Beginning in 1972, missionaries John Davies and wife Maila worked to translate the New Testament into the language of the Kobon people of a remote mountainous region of Papua New Guinea. The first edition of the New Testament in the Kobon language was published in late 2005. This translation will serve not only the Kobon people, but will also be a resource text for translation of Holy Scripture into other languages and dialects in the region. It has already been translated into the neighboring languages of the Haruai and Minimimp(Ti) peoples. These are being prepared for typesetting in late 2008 and early 2009.

To do the work of translating the New Testament into the native language, the Davies first had to write down the previously unwritten language of the Kobon people and then teach these people how to read! To continue the expansion of literacy among the people, a vernacular Christian school was established. This one school was so well received that soon neighboring villages sent people to be trained as teachers so they could have schools of their own.

The translation of the New Testament into these languages is now complete, but the work of training native teachers who then teach the people how to read continues.

One school has exploded into a system of vernacular Christian schools that numbers more than thirty - and it's still growing! We praise God for His hand of blessing on this work. We praise God also for your support, for without your help it cannot continue.

Getting a school established costs approximately $3000. Keeping it going costs around $1000 per year. The people themselves do ALL the work of building, maintenance and teaching. But your financial support is needed for materials, books, and modest salary for the native teachers and directors.