**Cluster projects are a strategy to see mother tongue translators of related languages work as a team to accelerate translation.
Moved by Scripture
As Nedeljko was checking Bible portions in Bayash recently, he was excited to be reading these in his own language. The Scriptures in his mother tongue moved him in a special way — unlike reading the Croatian Bible.
A man in the village near where the Ludari team members live was impressed when they sang a Scripture-based song in the mother tongue during a children’s Bible club meeting. All the other songs and teaching were done in Croatian, so he was glad to hear a song in his language.
Made Him Stop and Think
While working on the Scriptures in Chergash, team member Djeno commented on how much he’s learning, not just about translation, but about Bible study. The consultant was asking deep, interpretive questions that made him stop and think. He said he’d like to use this explorative approach when teaching people in the church he pastors. He also said his earlier fears that the Chergash translation wouldn’t be useful are now gone. He sees how great it will be to have God’s Word in the mother tongue.
PROJECT GOALS
50 Bible stories and New Testament portions in print, audio and digital formats in
Arli, Bayash, Chergash, Gurbet and
Ludari languages
Location: Croatia and Serbia
Number of Speakers: 540,000 in five people groups
Expected Completion: 2021
Project coordinator: Todd Price
Translators: Biljana, Djeno, Goran, Kada, Naki, Nataša, Nedeljko, Renata and Saša
PROGRESS MADE IN THE LAST QUARTER
- Arli: Drafted Acts 14-24, James, 2 Peter, Jude, remainder of Hebrews, Revelation 1-8.
- Bayash: Began re-back translating Luke. Drafted Genesis 1-22, Joshua 1:1-8:29.
- Chergash: Finished drafting New Testament. Back translated Acts, 1 Thessalonians. Drafted Genesis 1-20.
- Gurbet: Drafted Exodus 11-24. Back translated 1 Thessalonians.
- Ludari: Began initial language study.
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me’
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free” — Luke 4:18 (NLT)
“O Dux e Rajoso si pe mande, golese kaj pomazisada man te vačarolpe o Lačho lafi e čororenđe, te vačarolpe o lafi e phanglenđe kaj ka aven mukhle, thaj e korenđe kaj ka dičhen, thaj mukhav e uštaden.” — Luke 4:18 (Gurbet)
PRAY:
Father, thank You for successful team and consultant checking of Luke 4:1-6:11 (Arli, Gurbet) and Luke 4:1-6:26 (Bayash, Chergash) at a workshop in June. Enable preparations for more team and consultant checking of Luke next month.
Lord, anoint Your servants’ ongoing evangelistic outreaches in two Ludari villages and one Bayash village. Plant Jesus’ Good News in these places. Use Scripture testing along with a proposed webpage and app to spread Your Word.
