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Press Release: December 13, 2024
Friday Field Notes
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WHEN RAW WOUNDS ARE TEETH – Rev. Dr. Michael Megahan
I have learned many languages but am always surprised at the variety of idioms I discover. Each language is a unique window on the world. Recently I was checking the book of Leviticus with the Kerewe team in Tanzania. We were reading Leviticus 13:10 and came to the end and read the Kerewe phrase, which in English was translated as “…there is a tooth in the swelling.” The translators laughed when they saw my facial expression. “A tooth?” I said. “Yes, that is how we say, ‘raw flesh’ that is in a wound.”
COMMUNITY REVIEW
In the picture below are representatives of the many church denominations on the Kerewe Island. Two or three times a year they gather to read through the translation the team has been doing. They help check for clarity of language, spelling of words, and proper word choice. They decide when there are dialectical differences which alternative will be used in the Bible. This is an important step in translation. If the translation is not acceptable to the people, they will not read or buy the Bibles once they are printed. Pray for these dedicated reviewers who are so important for the success of the program.
DECEMBER 2012 REFLECTION – Rev. Chuck and Karen Tessaro
NBTT often has workshops for various purposes. In December 2012 consultants worked with about 10 translation teams, looking at their work verse by verse. Chuck worked with the Ehugbo translation team, which had traveled from the south-eastern part of the country to attend the workshop. The team and Chuck went through the early part of the Gospel of Luke.
What made this time particularly memorable was that the team mentioned that they were going to begin the long trip back home on the day after the workshop. They were to be at the bus station at 6 am. Knowing that it may be difficult to find public transportation from NBTT to the bus station at 5:30 am, Chuck volunteered to get them there. At that time John David was 4 months old and would still wake up several times during the night. As Chuck was getting ready to leave home around 5 am, John David was also awake. John David enjoyed car rides and Karen needed some well-deserved rest, so we bundled John David into his car seat and they headed out. Chuck and John David picked up the translation team and things were going well until they had a flat tire about half a mile from the bus station. The members of the team offered to change the tire, but Chuck told them to go straight to the bus station so they would be able to get on the bus.
As Chuck was getting out the jack and the spare tire, he realized a potential problem. Many people were walking by. Our car is a station wagon with clear glass, so it is easy to see what is inside. Mothers rarely allow such young children to be more than a few feet away from them. People like to give advice, and crowds easily gather. Chuck could imagine people asking things like, “What is that guy doing here with a baby? Where is the mother? Doesn’t the baby look uncomfortable?” Fortunately, John David found the whole scenario boring and he fell asleep. No one noticed him. The tire was quickly changed, and soon they were on the way home.
The point of including this story is that the Ehugbo New Testament was dedicated a couple of months ago. And the main translator of the Ehugbo New Testament is now in one of Chuck’s classes at the Linguistics and Bible Translation Department in the Theological College of Northern Nigeria taking courses to prepare for translation the Old Testament.
SEASONS IN OUR LIVES – Martin and Joan Weber
Advent and Christmas: To us a child is born! We anticipated, now rejoice at the birth of Melody Ray Larson, born to our daughter Sarah Joy and Nathan Larson on Oct. 18th, our 7th grandchild. We enjoy also her big sister Iris, now 3 years old.
Growth and Ministry: This year we are blessed with serving our children and grandchildren near us in New Hampshire. We will visit son Sammy, Kelsey and their four children in Cameroon for Christmas. The ministry of LBT in Cameroon continues. In September, Pastor Tim and Erin Schulte (right) arrived and are making good progress in building relationships and learning French, the common language to work with the different languages in Cameroon.
Passion: We joined missionaries and staff of Lutheran Bible Translators in July at a retreat in Missouri to celebrate 60 years since LBT began, and to look forward to future ministry directions. We also celebrated 50 years of what God has done through LBT of Canada, joining them in Ontario in May, and then in Alberta in September.
Resurrection: We miss Joan’s older sister Ruth Ward who passed away in June, on to Resurrection Life in Heaven. One day we will join all the saints there.
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