Stories

 News from the Heritage Celebration

 It was a night of celebration on 6 March when Wycliffe Australia and The Bible League joined forces to honour those from NSW who have been involved in and supported Bible translation work. Wally Kullakof spoke, sharing four compelling stories of lives changed by the ministry of Bible translation and production. Australian music legend Steve Grace entertained all present with songs from his latest album, Heritage, while video footage of endless outback roads projected on the screens. Forty-two different Scriptures were ceremonially displayed to the applause of 300 supporters present.

For one Wycliffe Bible translator, Nancy Costello who worked in a restricted country in South East Asia, this was the first time the finished translation had been dedicated publicly.

Wally shared a story of a Muslim man he had met who had found Jesus by reading a picture Bible to his sick son in hospital. Upon hearing a story of Jesus healing someone, the boy asked his father to pray to Jesus to make him better, which the father did. When he was miraculously healed the next day, the whole family rejoiced and believed in the power and love of Jesus.

Easter 2009

by Mrs Noel Mierisch

A quote from the late Geoff Morrow – Beyond Words Summer 2008 – ‘If God brings you to it – God will bring you through it’.

Jeff and Sue Batcock could well identify with that quote, as they returned to the small island of Tangoa, south of Espirito Santo, Vanuatu, for the dedication of the New Testament over which they had laboured for so long.

An hour’s journey from Luganville brought us visitors from Australia, and translator families from other parts of Vanuatu to the coast, where small boats were waiting to transport us across to Tangoa (Tung-oa) early on Easter Sunday morning.

Arriving there, we stood on the narrow beach to watch a lively re-enactment of the original hostile welcome to the first missionaries – the loud whoops and yells and much waving of weapons would have tempted those brave people to make a hasty retreat! But they persevered, establishing the Christian faith on that small island so long ago.

We watched as the hostile welcome was replaced by singing, praising, Island folk as they welcomed Jeff & Sue and three of their four children (now young adults) arriving  by boat with the decorated box on board containing some of the precious Scritpures.

We all then joined the procession, following the village leaders as they carried  - on long poles on their shoulders – the translated Word of God.

We wended our way for over an hour through the village, listening to choirs of Island people along the way. Traditional floral decorations lined our route (along with multi-coloured balloons that now and then popped in the heat!). The village people surrounded us with welcoming smiles, and presented each of the visitors with a floral lei as we entered the church. The heat and humidity were quite a challenge for my friend and I coming from Melbourne, but the joy of the occasion kept us going!

The two-hour-long Service of Dedication was a challenge too, but what a God-given privilege to be there!

The Australian supporters were represented with a copy of the New Testament in a woven bag placed around our necks, and after the service we were asked to distribute the Bibles to the villagers with a hand shake and a smile for each one. Australian supporters had paid for the Bibles, so that the Tangoan people could receive them as a gift.

A delicious feast followed, in the Long Hall, graciously served by the women of the village.

A smoking stick was then presented to those carrying on translation with another language group, after which we made our way back to the boats and a village farewell on the beach.

The whole wonderful day was an experience I will never forget.