MICHEALS’ MEMOIRS April 2022 Update
Dear Friends and Family, No matter how many years it has been since we finished our work in Papua New Guinea (PNG), we still see the impact of our efforts to keep this work there going strong. Recently, the Wycliffe recruitment team Chuck leads filled a very important position for the SIL PNG Branch, that of the Chief Financial Officer. His recruitment team was also able to help a couple apply to serve as Children’s Home Parents in PNG. This couple will help lead a boarding home for teenagers whose parents are in the villages translating the Bible.
made in the past two years of Bible translation work in PNG. Below is a list of Scriptures that were translated in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 20202021. The map in the picture shows where these translations are located. It is amazing this took place in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. The language name is noted first, then the province in PNG where the language community is located. Full New Testaments (some with OT portions) -- Fanamaket (New Ireland) -- Gizzra (Western) -- Ura (East New Britain) -- Vitu (West New Britain) Revisions -- Halia - NT Revision (Bougainville) Scripture Portions -- Binandere - 35% of NT (Oro) -- Bwanabwana - OT portions (Milne Bay) -- Gapapaiwa - Genesis (Milne Bay) -- Lihir - Gospel of Luke (New Ireland) -- Nali - 50% NT (Manus) -- Nukna - 10 Epistles - Scripture Portion (Galatians through Philemon) (Morobe) Audio Recordings (Some have printed NT)
Scripture’s translated in PNG – 2020-2021 (Photo courtesy of SIL PNG Branch)
Recently SIL PNG held its biennial Branch Conference at Ukarumpa, SIL’s main missionary training and support center for their Bible translation work in the country. It was a time to give thanks to the Lord for work accomplished and celebrate milestones, make strategy for future work and to be spiritually refreshed. During our time in PNG, Chuck helped host these conferences and for nine years, he served on the Executive Committee that oversaw the meetings. Now we look from afar, but still marvel at the progress 1|Page
-- Imbongu - Mark (Southern Highlands) -- Kaluli - NT (Southern Highlands) -- Kanite - NT (Eastern Highlands) -- Keyagana - Mark (Eastern Highlands) -- Madi - Scripture (Madang) -- Mangseng - NT (West/East New Britain) -- Onobasulu - Scripture (Southern Highlands) -- Ramoaaina - NT (East New Britain) -- Pele-Ata - NT (East New Britain) -- Siane - NT (Eastern Highlands) -- Tairora North - NT and some OT portions (Eastern Highlands) -- Urim - Scripture (East Sepik) -- Waanjakia (Dialect of Yipma) – Scripture portions, songs, and prayers (Morobe) Oral Bible Translation – Scripture portions -- Awtuw, Guriaso, Inebu One, Southern One (All Sanduan)