What does it take to get the Bible translated into a new language, especially if that language exists among a people group in a remote, distant land? Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, off the north eastern coast of Australia, have been the location of a great amount of translation activity in the twentieth century and beyond. In this new book by David Clark, (now) retired United Bible Societies translation consultant, we get a taste of the mundane, the extraordinary, and the humorous.
Clark spent six years in these remote regions, hopping from island to island and traversing the highlands of PNG. The book chronicles his travels, his work with translation teams, his attempts to navigate family life with his wife and children (who attended boarding school but came to visit in PNG on occasion), and his encounters with some unique characters you might only find in remote places such as these.
These memoirs cover 1976-1982, before many of the technological advances that now make this kind of work easier. Reading through them gave me a great appreciation for modern technology such as internet and cell phones, as well as more advanced air travel. (Wycliffe Bible Translators even has their own aviation unit now, JAARS, which Clark would have paid an arm and a leg for, given his travel woes that plague these memoirs!).
Clark has published (I estimate) around one hundred essays, a large majority of them in The Bible Translator, a journal for Bible translation related issues. His academic output as a professional linguist has been incredible. I am thankful, now, that his academic output will be supplemented by more personal memoirs and spiritual lessons that he took from his professional work with United Bible Societies.
I believe this work will be beneficial to readers for several reasons. First, not many Christians are aware of Bible translation, either its need or its requirements, and this book will introduce them to a new work. Note, however, that this is not a devotional work, but a true memoir, so it’s more for those who are already somewhat interested in the work and wanting to learn more about it.
Second, those who are already interested in Bible translation might read this account and feel God leading them to get involved ASAP. My own personal conversations with Clark a little over a year ago actually spurred me to seriously consider Bible translation work, which is how I ended up with Wycliffe Bible Translators. I hope God will use Clark’s adventures to cause many others to get involved in this important and exciting work, which has increased exponentially over the past century and continues to progress at record rates.
Third, these accounts provide first-hand experiences among Pacific peoples, their customs, their governmental tendencies, and the languages. Americans will do well to venture into distant lands with Clark and experience life outside of our Western bubble. Exposure to these foreign cultures can only do us a bit of good!
Clark’s accounts are personal, edifying, and motivating if one is already interested in missions, and especially Bible translation. Those who are interested in the biblical languages might read this work and consider whether the Lord would want to use them in such work.
Preview or buy now on Amazon.
