Steve and Sharon – October Update

Passing the Torch 

“Hello. You must be new here. I haven’t seen you before.” This greeting was accompanied with a warm smile and the extended hand of a PNG national. And that was our introduction to Steven Ttopoqogo just over a year ago as we were shopping in the on-center store here in Ukarumpa. As we introduced ourselves and what our positions were on the center, he mentioned that he was a third-generation translator. “I know who you are,” I said, recalling an article I had read about him. “I read about your story.” “It is His story,” he replied. And it is quite a story. 

In the mid-1950s Ernie Richert responded to God’s call to be a translator in Papua New Guinea and in 1957 began work with the Guhu-Samane language group. When Richert asked for a helper, Hoopusu Ttopoqogo, a son of one of the chiefs was assigned to him, eventually becoming the chairman of the Guhu-Samane translation team. Eight years into the translation effort, Hoopusu’s son, Mumure, joined the translation effort, and in 1975 the Guhu-Samane New Testament was dedicated. 

Now Mumure wanted to begin translating the Old Testament. His desire came from people’s response to the New Testment. Many times the books of the prophets are referred to and quoted in the New Testament. As people read the New Testament they started to ask, “Where are these books?’” and began to say “We want to see these books, this book is not complete!” 

Steven had his sights set on something other than translation. “Honestly I didn’t want to do Bible translation, I wanted to do something like evangelism when I grew up.” He had decided to join YWAM and was raising support to go to Bangladesh. But God had another direction for Steven. 

In his village, a prayer meeting was held every Saturday morning to pray for someone to help Steven’s dad translate the Old Testament. In November 1996, right at the end of one of the prayer meetings, a young man read Isaiah 6:8: “And the Lord said, ‘Whom shall I send?’ Then Isaiah said, ‘Lord, here I am! Send me.’” “We’ve been praying for a year,” said the young man, “and it seems that no one is responding. I feel that God is asking this group, that someone in this group will respond like Isaiah responded.” Steven felt like God was saying, “Steve, will you respond as Isaiah responded?” and he responded, “Lord, here I am, send me.” 

For 15 years, Steven stayed in the village, serving in the church and helping his dad with translation work. In 2006 he began to help train other Papua New Guineans to learn the work of translation. Then in 2009 Steven joined PNG Bible Translation Association, an organization located in the Eastern Highlands. He moved his family there and began work managing the organization’s missions center. Since 2010 he has become a regional director in the same organization, overseeing 12 different language projects in the Morobe region. 

Steven’s dad continues work on the Guhu-Samane Old Testament. It is 81% drafted. Seven books are consult-ant checked and printed, and 16 books are consultant checked. Steven oversees the continued work along with a position as the Regional Director for translation projects in the Eastern Highlands. 

Since our introduction to Steven in the store, we have gotten to know him better, as he and his family were our mentor family during our Field Training Course. We look forward to continuing to build our relationship. 

And what about us? First, it is hard to believe that we have been here over a year now, and we are already done with the first term of the new school year. In June and July, we were able to return home for five weeks. Though short, it was a wonderful time to see family and friends. 

The two-week school break we just finished gave us some time to relax. Steve helped our neighbor make progress in building a play structure for their two boys, though we know it will also get lots of use by their friends. Sharon had additional time to make her stamped cards, which she will try to sell at the annual Christmas craft fair here on center, and do a bit of sewing. But along with the down time, we also did a lot of prep work for the new term. 

Currently, we are three weeks into the second term of school. Because of Steve’s past ex-perience, much of his curriculum this term is very familiar, but there are also some things that are completely new. He is once again helping coach the girls’ basketball team, along with one of the math teachers and his English department colleague. It is definitely one of the high points of his day. Sharon has two new students in her tutoring sessions, so she is having to become familiar with new levels of the curriculum she is using. 

Thank you for your prayers, financial support, emails, and texts. We also enjoy seeing the fall colors of Douglas County in pictures posted on Facebook. 

With grateful hearts, 

Steve and Sharon