…In his law the islands will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:4)

             Nine thousand miles away, in Papua New Guinea, a man named Lindon is redefining my hope in our Savior Jesus Christ.  It’s a miracle, when you consider that this inspiring brother in Christ almost didn’t make it through his first hours of life.

            After giving birth to him in an isolated area (yes, outside!), Lindon’s mother hid him in a hole in the surrounding rocks.  Unwilling to bear the burden of another child, she covered the hole with a rock and left her new baby to die.

            But Ningun’s daughters learned of what their mother had done, and hurried out to save the infant.  They found him in his rocky tomb, covered with ants but alive!  They washed him, brought him home and convinced their mother to care for him.

            The story foreshadows Lindon’s call to discipleship.  Although he once was as good as dead, he is now alive!  His sisters washed him in the water, and then brought him home.

            God had a plan for Lindon, you see.  He sent Pastor John and Maila Davies to work as Bible translators among Lindon’s people, the Minimib.

            Lindon carried a burden for his people.  As the elders passed away, he wondered who would lead his (God’s) people in future years.  Lindon described a dream he had,

            “I felt very sad, but someone came and touched my shoulder and said, ‘Do not cry my child; one day these tears of yours will be dry.’  I turned around but did not see anyone.”

Later, in another dream, Lindon found a book lying in the mud.  When he picked it up and cleaned off the pages, he discovered that it was a Bible.  Connecting the two dreams, Lindon experienced a revelation:

            “God’s good Word is Himself the good Leader.  He is the Leader who is quietly inside the hearts and thoughts of those people who belong to him – Christ Jesus, the Word of God.  Only this leader can ensure the future will be good.”

            Lindon’s beautiful words give new meaning to my hope, the hope that he and I share.

            After working with Pastor Davies to translate the New Testament into his native language, Lindon held the answer to his prayers in his own hands for the very first time last May.  The cover of the Minimib Bible reads “Minim Komin”, or “Word Alive” – the Word which is Alive and the Word which Gives Life.

            For more information about Pastor John and Maila Davies and their work as Bible translators with the Kobon, Minimib and Haruai peoples of Papua New Guinea, please contact the church office.