Baptisms in Kovojap Dua
Because Anton and I finish the audio recordings so quickly, there was time and opportunity to attend a baptism service in the village of Kovojap Dua on May 18, followed by the dedication celebration of the first Bible stories in the Benanu language. Matt and Caroline Edelen, fellow translators and missionaries, have dedicated themselves to serving the Benanu for many years, along with evangelists from the GIDI church.
The Benanu tribe lives directly west of the Korowai and was not yet reached with the gospel in 2008. In 2008, I did a trip with Matt Edelen in the Benanu area. Matt was exploring whether God was leading him to these people and I was along to help determine the boundaries of the language.
Matt and me during the survey in 2008
After many years of commitment, and through many adversities, Matt and Caroline have seen and experienced God's blessing. In 2018, a first group of Benanu believers was baptized and now they are in Kovojap Dua to witness a third group of Benanu believers be baptized. This is a wonderful celebration, in combination with the official dedication of the first 23 Bible stories in the Benanu language.
After a long church service, lots of speeches, prayers and spiritual songs in different languages, we all go to the river. The water is high, which makes the baptisms a lot easier. Matt Edelen himself gets to baptize some of the Benanu believers.
The baptisms are followed with more songs and prayers and finally concluded with the Lord's Supper, celebrated together with the new believers. I praise God for allowing me to be part of this. I think it's wonderful that I was able to contribute to this ministry in the past and that I can also experience these baptisms now.
