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No Other God!
Dear family and friends,
Our wonderful colleague Joni Bliffen serves as Administrator of Finance for the Papua New Guinea branch of Pioneer Bible Translators. She posted the following on her Facebook page a couple of weeks ago about the Aruamu consultant checking session that was happening in Madang this last month. Her account may give you a picture of what it would be like if you were a little mouse in the corner of the room when Aruamu Old Testament checking sessions are happening! Joni writes:
“I had the opportunity to sit in on the final consultant checking of the book of Joel with the Aruamu team today. It was awesome to watch as Martin Ases read the verses in Aruamu, Lawrence Beradim quickly translated them into Tok Pisin, Wes Beasley (the translation consultant) asked clarifying questions to be sure the verses were true to the Hebrew Scriptures, and then John Igos typed in any corrections. They are a great team!
“They got to Joel 2:27, and Martin read the verse in Aruamu and Lawrence tried to say what it said in Tok Pisin. But he was so overwhelmed with emotion that he couldn’t get the words out. Through his tears he said:
‘Mi Bikpela, mi stap wantaim yupela. Mi tasol, mi God Bilong yupela.’
‘Thus you will know that I am in the midst of Israel, And that I am the LORD your God, And there is no other; And My people will never be put to shame.’
“Wes then said, ‘Let’s stop right here and thank God for being with us. He is our Lord and there is no other!’ We all prayed through tears as we thought about God’s love and provision for us. We are so glad to be here in Papua New Guinea to support these men as they help the Aruamu people have this message in their heart language.” (from Joni and Jim Bliffen)
It is such a blessing to minister amongst a language group where so many are tender-hearted toward the ONE AND ONLY GOD, and so hungry for His Word!
Thank you so much for your prayers this last month. We have good progress to report. Our exegetical checking team (Steven Dazim, Siria Ransford and myself) completed checking Ezekiel. The comprehension check of Ezekiel and Amos will take place in PNG in a few weeks. Also, in Madang Wes Beasley and 4 Aruamu team members have completed the final consultant check of Jeremiah 25-52, Job, 2 Samuel, Song of Solomon, and Joel. Steven and Siria have returned to PNG (after 6 months in the US, away from their families) with Bobby Joe and Sue Ellen Wrenn. They are in the village now. The Wrenns are staying out in Tiap village for 2 months in order to help record several Old Testament books.
For Kingdom Expansion,
Marsha Relyea Miles,
for the entire Aruamu Team
(One interesting tidbit – Joni Bliffen and I are from the same home church – Central Christian Church in Fort Smith, AR.)
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