Pastor Vusi, our VISTA principal, and I (Matt) went to the island of Ambae on January 21-25. This was a memorable trip for me – in part because it was the first time I had ever flown in a prop plane!

Our plan was to spur on the formation of translation committees amongst the four languages that have started translation projects. We gave the committee members ideas on what they could do on a practical level to empower the translators. We were also able to do our very first distribution of Scripture portions!

I was able to preach at the Luvunivili Church of Christ on Sunday morning. That was great and they were an attentive congregation. I enjoyed worshiping with them. They sang a number of songs in their vernacular, Havai. I might not understand the language but I could still worship God with them as they sang.

We conducted meetings at three different locations. At our third meeting, in south Ambae, there was an older man named Manasseh. When we finished the formal meeting, we went outside to eat lunch together. After lunch we were all sitting under a large mango tree telling stories and visiting. I looked over to see Manasseh reading the portion of Genesis that I had given him. He was totally engrossed in his reading. All of the rest of us men then walked a ways down the road to see the new church building and the community center being built. Manasseh didn’t go with us. He stayed behind reading.

When we left later that day Manasseh jumped in the back of the truck with us so that we could drop him at his village down the road. When he got out he told Pastor Vusi how excited he was to have the Genesis portion. He told him that he was going to start that week meeting with some of the younger men in the village to help them read Havai better so that they could read Genesis also.

Manasseh is just one man, but one man feasting on God’s Word and sharing it with others can change an entire village. Pray with us for Manasseh and for others like him.

Matt (for Angie and the kids, too)