Beginnings …

Our little bush house sat on the slopes of Mount Somau at about 1,800 feet above sea level. The mountain rose another 1,200 feet to its peak, towering over the surrounding mountains, all part of a mountain range stretching from coastal Madang to the Ramu Valley. We were excited to live in that 12′ x 20′, two-story structure. Upstairs was an open room, which we divided by hanging a sheet roughly mid-way across the room. The ground level was a kitchen, some shelving in a pantry-like partition, and a room we called the “rat room”, as it was enclosed completely in strong wire mesh to keep the vermin from eating our supplies.

Landscape of jungle-covered mountains with houses interspersed in the trees.

Having lived our whole lives in the Midwestern United States, life in our village was an adjustment. We were used to using resources. Suddenly, we were the resource. Though we were in our late twenties, people looked to us for answers, medical intervention, and supplies. We were gaining fluency in the language of wider communication, as well as learning the language and culture, trying not to make too many irreversible mistakes.

Connections

One afternoon a neighbor crossed the open field between our houses. A young father had being laying the ridgepole of his house and fell about twenty feet to the ground. Our neighbors wanted us to come treat his injuries. Though Angela is a nurse, she was inexperienced with this sort of thing. Nonetheless, we crossed the field, intending to at least pray for the injured man, named Andrew.

We stood beside Andrew, dumbfounded. There were no cuts. The only injury we could detect was a dislocated shoulder. So we prayed for him. By now a small crowd had gathered, wondering what the “white skins” were doing. We wondered the same thing! Having prayed, we simply asked a neighbor who seemed to know what to do to reset the dislocated shoulder, which he did in about 30 seconds. That day began a nearly three-decade long partnership–Angela and I doing what we could do to be an active part of the community and our neighbors doing what they could do to help us learn, grow, and become integrated into Somau Garia life.

Life & Work Together

My integration into Somau Garia society came from my education and training in studying the Bible, preaching, and teaching it. In those days, the literacy rate was about 25%, which meant that there were relatively few who could even read the trade language Bible in church. And so, as my fluency increased, I began preaching regularly–in some seasons, 30 times each month! This practice helped me gain respect locally and led to the formation of a fairly sizable group of Somau Garia speakers interested in Bible learning to translate the Bible.

By 2001 we were ready for initial training, which we conducted with about 30 men. Fast-forward twenty-five years to 2026. It is October. At the end of this month the translation team and I are scheduled to join together to perform the final consultant check of the Somau Garia New Testament!

While there is much work to be done to prepare the text for typesetting and publication, this check is a major milestone in the life of our ministry. As you pray, thank God for walking with us through the challenges, the adjustments, and the joys of three decades of translation ministry.

Answered Prayer

  • Praise the Lord that the team and I have completed all that we can to prepare Revelation for the consultant check. We still have a few rough spots to iron out when we are together in a few weeks, but things are in good shape.
  • Praise the Lord that He continues to grant the Somau Garia speaking team the resources they need to treat health issues.
  • Praise the Lord that my travel is scheduled and I am in good shape to travel towards the end of the month.

For Your Prayer

  • Continue to pray that Angela’s visa will be approved soon–even before I leave for Papua New Guinea.
  • Pray that nothing will hinder efficient, straightforward travel to Papua New Guinea.
  • Pray that the Lord will surround and protect each person involved in the consultant check of Revelation.
  • Pray that the enemy of our souls will have no power to disrupt our work together, nor will he have any success in opposing the Somau Garia from gaining access to the Word of God in their heart language.
  • Pray for God’s protection for my family while I am away.