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**List: Aniwa Ministry
the Bible ( the Bible )
Aniwa...
"John G. Paton, "the Apostle of the New Hebrides," in his
autobiography, has given to us who belong to the world of read-
ing and writing a striking glimpse into that other world where
such things are unknown. While erecting his house on Aniwa
Island, in 1867, he needed some nails and tools and, being unable
at the moment to fetch them himself, he pencilled a few words
on a piece of smooth wood, gave it to the Chief who was watch-
ing him, and asked him to carry it to Mrs. Paton and bring back
what he wanted. But, mystified, the Chief asked what was
wanted.
"The wood will tell her," said Dr. Paton. The
native thought he
was being fooled, and cried, "Who ever heard of wood
speaking?"
At last, however, he was persuaded to carry the message on the
board, and to his astonishment he was given just what was
wanted. This gave the my. the opportunity to explain not
only the mystery of writing as a means of communication be-
tween man and man, but also the wonder that a book could carry
to us a message from God. If the
Chief and his people would
learn to read, they would be able to know just what God wanted
to say to them, just as Mrs. Paton had known what her husband
wanted by reading from the board. No wonder that this my.
was keen to turn the Word of God
into the tongue of Aniwa.
No wonder that this Chief, who had thus caught the idea, helped
with enthusiasm in making the Gospel
version into his own
language.
These volumes in Aniwa, and the many other versions into the
numerous dialects of the New Hebrides
and neighboring island
groups, were published in the chief cities of Australia or New
Zealand, the centers of my. interest and administration.
The island of Eromanga, where John
Williams, the pioneer my.
to the group, was murdered in 1839, now possesses all the
Gospels and Acts. And over forty other dialects spoken on these
islands east of Australia and north of New Zealand have been
taught to speak the words of the Kingdom of God."--1000 Tongues, 1939
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