Kiché Scripture recording work struggles ahead

After a month of toilsome, difficult work, Viña Studios’ Scripture-recording team has managed to record just about 40 percent of the Kiché New Testament of Joyabáj, encountering extreme difficulty finding speakers capable of reading their language.

Viña’s ministry putting translated Scriptures in audio format is vital for oral Mayans who can’t read the printed text. Few Kichés who have tried to read the text have proven capable as readers.

The scarcity of Kiché readers forced the team to assign Jesus’ speaking parts to Bill Vasey, the Methodist missionary who translated the Kiché Bible; Vasey speaks Kiché well, but, of course, has a slight accent. Carlos, Viña’s Kaqchikel recording director, had to play the second-largest role, that of the Apostle Paul. Carlos can read the Kiché script, but he also has a slight accent and doesn’t always understand what he’s reading.

One young woman could read only marginally well, but very quickly improved. She has been a big help as a reader and monitor of other readers.

In one case, a reader who has a major role came to work hung over. Viña avoids using readers who struggle with obvious vices, such as alcoholism, because it can taint the recording, causing some to reject it. But in this case, they didn’t have any options.

“It’s hard,” Carlos said. “I don’t know why it’s so hard, but we can’t find readers. It’s the worst I’ve ever encountered.” In one case, a man labored all day with the team, trying and trying to read the text. He had so much difficulty that they had to tell him not to come back.

Please pray for the team to persevere through discouraging circumstances, and for God’s hand on the Scriptures, to produce fruit among the Joyabáj churches (Isaiah 55:11).

*****

Syncretism seemed to be alive and well in Joyabáj. While I visited there in April, I observed a number of Kichés performing Mayan rituals beneath a Ceiba tree (believed to be a portal to the underworld). Nearby, Catholic believers burned incense and candles before a concrete cross.

*****

Last evening, I watched a 30-minute children’s cartoon, The William Tyndale Story, about the famous English Bible translator and martyr. It is a moving, well-done video, with an informative interview of Tyndale scholar and biographer Dr. David Daniell.

Seeing that video brought home to me just how desperate and ferocious are Satan’s attacks against the Word of God reaching average people in the language they understand best. Tyndale famously said he hoped a ploughboy would understand more of the Scriptures than the Pope and church officials who attempted to thwart his work.

The movie helped me understand a bit more how the gates of hell are determined to prevent God’s Word from reaching people and perhaps why our team is having so many difficulties.