Archive for the ‘Pacific’ Category

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Words for Life and the Tradition of Bible Translation

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

Yesterday was the 400th centenary of the Authorised King James Version’s first publication. Four hundred years later, this version remains the most ubiquitous of all Bible translations.

The process of Bible translation is very different as it happens around the world today. Instead of tens of translators, work often goes on with just a couple. And where the KJB had monarchical approval, not everyone is as happy to welcome Bible translations in the mother-tongue.

Take Mumure, a translator for Guhu Samane:

When Mumure Ttopoqogo began working with linguist Ernie Richert, news of their work spread throughout the area. By the time they finished the translation, the Guhu Samane people were so anxious for God’s word that the initial printing of 1200 New Testaments sold out almost immediately and a second printing of 1600 copies sold out in just two weeks. Even those who didn’t read purchased a copy of the Bible to save for their children or grandchildren. The people believed in the power of that word.

The excitement of the Guhu Samane translation was catching. But the local church leaders rejected this work, and Mumure ended up in prison. But prison walls cannot restrain the power of God’s word…

The newest edition of the Wycliffe magazine Words for Life follows Mumure’s story, and records much more of what’s going on in Bible translation around the world. You can read it here.

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Days to Departure: 304

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Luke and Laura are getting ready to head out to Papua New Guinea to work with a language group. They will be starting to  develop a writing system with them, help with literacy and (eventually) help to translate the Bible!

After years of planning, Luke and Laura are getting down to the practicalities of praparation as they get their medical MOTs. They  have also begun to blog their experiences as they prepare to do God’s work in Papua New Guinea. In the East Sepik region, where they are headed, there are 100 language groups which still don’t have the Bible in their mother-tongue.

Papua New Guinea is a mosaic of languages:

“With 800+ languages, Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world!  About 180 languages have the NT, and another 200 have current translation projects, but hundreds of languages still need translation! All of this is found on an island the size of Sweden, just a two hour flight from Australia, with a population of 6.8 million people (about the size of  Libya).”

You can read more on their blog about Luke and Laura’s journey so far and what’s to come.

There are many different ways you could also be involved in helping people to have the Scriptures in a language they really understand.

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Technology with a Wider Range

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011

Computers are increasingly essential to the task of Bible translation. In West Timor, where Chuck and Barbara Grimes (mentioned previously in this post) are working with 22 language teams, technology is allowing more people to be involved in translating the Bible.

Workers in Timor were using computer software which is used all over the world for Bible translation, but were frequently facing problems – the Timorese translators had no computer education and many translations ended up ‘mangled’ in the process.

Chuck turned to an old friend to develop a new programme.  It was specifically aimed at a completely new user, allowing the Timorese translators to learn to use the programme quickly – so quickly, in fact, that Chuck trained one local in 10 minutes before catching a ferry!

By using a front translation (one translation on which others are based), coupled with this new computer programme, Timorese translators are able to be far more effectively involved in their own translations:

“Before the [local] front translation was available, several teams tried to draft their mother tongue translations from the Indonesian Bible, which the Grimeses describe as ‘difficult for many to understand’.  It took six months to draft the Gospel of Mark.  The story was far different when the [local] New Testament was available.  ‘One guy said it took him 10 days,’ recalls Chuck. ‘Another guy in another language said it took him two weeks.’ ” Read more in Wycliffe Canada’s magazine, Word Alive.

Find our more about how you can be involved with the continuing work of Bible translation.  Find out how you can use IT skills to give God’s word.

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More than just a Story

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

The excitement is catching.  In West Timor, when people hear about Bible translation projects, they are desperate to have the Bible in their own language.

The Grimeses headed to West Timor to work with four language projects.  But as news spreads, more people get involved: “Probably the last 14 or 16 languages have started on their own,” explains Chuck Grimes. “The first time we ever knew something was happening was when they showed up at our doorstep with a draft of the Gospel of Mark.  They said, ‘Now what do we do?’ “

Students in West Timor eagerly purchase Scripture portions.

Even before Scriptures are distributed, the word of God is changing lives:

“One translator, a pastor and counsellor was approached by village people distressed that a neighbour had packed his bag to leave his wife and family.  Uncertain what to say, the pastor read from a proof sheet of a yet unprinted booklet on marriage.  It is based on the 1 Corinthians 13 ‘love chapter’ that had been translated into Kupang Malay [the local language].

“The guy started bawling his head off and said, ‘Why hasn’t anybody ever told me that before?’ “

While the man had read Corinthians in the national language, the meaning had never meant anything in his heart – when he heard it in his own language, the meaning was inescapable.  He was reconciled with his wife. Read more about the life-changing work in Timor in Wycliffe Canada’s magazine, Word Alive.

We know that God’s Story changes lives.  That’s why Wycliffe are committed to Give the Story in every language.  You can be involved.

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Head of State encourages Bible translation in the Solomon Islands

Monday, September 13th, 2010

On Thursday 2 September 2010, a commemorative stamp block celebrating Bible translation in the Solomon Islands was officially launched. It marks another milestone achievement for the work of Bible Translation in the country. The work of Bible translation started there more than 30 years ago, and today’s launch of the first issue of the stamp is a significant recognition of the many Bible translation efforts to date.

In attendance, The Head of State, His Excellency The Governor General Sir Frank Kabui addressed those gathered, and recognised the importance of the stamp block, urging Bible translators to continue the good work.

“The Bible translation work in the Solomon Islands should continue as it is. It is a worthwhile cause for Christians all over the world. It is the only way the Bible can be understood and appreciated by millions throughout the world. It is not easy though. It costs money, time, commitment and continuous focus.”

Image of the commemorative stamp "Celebrating Bible Translation in the Solomon Islands"The stamp features beautiful watercolour illustrations which tell the story of the arduous task of translating the Word of God and after many years of hard work, the arrival of the printed Bibles. From Varisi in Choiseul Province to Natqgu in Temotu Province, Solomon Islanders rejoice in having God’s Word in their heart language. The names on the perimeter of the stamp represent the languages which now have a New Testament or Bible. With more than 65 languages spoken in the Solomon Islands, church and government leaders are committed to seeing translations completed in each one.

The official launching then followed with the ’first day of issue’ postmarking by the Solomon Islands Philatelic Bureau. Further information – Solomon Islands One Television http://tinyurl.com/34go26n

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Unity in Rich Diversity in Solomon Islands

Friday, April 24th, 2009

A copy of the Pijin Bible found a permanent home in the Solomon Islands National Parliament at a special dedication at Parliament House on Friday 20 March 2009. The open Bible is housed in a specially designed glass display case in the lobby of Parliament near the office of the Speaker of Parliament.

… The Solomon Islands Bible Display highlights the publication of the entire Bible in Solomon Islands Pijin, a language spoken by the greatest majority of our people, and a language which identifies us and unifies us as Solomon Islanders. As also noted by the Speaker, Rt. Honourable Sir Peter Kenilorea, “the display of copies of the Bible or New Testament in our own languages reminds us of the importance of our local languages and the diverse, yet rich heritage we have. It is a picture of unity in the midst of diversity”. read more

You can read the entire article from the Solomon Islands Parliament Website here. Let’s praise God for the Solomon Islands Pijin Bible translation (see more about the dedication last year) and the way that it is being used in the lives of people in the Solomon Islands.

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Wagi Survey

Friday, March 13th, 2009

Juliann is involved in language assessment in Papua New Guinea, researching the use of local languages to help decision makers know how people can best have access to the Bible in their heart language.

She and the rest of the team have just come back from a survey of the Wagi people…

After visiting five villages, driving for over twelve hours, writing down 950 Wagi words and phrases, and talking to more people than I can count . . . it’s back to life in the office.

… One of my jobs on this survey was the “Language Use” questionnaire. Basically, we want to know who speaks which languages, when, where, and to whom. Knowing how often people (especially kids) speak the Wagi language helps us get an idea of how likely it is that people will still be using Wagi fifty years from now. In some places in PNG, kids are speaking Tok Pisin (the trade language*) more than their local language. In these places there is a chance that when today’s kids grow up, their local language might be lost. read more

There are around 2,500 language communities in the world with no Scriptures, whose languages still need to be assessed before translation projects can be started. If you enjoy traveling to new places, meeting new people and discovering where and how various languages are used, why not think about whether you could be a language assessor, paving the way for God’s message of love to be translated into languages and lives!

*A trade language is a language spoken across several language groups, mainly for the purpose of trading which each other.

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Computers, Teamwork and Missionaries

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

Kahunapule is a software developer supporting Bible translation in Papua New Guinea. He has written about how he used to view missionaries, compared to how he sees his job, and mission work in general, now.

When I was very young, I had an idea of what a missionary was: a person who went off to extremely remote areas of the world, far away from anything resembling the civilization we were used to. He or she had to learn new languages, convince people that it was better to listen than to eat the messenger, and somehow get lots of people saved or die trying. The missionary image in my young mental image worked pretty much alone. The classic cartoon image of the missionaries tied up in a large cauldron, boiling over a large fire almost always came to mind.

… Now that I have had some experience, I have a different view. For example, I’ve never seen a large cauldron out in the jungle. (Other dangers, sure, but no cauldrons.) I see and experience lots of teamwork. I see lots of applications of appropriate technology in getting the Word of God to people, even in very remote areas. I have also noticed a lot of variety in the vocations represented on the mission field. I also see a wide variety of mission fields, with a wide diversity of cultures, languages, economies, and stages of development. read more

Kahunapule goes on to explain how the body of Christ is made up of many different parts, all with their unique ways of contributing to God’s mission.

If you thought being a missionary was about living on your own in the jungle you might like to read the rest of his post. Or if you have IT skills that you never imagined could help someone know God for themselves, take a look at the IT World of Wycliffe website.

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Flight Training and Orientation

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Nevin Urey is a Wycliffe member and aircraft pilot, and is currently serving with Mission Aviation Fellowship in Australia. He asks that we pray for him at the moment, particularly for the following things:

Orientation – The MAF general orientation is almost finished and tomorrow (Feb 6) I go back to Coldstream for 4 weeks of advanced flight. Please pray that I will learn well and remember these advanced skills when I headup north to begin flying.

Work Visa - The visa has been held up as I am still waiting on my Aussie license to come through. The paperwork got lost and a new application is in. Please pray that this will be processed without further delay. [...]

Ministry - Pray that God will already be preparing hearts of the people I will cross paths with. Pray that I will search out and embrace those opportunities to tell others the ‘good news’ of what God has done. May I remember that aviation is simply a ‘tool of the trade’ and that people are what is important to God. May others see Christ through the way I live my life. read more

Yesterday he gave this short update concerning bush fires that are spreading across the area:

With temperatures reaching 47C and the hot northerly winds blowing down off the desert, bush fires ran rampant over Victoria yesterday. It was quite difficult to tell exactly where all the fires where as a smoke covered the land but we knew it close. Today revealed that it was in fact just to the north and also east of us here at Coldstream. We had just left Marysville on the Friday, and by Saturday 90% of the town of Marysville had been destroyed. Unconfirmed reports are saying that the Christian centre that we stayed in has also perished. Thankfully everyone was evacuated in time, but many others across Victoria weren’t so fortunate. Please join in prayer for the families of the 60+ people who have lost their lives and for the hundreds who have lost everything in the fire. read more

Pray for Nevin as he continues his training and orientation as a pilot, and also for the thousands of people affected by the fires in the region.

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Kwomtari Grammar

Friday, December 12th, 2008

Before Bible translation can begin in any language, as well as making sure there is an adequate writing system, it is important that the grammar of the language be studied. Even though translation work is almost always done by mother-tongue translators, it is still important for them, and outside advisors, to have a good grasp of the grammar of the language in order to ensure that the translation is in fact bringing the same meaning as that of the original Greek or Hebrew.

Not only that, but a grammar description of a language can give a minority language group a real sense of dignity and pride in their language as it is documented linguistically for the first time.

Dan has written recently about a grammar description of the Kwomtari language in Papua New Guinea (spoken by only 600 people) which was written by two British ladies working with SIL, a partner organisation of Wycliffe.

[The expatriate couple working with the Kwomtari] said if it wasn’t for those two girls, they may not be here today – they really helped in providing encouragement and understanding of how the language works. Murray Honsberger gave a few thoughts about how all the parts of the body have their unique and very valuable roles to play. We cannot function in isolation. read more

The Graduate International Programme that Dan mentions is no longer something that Wycliffe UK advertises as such, but the option of 4 months of language training followed by 2 years overseas is still the preferred option for those wanting to serve in a language project. There is also the option of taking 4 months of further training to gain an MA in Field Linguistics after the overseas assignment.

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Posted in Languages, Pacific, Training | 3 Comments »

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