All Nations Sunday

Being reminded once again why we are here in PNG.  Today was “All Nations Sunday” here in Ukarumpa.  Which means we celebrate the work God has done at getting translations into people’s heart languages over the course of the last year.  As we were sitting in church seeing scriptures and part of scriptures come forward from many different language groups, I had goose bumps all over. With technology advances it is so exciting to see that translation work is going to the World Wide Web. To audio bibles, to video for certain books of the Bible (think Visual Bible in people’s heart languages). 

Granted, a Bible in print in people’s heart language is so very important but if you can use technology to get the love and forgiveness of God out to more people quicker, that’s great! And then come along side them and give them discipleship and instruct them how to be leaders in their own community.   It was like God tapping me on the shoulder saying,” see this is why you are here.” Not just because of the great education the girls are receiving or the positive role models the girls are seeing in others who are sold out for Jesus, or even the broader global view that we are all seeing,  the world is a lot smaller than you think it is.   

When we were in the states, we were serving God and living for Him wholeheartly but it seemed we were spinning our wheels when it came to telling others about God’s love and having a relationship with the Lord. It is not about us, it is about leading others to have a REALationship with Christ.   Even though we aren’t in the front lines in Bible translation (Chad would love that adventure) we are making an impact. Even if we will never see it this side of heaven.  

Someone reminded me just the other day, as Kiery was playing with her best friend, a national little girl, that opening our home to her and having her be a part of our family a few afternoons a week is making a priceless impact on her life.  It not only helps with her English and she can see that we love God just as her family does.  And to see her smile and give hugs and just be honest when she doesn’t like something (very cultural they answer what they think we want to hear even when that is not what they want) and to look us in the eye which again is not a culture thing.

But having our kids in a great learning environment cannot be our primary reason for being here even though it is very hard not to.    It is because we are called to “Go therefore, and make disciples of ALL nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit. “ Matthew 28: 19. It is so easy even on the “mission field” to get caught up in the business of life to forget why we are doing what we are doing.  Today was the reminder that I was needing.   We are impacting future generations not only our girls but other families as well.  And yet as we celebrate all the scriptures that have been translated thus far.  There are at least 300 languages in PNG alone that have not been started in a translation project. 

Please pray that the people who have a Bible in their heart language (including all of us) would use it, and that workers would rise up to come and help get a Bible into the heart language for people who don’t yet have it.