Arop-Lokep New Testament dedicated June 17, 2014 – Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea – Written by Karen Weaver with Tim Scott Long ago the Arop-Lokep people threw spears into the sandy beaches of their island home to ward off the evil spirits. Now they have a new weapon: the Word of God. On the morning of 8 June, people of all ages thronged the black sandy beach of Long Island, singing, dancing, and beating drums. On the ocean a boat approached carrying the Arop-Lokep New Testaments. The crowd stepped aside as Jeff and Sissie D’Jernes and their teammates stepped out of the boat and proceeded to the nearby pavilion to celebrate the arrival of God’s Word. The dedication of the Arop-Lokep New Testament was the culmination of more than two decades of translation, which required perseverance through some unexpected challenges. One by one the first team of trained co-translators was lost: one in a fall from a tree, another lost at sea, others suffered different hardships. The D’Jerneses trained a second team, but they, likewise, were unable to complete the work. Seeing their need for help, Pastor Joe Ande volunteered. It was through his leadership that the translation moved forward and a third team brought the New Testament to completion. Pastor Ande spoke at the dedication celebration, telling his people, “If wind or rain come and your house falls down, it’s no good. Our life is like a house. We must study God’s Word and put it in our minds so that no matter which way the wind blows, our house will stand strong.” The local representative to Parliament, John Hickey, commended their work saying, “There is no more important book than the Bible.” But the rejoicing was bittersweet as Mr. Hickey told them, “We don’t yet have God’s Word in my tok ples (heart language).” The reminder of others waiting also came when Jeff shared his vision, “The islanders east of us speak another dialect of this same language. We would like to adapt this New Testament for them.” As we rejoice with the Arop-Lokep people, let us remember the 300 languages in PNG who are still waiting for God’s Word, which is a sharp spear to fight their battles and a stronghold through the storms of life.
For more information on this release, contact ThePNGexperience, PO BOX 413, Ukarumpa, EHP 444, Papua New Guinea Phone: 011 + 675 + 537-3544 ext. 4431 or Email: thePNGexperience@gmail.com
Pictures do not always depict actual event, activities or people. Photos by Tim Scott use by permission only. “Tok Save” is the PNG “Tok Pisin” term for announcement or “For your information.” The English spelling conforms to Commonwealth English spelling.