home.
Faithful is He who called us. He is doing it.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
More than 5000 Served!
I remember when McDonald's reached the "more than one million served" mark. That was back when the stores were glass and the arches were really high. It reminds me of a conversation that Tony and I had the other day that gave me a perspective on the Mesem translation I had not previously had.
We were going to the Boy's Club, of course, and he was spinning a basketball in his hands. I was telling him about some revision I had been doing in 1 John and how at times I feel like this has been a very, very long race. I joke that we are in "mile 34 of a marathon". I was just really feeling very weary and I confess, I am not the best at juggling translation, itineration, and two other outside ministries all at the same time. Tony's comment to me was, "Mom, did you ever think of how many people God can save among the Mesem?". I said I had, because "There are 5000 Mesem people". He had one of those, "Gee, isn't she thinking?" looks and put it in perspective, "It's not just the Mesem now, Mom, what about their kids who get saved through the Bible and all who come after".
I am slow or what? He was completely right of course. The English Bible has been revised many times over as has that of every major language. However, had Tyndale and Wycliffe not translated....well where would we be today? Generations are affected by this work, not just those who live to see the first completed New Testament.
Tony is in PA now and Neil is out visiting churches. I'll go back to 1 John with a renewed sense of purpose.
Blessings, Kathy
We were going to the Boy's Club, of course, and he was spinning a basketball in his hands. I was telling him about some revision I had been doing in 1 John and how at times I feel like this has been a very, very long race. I joke that we are in "mile 34 of a marathon". I was just really feeling very weary and I confess, I am not the best at juggling translation, itineration, and two other outside ministries all at the same time. Tony's comment to me was, "Mom, did you ever think of how many people God can save among the Mesem?". I said I had, because "There are 5000 Mesem people". He had one of those, "Gee, isn't she thinking?" looks and put it in perspective, "It's not just the Mesem now, Mom, what about their kids who get saved through the Bible and all who come after".
I am slow or what? He was completely right of course. The English Bible has been revised many times over as has that of every major language. However, had Tyndale and Wycliffe not translated....well where would we be today? Generations are affected by this work, not just those who live to see the first completed New Testament.
Tony is in PA now and Neil is out visiting churches. I'll go back to 1 John with a renewed sense of purpose.
Blessings, Kathy
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
God's Boast
The Continued History of the New Testament among the Mesem People
I've been reading an excellent book called "The Gospel According to Job". The author has many wonderful lessons learned from Job but the one that struck me today was that Christ did not pay enough to outweigh our sins. It's not as though He paid just a bit more than our sins cost. He paid so our sins are forever eradicated. Job's point for all the pious platitudes of his friends was that he had a Redeemer. There are many chapters of the book of Job dedicated to religious people trying to justify Job's misery and suffering. If there was a reason he deserved the suffering he had, then they were a bit more righteous than he was, they were a bit more deserving of God's blessing and protection. As good at their reasoning sounds, defending God for being "fair", they did not understand that Job was the man of whom God boasted.
Ah..what does that have to do with the Mesem people? Why do the Mesem live with so little help, so distantly removed from medcine, roads, and the availablity of scripture? What have we done that we merit the blessing of having scripture in our languages, having trained pastors who can read, having the means to make decisions about how much effort will be put into reaching the lost? Is it because we are just a little better? I think not.
What amazes me still is the Mesem men and women who live every word of the Bible they understand and do so without hesistation. If they understand it, then they live it. I believe these are the ones of whom God boasts.
I've been reading an excellent book called "The Gospel According to Job". The author has many wonderful lessons learned from Job but the one that struck me today was that Christ did not pay enough to outweigh our sins. It's not as though He paid just a bit more than our sins cost. He paid so our sins are forever eradicated. Job's point for all the pious platitudes of his friends was that he had a Redeemer. There are many chapters of the book of Job dedicated to religious people trying to justify Job's misery and suffering. If there was a reason he deserved the suffering he had, then they were a bit more righteous than he was, they were a bit more deserving of God's blessing and protection. As good at their reasoning sounds, defending God for being "fair", they did not understand that Job was the man of whom God boasted.
Ah..what does that have to do with the Mesem people? Why do the Mesem live with so little help, so distantly removed from medcine, roads, and the availablity of scripture? What have we done that we merit the blessing of having scripture in our languages, having trained pastors who can read, having the means to make decisions about how much effort will be put into reaching the lost? Is it because we are just a little better? I think not.
What amazes me still is the Mesem men and women who live every word of the Bible they understand and do so without hesistation. If they understand it, then they live it. I believe these are the ones of whom God boasts.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Gospel of Grace
The Real History of the Mesem New Testament Part 3
We started our second term having completed the Gospel of Mark and the Book of James. The next goal was for a clear and evangelical use of the translated materials. Neil chose to translate Romans. What books spells out so clearly the truth of salvation by faith alone?
The translation of Romans proved to be tremendously challenging and fruitful. It took almost three years to get the manuscript to a place where it was in publishable form. (The Gospel of Matthew and other Pauline espitles were being drafted during this time, so other work was taking place.)
Neil and the men spent hours going over verses and talking about the meaning. One day in particular Esonuc stopped me and said, "I thought we tried very hard to be good and follow God and go to heaven. Know I know that was wrong thinking. True thinking is beleiving in Jesus". As Neil read translated portions to different clans some assumed the gospel of grace was a mistranslation. It was such "good news" that when people heard it they either reacted by saying, "No, this can't be true" or they said, "If this is true...then it is GOOD NEWS!".
The community also participated in the greatest and most daunting cooperative project in their history: the construction of a sixty meter long bridge to span the Sankwe river. With the guidance, materials and funding provided by MAPS workers (short terms missionary workers from the Assemblies who donate their time on construction projects like this one), the Mesem people provided weeks of physical labor and worked together with our MAPS friends build an amazing bridge. Prior to that time the bridges were made of bamboo and frequently washed away by rising waters. The bridge was named "We have made this with our own hands".
Other tests came our way in the form of surgeries and the need to make two trips to Australia for a spinal fusion for Kathy as well as a gall bladder surgery. We periodically joked that removing all non-essential organs might be a way to prevent future trips. Nonetheless, on each trip we met people who didn't know the Lord or wanted to come back to him after many years. Once, a store manager in a mall spoke to Kathy and her friend Grace Fabian and asked them as they shopped, "Are you two Spirit filled Christians?". This was the source of some humour between Kathy and Grace as they come from totally different doctrinal backgrounds, but the Lord used that "chance meeting" in a mall for them to pray with the manager who was seeking God's help for her life. The fields are white with harvest...we just need to look around.
Another continued concern was Joel. His behavoir grew increasingly violent. Likewise there was renewed tension with the cargo cult among the villagers. A portin of the village set up a new hamlet and accusations of sorcery began to circulate.
At the same time, we began to make plans to build an office for future work. We needed more space, a place to hold Bible studies and to teach classes in reading. Teachers had been trained during our first term, but now we needed to teach others to correct Bible studies as we initated a correspondence Bible study program. As we finished our third term in PNG, our second with the Mesem, we believed we were entering into a time when we would begin to see the "fruit" of the work that was the cooperative effort of so many
We started our second term having completed the Gospel of Mark and the Book of James. The next goal was for a clear and evangelical use of the translated materials. Neil chose to translate Romans. What books spells out so clearly the truth of salvation by faith alone?
The translation of Romans proved to be tremendously challenging and fruitful. It took almost three years to get the manuscript to a place where it was in publishable form. (The Gospel of Matthew and other Pauline espitles were being drafted during this time, so other work was taking place.)
Neil and the men spent hours going over verses and talking about the meaning. One day in particular Esonuc stopped me and said, "I thought we tried very hard to be good and follow God and go to heaven. Know I know that was wrong thinking. True thinking is beleiving in Jesus". As Neil read translated portions to different clans some assumed the gospel of grace was a mistranslation. It was such "good news" that when people heard it they either reacted by saying, "No, this can't be true" or they said, "If this is true...then it is GOOD NEWS!".
The community also participated in the greatest and most daunting cooperative project in their history: the construction of a sixty meter long bridge to span the Sankwe river. With the guidance, materials and funding provided by MAPS workers (short terms missionary workers from the Assemblies who donate their time on construction projects like this one), the Mesem people provided weeks of physical labor and worked together with our MAPS friends build an amazing bridge. Prior to that time the bridges were made of bamboo and frequently washed away by rising waters. The bridge was named "We have made this with our own hands".
Other tests came our way in the form of surgeries and the need to make two trips to Australia for a spinal fusion for Kathy as well as a gall bladder surgery. We periodically joked that removing all non-essential organs might be a way to prevent future trips. Nonetheless, on each trip we met people who didn't know the Lord or wanted to come back to him after many years. Once, a store manager in a mall spoke to Kathy and her friend Grace Fabian and asked them as they shopped, "Are you two Spirit filled Christians?". This was the source of some humour between Kathy and Grace as they come from totally different doctrinal backgrounds, but the Lord used that "chance meeting" in a mall for them to pray with the manager who was seeking God's help for her life. The fields are white with harvest...we just need to look around.
Another continued concern was Joel. His behavoir grew increasingly violent. Likewise there was renewed tension with the cargo cult among the villagers. A portin of the village set up a new hamlet and accusations of sorcery began to circulate.
At the same time, we began to make plans to build an office for future work. We needed more space, a place to hold Bible studies and to teach classes in reading. Teachers had been trained during our first term, but now we needed to teach others to correct Bible studies as we initated a correspondence Bible study program. As we finished our third term in PNG, our second with the Mesem, we believed we were entering into a time when we would begin to see the "fruit" of the work that was the cooperative effort of so many
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Another Step on the Journey
I am writing from Springfield Mo where we have just finished another day at School of Missions. We are preparing for our return to the work of Bible translation with the Mesem. It's been a journey.
Our first term Michael Card gave us permission to use his song "There is a Joy in the Journey" for our slide show. It's a great song about the learning to love the places God brings us and knowing freedom in obeying Him. Since coming to MO we've seen friends with whom we trained 20 years ago who are continuing with us and doing the same work to see that no one in the world has to hear God's Word "second hand".
When we return to MA, I will continue to chronicle the "True Story of the Mesem Translation". Those are stories that need to be told. They are the markers that remind us God is faithful, He will do what He said, and "Faithful is He who has called you, who also will do it".
Pray that the Mesem work can resume quickly. We are anxious to get back to it. In the meantime, God is not idle and His Spirit is moving. It's His Name on the line.
Joyful on the journey,
Kathy
Our first term Michael Card gave us permission to use his song "There is a Joy in the Journey" for our slide show. It's a great song about the learning to love the places God brings us and knowing freedom in obeying Him. Since coming to MO we've seen friends with whom we trained 20 years ago who are continuing with us and doing the same work to see that no one in the world has to hear God's Word "second hand".
When we return to MA, I will continue to chronicle the "True Story of the Mesem Translation". Those are stories that need to be told. They are the markers that remind us God is faithful, He will do what He said, and "Faithful is He who has called you, who also will do it".
Pray that the Mesem work can resume quickly. We are anxious to get back to it. In the meantime, God is not idle and His Spirit is moving. It's His Name on the line.
Joyful on the journey,
Kathy
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Real History of the Mesem New Testament: Yanga and Yohanuc
The Real History of the Mesem New Testament: Yanga and Yohanuc
The first great obstacle to translation was not the attacks or the illnesses. Yes, they were hassles. Our obstacle was we had no one who would work with us. The village elders assigned a group of men and all left the village within the first week. We kept praying and asking people to work with us, but every day it seemed was spent doing medical work, lending tools, fixing something for someone and suriving. Translation seemed it would never begin.
Joyce Turner organized friends to fast and pray.
One Saturday a man we had not met before came to our door and asked, “Do you believe in binding spirits in Jesus Name?”. We invited him to eat with us.
His name was Yanga Tumbe and he had returned to the area 2 years prior to share the gospel after coming to faith. He felt he had no one listening and prayed about what to do. The Lord told him to come and talk to us. That night Yanga explained a dynamic of Mesem spiritual beliefs about which we knew nothing: the Mesem had a strong allegience to a spirit named “sankumtulung” (we don't capitilize their names purposefully). They believed that if they honoured this spirit's name, and treated him well with offerings, he would look after them. Saying his name aloud was disrespectful, which explained why we had not heard the name before. The people used euphamisms to refer to him. That night the three of us agreed in prayer to bind sankumtulung.
The next day Yohanuc Wenge, who we had asked to assist on several occassions said, “Let's work together”. In a way that only God could have forseen the man who brough the gospel to the Mesem was also instrumental in beginnings of the translation of the Word of God for the Mesem people.
The first great obstacle to translation was not the attacks or the illnesses. Yes, they were hassles. Our obstacle was we had no one who would work with us. The village elders assigned a group of men and all left the village within the first week. We kept praying and asking people to work with us, but every day it seemed was spent doing medical work, lending tools, fixing something for someone and suriving. Translation seemed it would never begin.
Joyce Turner organized friends to fast and pray.
One Saturday a man we had not met before came to our door and asked, “Do you believe in binding spirits in Jesus Name?”. We invited him to eat with us.
His name was Yanga Tumbe and he had returned to the area 2 years prior to share the gospel after coming to faith. He felt he had no one listening and prayed about what to do. The Lord told him to come and talk to us. That night Yanga explained a dynamic of Mesem spiritual beliefs about which we knew nothing: the Mesem had a strong allegience to a spirit named “sankumtulung” (we don't capitilize their names purposefully). They believed that if they honoured this spirit's name, and treated him well with offerings, he would look after them. Saying his name aloud was disrespectful, which explained why we had not heard the name before. The people used euphamisms to refer to him. That night the three of us agreed in prayer to bind sankumtulung.
The next day Yohanuc Wenge, who we had asked to assist on several occassions said, “Let's work together”. In a way that only God could have forseen the man who brough the gospel to the Mesem was also instrumental in beginnings of the translation of the Word of God for the Mesem people.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The Real History of the Mesem Translation Part One
This is an effort to record the events that have taken place during the Mesem translation, term by term so that we might remember, pray and perservere.
Time is not recorded in Papua New Guinea (PNG) villages the way it is recorded in the western world. So the exact year when Yohanuc Wenge first heard the Gospel in his Nabak village and chose to believe in Jesus is not known in this temporal realm. It is certainly known in heaven. German missionaries had brought the gospel to Finchafen and from there Kote speakers carried word inland of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (The spelling of Kote uses non-English characters, however the “o” is an “a” with a charet above.) There were huge language barriers and much was not communicated but the saving knowledge of Christ was proclaimed so that when Yohanuc understood the message, he decided to move the neighboring Mesem language area and begin to tell The Story.
The Bible was translated into Kote which over time became a trade language in much of Morobe Province. People learned to speak it of necessity so they could trade with one another and it was in this language that liturgy and teaching materials were made available. Kote, much like the Latin of the church in which I was raised, became the language of faith. To the extent one learned it well and could read this language, they had access to the scripture. As Melanesian Pidgin grew in usage in PNG, Kote use declined. It is unusual among the Mesem to meet anyone under 55 who can read and speak Kote.
A translation project was initiated in 1987 by a family from CA. They built a house and an office underneath but serious health issues arose and they had to leave permanently before they were able to begin translation of the scriptures. The project was idle for two years until we made a visit in 1992 just a few weeks prior to our first furlough. It is our prayer that what you now read, wil cause you to understand why we so need prayer for this task to be accomplished. If we did not believe God desired it for the Mesem, we would have stopped long ago.
Our first visit was to see if Samanzing, the main Mesem village at that time, was the place God wanted us to go. I was pregnant with Tony, but at 98 lbs, no one could tell from looking at me. We went and met with the leaders of the village who assigned a well educated (eight grade leaver) to assist us with learning the language. He was smart and pleasant and after four days we seemed to be settling in.
The first weekend, Pastor Pien asked Neil to come and preach. I was alone in the village when the same man who was supposed to be helping us had the first of a series of “psychotic episodes” that have continued to harass the work. He became violent, was tied with metal bindings so tightly his hands swelled, and when he broke free he ran to our house. I was warned he was coming and barricaded myself in the house saying, “Well, this is going to be a fascinating place to work”. He banged on the door, screamed and threatened to burn down the house and “that child you have”.
I will now list the events that occurred on subsequent visits:
First post furlough visit 1993: threatened with house burning by the same man
Second village stay: Two men enter the house and make threats
Third village stay: Woman chants and dances around the house and has to be removed from the village. Another man has a “psychotic episode”.
Four village stay: Kathy becomes ill with dengue.
Next attempt to return to village: Kathy becomes ill with hepatitis so Neil goes alone
Neil returns and is also ill with hepatitis. (The vaccine came out the following year).
Because we were too ill to be in a remote village we tried to resume working from the mission station at Ukarumpa. The week the co-translators were to arrive Kathy came down with pneumonia.
While trying to continue work on the first gospel an attempt was made to snatch Tony. The man was caught before he got a quarter mile from the house.
It is now March of 1996 and we returned to the village. We were subject to an assualt that required us to leave again. The day after we were back to the mission station our son and his cousin, Silvio, went missing. After a search they were found going into a river area about a mile from our house. They said they saw something frightful that told them to run and they kept running.
Neil returned from the interior three days later. After good mental health, a cotranslator had a pyschotic episode and had to be removed from the mission station.
We completed the Gospel of Mark and it was dedicated. The day after dedication a man threatened us to stop angering the spirits. Neil began translating James and Kathy was found to need surgery.
That was our first term. What followed, continued and grew in intensity. God has a plan, and it is never accomplished unless He makes it happen.
Time is not recorded in Papua New Guinea (PNG) villages the way it is recorded in the western world. So the exact year when Yohanuc Wenge first heard the Gospel in his Nabak village and chose to believe in Jesus is not known in this temporal realm. It is certainly known in heaven. German missionaries had brought the gospel to Finchafen and from there Kote speakers carried word inland of the gospel of Jesus Christ. (The spelling of Kote uses non-English characters, however the “o” is an “a” with a charet above.) There were huge language barriers and much was not communicated but the saving knowledge of Christ was proclaimed so that when Yohanuc understood the message, he decided to move the neighboring Mesem language area and begin to tell The Story.
The Bible was translated into Kote which over time became a trade language in much of Morobe Province. People learned to speak it of necessity so they could trade with one another and it was in this language that liturgy and teaching materials were made available. Kote, much like the Latin of the church in which I was raised, became the language of faith. To the extent one learned it well and could read this language, they had access to the scripture. As Melanesian Pidgin grew in usage in PNG, Kote use declined. It is unusual among the Mesem to meet anyone under 55 who can read and speak Kote.
A translation project was initiated in 1987 by a family from CA. They built a house and an office underneath but serious health issues arose and they had to leave permanently before they were able to begin translation of the scriptures. The project was idle for two years until we made a visit in 1992 just a few weeks prior to our first furlough. It is our prayer that what you now read, wil cause you to understand why we so need prayer for this task to be accomplished. If we did not believe God desired it for the Mesem, we would have stopped long ago.
Our first visit was to see if Samanzing, the main Mesem village at that time, was the place God wanted us to go. I was pregnant with Tony, but at 98 lbs, no one could tell from looking at me. We went and met with the leaders of the village who assigned a well educated (eight grade leaver) to assist us with learning the language. He was smart and pleasant and after four days we seemed to be settling in.
The first weekend, Pastor Pien asked Neil to come and preach. I was alone in the village when the same man who was supposed to be helping us had the first of a series of “psychotic episodes” that have continued to harass the work. He became violent, was tied with metal bindings so tightly his hands swelled, and when he broke free he ran to our house. I was warned he was coming and barricaded myself in the house saying, “Well, this is going to be a fascinating place to work”. He banged on the door, screamed and threatened to burn down the house and “that child you have”.
I will now list the events that occurred on subsequent visits:
First post furlough visit 1993: threatened with house burning by the same man
Second village stay: Two men enter the house and make threats
Third village stay: Woman chants and dances around the house and has to be removed from the village. Another man has a “psychotic episode”.
Four village stay: Kathy becomes ill with dengue.
Next attempt to return to village: Kathy becomes ill with hepatitis so Neil goes alone
Neil returns and is also ill with hepatitis. (The vaccine came out the following year).
Because we were too ill to be in a remote village we tried to resume working from the mission station at Ukarumpa. The week the co-translators were to arrive Kathy came down with pneumonia.
While trying to continue work on the first gospel an attempt was made to snatch Tony. The man was caught before he got a quarter mile from the house.
It is now March of 1996 and we returned to the village. We were subject to an assualt that required us to leave again. The day after we were back to the mission station our son and his cousin, Silvio, went missing. After a search they were found going into a river area about a mile from our house. They said they saw something frightful that told them to run and they kept running.
Neil returned from the interior three days later. After good mental health, a cotranslator had a pyschotic episode and had to be removed from the mission station.
We completed the Gospel of Mark and it was dedicated. The day after dedication a man threatened us to stop angering the spirits. Neil began translating James and Kathy was found to need surgery.
That was our first term. What followed, continued and grew in intensity. God has a plan, and it is never accomplished unless He makes it happen.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The New Testament: Waiting to Happen
Today is Thursday and we have found a place to live, praise God! We have volunteers to help us with the move and will proceed as soon as our application is accepted. Then off to School of Missions for two weeks in July and early June followed by missionary renewel, a four day retreat with the Lord about Whom around Whom all missions center.
Many have asked when we believe we will resume full time work on the scriptures. We are praying for a completed budget by August so when we move in our next apartment we will not be spending so much time going from place to place but be able to give our full attention to the Mesem New Testament. Our priority is to complete the work well, and to do it with haste. We need your prayers. Most translators set three typesetting dates before a New Testament is completed. We have already experience much adversity in many forms and now desire a speedy completion for the sake of Truth among the Mesem people.
Recently, Nancy, a very dear friend and encourager, wrote to say that she was moving to assisted living and could offer just her prayers for us. I don't know that anyone prays more faithfully than she does (but feel free to try). I believe, as Neil has so often said, that in heaven, the Lord will judge this as a work completed by the Body of Christ.
Thank you for loving us through this and pray with us that we might resume the work full time as soon as possible. We are waiting to hear from an number of churches and praying that we will be where we need to be to continue on for the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Joyfully,
The Vanarias
Many have asked when we believe we will resume full time work on the scriptures. We are praying for a completed budget by August so when we move in our next apartment we will not be spending so much time going from place to place but be able to give our full attention to the Mesem New Testament. Our priority is to complete the work well, and to do it with haste. We need your prayers. Most translators set three typesetting dates before a New Testament is completed. We have already experience much adversity in many forms and now desire a speedy completion for the sake of Truth among the Mesem people.
Recently, Nancy, a very dear friend and encourager, wrote to say that she was moving to assisted living and could offer just her prayers for us. I don't know that anyone prays more faithfully than she does (but feel free to try). I believe, as Neil has so often said, that in heaven, the Lord will judge this as a work completed by the Body of Christ.
Thank you for loving us through this and pray with us that we might resume the work full time as soon as possible. We are waiting to hear from an number of churches and praying that we will be where we need to be to continue on for the Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Joyfully,
The Vanarias
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Gems While We Wait
Like most people we find waiting difficult. We are anxious to complete the New Testament but first many things must come together. We need a new place to live having spent the last 9 months in a wonderful home provided by wonderful friends (whose photo, I hope, I have inserted properly...and these are but a few of you). We work at finding new partners to share the task with us, churches that will "pray this one through" with us. While we do these things the New Testament must "wait" till we can give it our full attention. I confess, when I am totally honest, I so want to just push other things aside and get back to work on it. But my timing is not God's, my time is His, but not my sense of timing.
Friends have left me with "gems" while we wait. One said, "Always remember it is God's Name on the line, not ours". At the time, I was wrestling with another ministry that while not Bible translation, was indeed resulting in a number of people coming to Christ. This "gem" reminds me that the results are His, the reputation is His, and the timing is His.
Later, as other challenges presented themselves, another dear friend pointed out it was intersting that God brought Israel from a rich land, Egypt, where they were slaves, to a desert place where they were free. How true is this in our lives? It is for freedom that Christ set us free!
The picture is bigger than we are, and God is doing something greater than we can imagine. While we wait, there are gems to be gathered up and lessons learned. At times in "desert places" we learn the real meaning of freedom since there is nothing left to distract us :). The Mesem will get the New Testament at the right time, and we will keep on following, knowing we have been blessed with great companions on the journey.
Time to go to evening worship.
Friends have left me with "gems" while we wait. One said, "Always remember it is God's Name on the line, not ours". At the time, I was wrestling with another ministry that while not Bible translation, was indeed resulting in a number of people coming to Christ. This "gem" reminds me that the results are His, the reputation is His, and the timing is His.
Later, as other challenges presented themselves, another dear friend pointed out it was intersting that God brought Israel from a rich land, Egypt, where they were slaves, to a desert place where they were free. How true is this in our lives? It is for freedom that Christ set us free!
The picture is bigger than we are, and God is doing something greater than we can imagine. While we wait, there are gems to be gathered up and lessons learned. At times in "desert places" we learn the real meaning of freedom since there is nothing left to distract us :). The Mesem will get the New Testament at the right time, and we will keep on following, knowing we have been blessed with great companions on the journey.
Time to go to evening worship.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Vanarias and the Mesem
In recent weeks many friends have visited this blog and been seeking to find the website for the Mesem New Testament in Papua New Guinea. To make this easier we include the link here www.vanaria.info. It seemed smart to go with something short and easy to remember!
And I promise to change the photo on the "contact us" page so it looks like us again. We will even include Tony, the center of our personal Vanaria tribe.
Thank you dear friends for being with us in this journey towards the completion of the New Testament.!
And I promise to change the photo on the "contact us" page so it looks like us again. We will even include Tony, the center of our personal Vanaria tribe.
Thank you dear friends for being with us in this journey towards the completion of the New Testament.!
Friday, May 2, 2008
The Voice of Truth
Tonight I am home alone while Neil and Tony go with a dozen others to a Christian concert. I am enjoying the music of Casting Crowns and in particular the song "The Voice of Truth".
When did it start? Surgeries, attacks in the village, sorcery allegations, Neil's accident? A surge of difficulty came at the time when we were sure the Mesem New Testament would be completed.
At times the discouragement has been overwhelming. It would not be true to pretend otherwise. So I find the cry of my heart echoes that of the singer of "The Voice of Truth". There are so many circumstances, challenges, trials et. al that say, "This can never happen. Give up." or "You must be doing something wrong for it to be so difficult". But the song tells of Peter who in the midst of a storm had the Lord bid him to step out of the boat. Step out of the boat in the storm? What sense is there in doing that? The boat is the place of safety! Yet there was the outstretched hand of Jesus bidding him to stand above a storm he did not create and could not control.
"The Voice of Truth of tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says do not be afraid
The Voice of Truth tells me this is for My glory
The Voice of Truth says do not be afraid
Of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of Truth".
Recently I met an amazing young woman who is one of the most mature and whole people I have met at her age. What brought her to that place? Brain cancer. How does that fit in with God's plan? I don't know but I know that speaking to her I can see Jesus' in her life and shining in a way that is not superficial but rings out from the core of her being.
Why does it take so long? I don't know. I know God is doing something greater in all of us than we know and that He is responsible for the furthering of His Kingdom and the Greatness of His Name. How do our storms and those that delay the Mesem translation fit in God's eternal plan? Such things are too marvelous for me. I only know we have a God who knows and we trust that He "who began a good work in (us) will perform it" till the Day of Jesus Christ.
The music has changed again...Your Love is Extravagent.....
When did it start? Surgeries, attacks in the village, sorcery allegations, Neil's accident? A surge of difficulty came at the time when we were sure the Mesem New Testament would be completed.
At times the discouragement has been overwhelming. It would not be true to pretend otherwise. So I find the cry of my heart echoes that of the singer of "The Voice of Truth". There are so many circumstances, challenges, trials et. al that say, "This can never happen. Give up." or "You must be doing something wrong for it to be so difficult". But the song tells of Peter who in the midst of a storm had the Lord bid him to step out of the boat. Step out of the boat in the storm? What sense is there in doing that? The boat is the place of safety! Yet there was the outstretched hand of Jesus bidding him to stand above a storm he did not create and could not control.
"The Voice of Truth of tells me a different story
The Voice of Truth says do not be afraid
The Voice of Truth tells me this is for My glory
The Voice of Truth says do not be afraid
Of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of Truth".
Recently I met an amazing young woman who is one of the most mature and whole people I have met at her age. What brought her to that place? Brain cancer. How does that fit in with God's plan? I don't know but I know that speaking to her I can see Jesus' in her life and shining in a way that is not superficial but rings out from the core of her being.
Why does it take so long? I don't know. I know God is doing something greater in all of us than we know and that He is responsible for the furthering of His Kingdom and the Greatness of His Name. How do our storms and those that delay the Mesem translation fit in God's eternal plan? Such things are too marvelous for me. I only know we have a God who knows and we trust that He "who began a good work in (us) will perform it" till the Day of Jesus Christ.
The music has changed again...Your Love is Extravagent.....
Thursday, April 24, 2008
How long does it take?
How long does it take to complete a New Testament? Well, that depends on what you are trying to do. It took 90 scholars 10 years to translate the NIV. Those scholars were translating the Bible for English speaking people who could read fluently.
Our job has entailed taking a previously unwritten language, reducing it to writing, teaching others to read their own language and then begin translating the New Testament. The concepts of the New Testament are complex and many words that are used in in English such as "justification" or "belief" do not have a lexical equivalent in Mesem. So we worked with the people to find how they expressed these concepts in their language. So the process of translation involves a lot of study and interaction with others to learn how to properly use their words to express God's Word as revealed in the scripture.
I often compare translation to making a snowball (not that anyone makes snowballs in Papua New Guinea but we are from New England where we have plenty of snow). The more snow you have, the easier it is to make a snowball. To make a large snowball you have to start with a small amount and then as you roll it along the ground and gain momentum the snowball becomes increasingly large as there is ever more mass with which to gather more snow. As we now have all of the New Testament drafted, we have more material with which to work. We have used all the word at least once and tried to express all the concepts that are written there. So now we need to go over all that is drafted and revise it: the same words need to be used to express the same concepts throughout the scripture. We need to be sure that people understand what the text means. If people read a passage and don't understand the meaning, then we have failed to translate it correctly.
It's important to remember that the Pharisees did not kill Jesus because they didn't understand what He was saying but because they did understand and didn't want to hear it. As is written in the Book of Jame, "You say you believe in God, you do well. The devil believes also...". We translate the scripture and people have the choice to read and believe, or they might choose to ignore it, or they might be like the Pharisees, understand it but not like what it says. Only God's Spirit can work in people's hearts. Our job is to be faithful in making sure people can hear the message and have a chance to know and hold in their own hands the Words of Life.
Our job has entailed taking a previously unwritten language, reducing it to writing, teaching others to read their own language and then begin translating the New Testament. The concepts of the New Testament are complex and many words that are used in in English such as "justification" or "belief" do not have a lexical equivalent in Mesem. So we worked with the people to find how they expressed these concepts in their language. So the process of translation involves a lot of study and interaction with others to learn how to properly use their words to express God's Word as revealed in the scripture.
I often compare translation to making a snowball (not that anyone makes snowballs in Papua New Guinea but we are from New England where we have plenty of snow). The more snow you have, the easier it is to make a snowball. To make a large snowball you have to start with a small amount and then as you roll it along the ground and gain momentum the snowball becomes increasingly large as there is ever more mass with which to gather more snow. As we now have all of the New Testament drafted, we have more material with which to work. We have used all the word at least once and tried to express all the concepts that are written there. So now we need to go over all that is drafted and revise it: the same words need to be used to express the same concepts throughout the scripture. We need to be sure that people understand what the text means. If people read a passage and don't understand the meaning, then we have failed to translate it correctly.
It's important to remember that the Pharisees did not kill Jesus because they didn't understand what He was saying but because they did understand and didn't want to hear it. As is written in the Book of Jame, "You say you believe in God, you do well. The devil believes also...". We translate the scripture and people have the choice to read and believe, or they might choose to ignore it, or they might be like the Pharisees, understand it but not like what it says. Only God's Spirit can work in people's hearts. Our job is to be faithful in making sure people can hear the message and have a chance to know and hold in their own hands the Words of Life.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Why?
Why do the Mesem need the New Testament?
I think it we all had to learn ancient Greek to read the Bible we would be very frustrated. Not to mention Hebrew! For the Mesem, there are no Bible DVDs, or programs to help them. They have the scriptures translated in their own langugage. Are they worth is? Yes!
No one people group is great enough to glorify God's Name. In fact, unless someone from every group is there, the symphony of song and joy will be incomplete! We need the Mesem people to join with us in eternity and they also want to join.
Why we ask? As John Piper has expressed it so well, we desire that the Lamb of God have the full reward for His sacrifice.
I think it we all had to learn ancient Greek to read the Bible we would be very frustrated. Not to mention Hebrew! For the Mesem, there are no Bible DVDs, or programs to help them. They have the scriptures translated in their own langugage. Are they worth is? Yes!
No one people group is great enough to glorify God's Name. In fact, unless someone from every group is there, the symphony of song and joy will be incomplete! We need the Mesem people to join with us in eternity and they also want to join.
Why we ask? As John Piper has expressed it so well, we desire that the Lamb of God have the full reward for His sacrifice.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
A New Testament Waiting to Happen
Hello and welcome to our first post in The Mesem New Testament blog. We wanted to find a way to keep you fully informed as we enter what we pray is the final phase of the completion of the Mesem New Testament. So what is Mesem and where is Mesem are two things that you might ask.
Well the Mesem live in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is the second largest island in the world and is north of Australia and adjacent to Indonesia.
No one knows exactly how many Mesem people live in that region as births and deaths are not officially recorded but we believe there to be at least five thousand Mesem people. (Three thousand voted in the election..so five thousand is conservative as children obviously don't vote.) They live scattered through a large geographical area from the low coastlands to the high mountain rainforest in the Sarawaged range. There are at least 12 villages with other small hamlets in the language area.
When we began working with the Mesem in 1993, the first alphabet was being finalized as the language had been previously unwritten. From 1993 until 1997 we concentrated on starting schools and translating the Gospel of Mark, as well as providing simple first aid to many in need.
After a year of home leave to New England, we returned in 1998 and together with our Mesem coworkers and friends, built an office, a sixty meter bridge, and continued training teachers and translating the scriptures. We started correspondence Bible courses at that time which made Bible study available to people to whom we couldn't go because of distance. (There are no roads so hiking is the only way to get from one place to another in the Mesem region of Morobe Province.)
The entire New Testament is now in rough draft with half of it in publishable form. About seventy percent is in good first draft and the rest..well we need to be able to get back to work on that as soon as possible. Just last week we got a letter from the people asking how soon we can return to Papua New Guinea and finish the New Testament. We have hundreds of photos and stories but this is a blog and not a book! However, if you are interested in anything in particular do email us a nkvanaria@gmail.com and we are happy to answer your questions.
Our next post will answer the obvious question: why? For now, enjoy the photos and feel free to contact us with questions.
Well the Mesem live in Morobe Province in Papua New Guinea. Papua New Guinea is the second largest island in the world and is north of Australia and adjacent to Indonesia.
No one knows exactly how many Mesem people live in that region as births and deaths are not officially recorded but we believe there to be at least five thousand Mesem people. (Three thousand voted in the election..so five thousand is conservative as children obviously don't vote.) They live scattered through a large geographical area from the low coastlands to the high mountain rainforest in the Sarawaged range. There are at least 12 villages with other small hamlets in the language area.
When we began working with the Mesem in 1993, the first alphabet was being finalized as the language had been previously unwritten. From 1993 until 1997 we concentrated on starting schools and translating the Gospel of Mark, as well as providing simple first aid to many in need.
After a year of home leave to New England, we returned in 1998 and together with our Mesem coworkers and friends, built an office, a sixty meter bridge, and continued training teachers and translating the scriptures. We started correspondence Bible courses at that time which made Bible study available to people to whom we couldn't go because of distance. (There are no roads so hiking is the only way to get from one place to another in the Mesem region of Morobe Province.)
The entire New Testament is now in rough draft with half of it in publishable form. About seventy percent is in good first draft and the rest..well we need to be able to get back to work on that as soon as possible. Just last week we got a letter from the people asking how soon we can return to Papua New Guinea and finish the New Testament. We have hundreds of photos and stories but this is a blog and not a book! However, if you are interested in anything in particular do email us a nkvanaria@gmail.com and we are happy to answer your questions.
Our next post will answer the obvious question: why? For now, enjoy the photos and feel free to contact us with questions.
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