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 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 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 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, 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 , 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. 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 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. they have been end of 2021. I lost direction in my life. longing for? 5

Left: Three of the members of the Chikunda Bible translation team. From left to right: Emmanuel, Walter and Dorothy.

Chikunda Bible progresses amidst challenges

“I saw that my community a different language able to visit their families Pastor Chandaria Katchasu was struggling. In our every few weeks. agrees. He’s responsible churches there is not much and becoming for seven rural "preaching Dorothy and Emmanuel understanding of the Bible,” points", serving hundreds frustrated when are two of the translators. says Walter Chapato. of people, and is also he was unable to. When Dorothy was growing He’s a member of a reviewer on the project. up, her family read the a translation team, “I’d hear my Dad saying that “It’s difficult to preach Bible in Shona – her family’s which is currently working it would be a good thing without a Bible in our second language. “It was on the translation of the full to have the Bible in our language. When I preach, like a filter between us and Bible into Chikunda. language,” explains Walter. I need a translator to God. We need our own It’s a language which is Walter’s Dad’s lament for translate from the English Bible!” says Dorothy. spoken by 160,000 people a Bible in his heart language or Shona Bible into who live along the Zambezi was echoed by others in “In our community, people Chikunda,” he says. River in north-eastern his community. So, in 2012 are doing bad things. They Meanwhile, Walter can’t Zimbabwe. a translation team was set drink too much and there help but reflect back to up to translate the Bible are family conflicts, even his father and his wish to It’s something of into Chikunda. murders. Even the pastors read the Bible in his own don’t understand the Bibles a labour of love There are four translators language. “The desire they are preaching from as all based in the town of that my father had, he for Walter who, they don’t know the other Kanyemba. However, in this imparted to me. Even as I’m as a young boy, languages. The Chikunda area very few people have translating, I’m feeling that Bible will help pastors to remembers his electricity or the internet, pressure - that our people deeply understand the so the translators work in should have the Bible in our father trying to message of the Bible and Harare, a seven-hour bus own language, for the next teach their congregations read the Bible in trip away. They are only generation,” says Walter. well,” says Emmanuel. 6 The Bible brings peace to Wichi people

“The Bible in our language favourite Bible passages is “At first, we learned bit by To support the Wichi has been the most John 8:12. “I am the light of bit, practising our writing people’s efforts to teach important thing and there the world. Whoever follows in the sand. Those who themselves, the Argentine is nothing else we follow me will never walk in darkness could read, read out loud Bible Society also that has helped us like this,” but will have the light of from the Bible and we all developed a Bible-based says Ceferino, a Wichi man. life.” (NIV) “That passage is listened,” he said. “In this literacy programme for The Wichi are an indigenous very important because that way, we learned what the Wichi speakers. “It really group that lives in the is exactly what happened Bible said, and we knew helped me learn more provinces of Salta, Formosa with us. He showed us the we had to change. Some about the Word of God, and Chaco in Argentina. way to go. The Word of people travelled to people says Fanny, a participant. God enlightened people living on the mountain or “I can read the Bible in Ceferino lives in the so they can live together,” across the Pilcomayo River Spanish, but I understand Santa Maria Community, explains Julia. to share what they had very little compared to along with his wife, Julia. learned with other Wichi when I read it in my own Although eighteen years Sixty-seven year old Calixto speakers,” said Ceferino. language,” she says. have passed since the Wichi agrees. “Previously each people received the Bible family lived separately on in their heart language, the mountain. Now we Right: Ceferino remembers the all live together in peace,” Ceferino, left, event well. “Everyone came he says. Not only has and his wife, – all sorts of people – it was the Bible brought peace Julia, with like a party. There was a lot amongst the Wichi it has a Wichi Bible. of joy,” says Ceferino. Since also brought literacy skills. that time the Bible has “The community, half of brought many benefits whom were illiterate, used to the community. the newly published Bible to learn to read and write,” Not least among these it has says Ceferino. brought peace. One of Julia’s Bible Society New Zealand’s Development

Fund ends after 42 years By Bible Society Board Member David McLay

Incorporated in 1978, the way of raising money for Board member at more and time spent undertaking Bible Society Development Bible mission due to rising than 21 years. this significant work. Fund was dedicated to government compliance The hard work and It has clearly been a God- supporting the work of costs and ongoing low passion for Bible mission filled journey and we thank Bible Society through interest rates. The Fund was from all who served on God for his provision. making grants from liquidated in January 2020. the Board of the Fund We also thank the many investment profits. Many The Fund’s first Chairman resulted in an incredible Bible Society staff who New Zealanders deposited was former Prime Minister, $6.91m contributed to assisted and the many loans into the fund, with Sir John Marshall, who held Bible Society’s mission depositors who have made some forgoing any interest the role of Chair until his over 42 years. If we take sacrifices so that the Bible returns. Some even death in 1988. Five others an estimated average cost can be made accessible ultimately forgave their served as Chair after of $12 to provide someone to others. loan so it could be passed Marshall, including Audrey with a Bible, then this on to Bible Society. Hodson, Keith Taylor, Bill represents over half Last year, it became Shaw, Murray Austin and a million Bibles. We want apparent that the Fund David McLay. Garry Gould to thank all Board members bible society was no longer a viable was the longest serving for their knowledge, skill DEVELOPMENT FUND Your 2020 translation projects 7

Urak Lawoi Bible The Urak Lawoi are a minority group living on Thailand's Andaman Sea coast. They have seen significant church growth since the 2004 tsunami. Ethim, a paraplegic, has been single-handedly translating the Old Testament into Urak Lawoi with assistance from BSNZ’s Translation Director, Dr. Stephen Pattemore. This year will see the publication of volumes two and three of the Old Testament narrative as diglots in Urak Lawoi and Thai. The next step is the publication of the whole Bible in digital format.

Thailand Vietnam Bunong Old Testament Thai Study Bible (See page four) The Thai Study Bible will bring the Word of God to the younger generation. It features in-depth study notes that will help South the reader to understand the scriptures more clearly. Pacific

Eastern Pacific Languages A project supporting Bible translation projects for the following New Zealand island nations: Niue, Fiji, Samoa, Tokelau Bible Tonga, Kiribati, Wallis, Futuna, Tuvalu, After 23 years of hard work Cook Islands, Nauru and Tahiti. the Tokelau Bible is at the final checking stage before Cook Islands going to typesetting, with Typesetting of Cook Islands Bible. a view to launch next year.

Maori - Bible The success of our Paipera Tapu mobile app shows the need and demand for more Scripture resources in te Reo Maori.- There are now more than 10,000 active users of this resource. We have recently updated it, making more English translations available in the app, as well as a side-by-side feature for those wanting to read Maori- alongside their favourite English version. To celebrate our 175th anniversary next year, we are planning two new Maori- publications. The first will be a book featuring the text of the very first Scriptures ever published in te Reo (1827) alongside brand new translations of the same passages. We are also working on a full Maori- Bible diglot edition (side by side Maori- and English). We’re planning to release this around September, the month of our 175th birthday. 8 Translations for 1.7 billion people!

Since 2015, Bible five years,” said UBS Director in the rainy season had back and this year it’s Societies have General Michael Perreau. all been worth it, he said through his tears. “I have completed Scripture In 2019, six languages seen the Bible in my lifetime, translations in 270 received the full Bible for and it’s my legacy for the Rev Dr David languages used by over the first time. In Myanmar, Hung, a Cho next generations,” he added. g 1.7 billion people! translator Rev Dr Thang Chin speaking Ngai Om wept as he held The day after the launch, s pastor, gives “The generosity of e thanks to supporters across the world the Cho Chin Bible for the a number of Cho Chin God for the and the dedication of Bible first time. It’s a language Christians hiked to the peak Bible in his translators, many of them spoken by 17,000 people. of Mount Victoria, the language. highest mountain in Chin working under difficult Years of travelling long State at 3,053 metres, taking circumstances, has made distances between his copies of the Cho Chin Scripture available in the home and the translation Bible with them to lift high languages of an incredible 1.7 office and taking great risks ps to give thanks and praise billion people over the past in crossing flooded rivers . to God. In Memoriam

Bible Society has learned of the passing of the following friends. Gifts towards the work of Bible Society's mission have been made in their memory. Their work of love goes on. Mrs Heather Green, Pukekohe Mrs Lois J MacRae, Hamilton Mr Benjamin G Harrison, Huntly Mr Colin G Parry, Hamilton Mr Raymond L Harrison, Wellington Mrs Francie M Read, Christchurch Mrs Doreen Hogan, Auckland Mrs Avis H Streekstra, Outram Mrs Joy Y Lord, Upper Hutt Mrs Emily F Voss, Palmerston North Mrs Valerie G Lowe, Te Kuiti Here's how you can get involved

Would you prayerfully consider making You can partner with us by praying for Bible a gift to help translation projects in Society mission or by making a gift, or becoming New Zealand, the South Pacific, Thailand a volunteer. and Vietnam? Visit www.biblesociety.org.nz for more information.

Our mission is to help make the Bible accessible 0800 424 253 • [email protected] to everyone and encourage interaction with it. www.biblesociety.org.nz

Charities registration number: CC22121

The Last Word "And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe." 1 Thess 2:13 (NIV) Nga Ringa Hapai i te Paipera Tapu ki Aotearoa