O-21 came ‘just in time’ for Bolivia
by Larry Jerden, UBS Photojournalist COCHABAMBA, Bolivia — Opportunity 21 has suffered funding delays, tottering economies, and declining stock markets in key supporting nations. But the Rev Roger Aguirre, General Secretary of the Bolivian Bible Society, says O-21 came at just the right time for his country. “O-21 came at a time of crisis for us, both material and spiritual,” Mr Aguirre says. “The country has no money. The last time I was in the mining centre of Oruro, for instance, they were still using the iron ore there to make steel. Now, because of low ore prices, mining is very depressed and the economy is suffering. Grace of God“By the grace of God, O-21 provided us with materials for free distribution just when people had no money to buy anything,” he says. “We’re sure that God works at the right moment. O-21 is a real blessing for our people.” Its impact is nationwide. Translation work, for example, has been given a strong boost. “We have two language groups with very large native populations in the south,” says Mr Aguirre, “and they are both anxious to receive the Word. We had a team visit them, and they are waiting for the Scriptures.” The same was true of the
north. “People are very hungry
for the Word. They want to get a translation in their own language so
that they can give their children guidance. They want them to grow up
with the Word in their hearts and minds.” To meet the translation
needs, the Bible Society is currently working
on two New Testaments, one a new translation and the other a revision.
The work was begun by SIL
International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics)
but was later taken over by the Bible Society. Parables“Some are Portions and some are on cassette,” he says. “Quechua has the New Testament on cassette, while other languages have Parables. Some languages have just one Parable, but others may have two or three.”
The translations are done by indigenous speakers and the tapes are given out free. For those without the means to play them, there are colouring books and Bible stories for children in various indigenous languages. Marlon Vargas Terrazas, the General Director of the Bible Society press, reports that while the Bible Society has 200,000 Bibles each year printed in South Korea, Colombia or Brazil, his facility produces two million Portions and 12 million Scripture Selections annually, many in the indigenous languages of Guaraní, Quechua and Aymará. In addition to the domestic
market, they export Scriptures to Paraguay
and Uruguay and prepare film for Scripture
calendars and children's Portions for 12 countries to put through their
own printing presses. |
