In Mozambique, there are forty plus tribal languages. As you move into rural Mozambique, you very quickly loose Portuguese as a proficient language for many of the people. This is rapidly changing as the children are learning Portuguese in school and within a generation, this will not be the problem it is today. It is good for the country, as the common language helps to unify these people groups. But today, there is much illiteracy in the rural areas and even translating to local language must be approached carefully because if you translate it, the next question is 'can anyone read it?'
Ann has been coordinating several translation projects. We have some excellent training materials, in particular a manual on teaching the Bible in a chronological fashion in the form of oral stories. It is well received in this oral story-telling culture and especially in the rural areas where the stories can be heard and repeated with or without literacy. However, the local language becomes essential when you are doing oral story telling.
We just received two completed translations, one in Makua (or Makhuwa) and the other in Lomwe, which are significant language groups in the northern provinces where we work. She is also working on other languages that we hope will be done this year.
Ann is thrilled to have received these well-done translations, in the proper format, and electronic form, which she has forwarded to our missionary friends in South Africa who will add the pictures and do the first printing. Juka will be in Maputo and hopes to take some books back with him but that is probably a bit optimistic at this point!
It has been a process. The first time we tried this, we received hand-written, smudged copies that couldn't be read and that were poorly done. That didn't work, so we worked with our friends with Wycliff (SIL here), who connected us with people who were well versed in translating materials.
This is a substantial praise that we hope can get into the hands of our church multiplication pastor/trainers quickly. You would be amazed at how people here can remember and repeat oral stories with accuracy after only one or two hearings.
Ann has been coordinating several translation projects. We have some excellent training materials, in particular a manual on teaching the Bible in a chronological fashion in the form of oral stories. It is well received in this oral story-telling culture and especially in the rural areas where the stories can be heard and repeated with or without literacy. However, the local language becomes essential when you are doing oral story telling.
We just received two completed translations, one in Makua (or Makhuwa) and the other in Lomwe, which are significant language groups in the northern provinces where we work. She is also working on other languages that we hope will be done this year.
Ann is thrilled to have received these well-done translations, in the proper format, and electronic form, which she has forwarded to our missionary friends in South Africa who will add the pictures and do the first printing. Juka will be in Maputo and hopes to take some books back with him but that is probably a bit optimistic at this point!
It has been a process. The first time we tried this, we received hand-written, smudged copies that couldn't be read and that were poorly done. That didn't work, so we worked with our friends with Wycliff (SIL here), who connected us with people who were well versed in translating materials.
This is a substantial praise that we hope can get into the hands of our church multiplication pastor/trainers quickly. You would be amazed at how people here can remember and repeat oral stories with accuracy after only one or two hearings.
Thank you Lord for this wonderful answer to prayer.
"Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3
"Tell your children about it, let your children tell their children, and their children another generation." Joel 1:3
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