A pocket-sized device containing the complete Bible in multiple languages is helping to transform lives. This is a testimony of two old men from separate and isolated regions of Papua New Guinea, but with the common theme of transformation.
Story by Matt Painter
“There was a man here, a head man,” said Pastor Kimin Mauwe, from Karimui Baptist Church.
“When the audio Bible came to Papua New Guinea, this man bought one.
“Then, he wanted to listen to this audio Bible all the time. Every day he had a desire to listen to it again – new words of God.
“When he went to the garden, or if he stayed at home, he would put it close by, in his house. If he wanted to sleep, he would turn it on and listen to God’s Word.
“He changed. He was strong in his worship. He was strong in God’s Word. He was faithful till he died. I saw his life was good.”
Pastor Kimin recalled the peace that scripture brought to the old man.
“When he died, he said ‘I’m going to the good place. I know that God is coming to get me.’
“He had a transformation. The audio Bible helped him to receive transformation in his life.
“Like the Bible says, those who hunger for God’s Word, and seek it every day, they will be filled with God’s Word, Matyu (Matthew) 5:6.
The audio Bible helped him to receive transformation in his life.
“MAF brings audio Bibles here, inside the plane. We buy them at the airstrip.”
An agent serving MAF pilots and the community for 32 years, Pastor Kimin has stood many times alongside the Karimui airstrip.
“Audio Bible prices are not too expensive. MAF thinks of the people in the bush, and the cost is not too much. They know the isolated people don’t have a lot of money to buy these things.
“If the battery runs out, there’s a solar panel on the back to charge the battery.
“MAF Technologies gets them, supplies the pilots with them, and they bring them here and the isolated people use them.”
Johnson Irarue is an Administration Assistant with MAF Technologies in Goroka, not far from Karimui. He orders Bibles and audio Bibles, packs the cartons and sends them out to pilots and bases across the country.
“Most times I don't have that chance to go out and witness the impact this device, or the Bible, has in people's lives,” he said.
“But I had this chance, some years ago. Pastor Matthew was a local church pastor in Siane, Eastern Highlands. And he came into the office one time with a small kid. He was blind, so the child had to lead him.
“He said, ‘Look, now I am blind, and I am old, and this child is my aide and my help. He brought me here. I heard you have this audio Bible here.’
“He came here from his village, walked and then caught a bus.
“So, we donated an audio Bible to him, and he went and then he came back with his testimony some months later.”
He told them: “I was a pastor before I became blind. I used to preach in my local church, but because I was blind, I could no longer minister. But now that I have received the audio Bible, I listen to Bible verses, and I memorise them. So, I tell my little child, take me to the marketplace.”
Every Wednesday, Pastor Matthew went to the market and preached to the people there.
The pastor said: “It really blesses me. Now that this audio Bible has helped me to preach again, I will still keep preaching, even though I am blind, and I cannot read and stand in the pulpit and preach.”
Pastor Matthew has since passed away.
“When I hear stories like this,” said Johnson, “I feel like my heart is filled with joy, and it gives me the satisfaction and joy to continue to serve, even though I am in the office writing emails.”
