Marik New Testament dedication

When a New Testament translation is complete and published in Papua New Guinea, the community usually plans a special day to dedicate the new books. These dedications are often lavish events, including speeches by local leaders, prayers, and a lot of music and dancing. It's amazing to think of: a group of people having the opportunity, for the first time in their history, to obtain a copy of the Bible in their own language!

Last Saturday, I had the honor of being the directorate representative at the dedication of the Marik-language New Testament. For the 3,000+ Marik speakers of Madang Province, this was a very special day. The translation was started in the 1970s by a couple from Australia, and it was finished by a Korean couple, along with the Marik translators themselves. As the official SIL representative, I delivered a speech encouraging people to complete the translation work by reading their new Bibles and continuing to follow Christ. (It's odd—I have no fear of public speaking, but I find certain public speaking opportunities stressful. Giving a formal speech on behalf of my sponsoring organization, in front of hundreds of people, made me very nervous.)

For me, the real joy was at the conclusion of the official program, when several traditional singing groups paraded onto the field and showed their excitement about the Bible through their musical performances. Other people prepared food, watched the performers, and enjoyed talking with each other, and the music and dance continued for hours after the ceremony.

Here are some pictures of that amazing day:

A case of Marik New Testaments is brought into the ceremony

Giving certificates to the Marik translation team

Curiosity about the book

Performance groups enter the field

Bamboo trumpets

And another use for bamboo: performers slap the ends of the bamboo tubes with the soles of flip-flops

The swishing of the grass skirts is an important part of the musical sound and the dance movement

Ah, the old and the new.