Like Opening a Treasure Box

Struggling in the university, unsure of his future, Eddie decided to follow his father's advice and take a year off from his studies. That year turned out to be a pivotal time in Eddie's life. 

As he wandered around the village wondering how to spend his time, a visitor arrived. Victor was from the Bible Translation Association of PNG and was looking for people to assist with the Mekeo Old Testament translation. Eddie agreed to help. 

The Mekeo New Testament had been completed in 1999. Eddie joined a team of Mekeo people who share the common goal of completing the Old Testament translation in their language. Verse by verse, they search for the best way to convey the meaning of each passage to their people. Sometimes it takes several tries to find just the right word. 

The True Treasure

When translating scriptures about the Ark of the Covenant, Eddi used the kofu, which means "box" in his heart language. However, this word didn't quite communicate how special and significant the Ark of the Covenant was to the people of Israel. He knew of another word, maufa, which referred to a special box, or a treasure box. Wondering if this word might fit, Eddie asked people in his village what they thought. They all agreed this was the best way to communicate the significance and value of the Ark of the Covenant. 

Eddie, too, is happy with including the word maufa. To the Israelites, the Ark of the Covenant was a precious possession because it held the stone tablets with God's law written on them. As Eddie translates, he finds God's book to be a rich treasure containing nuggets of wisdom and truth waiting to be discovered. One gem Eddie has found is peace. He testified, "When I am translating God's book it gives me a deep peace that I never had before." 

Papua New Guinean Boys

With a twinkle in his eye, Eddie elaborated, "Being engaged in translation is like opening a treasure box. It's something worth doing. You won't get rich in this life, but you will have true treasure in heaven." 

*This story has been taken from the Papua New Guinea (PNG) blog