The following piece demonstrates the role that prayer played in
bringing God’s Word to a Bibleless peoples group. Never doubt the power of prayer even when
years may pass before its results are seen.
At this time I want to thank Misriani Balle for assisting me in writing
this post. Together with the Holy
Spirit’s help we created “our” story.
In
1991 one of our friends who had begun working for Wycliffe Bible Translators
spoke at our church. He told about the
Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project which involved praying for missionaries who
were trained to be sent to groups of people throughout the world to translate
the Bible in their native languages. I
had never given much thought to the fact that many language groups did not have
Bibles. In the United States as well as in
other nations, the Bible (often taken for granted) was common in most
households, so this new information of a need for Bible translators stirred my
heart. I felt it most important for people of all civilizations to have the
availability to read God’s Word. After
all, His Word is for everyone!
When
I was in college, I pursued a position of teaching English in a foreign country
with hopes of becoming a missionary, but God led me down a different path. However, the desire to serve God in the
mission field never entirely left my soul.
Consequently, when I heard about the Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project, I
wanted to learn more. After further
questions and answers from our friend, I felt the Spirit urging me to become a
prayer partner. Prayer partners would be
assigned a Bibleless Peoples group, and our part of the program was to pray
specifically for translators and their needs.
Several
weeks after I had signed up for the program, I received information to pray for
a group in Indonesia. At the time, this
group did not have a translator so I began praying for someone to commit to the
task ahead. My desire for this person or
persons grew stronger as I prayed.
Throughout
my faith journey, the Bible has been my life source. Hearing the stories read
to me by my mom at home and again at Sunday school was the first step. When I turned 13, I received my own, white
Bible with my name on it. I began reading it for myself. As I read the words,
new and fresh insights were revealed. I
felt drawn to its truths and it became a valuable resource for me. In fact, it was a treasured gift. Consequently, I wanted this special group of
people to have the same opportunity I had had…a Bible to read in their own
language so they could know God in a more personal way.
As
time passed, I was kept informed of the progress of this particular group. I must admit I failed to pray consistently,
especially when challenges in my own life surfaced. BUT God kept me on track by sending reminders
and encouraging updates of my Bibleless peoples group from Wycliffe. Then, in June of 1998, I received a post card
informing me that translators had been assigned. I was overjoyed and very thankful to God for
opening doors for this language group in Indonesia. Once the translators began, I was sent a list
of suggestions with which to pray. I
immediately began to pray for the translators’ abilities to work together and
to communicate openly…to be trusting and respectful to each other. In 2001 one of the four members in the team
got very ill and passed away. Then, in 2003 a missionary for Helong, the
language group I had been praying for, found a new member on an island called
Semau in Eastern Indonesia. I found out later that this new member was Misriani
Balle. As my association with the Helong project continued, I prayed that the translation
would be accurate, precise, and easily understood. I also prayed for the Helong people. I wanted
them to be receptive of the translation and to recognize as well as to learn
about God’s love for them through His Word.
Several
years then passed. It was during these years that I felt the Spirit nudging me
to inquire about communicating with a translator. I prayed about it and contacted a Wycliffe
representative via email. She replied by
giving me Misriani Balle’s email address.
SO I emailed Misriani and introduced myself. God connected us immediately and our long
distance friendship began.
Being
in contact with Mis enabled me to follow the team’s progress as they translated
the New Testament and Genesis into the Helong language. Mis and I exchanged emails regularly. She kept me updated on the project through
the following years, and in 2011, the translation was completed. At that time, Wycliffe sent me a notice of the
completion with a picture of the Helong Translation Team and that was when I
first saw Mis. My heart jumped for joy
as her smile shined with the love of Jesus. Continual prayer from 1991 to 2011 brought
SUCCESS!!! Time is not a factor when it
comes to God’s timing!!!
Once
the translation was finished, it was then sent to be printed. And on May 29,
2012, the Helong New Testament was dedicated on Semau Island, Indonesia and
distributed to the excited and anxious Helong people. It was a festive occasion with all praise and
glory going to God. Thanks to Mis I was
able to share in this awesome celebration even though separated by distance.
Before
the dedication service, Mis sent me an email message that I want to share.
“Talking about favourite verses in the Bible, I used to love one the
most: NRSV Matthew 6:33 but strive first for the kingdom of God and his
righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Now I almost love each verses in the Bible
since they are in my Helong language and directly talking to my heart. They are
just so clear and close to my heart and understanding.
I pray that the Holy Spirit works in the Helong people hearts and leads
them to meet Jesus themselves through this Bible that had been translated into
Helong.
Oh sister, it’s hard to express my feeling. I am so overwhelmed and
looking forward to the launch especially seeing people holding the Bible as
their own, reading it and meeting Jesus themselves.”
Her message brought smiles to my eyes, joy to my
heart, and Praise to God, our Father. Her prayer was as mine…for the Helong
peoples group to meet and to draw close to Jesus through His Word in their
native language! What a tremendous
answer to prayer!!!
Even
though the translation of the Helong New Testament was finished for Mis, she
and I continued our “sister” relationship.
We both agreed to pray for each other and to keep in touch via email and
eventually face book. Then, in 2016 good news came when Mis informed me that
her brother and sister-in-law were now living in Colorado. She had hoped to
visit them some day and that we might meet in person. We both prayed about our meeting and left it
in God’s Hands.
Early
in 2017 I heard from Mis that she was going to apply for a visa to visit the
United States. Her brother and sister-in-law had had a baby girl and of course,
“Auntie” Mis wanted to meet her niece. She was thrilled at the possibility of
coming to the states not only to see her niece but to see me as well. I was in
disbelief at first, but joy overcame my disbelief as I thanked God, knowing He
was responsible for this unexpected opportunity.
When
Mis arrived in Colorado, she contacted me and working around our schedules, we
arranged both a date and a location to meet. As a result, our meeting face to
face would take place on the second Sunday in October at Limon, Colorado. Since my husband had a previous engagement, I
drove myself and as normal, I arrived early J
While I waited, I thanked God for this event. When I began praying for
the Helong Bibleless group, I had no idea that this commitment would run a full
circle. What an amazing journey, but the
journey was not quite complete.
It
was shortly after the noon hour when Mis and her brother’s family entered the
Flying J truck stop where I awaited. We
immediately recognized each other because we had exchanged photos online. We greeted each other with hugs and huge
smiles. J Both of us stood in awe as our long
distance friendship had become “real”.
After further introductions were made, the five of us enjoyed a meal
together.
Before,
during, and after our lunch, Mis and I talked non-stop. We had so much to share
and to learn more specifically how God had worked in both of our lives during
this project. I discovered that Mis had
wrestled with being a translator, but she felt God calling her to undertake
this enormous job. She credited my prayers for her decision to undertake this
challenging task. I was deeply touched by her words. I shared how the Spirit had urged me to connect
with an on sight translator and eventually we were brought together. She, too,
felt gratitude for my commitment.
We
could have talked for hours, but as always there came a time when we had to
stop. Before we parted, we exchanged
gifts. And this was where the journey was made complete because lying in my
hands was a copy of the Helong New Testament that Mis had placed there. It had been her brother’s and now it was
mine. Tears formed in my eyes. Of course, I couldn’t read the Helong language
but I didn’t need too. I knew what it said! Praise God!!!
It
was hard to say “goodbye” for both of us. But we were tremendously blessed by
God for giving us this time together.
God had completed His plan to have His Word in a language that the
Helong people could read. They could now discover the great treasure of God’s
word as I had many years ago. Through the continual activity of the Holy Spirit
within us, Mis, the other translators, and I were God’s instruments in
accomplishing His work. What a humbling experience for me. Sometimes it’s hard
to find words to describe one’s emotions, and this is one of those times for
me.
May
God’s work of Bible translation continue to all people’s groups, large or
small. And may willing and dedicated individuals step in faith and trust to do
this amazing and fulfilling work, not only in the field but in the quiet room
of prayer. TO GOD BE THE GLORY !! Amen
“I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great
treasure.” Psalm 119: 162
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you
received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the
word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively
works in you who believe.” I Thessalonians 2:13
