God looked over the wall
We arrived in Port Moresby this afternoon. After getting settled in at the Mapang guest house, we met the other guests that were also staying there for the ceremony. Ruth, who had worked in Ukarumpa earlier, recounted a story from when Wycliffe people had translated a portion of Genesis in the Domoru-Koki language. It was translated the Wycliffe compound and then brought to the village to do a test reading for clarity. You could have heard a pin drop as the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac was read, especially at the end in Gen 22:18 where God said, because you didn't withhold your son, I will make you a blessing to all the nations. Finally, the silence was broken by an old woman who spoke up. "Our language has been like a barrier between us and God. But now the Holy Spirit has looked over the wall!".
Ruth told us that there was a nuanced part 2 to that story. In their culture, if two are walking together and one sees something desirable on the ground, the first person who saw it gets it. Kind of like our expression Finders Keepers. Well, the statement "the Holy Spirit has looked over the wall," carries that nuance that now they belong to Him. He saw them, and they are His. Isn't that so sweet?!
The dedication is Saturday September 22nd, tomorrow. We are praying that there will be a great moving in the people, now that they will have the entire new testament in their heart language!
