The firetruck was stuck in the mud at the edge of the runway, steam rising off the tarmac of runway and one’s own body as we waited in the airless jet for the firetruck to be moved, so we could take off from the small jungle surrounded runway of a town in southern Colombia. Just 70 minutes later, we are shivering in our sweaty shirt sleeves at the Bogota airport waiting for our luggage. What a world of contrasts.
So ended a week spent helping the newest Bible translator of the Colombian field. We spent time giving the translator, and his tribal co-translators, a brief introduction into Bible translation principals. We also answered questions like, What are sheaves? What is balsam or myrrh? But the biggest thrill of all for these Cubeo co-translators was that Bible translation is not merely the proposition of a foreign translator and his tribal co-translators, but that it is a team effort, in which all help. When they understood that the clarity and naturalness of the translation wasn’t going to fall soley upon them, but that many others would be consulted in the course of the translation project, they were greatly relieved. They also rejoiced that there were others also checking to make sure the translation was faithfully expressing God’s message to the world.
This was my first solo experience as a translation consultant. It was re-afirmed again in my heart, that God has always spoken plainly, in the most understood language of the people He was addressing. As I listened to the statements of a couple men who had read the rough draft of few chapters that had been worked on, it thrilled my heart. Levi said, ” I’ve just discovered that the Old Testament is the base of the whole Bible. I am so exited I can’t wait, so am reading the Old Testament in Spanish and have gotten to the eleventh chapter of Genesis. We Cubeo people really need this in our language!” What a shame he is forced to read God’s Word in a language he barely understands.
I encourage you to pray for Ricardo as he seeks to put the Old Testament portions into the Cubeo language. It is a difficult battle for him as the translation helps are extremely limited in Spanish.