First Mapudungun New Testament for the Mapuche

by Eric Kindberg, Summer Institute of Linguistics

TEMUCO, Chile — At the end of March the Mapuche people of central Chile observed a two-day celebration to mark the official presentation and dedication of the first Mapudungun New Testament – a fitting tribute for nearly 20 years of translation work.

As well as a large number of Mapuche, the 120-strong gathering on the first day included prominent government, church and academic leaders, and a leading Chilean senator also showed up at the last minute to address the gathering, which received wide coverage through television, radio and the press.

The following day, about 70 people attended a Mapuche-style feast to honour the local people, some of whom had been involved in the project since the building of the translation centre in 1983, either as checkers or as employees of the centre.

Vigil

That evening a vigil was arranged, although the organisers had no idea how many people would attend beyond those immediately involved in the project. "That was enough to fill at least two benches! But our main concern was that Mapuches from the outlying countryside join in the celebrations," said Mr Kindberg. "When we finally got underway with the Jesus Film in Mapudungun, there were about 650 people present."

During the main dedication time, a Mapuche councillor leapt to his feet and recounted the story of how he and some friends had many years before approached the Chilean Bible Society to request the translation. At that time the Society was not in a position to respond, but now, all these years later, he was unable to contain his joy at holding a copy of the newly-published work. He called forward two colleagues and they prayed fervently for the Holy Spirit to use the New Testament as a tool of evangelism and church growth. Then they broke into a song of thanks before the rest of the evening's celebration continued.

'Just the beginning'

That night 45 copies were sold, in addition to the 1,000 copies purchased earlier in the week by the Christian & Missionary Alliance, and with another 500 ordered by the Anglican Church. "This is just the beginning!" said Mr Kindberg. "We are gearing up for our work to begin in earnest now that the object of literacy courses is for sale. We trust that God's Spirit will move strongly among the Mapuches who are reading His Word for the first time, hearing it by radio or from the pulpit."

Background:
Begun in 1978, the project was completed by SIL translators Bryan and Joan Harmelin, and published by the Chilean Bible Society along with the Printing Arts Department (typesetting) in Dallas, USA. Estimated number of speakers: 440,000.

This page was last updated on Thursday, 22nd May 1997.