A first hand look at Bible Translation

Upon returning to  PNG we were honored to be asked to be a support team for a village couple for a short time,as their normal support team is on furlough stateside.  

This is a little of their story...

Carl and Pat went to Papua New Guinea in 1974 and began working among the Menya people in 1975. They have raised all 5 of their children as they have been serving as Bible Translators for the last 41 years.  They anticipate that the Menya New Testament will be completed in 2015. In addition to coordinating the translation of God's Word into the Menya language, they have been involved in the training of nationals who desire to see God's Word in their own language. They have also been active as consultants in linguistics (Carl), anthropology and literacy (Pat). Their 5 adult children are all currently living in Canada.

Their primary work has been among the 25,000 Menya people, whose homeland is around Menyamya. The initial translation has been done by Menya men whom they have trained. They then worked together to ensure that the meaning is clear and accurate and that it sounds like natural Menya. The Menya New Testament has now been completely checked by a consultant.   Portions of the Old Testament have also been translated. In the next few months, Carl and Pat will be doing further checks with Menya people to ensure that the New Testament is as accurate as possible. They hope to be able to typeset late January or February and have the dedication late 2016 or early 2017.

The literacy level is very low, but there is a growing body of people who want to learn to read Menya and several who are involved as teachers of their own people. This is part of a growing recognition within the Menya churches that producing the Scriptures in Menya and promoting its use is primarily their job.

The entire team needs your prayers and your support in order to be able to bring the New Testament to completion in the next few years and to have it in use and changing lives.

  

The village of Akwanja is located about 21 kms/13 miles northeast of Menyamya which has a government airstrip. To get there, the Whiteheads fly to Menyamya from Ukarumpa, about 25 minutes. They then use an ATV (quad, 4-wheel motorbike)  to get to the village, a trip which can take 1 – 2 hours depending on the condition of the road. The village is at the top end of a narrow, rugged valley and the houses are scattered along the ridges. There are 2 churches in the village as well as numerous stores which sell the basics such as rice, tinned fish, soap, matches, oil, etc, and a few even have Coke. The 2 closest schools are about a 20 minute walk from the village, teaching Kindergarten through Grade 2. For the higher grades, the children walk about an hour (3 miles) for school.

Thanks for praying with us for them as they finish up the New Testament.