Together in Mission
Translations Yield
Transformation
by Jim Milley
 When
I visited Cameroon in the summer of 2001, I met several Bible
translators. Amazingly, these translators were working without
being paid a salary; they supported themselves by farming during
the week. With only one day a week for their translation work,
it will take years before the entire Bible is translated.
I asked what motivated them to keep working on the translation
and one translator's reply was especially memorable. Bolioki
Leonard answered, "In my village, every year the priest
comes for a special Easter service that includes the reading
of the passion story in the Gospel of Luke. The priest also visits
three other villages around our village and conducts the same
service.
 "After beginning my training
in translation in 1978, the first portion of the Bible that I
translated was the passion story in Luke. The priest supported
the translation work and asked me to go with him to each village,
reading the passion story in our Yambetta language. So, I went
with the priest to the first village and read the passion story.
Many people, especially elderly men and women, began to weep.
After the service, they asked me, 'Where did you find that story?'
I told them it was the same Bible story that
they heard every year in French. They answered, 'We never understood
how much Jesus had suffered for us.'"
The importance of hearing scripture in one's native language
is immeasurable. With a rich Bible and faith tradition, hearing
biblical stories in a language one is comfortable with is the
only way that listeners will understand the significance of God's
promise and Jesus' suffering.
Jim Milley is a missionary in residence for the Office
of International Evangelism.
To learn more about the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s efforts
to translate the Bible, visit www.pcusa.org/ie or call the Office
of International Evangelism at 888/728-7228, ext. 5262.
To find a list of the Extra Commitment Opportunities (ECOs)
that contribute to
Bible translations, visit www.pcusa.org/evangelism/international/giving-reached.htm
or www.pcusa.org/evangelism/international/giving-unreached.htm
or call 888/728-7228, ext. 5262.
 Every
Season Is Witness Season
Traditionally, Witness Season was a specific season of the
year when Presbyterians focused on mission. Now every season
is Witness Season; any time is a good time to learn about Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) mission. For information and updates, visit the
Witness Season Web site at www.pcusa.org/witness. In addition
to learning about ways to be involved, there are definitions
of mission, answers to frequently asked questions, a Bible study
and links to the many ways that the PC(USA) is involved in mission.
Read more of this and other great articles
in the current issue of Horizons.
Call 800/ 524-2612 to subscribe or Order
Now.
Back to top | Previous
Department | Next Department
|
