Accelerated Bible Translation in Cameroon

Our team visited three translation projects in two days: Nugunu, Yambetta and Tunen. All represent in one way or another one of the main reasons Bible translation is accelerating: strategies involving Cameroonians more deeply in the translation process, and the use of new technologies.

We started out in the town of Ombessa just north of the capital, Yaoundé, where we visited with the Nugunu translation team. This project supported by SIL Cameroon is nearing completion. Taking advantage of satellite technology installed by Wycliffe Associates USA, they are able (as are the next two projects) to transfer data that includes translated Scriptures that are checked remotely for accuracy and returned to them for updating on their computers.

Our next stop, Yambetta, has personal meaning for Dallas and me. Léonard and Marie Bolioki have been working on this project for many years, and we have loved and supported them as much as we could since we first arrived in Cameroon in 1987. They lost their ten-year-old son, Tonton, during our first year here. A very sad event that bonded us together for life.

Acting at the project coordinator, Léo has organized very well his team of translators. Here is a picture I took of him helping them with the meaning of a passage as they search for Biblical accurate and culturally relevant ways to express meaning in Yambetta.

The Yambetta translation team is working in conjunction with SIL Cameroon and The Seed Company. Founded by Wycliffe USA, the Seed Company has pioneered creative and flexible ways of involving national colleagues who are taking leadership of Bible translation projects in their mother tongue thereby accelerating the pace of translation.

Our next stop was Tunen were we saw a demonstration of the challenges of maintaining Bible accuracy while search for culturally relevant ways to express meaning. The group enacted a short story of a pastor who is preaching in French using a translator who was translating simultaneously as the pastor spoke. The translator was choosing very ‘literal’ terms in Tunen to express what the pastor is trying to say. Not only did the skit produce humorous responses from the listening group, but it also created erroneous interpretation of Biblical truths!

The Tunen team is using a computer program, Our Word, to make adaptions from a neighboring language, Noomande, that already has the New Testament. Using a source text, this program enables translation teams to produce very accurate first-draft-translations from already existing New Testaments.

Tomorrow afternoon we will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of CABTAL. We’re looking forward to hearing more about how God is advancing Bible translation and literacy in the languages of Cameroon.

Cameroonian Leadership In Bible Translation

Our team is enjoying the opportunity of hearing and seeing how our Cameroonian friends and colleagues are working in partnership and in many ways taking the lead in Bible translation in Cameroon. Yesterday Charlene Israel (CBN), Kristie Frieze, Tim Born and I had the chance to visit with Efi Tembon the director of the work for CABTAL. Hearing him say that they work in partnership with SIL Cameroon, but primarily with local communities, building the basis for sustainable Bible translation and Scripture engagement enthused us all. Efi played a very short video clip from Ngemboon, a project completed by CABTAL, where Faith Comes By Hearing had done an audio recording of the New Testament. Great testimonies of how God is impacting the community through the power of his Word.

Today we are off to Yambetta and a visit with Marie and Léonard Bolioki. Léo and Marie are long-time friends and colleagues who are completing the New Testament in their mother tongue. The Finish Line says they are within two to three years of completion.

Here is an early photo of our combined families that is dated in the late 80′s.

Proclaiming God’s Word

“These machines are God’s answer to getting the Word out.”

Ginny Bradley (holding a Proclaimer) Senior Translation Consultant and Scripture Use Coordinator, SIL Cameroon

Wonderful partnership with Faith Comes By Hearing.

Cameroon Training Center

Waking up this morning at SIL’s Cameroon Training Center. SIL has been committed to language development, including Bible translation and multi-lingual education, in Cameroon for over 40 years. Earliest training dates back to 1976 and 1977 when a series of courses were launched helping attendees develop their own languages.

There are over 260 languages in Cameroon representing a rich tapestry of language and culture.

New Testament Dedications in Cameroon

One of the best experiences we had during our time in Cameroon were Scripture dedications. Here with Carol Stanley Thorne and Ellen Jackson at the dedication of the Tikar New Testament.

The Tikar New Testament is also available in audio format from our partner organization, Faith Comes By Hearing.

Cameroon Trip Starting

Looking forward to see our friends, Léonard and Marie Bolioki working on the Yambetta New Testament.

The Finish Line

Looking forward to visiting the Yambetta community, a translation sponsored by The Seed Company, and one of the communities we are praying across the Finish Line.

Remote Rescue

By Jon and Missy Damon

New faces have joined the work here in Papua New Guinea, and there have been a number of ministry changes made during our 3-year absence. One thing has not changed, however: Safe, reliable, air transportation is still vital to this country—not only for our translation teams, but also for the local people.

A few weeks ago, the aviation department received a radio call from a remote village saying there was a local woman with a bad infection in her leg. She needed special medical help quickly. Could we come with one of our aircraft and get her out of the village? It took our pilots a couple of days to get into that specific airstrip because of bad weather, but they were finally able to pick her up and transport her to a location where she could receive medical treatment.

Later, Jon was told that it was a three-day walk from this woman’s village to the nearest road. Without the aid of the aircraft, it is likely the woman would never have made it to a hospital. By the time our pilot saw her, she was already too weak to sit up let alone walk on rugged jungle trails for three days. We thank God that our pilots were able to help her in time. We consider it a privilege to not only be part of bringing God’s Word to the people of PNG, but to also help meet physical needs as God allows.

*Photo by Robert Noble

Editor’s note: This post was originally posted on Jon and Missy Damon’s blog and is used with permission.

Noni New Testament Dedication

Looking forward to our trip next week to Cameroon to celebrate the 25th anniversary of CABTAL.

Bangladesh Women Improve Lives through Literacy

LEAD Asia Teaches Women to Read

LEAD Asia, a division of Wycliffe’s primary strategic partner, SIL International, helps communities develop literacy programs in minority languages. People who are able to read in their own language are not only able to access the translated Scriptures for themselves, but they also have a better chance of succeeding in school and learning about health and nutrition. LEAD Asia recently shared the following story about a women’s literacy group in Bangladesh on their blog:

Often we imagine that literacy will open doors to children getting higher education and eventually a career. But imagine again . . .

This time think about the impact a literacy class can have on groups of women such as this.

This group of women, ages seventeen to thirty-eight, met for class faithfully, despite not having the encouragement of their families. They were happy to be able to learn, and the joy of it shone on their faces the day we met them in June. They demonstrated their ability in literacy by spelling out foreign names like ‘Derryll’ and ‘Anthony’ in Rajbanshi script, and they did it with ease.

But the joy truly shone on their faces when they had the chance to share with us some of the things they have learned in addition to math and reading skills.

One participant said, “We have learned that it is not good to share things like brushes and combs.” Another shared that she thought it was important that they had learned in a story that it is good for everyone to eat fruit. Before in their village, only those who were sick would eat fruit.

More than hearing the lessons they had learned, it was very encouraging to see these ladies laughing, engaging in class, and eager to share their thoughts. Chances are that the literacy class will not propel most of them to university, but it has improved and enriched their lives. And they are eager to pass the things they’ve learned and the value they now see in education on to their children.

Read more about LEAD here.