Alphabet Development Workshop in Bongu

When we first arrived in PNG we attended a course called POC (Pacific Orientation Course).  This course included a five week village stay in a remote village.  We were sent to Bongu and very much enjoyed our time there.  While we were in the village we heard a lot of interest from the people there to start there own translation project, but they did not know where to start.

It has been cool to see how God has orchestrated it that we were able to be the link between Bongu and the Gwahatike men.  For two weeks in January, Martin, Nafian and Roman (Gwahatike men) went to Bongu to run an Alphabet Development Workshop (ADW).  This workshop helps the language community to analyze their own language and communally agree on an appropriate alphabet.  This is one of the first steps that needs to be done before starting any translation project.

Interestingly enough, the name of the village has changed now to Boŋu

The workshop included developing and printing some books in the local language.
Computer and printers can be a challenge in the village because of the need
for electricity.  The team used a generator.

A lot of the learning occurs outside of the formal class time, during
breaks or meal time or around the campfire at night

The workshop participants in front of the church in Bongu

Faces of Bible Translation - Noel Diru

We would love to share with you about Noel Diru, one of the lead translators in the Gwahatike multilanguage Bible translation program. Noel works with a team of men in the Domung community to translate the Bible into the Domung language. He is a Gwahatike man and the Gwahatike language area is about a 9 hour hike through the jungle from the Domung area. This makes balancing home life and ministry work a challenge. The Domung language is completely different from the Gwahatike language and so when Noel goes to his ministry area, he does not speak their mother tongue. Despite all of these barriers and challenges Noel keeps going in this ministry because he has a deep belief in the importance of this work.

Nosingke (left), a co-translator from the Domung, working with Noel (right)

Noel believes that people, and more broadly, communities that understand the Word of God clearly will be transformed into the likeness of Christ and this is his primary motivation and reason behind his commitment. He has witnessed this transformation happen in his home community (the Gwahatike language) and wants to see this happen elsewhere. Check out this video to meet Noel face to face as he shares about his life and ministry and the journey that brought him to ministering to the Domung community.

Click here and enter the access code "translator" to view the video.

Noel is currently attending a one month workshop that centers around the New Testament books of the Bible. He will be learning about the historical, geographical and cultural background for the books of the NT. Please pray that this course would encourage and equip Noel for the ministry God has given him.

If you are interested to read more about Noel, follow this link to read another article about Noel (somewhat dated).

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who

has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth."

2 Timothy 2:15