Gumentige, an unbelieving Inapang man, came to the translation workshop to learn how to better help the missionaries. He wasn't expecting to lose sleep over it.
Missionaries Bill and Kelley Housley, along with their co-workers Daniel and Elizabeth Moore, attended a translation workshop at the Interface campus in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Gumentige and three other unbelieving Inapang men also made the trip to learn how to better assist in the translation process.
The missionaries were so thankful that Kaiko and Kewauka, two believing tribal men from the island of West New Britain, were willing to leave their families for two weeks and make the long, arduous trip to teach at the workshop. They felt the classes would have more impact being taught by tribal men themselves.
And it seems to have made a difference with Gumentige.
After one of the night sessions, Bill talked with him. "He said he laid in bed thinking about the new things that he is hearing about this book, the Bible. He said he had heard … that there are ten laws that he has to keep."
"He said he has watched all of us with our kids and the others from another team that is here with us, that he sees that we seem to keep these laws and now he is worried. He is worried because he used to think that this was something that we were going to do for them, but now he realizes that it is something that they are going to have to do as a community," Kelley wrote.
"He said with a tear rolling down his cheek, 'We can't keep all those laws … no stealing, not lusting for women, no wanting other people's stuff … we can't do it by ourselves.' What a precious moment for Bill to say, 'Gumentige, you're right and that is exactly what this story is about.'"
Gumentige was not alone in his thoughts.
"Another of the men, Ampiankon, told us that they had tried … different money making schemes and that they had tried the 'blessing' cult and that they were so tired of trying things that never brought about a change in the way they live," wrote Kelley.
He had also noticed a distinct difference in the missionaries' lives and was impressed with the way they lived, worked and treated each other. He wanted that for his people too.
"We want to help you translate this message so that it will be clear and straight and so that it will 'cry good in our people's ears' [bring understanding to our people]."
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