The Aiyura Valley

Our home, Ukarumpa, is located in the Aiyura valley of the EHP (Eastern Highlands Province) of Papua New Guinea.  A typical day, any time during the year, has temperatures around 15-25 degrees celsius and will likely include some rain during the rainy season (the time-frame for rainy season is quite blurry nowadays because of changes in climate).

Ukarumpa has two main language groups that border it, the Gadsup and Tairora.  These two people groups make up the majority of the population in this valley but there are also many other language groups represented here.  The Ukarumpa center provides many opportunities for employment and so this attracts people from all over the EHP.

We have been very happy developing relationships with some people in the surrounding valley.  The Bible study that I (Jon) attend is in the Gadsup area.  It has been great getting to know these brothers in Christ and studying God's powerful Word together.  Discussions are quite often unique and fresh because of the differences in our cultural backgrounds.

We have also had the opportunity to get to know Nonte.  He works for one of the departments here in Ukarumpa.  He has been very accommodating to us and has shown us around the various places in the valley.  Recently, I had the opportunity to hike to the top of one of the mountains surrounding Ukarumpa with Nonte.

Nonte with Ukarumpa in the background

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:1

Visit to Saidor

I (Jon) had the opportunity to visit some of translation project leaders in the Saidor region this past week.  It was a blessing for me to be able to see firsthand what God is doing in the Bible translation projects here in Papua New Guinea.  It was a blessing for the project leaders also to see Wycliffe members make the trip out to where they live and encourage them and pray with them.

The road to Madang

The Saidor region is about 4 hrs by boat east of the city of Madang on the north coast of mainland PNG.  To get there I took a PMV from Ukarumpa to Madang, joined up with another man, and then we took a boat from Madang to Saidor.  What would have been a half hour flight took the better part of 2 days travelling by road and sea.  Once we landed in Savoy (a small settlement close to Saidor) we hiked up to Umbaldi in the Gwahatika language area.  This would be our home for 2 days and it is also where we asked the various translation teams to meet us.

PMV (Public Motor Vehicle) loading area in Madang

Aluminum boats that took us to Saidor

There are six Papua New Guinean men that are working in Bible translation in the Saidor region.  Four of them lead projects and the other two men work to promote literacy in the region. The language groups that they work with are the Madi, Muratayek, Domung, Assaro and the Gwahatika. 

Jim and I meeting with the translation teams

One thing I noticed was the great sacrifice that these God-honoring men are offering in the service of Bible translation.  They are all Christian men that are taking time out of their days to work on translating the Word of God into these other language groups.  The time they spend in working on the translation is taken out of their ability to work their gardens, work on their houses or work on cash-crops to pay for other family expenses.  Throughout my time in Saidor I became increasingly aware of the sacrifice they are each making in their lives.  This awareness grew a desire in my heart to encourage them and pray for their work.

Church in Umbaldi

In many ways, these translation projects may be the way of the future.  Papua New Guinean people taking the initiative and leading Bible translation projects brings us closer to realizing the success of Vision 2025.  Candace and I are humbled by the opportunity to serve in this type of a facilitator role for these projects.  It would mean quarterly visits to the region as well as a weekly radio schedule with the teams.  We would also manage the Wycliffe monies for the projects and write reports for the various teams for Wycliffe. Please join us in praying for God’s leading as we decide whether to take this role on or not.

Typical PNG house

On the road to Madang

Settlement on the road to Madang

Pigs are very valuable possessions in PNG

The hike to Umbaldi

Common Tern

View of the Muratayek and Assaro language group areas

Bridge over the Nankina River

"Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts."
Malachi 3:10-12