Ever since I left college in the 1970s, I have wanted to be involved in literacy work, helping my people, the Kaugel, read and write their language. The translation of God’s Word into my language began in 1967, and drafts were available to the people but no one could read them. In 1984 when an SIL team, Dennis and Susan Malone, were assigned to the Kaugel language area to develop a literacy program, I left my teaching job with the Department of Education and joined them to work on the literacy project. The number of pre-school classes began to increase, and by the 1990s literacy classes were begun and running well in each of the large clan groups. Twenty-one pre-school classes enrolled over 600 children each year. In addition, four adult learning centers began offering classes, and Kaugel teachers were trained. Many materials were written to be used in these increasingly popular literacy classes.
We began literacy class in one of the village communities. There were nineteen middle-aged men and women who eagerly attended the daily two-hours classes. Most of them found it difficult to read their language at first, but after attending classes faithfully, one man was able to read their language quite well and, when the Kaugel New Testament was dedicated in 1994, he was one of the first people to be able to read it through.
The Umbungu New Testament was completed in two dialects and dedicated in 1996. In 1998 the education department of Western Highlands began to implement the national department's Education Reform Policy stating that the first three years of children's education should be in the mother tongue. Thus, all Kaugel vernacular pre-school classes were converted into elementary classes and became feeder schools for primary schools in the area. We continue to help the Kaugel elementary classes by training and providing in-service courses for teachers. We also conduct regular writer's workshops which produce many local reading materials.
I and my wife, Nali, with four of our children moved from Kaugel to Ukarumpa in 1999 and joined the Bible Translation Association (BTA) administration. In June of 2000, I took on the job of Regional Director for the Highlands and Morobe Provinces. In addition to my Kaugel literacy program and BTA responsibilities, I also represented the Highlands Region on the National Literacy and Awareness Council and served with several grassroots literacy programs in the region.
Before the Kaugel New Testament was dedicated, we began an adult literacy class in one of the communities. There were only nine middle-aged people who eagerly attended the daily two-hour classes. After only four months, one man, for the first time in his life, was able to read the language quite well. When the Kaugel New Testament was dedicated, this elderly man bought himself a copy and began reading it. He made it his habit to read the Word of God aloud in his language in places like markets where many people gathered. When he read at health centres, he also witnessed to the sick people and prayed with them. Many people came to know the Lord and many Christians were encouraged in their faith when they heard him reading the Word in their own language. This and many other wonderful experiences have made young people excited about the possibility of sharing the Word in their own language with their own people. “Faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ.”~Romans 10:17
One of the greatest challenges Christians face is that of being involved in giving the Bible, God's message of love and salvation, to people who have never heard it in their own language. As the Lord continues to open doors around Papua New Guinea, it is exciting to see how He also provides the people to fill these opportunities. The Lord is putting together a team of people at BTA to help facilitate this task of Bible translation. You, also, are part of the team as you participate with us through your prayers, gifts, and encouragement. As we work together, we will see the completion of the command of Jesus Christ, who said, “Go to all the peoples everywhere and make them my disciples.” ~ Matthew 28:19
