We live in the mountains. While the airstrip in our village is relatively flat, going just about anywhere else requires a hike up or down a hill or mountain. The other villages in the Amdu language group are scattered throughout the surrounding mountains – some at a higher elevation and some lower.
I recently took a trip to two of those other villages. The trip went well and since I’m writing this, you know I made it back in one piece! Because these villages are at a higher altitude, it involved a lot of hiking uphill. There were also three rivers that we forded. The rivers actually had bridges (like in the photo below), but they were made of various materials like jungle vines and my Amdu friend hiking with me said they were too old to be trusted.so I waded the rapids.
The Lord saw to it that there hadn’t been enough rain in the preceding days to carry me away. There were some scary spots in the trail too, but the Lord saw that I made it safely to the villages higher in the mountains.
I was taking this trek for several reasons. First, I was going because our team hadn’t visited one of these villages yet and we hadn’t been to the other village for at least two years. Also, our team wants them all to know we are making progress in learning their language and that God’s Word is for them too!
Lastly, I wanted to attend a ceremony where the people were confessing their sins, past and present, to remove their people’s perceived blindness and receive material gain. They believe they are “backward” because of the sins of their ancestors and would like to move forward as they see the rest of the world doing. It seemed important to be able to observe this unique cultural event.
I was able to make it to these villages and spend precious time with small groups and large. I was welcomed in wonderful ways! By radio they had heard I was coming so kids and adults were waiting for me. In the last village, adults from neighboring communities were gathering and I shook many, many hands.
During their ceremony I was given time to tell all who were gathered that we were working hard to learn their language so God’s Word could be translated and told to them. I used some of their language that I knew so they could hear that we were making progress. There were many happy faces over the anticipation of these things.
Most people think of missionaries as ones who share the Gospel with people in faraway lands. And that is our goal too. But right now we don’t know how to say all of those things in the Amdu language!! Though I was unable to tell them of God’s free gift of salvation by grace through Jesus Christ at this time, I gave them the good news I had. “We are learning your language and as soon as possible, we will teach you what God’s Word says.” It will have to do for now.
Pray for the Amdu team as we struggle mightily, in God’s strength, to learn this language and culture so that those blind and dying might see and live.