Papua New Guinea (MNN)–The river that flows through Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea has migrated closer to the housing used by national Bible translators at the Ukarumpa Translation Center.
During the rainy season, the area is a breeding grounds for malaria-bearing mosquitoes. One of the leading causes of death in developing countries is malaria. With that threat in mind, Wycliffe Associates’ President, Bruce Smith says they’re responding to the emergency.
The team is accelerating the construction of a series of new dormitories as part of the new PNG National Training Center. That’s not all, Smith explains, “We’re in the process right now of helping to move that housing and also upgrade it so that the national translation teams will have a suitable place to live and protection from malaria, which can be a real setback to Bible translation.”
Papua New Guinea has matured over the last few decades partly due to the efforts of dedicated Western Bible translators. Their efforts have opened up education opportunities for hundreds of people groups and languages.
Smith says the region has an incredibly diverse linguistic landscape with over 300 languages that haven’t been processed yet. “Pray that God will raise up workers as part of the Bible translation team not only includes construction workers for a project like this one, but it also includes workers with pretty much any kind of vocational skill or even a-vocational skills that can be used.”
Organized in 1967, Wycliffe Associates is a ministry that accelerates the work of Bible translation by involving Christians in essential support services.
During 2005, some 1,252 Wycliffe Associates volunteers served in 36 countries as part of the worldwide Bible translation team. Wycliffe Associates plans to send more than 1,500 volunteers to 40 different counties this year to build and renovate facilities, construct roads and airstrips, teach Vacation Bible School, help with language development and office work, oversee projects, use their computer skills, and much more.
For more information visit Wycliffe Associates’ website.
