'It is clear'
Missionary Lane Sanford was recently encouraged in his first attempts to translate Scripture into the Siar language of Papua New Guinea.
As he began reading his translation of the story of Joseph from Genesis 39, the village leader stopped him.
"Lane, please stand up in front of us and read that out loud so we can all hear it," he said.
Lane felt a little strange standing in front of only four men but he complied and began reading again.
As he read, the leader shouted, "Yes, yes, this is it. It is clear and we are finally hearing God’s Talk in our language and it is clear! You meant it when you told us before that you came for this. It is really happening!"
There are still "mountains of work to do," wrote Lane, "and we are only at the start of this great task, but new light is shining in Siar land as these guys are getting pieces of God’s Word into their language."
The Sanford family leaves for home assignment in four months, which leaves "lots to do and little time," Lane wrote. "Our major plans are to finish the Joseph story and get it checked and also to prepare the necessary materials for the first Siar literacy class.
Please pray that the family will continue to be encouraged as they take steps toward presenting the Gospel to the Siar people. Pray too that the Siars will remain excited about the message they are going to hear.
As he began reading his translation of the story of Joseph from Genesis 39, the village leader stopped him.
"Lane, please stand up in front of us and read that out loud so we can all hear it," he said.
Lane felt a little strange standing in front of only four men but he complied and began reading again.
As he read, the leader shouted, "Yes, yes, this is it. It is clear and we are finally hearing God’s Talk in our language and it is clear! You meant it when you told us before that you came for this. It is really happening!"
There are still "mountains of work to do," wrote Lane, "and we are only at the start of this great task, but new light is shining in Siar land as these guys are getting pieces of God’s Word into their language."
The Sanford family leaves for home assignment in four months, which leaves "lots to do and little time," Lane wrote. "Our major plans are to finish the Joseph story and get it checked and also to prepare the necessary materials for the first Siar literacy class.
Please pray that the family will continue to be encouraged as they take steps toward presenting the Gospel to the Siar people. Pray too that the Siars will remain excited about the message they are going to hear.