History was made when a three decade old translation hymn book was finally delivered to the people of Murat LLG in the Kavieng District of New Ireland Province this week.
The hymn book was launched with great tribute to Warren Matautu, a local Mussau Islander who worked on the book for the last 30 years.
Kavieng MP and State Enterprise Minister Ben Micah was present to witness the occasion.
Mussau and Emirau Islands are located on the tip of New Ireland Province and is accessible by boat or via air.
Villagers there are strongholds of the Seventh Day Adventist faith.
This week was history making for the islanders, who gathered to worship and honor God in their own dialect.
The hymn book known as the Vuku Kunari, began its original translation in the 1930’s by a pioneer Adventist Missionary, Pastor Atkins from Australia.
However Pastor Atkins left and his work was successfully completed by a local Warren Matautu, who was moved by the spirit of God to write and translate music in the local mother tongue.
Mr Micah said the hymn book will be made available to all SDA churches on Mussau, Emirau and Tents Islands.
A similar approach has been taking place on the Island by the Summer Institute of Linguistics for bible translation.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-LgDXV_El98%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
