Faith Comes by Hearing (but earbuds sure help!)

Every time we visit a language area, there are certain people and experiences that stand out in my mind.  In particular, I tend to gravitate toward the elderly, as you might guess from looking at my photos.  It touches my heart to consider how these folks have lived such long difficult lives without the benefit of hearing God speak to them in the language of their heart.  Whenever God allows me to share His love with these precious souls, I go for it.  Sometimes I am even blessed to be present as they surrender their very lives to Christ.

Showing her a photo of herself

Last week I was passionately explaining to Rosa, an 89-year-old Zapotec woman, about Christ’s love, with a native pastor translating my words into Zapotec from Spanish.  Several times she said something in Zapotec causing her daughter and two other ladies to burst out laughing.  Curious, I requested a translation.  She had looked straight at me and said, “I have no idea what you are saying, but I just love how you are expressing it.”

Later we introduced her to the audio Bible we had brought her, playing the first chapter of John.  Again, she smiled and seemed pleased, but made another remark in Zapotec, causing the ladies and the visiting pastor to laugh aloud again.  She had said that she liked it very much – even though she couldn’t hear it.  Oh, my.  We were having so much fun, and yet not one word was getting through to her aside from the sense that she was loved.

Digging in my bag, I found a pair of earbuds I had gotten on the plane.  As we plugged it into the audio Bible and put them on her ears, her smile changed to an expression of sheer wonder.  She loved the scriptures from the minute she could actually hear them.  We continued visiting with the other ladies, making sure they knew how to change the volume, the books, and the chapters of the Bible.  Occasionally Rosa would say something aloud.  Translated back to Spanish for us, we realized she was quoting passages she had just heard.

“Faith comes by hearing…”  Please pray that this dear woman and many others like her will grow to trust Jesus for their salvation as they listen to their brand new audio Bibles.

Not Just for the Non-literate

Generally we focus on reaching out to people who cannot read, giving them the ability to hear God's Word in their own language.  In many places this includes elderly people whose eyesight is failing or who never received enough formal education.  In other areas it means ministering to people who are somewhat bilingual, who may even know how to read Spanish, but have not had an opportunity to learn to read their own mother tongue.

Looking at the text above (from Amuzgo de Xochistlahuaca in Guerrero, Mexico), you can see why reading some of these languages is a tremendous challenge, even for people who know how to read their secondary language.  Glancing at the highlighted portion, I see one word with seventeen characters.  Reading the scriptures in their native tongue can be a chore that does not resemble a devotional act.  Some may possess the capability of slowly sounding out the words, much as a first grader can sound out the vocabulary in their early primers, but few can read for comprehension or retention.

Now this problem can be remedied, thanks to new technology developed by friends of ours with Wycliffe Bible Translators.  They have created this phone app that enables people to listen to the scriptures in their difficult-to-read language while they look at the text, which is highlighted in sync with the audio.  What an exciting tool to encourage literacy among people groups!  We learn best when we can see and hear the narrative.

Audio players are still necessary for listening groups, the visually impaired, those without cell phone service, and for non-literate people who cannot access the internet even where it is available, but this option offers great potential for wider and free distribution of scripture translations we continue to record.

Praise the Lord for this new advancement in the use of Bible translations in both written and audio formats.  It's not just either-or, but both seen and heard.

We used to adapt the prayer from Psalm 119:18 for non-literate people groups, asking God to open their EARS that they may HEAR wonderful things in His Word.   
Now we can ask God to open their eyes, ears, and hearts that they may know Him more fully.

To view or download this app, go to https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.wycliffe.amuzgoguerrero.amu

The Great Barrier

A.k.a. "You can lead a horse to water...."

At the risk of sounding discouraged, let me just admit up front that we really need prayer to overcome the final barrier to seeing people become mature followers of Jesus who are expanding Christ's kingdom in Oaxaca.

Twenty-five years ago when we first left the U.S. for Guatemala, we were convinced of the great need for Bible translations in every language of the world (then thought to be around 5000).  With Wycliffe Bible Translators providing well-equipped linguists to accomplish this task, we tackled the next barrier to seeing lives changed as a result of the gospel:  Literacy.

While working with more-or-less literate native speakers in the Mayan village where we lived, we discovered a few other obstacles.  First, the folks had no electricity, and it was hard to read by candlelight after a long day of work without falling asleep.  Secondly, they simply did not value reading as we North Americans do, and literacy never became a habit.  Third, even for those who wanted to read, it was almost impossible to bridge over from reading primers and easy pamphlets to reading and comprehending the books of the New Testament, and there were few other printed materials available in their mother tongue for reading practice.

To overcome this barrier, we began recording scriptures on tape.  (Listening while following the printed verses was an effective aid in literacy for those who wanted to improve their reading.)  In the early years, that required batteries and cassette players.  More recently this is not a restriction, with modern devices utilizing rechargeable solar panels.  Changing over to the new technology, the Lord helped us overcome the other obstacles by providing new recording equipment, recruiting technicians to produce the audio Bibles, and most challenging, even finding native speakers who could read or at least repeat the phrases into a microphone for the recording process.

Another persistent (or at least potential) obstacle is funding for each project.  The Lord has graciously provided the necessary funds for over 40 language groups to have a recording of their entire translated New Testament.  To that we say hallelujah, and praise the Lord!  (Now may we be faithful to continue this laborious and expensive process in every other language of Oaxaca.)

Fully equipped with audio New Testaments, and a belief that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God..." (Romans 10:17 was our battle cry) we only needed to distribute the audio Bibles, and surely people would understand the power of the cross, and be lining up at the riversides to be baptized after coming to a saving knowledge of Jesus.  So we thought....

We were encouraged by the participation of partnering organizations like World Mission, Megavoice, Audio Scripture Ministries, Galcom, and Faith Comes by Hearing (Hosanna), who helped provide equipment, expertise, and the digital devices to be distributed among the people here.  Short-term teams purchased audio Bibles and hand-delivered them to families who needed them.  It's all good.

There is just one remaining barrier, and that is getting people to actually listen!  The only way to break down this final obstacle is through spiritual warfare.  The battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers and principalities of darkness that have dominated Oaxaca for thousands of years.  They are not going to simply allow the Word of God to be proclaimed without a fight.  Instead they are going to do everything possible to stop people from hearing The Truth.

Even in our own lives (with a variety of scripture translations in English for free online), we are tempted to skip our daily Bible reading and often miss our family devotional time.  It is amazing how tiny a distraction can deter us from doing what we know we need to do to instruct our children, and to stay strong and grow in our spiritual journey.  For the people of Oaxaca, it is that much harder.

Even though we have worked diligently to overcome so many barriers to communicating the gospel message to them, people still have to choose to study the scriptures, to accept the teaching, and to continue growing on a daily basis.  It's not a simple matter of applying a magic formula, and voila! people come to Christ.  It is still a work of the Holy Spirit, and there is still an enemy in the story who wants to prevent that from happening.  With that in mind, would you....

• Please join us in praying for the remaining unreached people groups, that many would have faith to believe.  
• Pray that the Holy Spirit would open their eyes and prepare their hearts to receive the truth of the gospel.  
• Pray that we would see a great harvest of spiritual fruit among the people of Oaxaca.  
• Pray against a spirit of discouragement.

• Pray that the final barrier would be overcome!

 Likewise, will you please join in praying for us as a family as we go out this weekend to distribute some more audio scriptures?  Pray for our safety in travel (5 plus hours in the Suburban), for protection from the evil one as we are in areas that are still under his rule, and for joyful reception of the gift we are bringing to the people.  Pray that the Holy Spirit would soften the hearts of those who will come to see the Jesus film in their language for the very first time.  Pray that our children would be gratified to be part of this family mission trip, and for unity between us, that God's love would shine through us as a family.  Pray that we remain in good health.  Thanks!