Off and running (walking!!)

The launch of the first ever 2000km walk to raise awareness of the last 2000 people groups with no translation of the scriptures in their language occurred on August 24th.

A couple of hundred students from Freshwater College in Cairns walked the first kilometre with Carnsey, Dave and Sav - helium balloons bobbing on strings above them which were released into the wide blue yonder.

‘This morning at 9am we stepped out with our camel-baks, sun-screen, well worn-in shoes and first-aid kit, a strange feeling; totally weird,’ said Sav. ‘After talking about this day for three years, it is surreal to be finally walking.”

The day before heading out, Carnsey visited Emmanuel Uniting Church and ‘happened’ to sit next to Wycliffe Bible translators who ‘happened’ to be in Cairns and ‘happened’ to be visiting that church. Jim and Diana Parker have worked in PNG for 42 years and translated the NT into the Qaqet-Baining language. At the end of the service Dorothya, (mother-tongue speaker of the Qaqet-Baining language) came forward and shared with tears of how Jim and Diana had made such a difference to her people. They had not only brought the Bible into their language which was transformational, but also educated them, served them medically and are now helping them develop their resources in producing coconut oil.

Carnsey says, ‘I was almost in tears as I heard Dorothya speak of the difference this couple had made to her people; it was such an encouragement regarding everything we're doing with this project. I couldn't have coordinated a more fitting illustration of why we are doing this walk - and more than that – it showed that God is the orchestrator of the project. He will no doubt surprise us with many such "God instances" over the coming months.’

Follow Dave, Carnsey and Sav on www.the2000walk.com;
facebook: www.facebook.com/The2000walk
or twitter: twitter.com/the2000walk