Landslide and Bridge Collapse

Early in the morning on Friday, May 24, a major landslide covered a large area near Mulitaka in Enga Province. We were about 250 miles away in Ukarumpa when the landslide took place. Our home in Enga Province is about forty miles east of the landslide site, and so it was not affected. None of the Enga translators live near the landslide area, and so they were not affected either. I (Adam) had visited the landslide area only once before, back in November 2017, when we showed the Enga Jesus Film at Mulitaka.

We are very saddened by the news of many lives being lost, but we know little more than what is being reported by international news agencies. The two people I know in the immediate area were thankfully not in the path of the landslide, but they did lose many relatives. Please join with us in praying for those who have lost loved ones and been displaced by the landslide. Please also pray for guidance and direction as we have been planning an event to distribute the Enga New Testament near the landslide area on July 11. At this point, we don't know if that event will still happen. I know that some of you may have a desire to help the people affected by the landslide, but we are still trying to determine what Christian aid organizations are on the ground. Consequently, at this time we are not able to accept donations toward the landslide relief efforts.

Landslide near Mulitaka, Enga Province

Bridge Collapse
On Monday, May 27, we arranged to have a truck pick up 2,560 Enga New Testaments, 2,304 Enga-English New Testaments, and 1,440 Enga New Testament Audio Players, and transport them to Enga Province in preparation for the first dedication on July 2. The truck picked up everything with no problems and made its way to Enga Province. When the truck was about two hours from its final destination, I received a call from the driver informing me that a bridge had collapsed, making it impossible to complete the delivery at this time. We made the decision to have the driver backtrack to Mt. Hagen (which is about 50 miles east of the delivery destination in Enga Province) and store the container in a safe facility while we wait for the bridge to be repaired. (The collapse of the bridge was unrelated to the landslide.) Supplies and equipment to aid in the relief effort for the landslide also have to pass over this bridge. Thankfully, repairs to the bridge have already begun. Please pray for the repairs to be completed quickly so that the Enga New Testaments can be delivered and relief efforts to the landslide area can be expedited.

The collapsed bridge and ongoing repairs

We recognize that as we get closer to the dedication of the Enga New Testament, we need to put on the full armor of God, because the enemy is actively seeking to discourage us and disrupt what God is doing. But we know that God will prevail, especially as you join with us in praying that nothing the enemy throws our way will succeed in preventing the distribution of the Enga New Testament. Thank you for your continued partnership, and especially for your prayers.

Critical Need for Teachers
The Ukarumpa International School (UIS) that Bella and Asher attend has a critical need for teachers during the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. The high school needs teachers for English, Social Studies, Math, Religion, Art, Science, and Spanish as well as for electives like Photography. UIS has small class sizes, and the students are well behaved and do their homework. It is an extremely different experience than teaching in the United States. Living in Ukarumpa is like living in a small town or village. There are about 200 other expats here. It is a great place for a teacher who is retired or who no longer wants to teach in the US school system but would still love to teach and make a difference. There is still so much work to be done, and the school is an integral part of making sure that work continues. Please pray for this need and share this information with anyone you know who might be interested in teaching for a year or two to support Bible translation in the beautiful country of Papua New Guinea. Please feel free to ask us any questions, and be sure to check out the following links for more information. (Please note that Ukarumpa International School is affiliated with TeachBeyond.)

How TeachBeyond Supports Bible translation in Papua New Guinea

Ukarumpa International School videos

Learn More at TeachBeyond

Enga New Testaments Are Here

This month we received the 5,000 printed Enga New Testaments we have been waiting for. Combined with the 5,000 Enga-English New Testaments we received last month, we now have all 10,000 printed New Testaments that we ordered. In addition to that, the Enga New Testament MegaVoice players are also now completed. The MegaVoice players are solar-powered audio players that contain the Enga New Testament. These are especially popular among Enga speakers who have never learned to read or write. The next challenge is figuring out how to get these materials to Enga prior to the dedication on July 2. We plan on shipping a large percentage of the printed New Testaments by truck over the Highlands Highway, and we are hoping to transport the audio players by plane to ensure that they arrive safely and without getting damaged. Please pray for these logistics.

Enga New Testaments

I (Adam) have continued to run Facebook ads promoting the Enga Bible app. As of today, we have 959 active installations of the Enga Bible app, and an additional 125 active users of the Enga New Testament through the YouVersion Bible app. This means that over one thousand people are already accessing the Enga New Testament electronically before the official release of the printed edition!

As people access the Enga New Testament electronically, they are giving us very encouraging feedback. Below are some of the things Enga people are saying.

"I enjoy reading the Bible translated into my own language every day. Thank you, team, for making this successful."

"God greatly blessed those who were involved in this project of converting a foreign language into our mother tongue. It is an overwhelming achievement in the history of our churches and the Enga community as a whole."

"We read the story of Jesus Feeding the Five Thousand in English and Enga, and it was awesome."

"When comparing English to Enga side by side I can confirm that it has been done word for word. The message in our language is loud and clear, and the meaning is just as good as the English version itself."

"This is more than great ... Perfect!"

It is exciting to see that the translation is being well received among the Enga community. Please pray for all the logistics as we prepare for the main dedication on July 2 and the mini dedications to follow in the first week of July. Thank you so much for your prayers and support!

So Much News!

A lot of exciting things have happened since our last newsletter! In February I (Adam) took a two-week course on developing a website for a local language. At the end of the course we launched the Enga Bible website (engabible.org). The website is presented in Enga and English. (The default language is Enga, so click the dropdown menu on the upper right if you want to view the site in English.) The website hosts all of the content we have created related to the Enga New Testament, including audio and video resources.

In the process of building this new website, I learned that the Lumo Project had used our audio recording of the book of Luke to create a Luke Gospel video. The film combines breathtaking live action footage with our audio recording of Luke to create a captivating presentation of the gospel. It is a visual translation, so to speak, designed to deeply engage people with Scripture. I also discovered slide show videos that use our audio recording to share short portions of Scripture with color illustrations and photographs. It is amazing what happens once you have an audio recording of the New Testament!

The Enga Bible website

We have also created an Enga Bible app that includes the text and audio of the Enga New Testament. A great feature of this app is that it highlights the text sentence-by-sentence as the audio recording plays. This really helps people practice reading in the Enga language. This app is available on the Google Play Store. A similar app called Scripture Earth makes the Enga New Testament available for iPhone users. And both Android and iPhone users can access the text and audio of the Enga New Testament with the YouVersion Bible app. It also highlights the text as the audio recording plays.

Using the information I have collected over the years, I have also created an Enga Dictionary app. This app is available on the Google Play Store and has proven to be very popular.

After we launched engabible.org, I began paying for advertisements to promote it on Facebook. The first ad I ran (which cost $30) generated over 10,000 visits to the site in seven days. This ad was written in English and targeted people living in Enga as well as people living in the larger towns of Lae and Port Moresby (where many Enga speakers live). This ad simply directed people to the website. I then ran a more targeted ad, focusing only on people in Enga Province. This ad played a short video demonstrating how the Enga Bible app highlights the text of the Enga translation while the audio recording plays. Although this ad has generated fewer visits to the website (just over 2,000), it has resulted in many more downloads of the Enga Bible app. The most recent statistics I have show that over five hundred people have now installed the Enga Bible app on their phones, and the number continues to rise each day. Years ago, when we first decided to come to Papua New Guinea, I never imagined that we would be promoting an Enga Bible app or that hundreds of people would be installing it. So much has changed in the last twelve years, and technology is making it easier to distribute translations of the Bible.

The delivery of the Enga-English New Testaments

In the midst of all this excitement, we received news that the 5,000 copies of the Enga-English New Testament had arrived. Our neighbor, who oversees the men who pick up shipments from the port town of Lae, was the first to let me know. When I saw just how many boxes there were in the shipment, my first thought was: “How are we going to transport all of these up to Enga?” I didn’t realize just how many boxes it would take to ship 5,000 copies of the New Testament. Our initial plans were to transport them by plane, but now it looks like we may need to hire a trucking company to help us out. We also received news that the regular Enga New Testaments would be shipping at the end of March. That will be 5,000 more copies that we need to figure out how to ship. But figuring out how to get New Testaments to Enga is a good problem to have! Meanwhile the Enga translators are working with church leaders to plan the Enga New Testament dedication. The most recent meeting was attended by 18 church leaders, representing 10 different denominations. We are thankful that the Enga New Testament is a cause for unity among the Enga churches. Please keep us and them in your prayers during this exciting time as we ramp up for the dedication on July 2.

Come teach in Papua New Guinea!

Critical Need
The Ukarumpa International School (UIS) that Bella and Asher attend has a critical need for teachers during the 2025-2026 school year and beyond. The high school needs teachers for English, Social Studies, Math, Religion, Art, Science, and Spanish as well as for electives like Photography. UIS has small class sizes, and the students are well behaved and do their homework. It is an extremely different experience than teaching in the United States. Living in Ukarumpa is like living in a small town or village. There are about 200 other expats here. It is a great place for a teacher who is retired or who no longer wants to teach in the US school system but would still love to teach and make a difference. There is still so much work to be done, and the school is an integral part of making sure that work continues. Please pray for this need and share this information with anyone you know who might be interested in teaching for a year or two to support Bible Translation in the beautiful country of Papua New Guinea. Please feel free to ask us any questions, and be sure to check out the following links for more information. (Please note that Ukarumpa International School is affiliated with TeachBeyond.)

How TeachBeyond Supports Bible Translation in Papua New Guinea

Ukarumpa International School videos

Learn More at TeachBeyond

First Printed Copies Are Here!

On Friday, February 23, we received a DHL Express package from South Korea that contained the first five copies of the Enga-English New Testament! Because Martha and Asher were out of town for an eighth grade field trip, I didn't open the package or share the news until Sunday. After breakfast on Sunday morning, I told the family that I had something special I wanted to show them. I had them gather in our dining room area, telling Martha to film a Marco Polo video message for Jacob and telling Bella to film a regular video with my phone. Martha, Bella, and Asher were all confused, but they did what I asked. I then went into the bedroom and brought out the box. As soon as I announced what it was, Martha was overwhelmed with emotion and tears started streaming down her face. The fact that we were about to hold in our hands what we had spent the last fourteen years working so hard for was a deeply moving experience that touched us at the core of who we are.

The Enga-English New Testament

As I reached into the box to pull out the first copy, I was deeply aware of the promise I had made to my grandmother in 2010. She was the first person to support us, making a generous donation of $1,000, and I promised her that I would dedicate the first New Testament to her. As I held the New Testament in my hand, I declared that it was dedicated to her memory. (She had died in 2016 at the age of 100.)

Feeling the cover of the New Testament in my hand, I was impressed by the quality of the material. The imprinted title and Celtic cross stood out beautifully, and the cover felt sturdy. The sewn binding allowed the New Testament to lie flat as I placed in on the table, and we began examining the print, illustrations, and color photographs.

The spine and gilded pages with rounded corners

After showing the New Testament to Martha, Bella, and Asher, I explained the significance of the colors we had chosen. Because the Enga flag includes the colors green, yellow, white, and black, we wanted the New Testament to have the same colors. Thus we chose a green cover with a gold (yellow) imprint, gilded pages, black braided bookmarks, and of course white paper for the interior pages. The New Testament also includes a custom illustration to go along with Romans 11:17-21. The original illustration is the printer's emblem used by Robert Stephanus, who produced a beautiful edition of the Greek New Testament in 1550 known as the Royal Edition because of the highly skilled typesetting involved in its production. The emblem shows an olive tree with branches grafted in and other branches being broken off by the spoken word of God. While the original emblem reads noli altum sapere, which is Latin for "do not be high minded," I erased this text and changed it to read Kamongo paka kaeyalapape, which is Enga for "fear the Lord," a quotation from Romans 11:20. 

The illustration accompanying Romans 11:17-21

Soon after unboxing the first New Testament, I told Martha and the kids that the last illustration of the book had a very special meaning for me. Last July we found out that Benjamin Leo, the owner of the land where we had built our house in Enga, had been killed by enemy mercenaries who had set up a road block along the Highlands Highway, some distance from our village. In the wake of my father's death, Martha's father's death, and the death of my uncle, it was hard to take this news. At that time we were in the midst of finalizing the typesetting for the Enga-English New Testament. So I decided to add the illustration below as the last page of the book. It is Jesus with his arms opened wide, and the Scripture quotation is from Matthew 11:28, which says, "Come to me, all of you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." This illustration is how I picture Jesus receiving Benjamin into his eternal kingdom, where I believe that Benjamin is now at rest from the trials and tribulations of this world. It is a promise for all of us who put our faith in Christ, and I look forward to one day entering Jesus' outstretched arms and remaining in his presence forever.

 We praise God that we now have the first copies of the Enga-English New Testament in hand, and we look forward to receiving the Enga-only New Testament, which should not be too far behind. Thank you for your prayers and partnership, without which we could never celebrate this day. We are thankful for you all.

Click here if you would like to watch a three-minute video of the unboxing of the Enga-English New Testament.

Update on Jacob
In the midst of the emotion of receiving the first printed copies of the Enga-English New Testament, we also received word from Jacob that he had arrived safely in Costa Rica. He is living with a family in the district of Escazú, canton (which is like a county) of Escazú, province of San José. He is about 15 minutes by bus from downtown San José, which is the capital of Costa Rica. The family he is staying with does not speak any English, so Jacob will have great opportunities to learn Spanish. Please keep him in your prayers as he adjusts to a new country and culture and learns more about his role with Push the Rock doing sports-related ministry.

Dedication Date: July 1

The dedication date for the Enga New Testament has been scheduled for July 1. Actually, the plan is to have a large dedication in Wabag town on July 1, followed by six mini-dedications in the various regions of Enga Province from July 2 to July 7. Please pray for the planning and logistics of these exciting, upcoming events.

In our December newsletter, we asked you to pray for the printing of the Enga New Testament. I am happy to report that we received the signature copies of the Enga New Testament and the Enga-English New Testament in December. A signature copy is not a copy that has a person's signature on it. Rather it is the interior pages of the book without the cover. This is the final check before the binding process is completed. We gave our approval for these signature copies in early January, and just yesterday I received word that the Enga-English New Testament is finished. It is awaiting shipment and is scheduled to arrive in the port city of Lae on March 2. The Enga New Testament should not be too far behind. Praise the Lord, and please continue praying for the timely arrival of both editions.

A look inside the signature copies

Jacob
On January 30, Jacob flew to Emmaus, Pennsylvania, to begin his internship with Push the Rock, a sports ministry. He is scheduled to fly to Costa Rica on February 24 to begin the overseas portion of his internship. Please pray for him as he goes through this time of transition.

Prayer Requests for 2024

Happy New Year! In five days, I (Martha), Adam, Bella, and Asher will begin our journey back to Papua New Guinea. Bella and Asher are looking forward to reuniting with their friends and resuming their normal lives. I typically hate change of all kinds, but this time around I am choosing to embrace it. For the last couple of months, the Lord has given me the word peace to meditate on. It just keeps popping into my head. I know that many people adopt a word to focus on each year. I have never done this. All I know is that the word peace keeps showing up. I hear it, I see it, and dare I say, I feel it. This is a pretty big deal for my anxiety-ridden mind.

Our family has been reading through a book called A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by Phillip Keller. Adam and I read it together during our year in Ecuador in 1999-2000. It left a great impact on me back then, and I am enjoying reading it with my family now. Early on in the book, I came across a line that greatly convicted me: “Contentment should be the hallmark of the man or woman who has put his or her affairs in the hands of God.” Contentment, also known as peace. The Christian should be at peace because they have given their lives over to God and they trust that He is good. Though we are in the midst of great change in our family, the Lord has given me a unique sense of peace.

I know and believe that this greater sense of peace is a direct result of people praying. Please join us in praying for the following needs throughout 2024.

Having fun and at peace in the midst of transition

Jacob
We part ways with this boy on January 6. On January 30 he goes to Emmaus, Pennsylvania, for a month of training with Push the Rock, a sports ministry, before heading to Costa Rica with Push the Rock in the beginning of March. He plans to return to the US in August and begin a year of junior college north of Pittsburgh. Please pray for this huge transition of living away from his parents. Pray that his experience with Push the Rock will grow and stretch him spiritually and that he will be a blessing to the kids he is serving. Pray that he will be disciplined and motivated to do well academically when he returns to the US, and that he will seek the Lord’s direction and receive clarity on what is next for him.

Bella
Bella is excited to return to Ukarumpa and experience all the activities of her junior and senior years. Pray that she will transition well. She will also be applying to colleges later this year. Pray that God will direct her as to where to attend. Pray that she will grow in her faith and walk with God and that she will have a meaningful and memorable school year both academically and socially.

Asher
Asher is also excited to return to Ukarumpa. He will be starting his second semester of eighth grade. Pray that he will transition well socially and academically. Pray that he will be disciplined and motivated in his studies with organization and hard work. Pray for a smooth transition to high school. Pray that he has a great basketball season. This is his passion, and he can’t wait to get back and join the team. Pray that he will grow and mature in his faith and walk with God.

Asher, Jacob, and Bella

Martha and Adam
Pray for the Lord to guide us as we parent our children, and pray for us to trust God as we leave Jacob and return to PNG. Pray that we will be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and direction. Pray for strength and stamina to do the work we are called to do. Pray that I will be able to sleep through the night.

Enga Bible Translation
It is our hope that the Enga New Testament will be dedicated in June or July of 2024. Please pray for peace and reconciliation among the tribes in Enga. There have been many disputes since the elections a couple of years ago that have caused civil unrest. Pray that nothing will delay the distribution and dedication of the Enga New Testament. Pray that the printed New Testaments will arrive in Ukarumpa on time and for an organized distribution process. Pray most of all that the Enga people will have a heart to receive and read or listen to the New Testament. Pray that the Holy Spirit would move in a mighty way and the Word of God will have a great and lasting impact on the lives of the Enga people.

Please let us know how we can be praying for you. We are incredibly thankful for your prayers and partnership. We could not do this without you. May the peace of God be with you all in the coming year.

Pray for NT Printing

Greetings from Wexford, Pennsylvania, where we are entering the last month of our six-month furlough. Martha, Bella, Asher, and I are scheduled to departed for Papua New Guinea on January 6, and Jacob will begin his Gap Year program with Push the Rock at the end of January. Please pray for us as we go through these times of transition.

Please also pray for the Korean Bible Society (KBS). KBS is slated to print the Enga New Testament and the Enga-English New Testament. However, they recently contacted the person in charge of Scripture Publication to ask for prayer. Specifically, they said,

Our partners are facing a sudden increase of demand for their services and this situation is causing an overall delay across the production process. Although we are taking measures to ensure a smooth flow of production, things are regretfully moving much slower than hoped for, so our hearts are heavy and disturbed under such circumstances. We understand that this must be a setback for you as well ... Please continue to pray for us that the production of Scriptures we undertake ... will run smoothly without any bottleneck.

This delay affects not just the Enga New Testament but other New Testaments in Papua New Guinean languages as well. So please pray that the printing process will be able to move ahead without significant delay.

Greetings from Wexford, Pennsylvania!

On a positive note, while we have been on furlough, the Enga translation team has continued their work on the Old Testament. The book of Genesis is now drafted and going through the required checking processes in order to be completed. However, the team has been unable to meet in town for the last three weeks due to civil unrest from the elections that took place a year and a half ago. Please pray for peace in Enga so that the translators can go about their work without any hindrance.

As for me (Adam), I am feeling a bit under the weather today, so I will keep this update brief. Thank you for your continued partnership with us as we await the printed Enga New Testament and continue our work on the Enga Old Testament. We are so thankful for your prayers and financial support.