October 13, 2003

On the verge of beginning culture and language study among the Dinangat people of Papua New Guinea, missionaries are in a quandary.

The Dinangat people originally expressed 100 percent agreement that the missionaries come to teach and translate the Scriptures. Now opposition has arisen to teaching.

"Some of the leaders from other villages have gotten together and ... they are now telling us that we are not permitted to teach the people," wrote missionary Gary Smith. "They only will permit us to translate the Scriptures into their language."

"This is a huge blow to us as we really wanted to work in harmony with the existing community," Gary wrote.

The Dinangat people are much swayed by the teachings of the "cargo cult," a group that believes that white men have the secret to obtaining wealth. Gary said this thinking has influenced the opposition.

Gary writes, "We will be having meetings upon meetings for the next few days trying to get things dealt with, but please pray as this is truly a big deal."

Gary and his wife, Esther, along with co-workers Jeremiah and April Markley and Ralf and Elisabeth Schlegel, have just finished building their houses in the village.