The Quest Begins
Sunlight enveloped the plaza, illuminating its red stones and wrought-iron fence, palm trees and patches of grass. The temperature hovered near 90, and a light breeze carried pungent aromas of fuel, engines and hot pavement.
It was time to celebrate God’s provision.
Our first Quest Kodiak reached Papua New Guinea in September 2009, and pilots and mechanics began training shortly after. But on November 19, work paused, and the Kodiak crew joined more than 100 guests at Jackson Airport in Port Moresby—the country’s capital—to dedicate the aircraft to God’s service.
Among the crowd was His Excellency, Grand Chief, Sir Paulias Matane, Governor-General of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, who spoke of SIL Papua New Guinea's language work and cut the ceremonial ribbon. The Barai SingSing group and Ese Sunday school children also brought fascinating songs and dances, with performers swathed in traditional clothing and beads, feathered headdresses, ruby flowers and paint.
“The occasion was most significant,” wrote one local who attended. “It was a program ... with prayer and the Word spoken right throughout. ... It is the way our spoken language ought to be.”
Papua New Guinea is one of the most rugged countries on earth. Though slightly larger than California, it’s home to more than 800 languages, some 325 of which are still without Scriptures. Transportation is crucial to reaching these isolated communities—and tools such as the Kodiak will help bring God’s Word to each one, perhaps in our lifetime.
How do you pray the Kodiak will impact lives in Papua New Guinea—from today until 2025?
Steve Ottaviano, JAARS pilot
I pray the Kodiak will bring food to the hungry; care to the sick and injured; living light and eternal hope to those in fear and darkness; and joy and comfort to the servants who fly it, fix it and ride in it.
Jennie Minter, Bible translator
For the Iyo people, JAARS aviation means a connection with the rest of Papua New Guinea. People in remote villages can feel forgotten. JAARS not only transports Bible translators, but flies coffee to market, brings in trade-store items and airlifts the critically ill. In such places, inaccessible by road, we pray the Kodiak will make a difference.
David Reeves, JAARS president
I pray and believe that the Lord is putting into place the tools and technology to finish the task of Bible translation. Given the remaining work left in Papua New Guinea—roughly 260 translations in progress and some 325 that haven't even started—it’s likely that a Kodiak will deliver the last verse of the last book to the last language in this country.
Language survey team
We pray that the Kodiak will give us access to remote areas—where we don't even know the number of existing languages—so we can assess the language situation and help find the best way to bring God's Word. (God has already answered this prayer once! Read about it here.)
Beth Mersfelder, JAARS volunteer group coordinator
After so many prayers for this Kodiak, for me it was bittersweet watching the plane disappear into the sky on its long flight from JAARS to Papua New Guinea. But joy won out as we pictured the faces that will one day surround the throne because of what God will do through this aircraft!
Rambai Keruwa, Highlands director for the Papua New Guinea Bible Translation Association
Our teams will be using the Kodiak, too, since many work in remote locations. Through courses like Translator Training Course or STEP, Papua New Guineans are equipped to work in translation and literacy—a great benefit. We pray that the Kodiak will be able to fly more people into and out of more places, and continue to provide medical flights.
