Viña training, equipping partners in ministry

SOLOLÁ — We’re getting outside help: The daunting task of dubbing dozens of Deditos finger-puppet videos into dozens of Mayan languages and dialects might well take us decades if attempted on our own.

So we’ve begun to identify and equip strategic partners across Guatemala who can help us at Viña Studios and share the load with dubbing Deditos as well as taking on other projects. Some are arriving here at our Sololá studios for training.

Recent visitors include Rudi, a Q’eqchí Mayan from Cobán; and Ernesto and Ambrosio, two Mayans from Huehuetenango (Q’anjobal and Chuj Mayans respectively), visiting for training and for quality control checking on their dubbing work with the Deditos videos.

In each language area, linguists have translated Viña’s Deditos finger-puppet scripts and Sunday school lessons into the local Mayan languages. Viña is working to help establish, train and equip satellite studios in these areas. We’re hoping our friends like Rudi, Ernesto and Ambrosio will continue to develop and improve their skills, dubbing the Deditos videos — which are ideal for oral learners — into the Mayan languages.

Here’s an example of a grant proposal we’ve prepared to establish a studio with another friend, Josué, among the Awakateko Mayans in remote town near Huehuetenango (click to enlarge). The basic studio equipment would allow Viña partners to take on dubbing projects themselves. If you’re interested in helping out, please let us know.

Please join us in praying for these partners and for the Lord’s blessing on their lives and work.