Where We Serve / Wayeyi Bible Translation
Wayeyi Bible Translation
The Wayeyi live along the Okavango Delta. Fishing, hunting, and basket weaving sustain daily life, while churches and community members take part in reviewing and using translated Scripture.
Bible Translation
Country
- Botswana
Region
- Southern Africa
Language Population
4,180
Community involvement is key to translation success
The Wayeyi live along the Okavango Delta. Fishing, hunting, and basket weaving sustain daily life, while churches and community members review and use translated Scripture.
A planned focus is the training of village leaders for future literacy work. Literacy workshops are intended to prepare local facilitators to support reading and teaching Scripture in Shiyeyi, but these workshops have not yet begun.
These efforts are designed to support long‑term Scripture use in churches and communities as translation work continues toward completion of the New Testament.
Empowering local leaders to engage communities
God speaks every language. Your prayers and financial support sustain ongoing translation work in Shiyeyi, the language of the Wayeyi people. Community review workshops and participation in cultural events support Scripture use and visibility within the wider community.
Program Goals
- Continue New Testament team and community review work
- Prepare for future literacy program development
- Support Scripture engagement through community use
- Participate in cultural events that highlight the Shiyeyi language
- Strengthen local involvement in translation and Scripture use
Program Plan
Step 1
Advance New Testament Translation
- One community review workshop has been completed, with additional review work planned. Recent community checking included review of eight books.
- Ongoing team and consultant checking is planned for multiple New Testament books.
Step 2
Build Literacy Foundations
- Preparation continues for literacy classes and workshops, including identifying and training potential local facilitators for future literacy efforts.
Step 3
Promote Scripture and Celebrate Culture
- Scripture continues to be shared and used within churches.
- Team members participated in cultural festivals in Gumare and Namibia to maintain relationships and visibility for the Shiyeyi language.
Meet the Local Team
Team Members
• Motswasele Motswasele – Assistant Project Coordinator
• Nicolus Qhau – Translator
Rev. Carl and Kelsey Grulke
Carl and Kelsey have served in Botswana since 2018. Carl is currently working as Program Director – Southern Africa and Exegete, and Kelsey serves as Scripture Engagement Coordinator among the people of Botswana.
Partner Organizations
Honoring the Language
Wayeyi people speak Shiyeyi, a click language.
Mix of Khoesan and Bantu languages, borrowing pieces from each.
Instead of nouns being masculine or feminine, they belong to a noun class – there are around 17 noun classes.
Program Progress
Bring Scripture to the Wayeyi
God speaks every language. Your donation helps translate God’s Word into the Wayeyi language. Every gift makes a difference.