Many people in PNG live in remote areas where even essentials can be hard to come by. The biggest joy for many, however, is when the MAF pilots open up the Bible Box.
Story by Tajs Jespersen
In MAF, each pilot brings a Bible Box with them, when visiting remote PNG communities, giving the people there a unique opportunity to acquire Bibles at an affordable price. One such community is Guavi in Western Province. Our two pilots, Renee Brewer and Corné Noordhoek, brought the Bible Box.
“We don’t fly into Guavi often, so they were excited we had a Bible Box. One elderly man ran back to his house to get money and was happy to buy an audio Bible,” said Renee.
There is a variety of literature in the Bible Box. Bibles in different languages, audio Bibles and even comic Bibles to cater for the younger generation as well.
Mathias Glass was flying through Mengau and was overwhelmed by the curiosity from the locals. The comic Bibles especially drew interest.
“It’s incredible, it’s amazing. There are so many people and they come close to you to see what is in the box,” said Mathias. “They always ask, bring more, bring more, we need more of these things."
They always ask, bring more, bring more.
To the pilots it becomes clear that there is a huge demand in the remote places for Bibles.
That is what pilot Jan Ivar Andresen experienced when he flew to Watape in West Sepik Province.
“We sold eleven Bibles in Watape. Ten smaller Tok Pisin Bibles and one large one,” said Jan Ivar.
While the demand is big, it also highlights other challenges for the remote population of PNG. Pilot Brandon Van Saane had managed to bring some helpful items to go along the Bible Box, when he was in Birem, Western Province.
“The people were very excited to see the Bible Box and I sold one Pidgin Bible and a few pairs of reading glasses,” said Brandon.
The reading glasses are sold for five kina each, and can open up a new world especially for the older generation. You can learn how the reading glasses became a part of the Bible Box here.