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SOAKING IN THE TRUTH

Pol reads Scripture

July 5, 2005

Each morning, Monday through Friday, the Hewa people listen as the missionaries teach them foundational truths.

A crowd of about 50 people sit scattered on the ground. Children run from one group to another. Dogs, cats and cassowary birds meander freely. But even a social hornbill, with occasional loud comments from its high perch, cannot detract from this place of learning. The Hewa people are hearing the beginning of God's story.

When missionary Keith Copley told them about Satan's fall and how he has lied to everyone ever since, Loyuwa, an old and powerful man in his community, said, "That is right, he lied to our forefathers, and then the lies were passed on from generation to generation."

Keith also spoke of God creating Eve as a companion for Adam. "The analogy we used," Keith wrote, "was: if someone gives you a gift of an axe, you don't just throw it away and mistreat it." Hewa women are treated like work animals so he knows how foreign this concept of respect is to their culture.

But an old widower immediately made the connection and said, "God made your wives for you men. You should look after them and take care of them. Don't mistreat a gift from God."

More questions came. What did Adam do to pay for his wife? Where is the Garden of Eden? Did God rest on Saturday or Sunday? Why do different churches teach we should rest on different days?

"We answered some questions immediately and told them that we will answer all these questions as we move through the entire teaching," wrote Keith. "The joy was seeing them process the information through their cultural grid."

In the afternoons, Keith and Angie Copley and Jonathan and Susan Kopf walk around to chat with people, clearing up any confusion and encouraging them to read and talk throughout the evening.

"Nearly everywhere you look, people are reading the day's lesson and scripture portion," Keith wrote.

"Just a few years ago, no one could read or write in this dialect of the Hewa language!" wrote missionary Jonathan Kopf. "Praise the Lord for how He has worked it out to make this possible. Praise Him that He has put the desire to read His message in their hearts!"

"To think of all that God orchestrated to get us to this point makes us so thankful," wrote Keith. "So many of you have been the instruments in that orchestra and we are thankful for the opportunity to bring glory to our Father with you. Keep praying."