Kemtuik NT goes mobile

This picture goes way back to July last year when Philip helped the Kemtuik people get their New Testament loaded onto mobile phones.  It can passed on phone to phone via bluetooth. It is difficult to know just how much it is being used but one pastor's daughter said Dad's always got his mobile in the pulpit and he preaches from it! This picture shows John 3.16 in Kemtuik. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  



Here, some ladies from Mlap, which is related to Kemtuik, adapt the Kemtuik Apostle's Creed into their language.

Time to celebrate

After many years in the making, the Kemtuik people celebrated the publication of the Kemtuik-Indonesian-English dictionary.

Village Life

Drying chocolate seeds to sell.

Weaving sago leaves to make a roof.



A nice spot for Phil to sleep in the village men's meeting hut.

Fresh, mountain spring water via bamboo piping.

The elderly don't go to nursing homes, or live alone, they live with their extended family. This lady is 104.

Fetching water from the river or village pipe.

Cooking food for the family pigs.

Survey team: Phil, Jacob and Yuliana.

Kemtuik Cool

Jacob and his nephew David, a young Kemtuik University student.

Setting up to shoot a video clip for the DVD project.

Kemtuik Day Trip

Phil's Mum and Dad at the Sosiri lookout, Lake Sentani on the way to Kemtuik.


Philip had no idea that Bernard (left) could speak English until John spent the day chatting with him.

It was the 33rd anniversary of Kemtuik Literacy. They launched the book of Matthew on mobile phones!

John took up the invitation to share a song--How Great Thou Art--and they sang along in Indonesian.

In nearby Besum local Javanese have harvested their rice and wait their turn to run it through this mobile processor. Husks come out one side, white rice out the other.

The vibrant colours of Genyem's local market.

Songwriting Workshop

A week-long Kemtuik songwriting workshop culminated in the recording of 10 new songs.

We learnt about finding the theme of a text on which to base a song.

Ethnomusicologist friend Erin ran sessions on various aspects of music and worship.

We spent some time practising reading Kemtuik too.
Practical time..

The elders we invited as language and culture consultants got to work too and wrote some songs in traditional styles.

Then on Friday an American colleague who helps run a local radio station brought his equipment to record them all.

Sago palm frond-stem wall panels and a thatched roof make for a nice quiet studio (though Philip had to keep the chickens away)..

..and we discovered that coconut husks are good for keeping the vibration out of mic stands.

Meanwhile friend Welly kept Erin's baby well-fed and entertained.

Nana/Babu

Philip has adopted a new Kemtuik Nana (Babu).
She is the spitting image of Phil's mum's mum. Here she is with Phil on her 80th birthday.

Same determination.

Same love for God and His word. Phil's Babu learnt to read in the 80's so she could read Luke in Kemtuik.

Though Nana didn't have tattoos or chew betel nut.

Five-Language Get-Together

Once a month translators and friends from all five languages get together to encourage each other and work on a text. These men are discussing a genealogy.

Abner and Agus from Nimboran having fun with it.

Community Meetings

Philip and Jacob recently facilitated community meetings in four of the five language groups using a 'Participatory Method', designed to help groups identify needs or goals and come up with their own solutions. This group represented the Mlap language.

The Mlap, Mekwei and Gresi groups mapped out a problem together using a tree. The roots represent the causes, the leaves their solutions and the fruit their desired outcomes.

The Kemtuik group discussed the eight key conditions that need to be met in order for a community to fully benefit from a translation.

Out and About

Phil's main co-worker Pak Jacob, travelling in style.


A sago work party in action, processing two trees in two days!

A public telephone in the middle of the jungle!