Not Just A Book....But A Treasure

"This same Good News that came to you is going
out all over the world. It is bearing fruit
everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed
your lives from the day you first heard and
understood the truth..." Colossians 1:6 (NLT)


Fast Facts about Bible Translation

How big is the Bible translation movement?
There are hundreds of organizations involved in the Bible
translation movement around the world, engaging in
partnerships that include many national and
international organizations, as well as local churches in over
100 countries.

Are a lot of people involved?
Thousands. over 3,000 are sent by Wycliffe USA alone.

How is the work sustained?
Wycliffe members require financial support from many
different people in order to do the work.

What do all those people do?
Just about everything you could imagine, from translation
to videography. People with every type of skill are involved
in the Bible translation movement.

Where do these people live?
There is a need for translation in most places around the world.

Is there really that much of a need for Bible translation?
More than 2,300 languages are still without scripture.

How long does it take to translate Scripture?
It depends. Translation can take 5-25 years.

We have easy access to God's Word in our own language, but there are about 200 million people around the world who have never had any Scripture in their own language. Some are Christians struggling to unlock the truths of God's Word in a language that's not their own, others live without knowledge of Christ at all.
I found this article in a small pamphlet put out by Wycliffe Bible Translators.
I was so moved by the reality of these simple facts, and by the calling that my children have to translate the scripture into the Nafe language.
I believe with all my heart that it is the Bible that will change the lives of the Ni Vanuatu people just as it is God's Word that guides us and changes us.
Oh that we would not take for granted the wonderful treasure that we have in the Bible.

"Open our eyes Lord that we might see wonderful things from your Law." Psalm 119:18

Acts 3:1-10 in Nafe

I thought that you might like to see some translation written in the Nafe language.
This is Acts 3:1-10.
Erik has sent this to me with an audio spoken by one of the woman in the village.
I am having a little trouble putting that on here for you, but I will continue to see if I can figure it out.
For now it is just a blessing to see some of their hard work put into print.

Acts 3:1-10
" Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the ninth hour, the hour of prayer.
and a man who had been lame from his mother's womb was being carried along, whom they used to set down every day at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, in order to beg alms of those who were entering the temple.
When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms. but Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said 'Look at us!'
and he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
but Peter said, 'I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene walk!'
And seizing him by the right hand, he raised him up; and immediately his feet and his ankles were strengthened.
With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
And all the people saw him walking and praising God;
and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."

Please continue to pray for the translation process, and that God's Word will go out to the people in the power of the Holy Spirit to change lives.

Spread of the Gospel

When I studied IThessalonians last year I loved this scripture, and I pray it often for the people of Vanuatu and the spread of the gospel.

"For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake." IThes. 1:5

Lord, I ask that your Word will go out not just in word only, but with the power of the Holy Spirit and with conviction so that it will change the lives of the people who read it and study it. Let Erik ,Michele and family be an example to those that they serve so that Ni Vanuatu will see You in their lives and in their example and teaching.

ERASMUS

The Our Daily Bread devotional had this entry today. It shows the importance of having God's word in our own language something we might take for granted since we have always had it and also have always been able to read and study it when we desire. I love God's Word it truly is a treasure.

"For centuries, many Christians were not permitted to read God's Word in their own language. Instead,they were encouraged to attend Latin services that few could understand.
Then in 1516 the Dutch scholar Erasmus compiled and published the first New Testament in the original Greek language. This landmark work was the basis for the later publication of Luther's German Bible, Tyndale's English Bible, and the King James Version. These translations made the Scriptures understandable to millions of people around the world.
Erasmus could not have known the influence his Greek New Testament would have, but he did have a passion for getting its message to laypeople from all walks of life. In the preface he wrote: ' I would have the Gospels and the Epistles translated into all languages.....I long for the plowboy to sing them to himself as he follows the plow (and) the weaver to hum them to the tune of his shuttle.'
The prophet Jeremiah reflected this same passion for the Word: "Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your Word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.' (15:16) Having God's Word in our own language allows us to experience the joy of meditating on it each day.Dennis Fisher

More precious than gold is God's Word to me,
Much better than pearls from deep in the sea;
For in the Lord's Word I take great delight,
And it is my joy each day and each night. ----Fitzhugh

Your Word was to me
the joy and rejoicing of
my heart.Jeremiah 15:16

Read: Psalm 119:17-24

Ni Vanuatu People.

The Vi Vanuatu people are dominately Melanesian.

Bislama is the national language, but there are at least 110 local languages in the small villages on the many islands of Vanuatu.

It is in one of these tongues, the kids call it the venecular, that they are translating the Bible into.
Michel is working with the people in the area of literacy. She has had some real breakthroughs with the young people in the village.
These are school children from the village. They love having their picture taken.

Erik's neighbor building a new house.

Mamma Ellen and children at the beach. She is making a basket out of the leaves.

Mamma Ellen with a grass skirt that she made. She paints them bright colors with roots.

Safe Trip

Erik, Michele and the kids have arrived safely back on Tanna Island(see link on the right)
They took a small plane between the island of Efate and Tanna. The plane only has 8 seats and is very noisy due to the propellers. Little Joel cried the whole way back (about 45mins.) while shouting ,"stop the plane."He was not happy with the noise. I can't say I blame him. When I took that particular plane I kept the shouting inside, while begging God the whole way for safety.

They will be translating the book of James and Galatians at the same time. Pray for this work.This will be the first time they have worked on two books at once.

They were due for forlough next summer, but will be staying for one more year to get more translation done.
I hope to go next summer to visit. I would like to take Sage this time.

Handle with Accuracy

I love God's Word. It is a treasure that God has given to us so that we can know Him and His ways. It is truly a blessing for me to have a son that has the same love for the Word of God that I do.

Today there are about 200 million people who do not have the Bible in their own language. Wycliffe's vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best. Erik and Michele have learned the language of the people they live with, and continue to learn and grow in it. Erik works with Bible translation and Michele works with teaching the people literacy. The process they have committed too will take many years. They are overseas for a block of 4 years, and they then come for furlough in the U.S. for one year,and back to Vanuatu for 4 more years.

They have finished the book of Mark and are now working on the book of Acts. The translation process is a long one with lots of checks and balances.

They start with a first draft. They have a translation team made up of people from the village. They write the first draft together with Erik.
The next step is called an "advisor check". This translation check is done phrase by phrase to make sure nothing is left out.
Step three is called the "village check". This is when the text gets read in the community and comprehensions questions are asked and answered.
The next step in the process involves Michele preparing the "back translation". This is a literal English rendering of Nafe translation.
The final step is for the back translation to be sent to a consultant who will write all his comments in preparation for his coming. When he comes they will again go over his comments and make changes if necessary.

I think that this is a true rendering of the verse in 2 Timothy2:15:"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."