PRAYING FOR BIBLE TRANSLATION PROJECTS AS THEY CROSS THE FINISH LINE Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 (NLT)
DEAR FRIENDS, Do you remember your first Bible? The first Bible I can remember receiving was a gift from the church I grew up in. All the boys and girls in Sunday school were given a Bible when they moved into the 5th grade class. I m sure there was some small ceremony, but I really don t remember it. And although I can still picture the Bible, I no longer have it. But I have had many more in the forty or so years since then. It seems like I have always had one Bible or another. The same is probably true of you as well. But can you imagine if you spoke a language that didn t have the Bible yet? Think of what you would be missing! If you were lucky, maybe the Bible would exist in another language that you kind of understand. But even then, it wouldn t be the same. A Quechua Bible translator of Peru once stated, Getting our spiritual food from the Spanish Bible is like trying to eat soup with a fork. We can get a little taste, but cannot get nourished. Using the Quechua Scriptures is like eating soup with a spoon we can really get well-nourished. Having God s Word in your own language makes a difference. While living in Africa, my family and I had the privilege of seeing newly translated Scriptures arrive for several different language communities. These events are huge celebrations, full of singing and dancing, speeches and choirs, and tears of joy. People come from near and far for an all-day party a feast! Some of my favorite memories of those events are seeing people eager to purchase God s Word in their own language seeing them hold it in their hands and read it, and knowing that it speaks to their heart. I may not have celebrated my first Bible with the same fanfare, but I am certain I was proud and excited to have it. And more importantly, the words and message still speak to me today, because the Bible is in my language. 3
The peoples highlighted in this book will soon have New Testaments or Bibles in their languages. These translation projects are nearing completion; they are getting ready to cross the finish line. We focus on them because this is a time when there is often increased spiritual attack. The enemy will do anything to keep people from receiving and using God s Word. Will you pray for these translation projects and teams? Ask God to lead each team through whatever challenges lie ahead. Translating the Bible is a long and arduous journey involving many steps and numerous people, but I am convinced that no step is more important than prayer and no person is more critical than those who intercede. Our prayers can set the table and prepare the nourishing feast that will transform lives and communities for eternity. With gratitude for your prayers, Todd Nelson Vice President for Prayer Ministries Wycliffe Bible Translators, USA 4
ABOUT THE FINISH LINE Prayer is an important part of Bible translation. Each translation project needs to be covered in prayer, but especially during the final stages before completion. Often this is when spiritual opposition and attacks happen, and difficulties or troubles arise. They are so close to being done, but it can be difficult to persevere when times get difficult. That s why The Finish Line exists. Each of the projects in this book is within three years of completion and needs to be intentionally and purposefully covered in prayer. Our hope is that you will use this booklet to specifically lift up these projects and pray them through to completion, until that moment when they finally cross the finish line. They need to be covered in prayer, and you can be part of the team that provides support for them. You can either start this prayer guide at the beginning of a month, following the thirty-day guide to the completion of the month, or you can start on whatever day you like and continue praying for thirty consecutive days. Use it in your personal prayer time, with your family, in your small group, or at a weekly prayer meeting. However, and whenever, you start using this book, we hope it will effectively equip you to pray for each of these thirty translation projects that are so close to crossing the finish line. These thirty projects are representative of more than three hundred similar translation projects worldwide needing prayer to cross the finish line. A complete list of all projects, sorted by area of the world, can be downloaded anytime from www.wycliffe.org/finishline, or you can sign up to receive a new list of thirty each month. The requests can easily be printed and used in your prayer times. Additionally, you can reach us at 1-800-WYCLIFFE (1-800-992-5433 ext. 3870) or by email at prayer_usa@wycliffe.org to request a printed copy by mail. Please note: This book contains sensitive information. In some cases pseudonyms have been used. Please do not post any material online without prior authorization. 5
HOW DO I PRAY FOR TRANSLATION PROJECTS NEARING COMPLETION? Every translation project is unique, but many face similar challenges and obstacles. You are welcome to use this list of prayer points to help you begin and focus. PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE Translation teams and their families are vulnerable at this time. Pray for their stamina and health. Pray that their focus would remain on Jesus, despite the challenges that will come. Pray for their hearts to be encouraged by one another. PRAY FOR THE PROCESS Pray for trained consultants who check the work. Pray for the involvement and consensus of church denominations on the wording, formatting, and printing of the translation. Pray for the final proofreading process, asking God to show them any errors that would mar the translation. Pray for the technology involved in every project and that nothing would hinder the finished product. PRAY FOR PROTECTION Pray for those involved with translation projects operating in sensitive areas. Pray for peace in areas affected by turmoil and unrest. Pray for provision in the event of hurricanes, cyclones, floods, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions. Pray for the courage and strength of mother tongue speakers in the event of persecution. PRAY FOR THE PRINTING Pray for the typesetters, who often work in a language they do not understand, that they may be accurate and maintain the integrity of the translation. Pray for availability of paper. Pray for the printers as they work to ensure that inking, pagination, and binding result in clear and durable books. Pray that the published books will be delivered in God s perfect power and timing. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. Isaiah 55:11 (NLT) For more tools to guide you in your prayers for projects nearing completion, as well as other helpful prayer resources, visit www.wycliffe.org/pray. 6
3 1 2 4 MAP OVERVIEW AMERICAS, AFRICA, EUROPE *LANGUAGE GROUP LOCATION IF AVAILABLE 1 *HUARIJÍO; MEXICO pg. 28 GRASSLANDS; MEXICO pg. 27 JAVANESE, CARIBBEAN; SURINAME pg. 33 * PU; AMERICAS pg. 17 *sensitive location *JAMAMADÍ; BRAZIL pg. 19 7 *MANJUI; PARAGUAY pg. 29
*TATAR; RUSSIA pg. 31 *NOSSA FALA; SPAIN pg. 33 4 *BANDIAL; SENEGAL pg. 31 *DAGARA; BURKINA FASO pg. 20 *MGBOLIZIA; NIGERIA pg. 29 *GUERGUIKO; CHAD pg. 21 *BASKETO; ETHIOPIA pg. 25 *KUSAAL; GHANA *YAMBETTA; CAMEROON pg. 21 *HDI; CAMEROON *KPELLE; LIBERIA pg. 27 pg. 25 pg. 21 *LOGO; DRC pg. 23 *DAASANACH; KENYA pg. 27 * NARA; AFRICA pg. 17 MOROGORO CLUSTER PROJECT; EAST AFRICA pg. 24 *sensitive location 8
1 2 3 MAP OVERVIEW ASIA, PACIFIC 1 * ASHAK; ASIA pg. 19 HADARA; ASIA pg. 19 *AKEU; THAILAND pg. 33 *sensitive locations PALANAN AGTA; PHILLIPINES pg. 31 *TOLAKI; INDONESIA pg. 25 9
* *KASUA; PAPUA NEW GUINEA pg. 29 *KWAIO; SOLOMON ISLANDS * pg. 32 *KWAMERA; VANUATU pg. 33 * *PUKAPUKA; COOK ISLANDS pg. 23 10
LET THE FIRE BURN! MACK AND DORIS GRAHAM WERE DISCOURAGED. In 1983, their family had settled among the Kandawo people in Papua New Guinea and began to learn their language. Optimistic about the future for this new translation project, the Grahams were blissfully unaware of the trials and difficulties they were about to encounter. Soon they experienced fierce opposition. While away from the village for a season, thieves broke into their home, vandalizing and violating it. Discouraged but determined to continue their work, the Grahams decided to build again. But this time, the entire home was dismantled and stolen, piece by piece. What should we do? Mack and Doris asked themselves They knew that hardships often happened to those who were working to bring God s Word to a people, but to have their house destroyed twice? Maybe God was trying to say something to them. They stopped to pray, asking God a simple question: Should they try again, or was God closing the door? Could this be God s way of leading them in a new direction? As they prayed, a colleague had a vision of small fires burning across the landscape. Maybe God was saying there was going to be revival among the people, and that fires were going to be lit in the hearts of those hungry for Him. Mack and Doris decided to ask God to confirm that He wanted them to return by providing other confirmation before a certain date. If the people asked them to return by that date, they would. But if not, it was over. They would leave their village home in Kandawo and go wherever God led. The day finally arrived. Afternoon went by, then evening, but still no word. Mack and Doris began to think that God was showing them that the door was being shut, and maybe they weren t supposed to return to their village home. Then, six hours before midnight, a letter was read over a two-way radio. Would you please come back? Story continued on next page 11
Mack and Doris knew in that moment that God had answered their prayers and was confirming that they should return to the village. So they did! They built yet another house. Later they watched in shock as this third house burned to the ground. But instead of losing hope or admitting defeat, the Graham family built a fourth house. Believing that God had clearly spoken to them about continuing their work among the Kandawo people, they continued to trust God by placing this new house in His hands as well. They gave many more years translating and ministering to the Kandawo people. There were moments of toil mingled with moments of triumph, but they stayed the course, trusting that God would work in His timing and way. More than two decades ago, Mark s Gospel the first book to be translated reached the final stages of the translation process and was checked by a consultant. At the beginning of 2013, the same consultant checked the final book of the New Testament Revelation! Although the journey was long and filled with many difficulties, Mack and Doris walked with God and trusted that He would help them bring His Word to the Kandawo people in the language they understand best. It was the deep conviction that God had sent them to translate His Word and the promise of Isaiah 55:10 11 that God s Word will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. In 2014, just over twenty years after they first moved to the Kandawo village, Mack and Doris hope to typeset the entire New Testament and finally see the Bible in the hands of the Kandawo people. 12
30 DAYS OF PRAYER Note: The Finish Line is a quick-access resource to help you pray more effectively for translations that are within three years of publication or arrival to a language group. This is one of the many times in the course of a translation project when increased spiritual attack seems to be felt more acutely. For deeper prayer points and updated information, websites are listed under some language groups. In the following prayer requests, an organization name listed at the end of the entry indicates a translation project handled by a partner organization. Unless otherwise noted, each project is for a complete translation of the New Testament. For most projects, the population is included after the country or area name. DAY 1: NARA; AFRICA Praise God that the Nara New Testament is available in audio and PDF format on the Internet! Local believers are increasingly interested in the translation as they realize how it communicates much more clearly than regional translations they have used in the past. Pray for transformed lives through the Word in Nara, and ask for God s blessing on each step of the production process as the New Testament goes to print. Meanwhile, translation of the Nara Old Testament continues to move forward. To keep the translation s progress on pace, pray for open schedules that would allow a translation consultant to meet with the Nara team when needed. DAY 2: PU; AMERICAS This year the Pu team will conduct a final comprehension check of the books of Luke, 1 3 John, 2 Peter, Jude, and Philemon. Ask God to provide the team with plenty of time during the dry season (January through May) to allow for final checking with a translation consultant. Pray that they can push on to final revision, and ask God to give each team member His grace and strength. An expatriate member of the team has a worsening corneal eye disease, and as a result, has to use a greatly enlarged typeface to work on the translation. Pray that God, the Great Physician, will protect his eyes from further damage and bring healing! Also, local Pu believers face opposition from others in their communities. Ask the Lord to give them courage. 13
DAY 3: ASHAK; ASIA The translation team hopes to publish the whole Bible in 2015. They recently finished checking all the parallel passages in the Bible and the use of Old Testament quotations in the New Testament. Pray that the team will not grow weary as they handle the many detailed tasks involved in completing the translation. They want to finish well. Ask the Lord to protect Christians in this country and to keep the translation team members and their families safe as they are often threatened by the police for their faith in Christ. The threats include imprisonment and exorbitant fines for illegal activities. Pray that a way would be found for the Bible to be officially brought into the country. Ask God to sustain donors financial giving to the project. DAY 4: HADARA; ASIA Praise God that a recording of selected portions from the Old and New Testaments was completed! In addition, four Scripture films are ready for distribution. Initial feedback is very positive! Pray for progress on the development of a website that will feature these products. Secular TV channels were contacted to broadcast the Scripture films; ask God for favorable responses. Such broadcasting would connect with the primary audience in a more direct way than if it were on a Christian satellite channel. Community testing of the translation has revealed that the Scripture materials are not only understood by Hadara people but also by people from nearby dialect groups. Pray that people from other regions will benefit spiritually from the materials. Ask the Holy Spirit to use these Scripture products as a part of large-scale spiritual renewal within the region. DAY 5: JAMAMADÍ; BRAZIL (300) Expatriate translators worked hard with local speakers to start a read-through of the Jamamadí New Testament last year, but they need another visit to complete the task. Lift up the translators health in prayer as they are retired and must return to Brazil for extended visits to complete the translation. Ask God to provide keen Jamamadí speakers during their next visit so the read-through may be finished and publication preparations can begin. Pray especially for revival among the Jamamadí, many of whom once knew the Lord but have fallen away through common vices such as drunkenness. May God, through His Holy Spirit, use the translated portions they have so they will say with the prophet Jeremiah,...His word burns in my heart like a fire! (Jeremiah 20:9, NLT). 14
DAY 6: DAGARA; BURKINA FASO (100,000) Praise God that the remaining books of the New Testament have been drafted! They now need to be checked for comprehension by people in the community and then reviewed by a consultant. People are usually occupied with agricultural tasks during the rainy season, so ask God to provide a time and the funds necessary for the community check. Pray for more consultants to be available to help, and for finances that are needed to allow the team to travel and stay together at one location during the checking sessions. Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible. (Matthew 19:26, NLT). 15
DAY 7: HDI; CAMEROON (25,000) The day finally arrived the Hdi people received the New Testament in their heart language on December 21, 2013! Some people even gave money early to reserve their copy of the New Testament. Praise the Lord that seven hundred Hdi people learned to read during 2013. Ask God to keep the spark alive in their hearts. Pray that the Hdi will thirst to know God better and will read His Word in their heart language. DAY 8: YAMBETTA; CAMEROON (8,000) The Yambetta translation team passed an important milestone last year: they finished drafting the entire New Testament! Pray that their enthusiasm will remain strong as they carefully evaluate each book with the help of a consultant. Ask God to give them good health, spiritual encouragement, safety while traveling, and protection for their families. Once the consultant checks are completed, they will begin work on the glossary, maps, images, and typesetting to prepare the New Testament for printing. Pray for wisdom in all of the decisions related to these tasks. Praise the Lord that the team was able to broaden the efforts of Yambetta literacy in local public schools and increase the distribution of available portions of Scripture in the surrounding community. The Seed Company www.theseedcompany.org DAY 9: GUERGUIKO; CHAD (13,000) The translation team experienced a significant loss and setback when their most educated member died suddenly. Ask God to give great wisdom in the selection and training of a new translator, and pray that this person would fit in well with the other two translators. Pray that the main exegete, who lives in another country, will be able to return to the team for another six months of working together. Pray too, that a consultant will be available during that time to check some books. Ask the Holy Spirit to prompt the Guerguiko people to use and apply the Scripture portions they already have so they can experience God s transforming love. 16
DAY 10: PUKAPUKA; COOK ISLANDS/NEW ZEALAND/ AUSTRALIA (5,000) The Pukapuka New Testament is nearing the finish line! Pray that the consultant a linguist, university lecturer, and fluent speaker of the language will be able to complete her checking of the New Testament during the first few months of the year so that publishing can proceed. Ask the Lord to strengthen the translators, advisor, and typist as they complete a draft of the Old Testament. Pukapuka s annual Gospel Day is December 6, and this would be an ideal time for the New Testament dedication and release of the Old Testament draft. Pray for renewed receptivity and active interest in the translation project among all of the communities within the language group. DAY11: LOGO; DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO (200,000) Recently, as the Logo community faced traumatic times in the country s ongoing civil war, they were able to turn to the nearly completed Logo New Testament for comfort and strength. Pray for peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for divine protection over the Logo people and their churches. Pray for endurance for the translators as they proofread the New Testament books to finalize the text for publication. Ask God to orchestrate each step of the Logo New Testament s production and dedication, and ask Him to give the team wisdom, discernment, and strength to stay the course. Pray also for the translation consultant and his family members, who have recently experienced a lot of personal difficulties. Pray against any spiritual attacks. The Seed Company www.theseedcompany.org 17
DAY 12: MOROGORO CLUSTER PROJECT ALUGI, AREW, LUGHULU, MAKUA, NDAMBA, NING, NUGI, OMARAZ, POGOLO, REWE, UTUKI, AND VIDUNDA LANGUAGES; EAST AFRICA (4,496,000) Give thanks for the important work undertaken by each of these twelve language projects. Alugi, Lughulu, Ndamba, Nugi, Pogolo, and Rewe are all in the final stages of printing. Praise God for this great success! Each project hopes to hold a dedication in 2014. Four other projects the Makua, Ning, Utuki, and Vidunda are wrapping up New Testament translations and are proofreading the books to ensure accuracy. Pray for wisdom and perseverance as they polish each verse. Makua team members are completing consultant checks and actively raising awareness about their work so the neighboring communities can all anticipate the publication of the New Testament in late 2014. The Arew and Omaraz translation teams are all diligently evaluating their respective translations with consultants and local language communities, and are hoping to finish in 2015. Praise the Lord that the Lughulu team is also taking the time to show the JESUS film to spread the Gospel before the New Testament is even done. Ask God to bless the efforts of each of these teams, and to keep them alert, focused, and safe. Pray that they will be encouraged as they revise text, raise awareness about the translation, and continue to mobilize literacy efforts. The Seed Company www.oneverse.org 18
DAY 13: BASKETO; ETHIOPIA (57,800) The Basketo New Testament was printed in late 2013 in South Korea. Pray for safe transport of the books back to Ethiopia, for smooth customs clearance, and for the planning of the dedication service in late January or early February. Lift up Getachew Yohannes, the coordinator for the Basketo translation project, in prayer as he is organizing the details of the dedication while also studying for a Master s degree. Ask God to bless the revitalized literacy efforts so that there will be many Basketo who can read the Scriptures in their mother tongue. DAY 14: KUSAAL; GHANA (240,000) The translation team worked hard last year and made good progress. Typesetting of the whole Bible begins in early 2014! Pray for the team and for John Sidsaya, the typesetter, that God will protect and give them strength for the remaining work. Ask the Lord to move in the hearts of those who fund the project so they will continue to give. Pray that the additional cost of printing will be met. Ask God to protect every aspect of the book s production, including the printing and binding equipment. Above all, lift up the Kusaal people in prayer, that they will eagerly anticipate receiving the Bible and be transformed as they use it. Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT) www.gillbt.org DAY 15: TOLAKI; INDONESIA (330,000) Challenging hyphenation issues (fitting long words into a two-column page layout) extended the time needed to typeset the Tolaki New Testament. In addition, the Tolaki church decided to include one hundred hymns that will help increase user interest in the translation and make it even more convenient to the congregations. However, the specialized layout of the musical notation increased the typesetting challenge. The entire manuscript, including the hymns, was sent to the Indonesian Bible Society printer in August 2013. Pray for those planning the dedication, scheduled for February 2014. Ask God to make it a joyous occasion in which people will be drawn to Christ and will want to immerse themselves in His Word. 19
DAY 16: DAASANACH; KENYA (50,000) Praise the Lord! The New Testament was sent for printing at the end of 2013. Pray that the printing will go well and that the published copies will last a long time. Ask the Lord to guide the translation team s plans for a dedication among the Daasanach this year. The community is located very far away from the city and is only easily accessed by chartered flights. Pray for God to superintend all of the details. Ask the Lord to move Daasanach hearts to testify with the psalmist, I rejoice in your word like one who discovers a great treasure (Psalm 119:162, NLT). Bible Translation and Literacy (BTL) Kenya www.btlkenya.org DAY 17: KPELLE; LIBERIA (705,500) Thank the Lord for good progress and for helping the team reach a joyous milestone the Kpelle New Testament was sent for printing at the end of 2013. Ask the Lord to bring in the funds needed for publication, and pray for Him to guide every aspect of the printing providing functional printers, a smooth book-binding process, and secure packing and shipping of the New Testaments to Liberia. Pray for those planning a dedication, that the celebration will motivate many Kpelle speakers to treasure and use His Word in their heart language. Lutheran Bible Translators, Bible Society of Liberia, and the Lutheran Church in Liberia DAY 18: GRASSLANDS; MEXICO (18,000) On March 23, 2013, the Grasslands New Testament was dedicated in a beautiful and joyous ceremony. Grasslands women lifted newly printed New Testaments, wrapped in tortilla cloths, from baskets carried onto the stage. Look, said a program emcee, people are coming with baskets of food for our villages. A young woman carries a basket like someone who takes food to workers in the field. They bring tortillas and lots of tasty food food that gives us eternal life, enough for all. Now we can just take and eat it whenever we want. He added, We can hold God s Word in our hands. Our hunger can be satisfied, and God s Word can reach our hearts. Praise the Lord that after ten years of faithful work, the written Bread of Life has reached the Grasslands people. Pray that they will take and eat of it continuously. 20
DAY 19: HUARIJÍO; MEXICO (2,500) Praise the Lord that the entire Huarijío New Testament is on the website www.scriptureearth.org. In addition, a limited number of New Testaments have been printed for distribution, and more can be printed at any time via print-on-demand service providers. Lift up the Huarijío believers in prayer, that they will take ownership of the distribution process and will teach people how to use the New Testament. Pray for those working to complete a Huarijío dictionary, grammar appendix, and Old Testament summary portions, that they will finish these final details. Ask the Lord to use these books to show Huarijíos that their language has value, and pray that God will give them a desire to use the written and oral Scripture materials. 21
DAY 20: MGBOLIZIA; NIGERIA (63,000) The Mgbolizia translation team is finishing a consultant check and is now preparing the completed New Testament for final proofreading and revisions. Praise God for this team s good progress! Translator Ike said, God is using this project to develop me spiritually. I m happy to be part of this holy work. I pray that the Lord will give me power to do more for Him. Pray for good health for the two Mbgolizia translators and their families, as both have had serious health problems. Give thanks for the healing that has come from God s hand, and pray that nothing would delay the team as they prepare for typesetting and publication. The Seed Company www.theseedcompany.org DAY 21: KASUA; PAPUA NEW GUINEA (600) The final books of the New Testament are going through key checks by consultants. This process brings an unusual challenge, because the various Kasua villages have differing ideas about how things should be translated. Participants from all nine villages need to be included while still maintaining consistent translation quality. Ask the Holy Spirit to give the team wisdom and bring unity among the Kasua villages. Pray for the growth, stability, and outreach of the Kasua church. Ask God to also raise up spiritual leaders. Another critical need is for more fluent readers; in spite of literacy efforts already made, there are very few. Pray that another team will come along that will be dedicated to working in literacy and Scripture engagement. DAY 22: MANJUI; PARAGUAY (2,000) Praise God that 2 Corinthians was published last year and is available to the Manjui. Ask the Lord to give keen eyes and alertness to Gordie and Nancy, the translators, as they finish checking Hebrews and Revelation during the first half of 2014. Over the latter part of the year, they will revise Acts, James, 1 2 Timothy, and 1 2 Thessalonians. They plan to finish all revisions and books by the end of the year or early 2015. Hold the team up in prayer for perseverance, good health, and strength! Ask the Holy Spirit to draw many Manjui to the Lord as they use the Scriptures already available. New Tribes Mission www.ntm.org 22
DAY 23: PALANAN AGTA; PHILIPPINES (1,500) The Palanan New Testament is a cooperative project among several entities. Praise the Lord for providing consultants from the Philippine Bible Society to check each book for accuracy and clarity. Ask God to give them alertness, perseverance, and great wisdom as they expect to finish next year. Pray for the Lord to direct plans for an audio version of the New Testament. The Agtas are a primarily oral society with a very low literacy rate, so an audio version would reach many who otherwise might not have access. Lift up the translation team in prayer as they make decisions about how to print the New Testament; there are several options they are considering. DAY 24: TATAR; RUSSIA (5,600,000) The translation team members have to work on a tight schedule in order to complete the Bible in the timeframe allowed. Pray for strength and God s blessings on each one. Ask the Lord to help them focus and organize their work so that it will move along well. Pray for good mutual understanding and teamwork, and for the many details involved in preparing the manuscript for publication. Ask God to give wisdom to those who must make decisions regarding the publication, as the goal is to publish the whole Bible in 2015. Pray that God will prepare the Tatar to receive His Word with joy and obedience. Institute for Bible Translation www.ibt.org.ru DAY 25: BANDIAL; SENEGAL (11,200) The New Testament will be typeset early this year in Cameroon! Pray for the two mother tongue translators as they work alongside the typesetter. Ask God to give reliable and clear communication with the linguist and exegete that call the team by Skype from France. Pray for the Lord to grant wisdom to the team as they make decisions. Lift up the printing process in prayer, that durable and clear copies will be produced. Pray for the funding needed to publish the New Testament. Claim God s promise in Philippians 4:19, And this same God will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus (NLT). The translators would like to hold the dedication at the end of 2014. 23
DAY 26: KWAIO; SOLOMON ISLANDS (20,000) Hallelujah! God provided the entire amount needed to print the New Testaments through the generosity of churches, individuals, and two mission organizations. The dedication is scheduled for April 19, 2014. The translation team hopes to complete an Old Testament storybook and also have it published by the time of the dedication. Ask the Lord to give them success in their work. After the dedication, the team plans to visit Kwaio villages to teach a two-day course on how to study the Bible. Pray for the logistics of planning and executing the course. And pray that the course will help the Kwaio people use their New Testaments right away. 24
DAY 27: NOSSA FALA; SPAIN (10,500) The New Testament is close to completion, but work is now moving at a reduced pace. Ask God to bring victory over ongoing obstacles to finishing the work! The main mother tongue translator has had two eye surgeries; pray for restoration of his sight. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring healing to familial relationships among national workers, and to provide a renewed desire to finish the final corrections. Lift up in prayer the potential need for new national translation participants. And pray for smooth copyright negotiations among the agencies involved. DAY 28: JAVANESE, CARIBBEAN; SURINAME (60,000) Pray for the translators who are adapting the Indonesia Javanese Old Testament into Caribbean Javanese, as it is a complex and detailed work. Thank the Lord for a new experienced member who was added to the team last year. Pray that his participation will enhance the composition of the team and the quality of the translation. Pray also for unity, harmonious collaboration, and that the team will be able to meet their goal of completing the Old Testament in 2016. Suriname Bible Society DAY 29: AKEU; THAILAND (12,400) Akeu is a language spoken in Thailand and three other countries in the Mekong area. The translation team made good progress last year. Ask God to enable the consultant to check the final books Hebrews and 1 and 2 Peter. Pray that the result will be an accurate, clear, and meaningful translation. As the team approaches the completion of the New Testament, some are preparing to translate the Old Testament. One is beginning an M.A. in a linguistics study program. Two others, both women, are balancing work and family time. Lift up these three in prayer, asking God to enrich their lives and enable them to press on to complete the Bible in Akeu. DAY 30: KWAMERA; VANUATU (3,500) Great progress was made last year on the Kwamera New Testament. Thank you for praying! Consultant checks were completed, a final read-through was done, an audio recording was made, and the manuscript was typeset and sent to a printer. Pray that the printed New Testaments will arrive safely in Vanuatu. Ask God to supply funds to buy the MegaVoice* units needed to listen to the audio version. While the printed New Testaments will be used, the audio version will likely make an even greater impact on this oral society. The dedication is planned for June 2014. Pray that God will build a great desire in Kwamera speakers for His Word. *MegaVoice units are solar powered, digital audio players that contain translated Scripture. 25
WHAT S NEXT? Thank you for praying for these thirty translation projects. Did you know that there are more than three hundred additional Bible translation projects needing prayer to help cross the finish line? Please visit www.wycliffe.org/finishline, where you can download requests each month or receive them via e-mail. You ll find a variety of formats to choose from that can be easily printed and used in your prayer times. Additionally, you can reach us at 1-800-WYCLIFFE (1-800-992-5433 ext. 3870) or by e-mail at prayer_usa@wycliffe.org to request a printed copy by mail. Choosing to spend time in prayer for the language projects presented in The Finish Line is hard work as well as heart work. Once people make this investment in the building of God s kingdom, they are likely to ask the question, What s next? Many want to expand their involvement into the areas of donating and serving. Visit us online at www.wycliffe.org to find more ways to be a part of Bible translation through financial support of projects and missionaries around the world, as well as ways to serve through short-term trips, events, and missionary opportunities. You can also reach us at 1-800-WYCLIFFE (1-800-992-5433). DON T STOP NOW! GO TO OUR WEBSITE TO KEEP PRAYING FOR THE FINISH LINE.
TO HAVE THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR OWN LANGUAGE IS TO AFFIRM THE VERY HEART OF YOUR BEING. IT IS TO SAY THAT YOU MATTER, THAT YOU HAVE DIGNITY, THAT YOU HAVE RIGHTS BUT ABOVE ALL, THAT YOU ARE EMBRACED BY THE LOVE OF GOD. Bill Mitchell, United Bible Societies consultant PMDES3412 Wycliffe Bible Translators P.O. Box 628200 Orlando, FL 32862-8200 1-800-WYCLIFFE (1-800-992-5433) www.wycliffe.org