Bible translation together with their co-workers of the Pinai-Hagahai language group, including linguistic work, literacy, discipleship and training.
Markus (from Zurich) and Liisa (from Finland) got to know each other during their Wycliffe training in England and got married in 1989.
In July 1992, they travelled to Papua New Guinea for the first time, together with their little daughter Annina. They started to work with the Pinai-Hagahai, who live in a remote area in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. The vast majority of the Pinai-Hagahai have very little or no school education.
The following year, their son Daniel was born in Papua New Guinea.
Because the language of the Pinai-Hagahai had never been written before, Melligers had to first learn and analize the language and, together with their co-workers, develop the alphabet and orthography before they could start with Bible translation work.
In 2008, the four Gospels and the book of Acts could be published as a book, but especially also in audio format on small, solar-powered audio players.
Through these audio players, the whole population could now hear and understand the Gospel in their own language for the first time, and the Gospel spread to all the remote villages of the Pinai-Hagahai language area.
As of today, the translation of over 180 Bible chapters has been finalized, and Markus and Liisa plan to continue to do Bible translation work with the Pinai-Hagahai also in the future.
