Greetings from Papua New Guinea!
“The Word” is a weekly photo and caption detailing the impact of Bible translation.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Scripture Application Changes Lives
“People have to know God. He is the only answer." | Yopno Church Leader
Papua New Guinea
After more than two decades of tedious translation work, the Yopno New Testament and Psalms was printed and ready to be placed in the hands of the Yopno people. But would they know how to study it and apply God's truth to their daily lives?
That's an important question, and it's the reason Wes and Lee-Ann Reed followed the example of some other translation teams in Papua New Guinea in inviting a SALT team to come to their village following the New Testament dedication.
SALT stands for "Scripture Application and Leadership Training." Marjan Sikkema and three others formed the SALT team that went to Tapmange village to teach basic Biblical truths and how to use God's Word and apply it to daily life.
| The building was full of people, so some sat around the outside listening intently to the lessons on God’s word through the thatched walls |
More than 200 participants were enrolled in the course, and many of them had purchased the Yopno New Testament and Psalms at the dedication. They were eager to attend the SALT course which began two days later. In fact, so many people wanted to hear the lessons that there was not enough room for them in the building. Some sat outside, listening intently to the teaching through the thatched walls.
SALT teacher Marjan Sikkema said, "The people sat on the ground inside the building from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. each day for two weeks. The first several days we could hear their tongues clicking to express their wonder as they learned things that were new to them. They especially responded to the part about God's love and his holiness."
Another topic that touched their hearts was the teaching about families. They studied II Timothy 1:5, "I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother, Lois, and in your mother Eunice . . . " This verse taught them that it is important for children to grow up with the example of parents who put their faith in Christ. They also studied Ephesians 5:22,25 to learn how husbands and wives should treat each other in the home. God's Word in their own Yopno language spoke clearly to them and motivated them to change the way they treat each other so they can live for God's glory.
One church leader testified, "Our village has had programs to teach us about the dangers of AIDS and how people need to change their lifestyles. Even though there has been a lot of money put into these programs, they haven't worked. But having the Scriptures will be the key for solving all our problems. People have to know God. He is the only answer."
| Studying the Bible |
Another man told Marjan, "Now I am sure of my faith in Christ. But I wonder how people will react. How do I go back to my village and tell them what I believe?" Marjan showed him Scriptures to help him remain strong in his faith. She assured him, "The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." (I John 4:4)
Each morning of SALT, participants were given the opportunity to share what God was teaching them. Early in the second week, a young man stood before the group and told his story. He said that previously he had been involved in a life of sin, but now he wanted to follow Jesus. He pointed to the chart that showed the evil things the devil puts in our hearts: greed, envy, wrath, etc. He told the group, "I am turning away from all these things." Later one of the Christian leaders put his arm around him and said reassuringly, "God still loves you and with Christ you have the opportunity to start again." He burst into tears upon hearing this message of hope and forgiveness.
Each of the 200+ participants left the SALT course knowing how to dig out the truth in God's Word and how to apply it to their lives. They returned home to their villages armed with a two-edged sword for combating sin, fear and hopelessness. When friends and family ask questions about the Lord, they will now be able to open God's Book and read to them the message of life and hope in the language that will speak to their hearts - God's Word in Yopno!
Story by Karen Weaver and photos by Marjan Sikkema
This story can also be found on TheWordisLife.net
Ethnologue entry for Yopno | Ethnologue: Languages of the World is an encyclopedic reference work cataloging all of the world’s 6,909 known living languages.
Where do the Yopno people of Papua New Guinea live? Here’s a Map.
The Word | Learning Trade Skills
Greetings from Papua New Guinea!
“The Word” is a weekly photo and caption detailing the impact of Bible translation.
Monday, July 04, 2011
The Word | Learning Hebrew
Greetings from Papua New Guinea!
“The Word” is a weekly photo and caption detailing the impact of Bible translation.
Tuesday, May 03, 2011
The Word | Hearers of the Word
Greetings from Papua New Guinea!
“The Word” is a weekly photo and caption detailing the impact of Bible translation.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
{Metzger Ministry Update} April 2011 | "An eternal prize"
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. -- 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (NLT)
Dear friends and family,
Thank you for being such an encouraging team to us as we serve here in Papua New Guinea (PNG). We have been busy the last several months.
Kurt had the opportunity at the beginning of March to travel to Port Moresby (the capital of PNG) for his work. There he was able to help at the SIL regional center with their computer and internet connection needs. The kids and I (Johanna) missed him greatly, but we were thankful to know that he was able to support the Port Moresby staff.
Kurt was also able to help here in Ukarumpa to install network access, via fiber optic cable, to our new National Training Center (this is where SIL’s Translator Training courses (TTC) and Strengthening Tok Ples Education (STEP) courses are taught).
(National Training Center dorms, dining hall and fiber optic cable install)
Kassia (6) is enjoying her time in kindergarten and has taken off reading and writing in English. She loves to read in her bed on her own and likes for us to read to her as well. Lukas (3) continues to grow and make us laugh daily with his Spanish accent as he speaks in English. Matthias is seven months now and is trying to crawl and smiling constantly.
The kids keep me busy at home but I also enjoy being able to help our Latino colleges translate their newsletters from Spanish into English or edit their letters in Spanish. I have also been able to help translate a new document that our SIL PNG branch is producing called “The Word”. It is sent to many weekly and gives a glimpse of what the work of SIL is in PNG. SIL PNG has been publishing this document in English and in Spanish. If you would like to take a look at it, check it out on our blog: www.kurtandjohanna.com
(from left to right: Matthias; Kassia)
As we write we are in the middle of our biennial SIL PNG Branch Conference. We are working through how we can best get the Word of God translated into the 300+ languages in PNG that as yet do not have it. Please join us in prayer as you think of it how we can effectively do this task.
Praise:
- For YOU our great partners who pray and support us so faithfully.
- Our health has improved much since we last wrote and we have adjusted to the food and water here in PNG.
- Kurt’s trip to Port Moresby to help at the regional center with his computer skills was much appreciated.
- Kurt’s involvement in installing network access to the new National Training Center.
Prayer:
- For the upcoming New Testament Bible Translations here in PNG in 2011.
- For Kurt as he makes more trips in the country to help regional centers with network access, and for Johanna and the kids as they stay home.
- For our biennial SIL PNG conference.
(Lukas loves playing with Matthias)
Thank YOU for being a faithful part of our ministry and the work that God is doing in Papua New Guinea.
Blessings,
Johanna (for Kurt, Kassia, Lukas, and Matthias too)
