“Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage” (Psalm 119:54).

Scripture songs have deeply helped Joella and me to grow spiritually. Approaching our big move to Papua New Guinea, sometimes we find ourselves dreaming and brainstorming about what it will be like. Recently in a dream between consciousness and deep sleep, a voice called to me, “What do you see yourself doing in Papua New Guinea?”

With hardly a thought, I responded, “Singing!”

Because I believe that God intended we sing His Word to cheer us in His service—reminding us of His love and character—I joyfully composed this song in Tok Pisin from John 1:1:

“Bipo bipo tru, taim olgeta samting i no kamap yet, Tok i stap.
Tok i stap wantaim God na Tok em yet i God.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Familiar with this in English, each time I sing it, Tok Pisin becomes clearer! It’s fun creating memorable melodies I can also share with others.

We look forward to sharing God’s word in song with the Ama. God is taking something I love doing—composing Scripture songs—and making it an avenue to language learning in a biblical worship experience. Inspiration accords:

“There are few means more effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures; power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort.”1

Singing all the way—that’s my prayer as Joella and I step foot in Papua New Guinea. Thank you for lifting us up in your prayers as you sing praises to God, too. The song of our experience continues.

1Ellen G. White, Education, page 167, paragraph 4

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