MADANG, Papua New Guinea: The Mibu people are making choices as God's Word challenges their world view.
An animist often has no problem accepting conflicting beliefs as equally valid. But some Mibu people have struggled since the missionaries taught on Creation and emphasized that the Bible's teaching and the Mibus beliefs couldn't both be true. The Mibus believe that each of their clans originated from different plants and animals.
Introducing a different viewpoint has caused some Mibus to quit listening to missionaries Chris Walker and Joey Tartaglia teach evangelistic Bible lessons. But others eagerly come back for more.
Tima clearly said he believes the message the missionaries are teaching, but he was heartbroken for the many friends and family who never had a chance to hear God's Word. He said, "God created everything. Who else can tell us what is what? He is not a liar. What He says is true."
After Keteng listened to the teaching on the tower of Babel, he said, "I want to know what I have to do to believe."
"You know we've been talking about Eve's [descendent]," missionary Chris Walker responded, "how he is going to crush Satan's head. That talk is not finished. … Be patient. God has provided a way for you, but we must tell God's story His way."
The missionaries are not only telling God's story in one villiage but in another as well. They teach for a week in each village with many of the people traveling back and forth and hearing each lesson twice.
The people ask a lot of questions during the meetings, but the women are more comfortable taking their questions to Brooke Tartaglia and Angie Walker after the meetings instead of speaking up in a group setting.
Besides teaching, Chris is translating the Bible into the language of the Mibus, while Joey and Brooke have also been involved in teaching the Mibus to read and write their own language. They have trained Mibu men to be literacy teachers and have divided the Mibus into two classes, those who have had other schooling and those who don't even know how to hold a pencil.
Co-workers Geoff and Shannan Husa are scheduled to return to Papua New Guinea after the birth of their first child. They are still learning the culture and language of the people, but Geoff will assist Chris with the translation once he becomes proficient in the language.
Pray that the hearts of the Mibu people will be opened to believe in God's Word and the Savior who has crushed Satan's head.
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