This boy is very rich

When I was a young boy as this guy pictured here, we will fix wheels out of bamboo or lids of pots and buckets. We will always collect lids and bring them home by all means. I even admired the wheels made out of word but I could not make one myself. So seeing him with this kind of wheel! I could not help but let him know that he is a very rich boy. He just smiled back at me and probably wondered what I mean. This took me down memory lane.

Is Bible Translation like preparing a well?

Yesterday morning we went out to fetch some water. At the first house we didn't get water. In the second we got some. My colleague (in the picture below) told the owner of the well that we have just begin translating the Bible in Ngiembɔɔn (their language). Then they talked about the well, when and how to fix it so that it will give water. As I listened to them, I was reflecting on wells and Bible times. Then it dawned on me that the work we do should be like preparing a good well so that every time people open the word of God, life giving water should always flow from it to refresh them.

Moise Yonta - Ngiemboon Bible Translator & Translation Consultant

Bible Translation is like preparing well...

July 14 - 19, we are in Batcham near Mbouda for a workshop training the translators to use technology for translating the word of God. In the morning, my colleague and I went to carry water but the owners of the well were not available. So we decided to return back and I was wondering how we will survive without water. He decided to branch at another computer. Then he called me to come and fill up my container. He began talking with the owner of the well and explaining what we are doing. This man seemed to be aware somehow. Then they were talking about a well. How and when to make a good well that will always have water. Immediately related it to what we do and began thinking about portions in Scripture that talking about a well. John 4:10-15 came vividly to my mind.

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 

“But sir, you don't have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water?  And besides, do you think you're greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I'll never be thirsty again, and I won't have to come here to get water.”

If we want to have life giving water, we need to prepare for it very well. That is exactly what we are doing in Ngiemboon this week so that life giving water will always be available. To God be the glory.

Ngiembɔɔn Translation Technology training

This week, our team (Etienne, Eliot, Pa Moise and I) is in Batcham near Mbouda training the Ngiembɔɔn translators to harness technology to expedite their work on translating their Old Testament Bible. It is encouraging to see men and women working very hard too. They come from far and near everyday mostly on motorbikes. It should be noted that the roads are very slippery these days so it is very common to hear that someone fell off the bike on their way to the project office. Thankfully, they always get up and continue without any major injuries. We begin each day with someone reading a portion from their New Testament and giving an exhortation all in their language! Thank you for supporting Bible Translation and language development work.