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WORD at Issue 237 WORK May 2020 THE WORD AT Issue 237 WORK May 2020 Bible brings joy in Guatemala On September 21, 2019 more than 1,000 speakers of the Achí of Cubulco language, one of Guatemala’s 54 indigenous languages, gathered in a sports centre in the town of Cubulco to welcome the full Bible in their heart language. Earlier that morning hundreds 60% are desperately of Cubulco. One of them is awaiting the full Bible of people had taken part in 32-year-old Magdalena Antret, a parade around the town poor, surviving on less who is overjoyed to see the in their language. to celebrate the arrival of than $2.00 per day. Bible launched. “For me, it is a great blessing the Bible, driving specially- The translation of the Bible “I feel very happy and and a great joy to have the decorated cars, or carrying into their heart language began emotional about all the work Bible in our hands because colourful banners and singing. 66 years ago in 1954. The first that was done for all our Achí it makes it easier for us to More than 51,000 Scripture portion was published people,” says Magdalena. understand God’s message,” in 1962, and the New Testament says Pastor Francisco. people speak Achí of was published in 1984. In 2011, High on a mountain The translation project has also Cubulco. They live in the community approached top in the village brought other benefits to the and around the town the Bible Society of Guatemala of Chimacho, community. Bible-based literacy for help in translating the Old classes have been ongoing of Cubulco, 200 kms Testament and revising the Pastor Francisco de in schools and churches for from Guatemala City. New Testament. la Cruz and his 400- a number of years, tackling the Most are subsistence Over the years many people strong congregation high rates of illiteracy in the area. farmers and around have been involved in translating the Bible into Achí have been eagerly Above: Bible Society of Guatemala Marketing Director Nubia Paredes, right, with young Achí of Cubulco speakers at its launch in Cubulco, Guatemala. Nga Ringa Hapai i te Paipera Tapu ki Aotearoa 2 From the CEO Dear Partners in Bible mission Right: A young As our nation and the woman with world grapples with the a Ngangela New Testament current challenges of at the launch. economic instability and personal wellbeing as a result of Covid-19, there’s a strong sense of both fear and faith for the future. During this time, we continue to find solace in God’s Word knowing that His Word says that perfect love casts out fear. Yet so many people still don’t have God’s message of love and hope Bible translation at the heart in their heart language. At this time, Bible of mission translation remains a relevant and urgent mission as we seek to Bible translation working on a new translation He preached a sermon at share God’s love, comfort of the Bible in his mother the launch on the theme and hope now and into stands at the heart tongue, Ngangela, in south- of: Let us pass on the Good the future. Hence, in of Bible Society’s eastern Angola. Despite News. “Dear pastors, our this issue we bring you mission, enabling facing many challenges, task as translators is to help stories of the challenges including erratic funding, you nourish hope in people, presented by Bible the Word of God technical difficulties, and tell them the Good translation projects along to be placed accidents and illnesses, News,” he said. with the impact that Augusto and the rest of As Dinis suggests, by giving receiving the Word has into people’s the translation team were pastors access to the Word on communities. hands in their determined to keep going. in their own language, Throughout this heart language. “The translation took us ten the standard of preaching pandemic, Bible Societies But translating the Bible can years of work. It was difficult improves, so allowing around the world are but I am so glad to see the individuals to draw nearer endeavouring to provide be a long and arduous task New Testament printed to God. A new translation comfort and hope requiring dedication and and distributed to the also gives an increased through the Word. commitment on the part community,” says Augusto. sense of pride to people You can access a daily of those men and women whose language has been Covid-19 Bible reflection who undertake the task. The New Testament marginalised, and can help on our website: was launched on 19th In this issue you’ll meet some to revitalise a language. www.biblesociety.org.nz of the men and women October 2019 at an event As always, we remain who work under often attended by 400 people, These are just some of humbled by and grateful challenging and difficult including government the many flow-on effects for your partnership in the circumstances to bring the representatives, church that occur when a local mission particularly during Word of God to people leaders and media. community receives the this challenging time. in their heart language. “It was a day of great joy,” translated Word in its heart commented Dinis Ezequiel, language for the first time. Blessings, One of these is Augusto Office Consultant at the Mayapa, who has been Bible Society in Angola. Neels Janse van Rensburg CEO Global translation progress 3 As at February 2020 An ambitious translation plan! Every journey needs a road The work is no written language and and health issues among map and a Bible translation only one or two believers. the translators. It’s thanks journey, which is often already underway. Brian helped to create an to the generosity of fraught with pitfalls, is no Out of the 1,200 orthography (alphabet) and supporters like you who exception. That’s why the translations, 63 are working with local pastors have been supporting this United Bible Societies (UBS), began translating the New project for many years that of which Bible Society completed, 277 are Testament which was work on the Birifor Old New Zealand is a member, in progress and 860 published in 1993. Testament continues. has launched an ambitious Today, work on the Birifor The Bible Translation new plan called the Bible are waiting to start. Old Testament continues Roadmap will help to Translation Roadmap. The Bible Translation amidst many challenges, support translation projects Roadmap will coordinate Even though the Bible including computer like this one, navigating them the work of translation is now available in more equipment, transport, through the many issues and experts and local languages and forms than security and infrastructure challenges that arise over translators. It will help to ever before, there are still issues, and bereavement the lifespan of a project. sustain the momentum one billion people who of these translation don’t have access to the projects through the many Bible in their own language! challenges they face, such Therefore, UBS as those faced by the translators of the Birifor aims to complete translation project in 1,200 translations Burkina Faso. within 20 years It’s a project that began making God’s in the 1960s when New Zealander, Brian Woodford, Word accessible to went to Burkina Faso to live 600 million more among the Birifor people. people worldwide! At that time there was 4 Right: The translation team working on the Bunong Old Testament, including Yda (second from left). Bringing the Bible to the Bunong The Bunong are an ethnic Yda is a Bunong who was I went to work for the Last year, many of you minority group living in born into a Christian family, government for four helped support Bible the Central Highlands of but he did not come to years when I was young. translation work for ethnic Vietnam. Traditionally personally know the Lord Without a growing personal minorities in Vietnam, animist, they experienced until he was in high school. relationship with God, including the Hmong, the a mass conversion to I had many difficulties. Stieng, the Cham and the “There were no Bibles in my Christianity in the 1950s and It was especially hard when Bunong, so thank you. house or even in my village 1960s. However, up until I became homebound with for me to read. I claimed 2016 when they received a severe disease for two This year, there’s that I was a Christian, but the New Testament in years. I have continually I had never read the Bible an opportunity their own language, they been praying for the Bible before. The only Scriptures had to read the Bible in in my own language so I can for you to support that we had were a couple Vietnamese, which many understand it more easily,” the Bunong of verses in our hymnal,” struggled with. he said. said Yda. translation project, Recently, Yda joined the Today, they are In high school Yda received which is only two Bunong Bible translation a Vietnamese Bible, which longing for the team. Through it, he has years away from he joyfully shared with learned a lot about the completion of his friends. But it was still completion. Bible. “I have learned to the Bunong Old very difficult for him to love and respect my wife Will you help bring understand. All he wanted Testament, which more. The translation was the Scriptures in his the Bunong people team has helped me to is on target to be own language. live Ephesians 5:25 – 28 the full Bible that completed by the “Although I was a Christian, in my life,” he explains.
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