Rejang translator overcomes troubles

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Family conflict, unemployment and poor health: all these challenges have been overcome by one of the Indonesian Bible Society’s (LAI) team involved in translating the Scriptures into Rejang Lebong, the language of around one million people in southwestern Sumatra.

Mrs Lenny grew up in a Muslim family in a traditional Rejang community. She married her husband, Mikha, according to Muslim tradition, but neither family accepted the marriage. She felt lonely and rejected, but some of her relatives became warmer to her after she nearly died when giving birth to her first child.

She and her husband later moved to Jakarta in search of work, and it was through living with her husband’s uncle, a Pentecostal pastor, that they were introduced to God’s Word. They eventually came to faith in Christ, were baptised and confirmed their marriage in a church ceremony.

Their new-found faith gave them strength to face the next challenge in their lives, which came when Mrs Lenny developed a serious lung disease. Indeed, they were even able to welcome her illness, as it helped the process of reconciliation with their relatives.

On the recommendation of her church, Mrs Lenny was invited to join the LAI team working on the Opportunity 21 project to translate the Scriptures into 16 indigenous Indonesian languages. The Rejang Lebong project is focusing on the New Testament, and Mrs Lenny herself worked on Matthew’s Gospel.