Celebrating in the Dark
In the dense jungles of Papua New Guinea, the Kuyu people dwell in a constellation of hamlets isolated from the centers of civilization.
They know this is the Easter weekend, marked by rumors of a man named Jesus who died and rose again, yet, unbeknownst to them, its meaning of salvation remains veiled.
These faint whispers remain disconnected from a relationship with their Creator, and life unfolds as always, steeped in animistic beliefs. They rise at dawn, digging yams and taro from their gardens. Women prepare meals, while men venture out to hunt. Children run through the village, their laughter blending with the cry of newborn babies. The old men share tales of spirits guiding rains and providing sustenance, stories that bind the Kuyu to fear and ritual. The story of Jesus’ death and resurrection is absent from their world. No part of their celebration carries the hope of redemption.
Their weekend will be filled with community. Families share yams, taro, and occasional meat, the time filled with chatter and shaking of hands. They sing of folk religion, their melodies vibrant but untouched by eternal promise. A desperate hunger for deeper meaning eats at their souls, unanswered. Their rituals appease the spirits, not celebrating a victory over death.
As night falls, they gather in their huts, voices mingling with the crackle of the fire. This Easter will fade into the night, uncelebrated, leaving them in spiritual darkness.
Death remains and sin enslaves. They sleep, unaware of a God who sees them, who longs to illuminate their world with the promise of a risen Savior.
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Michael Leblanc and his family live with the Kuyu tribe in Papua New Guinea. They’re currently learning the Kuyu language and culture, as they pursue their ultimate goal: translating Scripture into Kuyu and teaching Scripture’s story from beginning to end. Scriptura is honored to support missionaries like Michael who bring the Bible where it’s never been before. Learn more about the Kuyu here.