Every once in a while I have a flight that I know will be forever etched in my memory. It could be because it’s traumatic, as is often the case with a medical evacuation. Or it can be a happy occasion, such as the one I experienced recently.
This story really begins decades before I was born, when the Maxey family, Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) missionaries started working on the Ngalik translation. To this day Buzz and Myrna Maxey, alongside Papuan church leaders Amos and Enos, continue the work Buzz’s parents began in the village of Silimo back in the 1960s. Translating the Bible into another language is an immense task requiring years of dedication. The difficulty of this process is only increased when it involves a village that is only accessible by air. When you think of the number of people who have had a hand in this translation, it’s almost mind-boggling—from the translation helpers to both Maxey families to all of the MAF pilots over the years and the many people who prayed and gave to support these missionaries.
You can imagine my excitement when I had the privilege of flying the final book of the Ngalik Bible translation. From here, this handwritten version is taken to Rock Pointe Alliance Church of Calgary, Alberta, where a group of believers will enter it into a computer. Then the process of checking and rechecking begins. It will be years before the Ngalik Bible will be ready for print, but it is still exciting to be a part of such a large team working to bring the Gospel to the people of Silimo. This is just one example of how MAF is partnering with missionaries around the world—and we couldn’t do it without the faithful prayers and support of believers who are partners in this ministry.
