Bughotu New Testament Dedication

Thank you for praying for our friends last weekend during the Bughotu New Testament dedication. We asked them if we could share some of their words and pictures to let you know that your prayers make a difference!

From the translation family:

"Well, it's officially over....the dedication of the Bughotu NT!!! We are just overwhelmed at how smoothly the whole thing went and how God answered prayer. Thank you for praying!!!!


"All of our overseas guests (10) and Wycliffe friends (13) blessed us so much by putting up with the lack of comfort that comes with boat travel and village living. It meant so much to have them all with us and to experience the life we've lived for the past 12 years. No one got sick!!!

"All of the transport went off as planned and God kept us safe!...the long 18 hour ship ride there, the 2 1/2 hour motor canoe ride up to an airstrip (for some of us), the small plane ride back (for some of us), John's very scary 2 1/2 hour motor canoe ride back to the village in the dark and rain, our director's motor canoe ride back to Honiara, and the 7 hour ship ride back to Honiara (for some of us). Transport here in the Solomons often does not go as planned, so this was a miracle in itself!

"All of the 700 Bibles we had sent out to Sigana were sold within 15 minutes! About 250 Bibles that were to be sold in town were shipped out to the village yesterday so that those who were unable to purchase one at the dedication can do so.

"And now, please pray with us that the Holy Spirit would urge the people to read their Bibles faithfully and to apply the truths to their lives. "

"Na komi rioriso gougovu kena mono koragna na komi Rioriso ke Tabu kena au mai kori ghaghanagna a God. Na komi Rioriso ke Tabu, na fata ke nagho bali velepuhighitagna na hava ke tutuni, bali vathaothadoghaghita eigna na hava ke boi jino kori havida, bali vajinoagna na havida, ma na bali velepuhighitagna eigna katida eia na hava ke jino."

2 Timoti 3:16 in the Bughotu language.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right." 2 Timothy 3:16.

From a literacy family who has worked closely with the Bughotu language and attended the dedication:

"Hundreds of people came from all over the Bughotu area (representing several coastal villages on Isabel Island) to attend the dedication. They came by canoe, motor boat, and by walking. Our family arrived by ship--hot, sweaty, and exhausted after 19 hours aboard a noisy cargo boat. Two other missionary families along with several guests from the US came with us. The ship dropped us off at one village where we unloaded our stuff then took two motor boats across the bay to the place where the launching was held.

"When we finally arrived, it looked like the whole village had come to the beach to greet us! They had set up a special shelter for us and other distinguished guests (church leaders and government officials) where a long table was laid with platters of steaming rice, sweet potato, pineapple, chicken, fish and lobster. Talk about a welcome! Then, while we ate, the villagers gathered around the shelter and began to sing. It was amazing and humbling to be treated with such honor.

"We stayed in a local village home, and the men and women from nearby villages took turns cooking and serving all of us for four days.

"At 6:30am Sunday morning, we attended the special dedication church service for the Bughotu New Testament. The Bishop, visiting priests and village leaders led the two hour service which concluded with the blessing of the new Bibles. Later, everyone gathered outside as a procession of youth and church leaders, marching and singing, carried the boxes of Bibles to the shelter where they would be sold. After several speeches, the Bishop cut the ribbon, officially launching the Bible sales.

"How can I describe the incredible rush, the pressing of the crowds around the shelter as people eagerly held out their money (about $2 US) to purchase a Bible in their own language? All 700 copies of the Bughotu New Testaments sold out in 15 minutes! Many people left with a Bible in their hands. Others left with the promise that more would be coming later. Please pray that these Bibles will be read as eagerly as they were purchased and that God will change lives through His Word. "