Missionary M'liss Spero is finding out how difficult it is to convey words and concepts in the Uriai language of Papua New Guinea.
"How do you describe a chariot when the [Uriai] people have never seen a horse or buggy before?" she wrote. "Or how do you explain the verse 'His clothing was as white as snow'? The [Uriais] have never seen snow and have no clue to what it is.
"If the people get hung up on these kinds of words that do not make sense to them, then they seem to miss what the whole passage is saying. As [missionary] Lisa [Kappeler] works with her helpers, she will have to find a way to describe these words and meanings in the Uriai language through their cultural grid."
This is a common occurrence, especially in the tropical climates of Papua New Guinea. Other tribes have never seen running water or sheep, which were familiar sights to the Jewish people.
Please pray for patience and wisdom as missionaries translate Biblical examples to fit cultural settings.
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