REGION PRAYER CALENDAR April 2018 – May 2018 SIL Wewak Center ~ PO Box 291 ~ Wewak ESP 531 A bimonthly guide to praying for Bible translation and language development in the Sepik Region of (PNG) To subscribe electronically, email [email protected]

April 2018

Pray for the Easter crusade being held Praise for the recent Oral Bible 1-2 at the Christian Revival Crusade Church 1 5-16 Translation workshop. Pray for in Wewak. Pray for many lives to be changed good retention of all the information learned, both there and at other churches throughout particularly for those who were new to the the Sepik during this Easter season. course. Pray that they would share the translated materials in their communities. Pray for Gary and Denise Abbas, SPES 3-4 team leaders, as they transition back Pray for wisdom and safety for to the US after years of faithful service in the 17-18 the Aitape West team as they Sepik. Praise for the opportunities they had to hike through five language groups in April. On finish well. Pray for rest and that they will be this hike they will be helping people evaluate able to know what God wants them to do next. the strength of their mother tongue, doing Bible studies and practicing reading fluency in Pray for the approximately 250 their own languages. 5-6 people who speak the Pyu language in the Sandaun Province. They have a few oral Give thanks that the Urat-English- Bible stories in their language, but no written 19-20 Pidigin dictionaries are now Scripture yet. ready to be bought by the Urat language speakers. Pray that they can be used to help Give thanks that the consultant many with literacy abilities. 7-8 checking of Mark and James went well for the Aitape West Translation project in Pray for the approximately 200 February. Pray that hearts will be ready to 21-22 people who speak the Southern receive the translated Scriptures. One language in the Sandaun Province. They have no written Scripture in their language yet. At the end of February, PNG was hit 9-10 by a significant 7.5 magnitude Pray for Clemence Komnapi as he earthquake. This has caused considerable 23-24 continues to work with the damage to homes, gardens, clinics, schools, Salvation Army in the Sepik. Pray that God airstrips, and much more, as well as many lives would use him to help strengthen the churches lost. Please pray for physical and emotional in his area. healing and that aid will be received quickly by those who need it so desperately. Pray for understanding and 25-26 flexibility for the employees at Pray for Brad and Faith the SIL Wewak Centre as they learn to work 11-12 Halverson, along with their under new managers. Pray that they can work children Sadie and Wesley, as they transition to together well as a new team. being the new SIL Wewak Center managers. Pray that they will be able to learn the job Pray for people who have been quickly and find good friends as well. 27-28 displaced because of the volcano in January and are struggling with basic needs Pray for the approximately 2,790 being met. Pray for the churches as they 13-14 people who speak the Ulau-Suain continue to work together to help these language in the Sandaun Province. They have displaced people. no Scripture in their language yet.

Pray for the approximately 1,100 Pray for the approximately 220 29-30 speakers of the Sowanda 15-16speakers of the Kis language who language who live in the Sandaun Province. live in the East Sepik Province. They have no They have no Scripture in their language at this Scripture in their language at this time. time. Pray for perseverance for New

17-18Tribes Mission families as they

learn the language and culture in multiple May 2018 communities, so they can share God’s story in a way that speaks best to the people. Sometimes Pray for translators from ten learning the language can be discouraging and 1-2 languages in the Aitape West area as difficult. they first draft 1 and 2 Peter in May. Especially pray for wisdom for them as there are some Pray for unity among all the difficult concepts to translate in these two 19-20 pastors in the region as they books. work to find ways to share Christ with people from a variety of backgrounds. Pray for strength for Sam and Deb 3-4 Smucker, SPES team members, as they Pray for new members to join finish their home assignment in the US and 21-22 the SPES team. A variety of prepare to return to PNG in June. Pray for all people including an administrator and the last minute details to come together and translation consultants are some of the big that they could finish their time well. needs, although there are other spaces to be filled as well. Pray for understanding for SPES 5-6 trainers planning to do awareness Pray for the approximately among multiple language groups in the North 23-24 1,700 speakers of the Chambri Palei area. Pray that they will be able to clearly language who live in the East Sepik Province. share about the possibilities of SPES working They have no Scripture in their language at this together with each of these communities and time. that the communities will understand their responsibilities in this partnership as well. Pray for Sunday School teachers 25-26 and youth ministry workers as Pray for the approximately 100 they continue to find ways to reach children 7-8 speakers of the Piame language who and young people for Jesus. Pray that God live in the East Sepik Province. They have no would soften hearts so that many would come Scripture in their language yet. to know Him in a more personal way.

Pray for creative ideas of ways to Pray for wisdom and creativity 9-10 share the Oral Bible Translation 27-28 for those looking to find new passages in the communities for the Bungain, ways to reach language groups in the Sepik, as Juwal, and Urimo languages. Pray that more well as how to work further with existing people in the communities could get involved projects. with the distribution. Pray for all the preparations and Praise that the Urat Jesus film is 29-30 logistics for the third Oral Bible 11-12 ready for distribution. Pray that Storytelling workshop for the Nai, Kwomtari, the needed equipment can be found to show Yale, and Baibai scheduled to begin June 4. Pray the film in the villages. Pray that the film would for the trainers as they prepare for the course. change people’s lives. Pray for the approximately 160 Pray for safety for Mission 31 speakers of the Yelogu language who 13-14 Aviation Fellowship and other live in the East Sepik Province. They have no relief organizations helping to get supplies to Scripture in their language at this time. earthquake victims. Because of continued aftershocks, conditions are continually changing in the affected areas.