The Mesem New Testament
Neil, Kathy and Tony Vanaria serving with the Mesem People of Papua New Guinea
This first page will remain static and all other pages will be changing.
Prayer and video updated July 26 2010
Thank you for visiting our website to share with us in the work God is doing amongthe Mesem people. It has been our joy to be missionaries in Papua New Guinea since 1988 and translators with the Mesem people of Morobe Province since 1993.
In this photo a Mesem man has the joy of reading the Gospel of Matthew in his own language for the first time. We are thankful that 100% of the Mesem New Testament is drafted and over half is ready for publication. The Mesem language was previously an unwritten language but thanks to the prayers and practical support of the Body of Christ, Mesem speakers now can read the scriptures and hold worship services in their own language. For the first time people can really understand the meaning of the good news and begin to study it for themselves.
They plan to begin translating the Old Testament after the New Testament in completed, and a book concerning customary Jewish life at the time the New Testament was inspired has already been translated.
The impact of scripture in the lives of the Mesem people is evident as people make a decision to move from the bondage of traditional animism to the freedom of living in reconciled relationship with their Creator through the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf.This freedom allows people to live without fear in the magnificient creation God has given them. The village of Ogau, seen below, is typical of the 12 villages scattered throughout the Sarawaged mountains where over 5,000 Mesem speakers live,waiting for the scriptures.
The lush rain forest has spectacular 80 foot waterfalls, but the harsh terrain makes the subsistance lifestyle of the Mesem people very difficult. The people garden on this steep terrain and supplement their diet of yams, greens and root vegetables with domesticated pigs and chickens. Lack of protein, as well as lack of good health care is a consistent challenge for the people of Papua New Guinea, and in very remote areas there is no access to health services whatsoever.
God's desire is that all people, everywhere will praise His Name. Funkeka Wenge was one of the first Christians in the Mesem area and has worked with us for many years to see the New Testament completed. Now, age 65 she has asked us to "Hurry, so I can dance at the celebration" when the New Testament is completed. Please join us as we work together to see the Name of Jesus made great among the Mesem, and the prayers of Funkeka answered. For more of the story of how God has been working among the Mesem click on various links on the website or visit our blog at the link on the left hand side of the page.
