The Greatest Cause

[The letter below was written by Carole Spaeth, a missionary to the Miniafia people of Papua, New Guinea. I've changed the content slightly, so as not to let the cat out of the bag about what the people were celebrating. I'll reveal that at the end of the story.]

Preparations for the dedication began about a year ago, with the gathering of materials and building of extra shelters for guests, preparing gardens to grow the extra food, and lots of planning. But THIS day, February 26, 2010, was the culmination of all that preparation. Well before dawn ladies were getting up to prepare the food (and the fires to cook it on) for the day’s meals. Men were cutting branches of fresh palm to decorate the walkway from the rocky point to the specially-prepared podium where the dedication ceremony would be focused. Children picked flowers and swept around the village and under the houses and shelters to make sure the village was spotless for this momentous occasion. Even the roosters welcomed the day with unusual crowing!

The anticipation in the air was so thick it could almost be cut with a knife. This was a historic day–one for the Miniafia history books–and they wanted the entire celebration to go smoothly. They had waited 36 years for this day, and the Lord gave His special blessing by presenting them with a crystal clear sky and calm sea. Sounds of conch shells blowing and shouts of “Oro Kaiwa, Oro Kaiwa” (Welcome) soon gave the signal that the festivities were beginning. The villagers, dressed in their traditional dress with fronds of palm and aromatic leaves stuck in arm and leg bands, rushed to the point that allowed them to look out to the sea. Several canoes decorated to the hilt were escorting the boat bringing the visitors and the cartons with their contents. Drums started beating and more conch shells, and dancing all around–even on the platform of the canoe. The excitement could not be contained!

If I tried to describe all the activities of the weekend in much detail, it would fill a book. That will have to wait for another time. But I will include a sampling of pictures here so you can get a taste of the ecstatic reception the Miniafia people gave.

It was perhaps one of the top-ten events of my life to go and experience it with what I consider my Miniafia family. Thank you for all who prayed us through and supported Donna and me–and David at home–throughout the trip.

Special praise: Of the 1,000 copies that were printed, 900 had been sold by the time we left the village. The 100 remaining were being held for people in two remote villages that were unable to make it to the dedication. At the church on Sunday nearly everyone carried their precious book, and tears streamed down the cheeks of several who were reading God’s words in Minifia for the first time. Me, too!

“… so is my word that goes out from my mouth; it will not return to me empty, but will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy, and be led forth in peace.” (Isaiah 55:11-12a)

This is such a heart-stirring story. There is no greater cause and no greater gift than the gift of God’s word in one’s own language. On a personal note, the story was very convicting to me. I take for granted the accessibility of the word of God. The exuberant joy and tearful celebration of the Miniafia remind me  how blessed I am to own even one copy of God’s word.