What it means to finally have your own Bible

Septon Philip is standing in front of MAF pilot Glenys Watson, as he prepares to explain how important it is to hold the Bible in his hands.

“I would just like to say thank you on behalf of everyone here in the community,” said Septon “Thank you, MAF, for bringing the Bible to this place in the bush. Thank you, because God’s word is inside.”

MAF isn’t the only way for the Wabo community to find a Bible. They can travel by boat to Kerema around 150 kilometres down the river, but this is not without its dangers due to rough seas. Another way is to go by foot to Goroka in the mountains. While a safer way, it’s a long journey and would take seven days through rough terrain.

“If we managed to go to town, the Bibles would be very expensive,” said Septon.

The Bible Box is made possible by generous donors, worldwide, who give, to enable affordable pricing for the Bibles in MAF’s Bible Box.

“A huge thank you goes to those people who have donated to lower the price of the Bible, so that people like us, who live in the bush, can afford to buy the Bible,” said Septon.

A woman in the community, Ata, also bought a Bible from pilot Glenys. She was thankful to MAF and pilot Glenys for bringing the Bible, but she also wanted to share how important it is for the whole community to have Bibles.

“There are many people here who know how to read, but they don’t have a Bible,” said Ada. "Lots of the older educated people have come. The knowledge that they have received before, what could they use it for? But the Bible has come for a cheap price. Now they can read it and if there are others who can’t read, they can talk to them too.”

Because the Bible is so important, many people are longing to buy one. Another MAF pilot, Jan Ivar Andresen, recently flew to Sengapi with a full Bible Box, but he quickly realised he didn’t have enough Bibles. You can read this story here.

Watch how the Bible Box brings hope to the people in remote places in the video below.