God’s Word is
‘the most important canoe’ for islanders
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| A dug-out canoe, Solomon Islands.
Photo: UBS/Maurice Harvey (SOL96T-139.JPG) |
RANONGA,
Solomon Islands —
Like many of the islands that make up the Solomon Islands group, Ranonga
is small and remote. Even today, the rough seas that batter the island
keep its few thousand inhabitants relatively cut off from the wider
world. For the Bible Society in the South Pacific
(BSSP) and
its
partners, making contact with islands like Ranonga, assessing the Scripture
needs of the people there and managing translation projects demand particular
dedication and patience.
Huge waves
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Trainee translation
consultant becomes ‘a
household name’
When
Alpheus Zobule joined the team translating the New Testament into
his native language, Lungga, in 1981 he was a young man with good
prospects. Having already gained qualifications in engineering
and linguistics, he could expect to establish a lucrative career.
In choosing at an early age to sacrifice personal gain for the
sake of serving his people, he has blazed a trail in the translation
community, where most projects have traditionally been carried
out by retired pastors.
Having served his apprenticeship
on the Lungga New Testament project, Mr Zobule was sent by the
United Bible Societies for further training in Singapore and the
US. In a few years’ time he will be the first Pacific Islander
to work as a Translation Consultant in the South Pacific. Every
time he returns to the Solomon Islands to take a break from his
studies, he is in great demand to run Bible study classes. Indeed,
he is rapidly becoming “a household name” in the region,
according to Mr Duru.
As a man who regards his
work as an outflow of his faith, Mr Zobule is “a light coming
out of the chaos of the Solomon Islands and the hardships of the
Ranonga Island translation project,” Mr Duru concludes.
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The journey made by the Bible Society team
in July to Ranonga to witness the launch of the New Testament in Lungga,
the local language, was in itself a test of dedication and patience. Beginning
with a flight to Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, it continued
with a flight to Gizo, the main town in the Western Province, and finished
with a ride in an open boat through strong winds and huge waves. The scene
that greeted the visitors on their arrival, though, immediately made them
forget the discomfort of the journey.
Array of food
Preparations had been under way for weeks
in Koriovuku, where the launch took place. Houses had been decorated,
a vast array of food had been prepared and groups had been arranged
to provide musical and other contributions. People from across the island
flocked to the small thatched church to attend the dedication service,
and, with any idea of a fixed timetable for the day quickly being abandoned,
they devoted themselves to expressing their joy at finally receiving
God’s Word in their own language.
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Improving
prospects for Bible work in the Solomon Islands
The
16 scattered island communities that make up the Solomon
Islands present unique challenges for the Bible Society
in the South Pacific. Some are relatively developed, while
others still have little contact with the outside world.
Together, they have a great diversity of languages and people
groups. The region is rich in natural resources, but economic
development has been greatly hampered by social and political
instability. Until an Australian-led peacekeeping force
arrived last year, the Solomon Islands had suffered several
years of lawlessness arising from bitter ethnic rivalry.
During this time, David Day, the BSSP representative in
the Solomon Islands, faithfully kept the bookshop in Honiara
open, despite the dangers.
Finally, positive signs
are emerging. Following the local team’s strong performance
in the football World Cup, a sense of national unity and
pride was also fostered by a week-long National Trade and
Cultural Show in July. This event, which had the theme ‘Unity
and Reconciliation’, was attended by more than 20,000
people each day. Anticipating its broad appeal, Mr Day arranged
for Bible Week to run at the same time and to use the same
theme. Thus the Bible Society was presented as an organisation
involved in the process of national reconciliation.
“David has a lot
of challenges ahead of him,” admits BSSP General Secretary
Solomone Duru, “but he sees light and hope for his
people through the work of the Bible Society.”
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“Many old men and women of Ranonga
openly wept tears of joy as they heard Acts 8 being read in their own
language for the first time,” says Solomone Duru, BSSP General
Secretary.
Bringing greetings from the United Bible
Societies fellowship, Mr Duru likened the Lungga New Testament to “the
most important canoe” for the people of Ranonga, “transporting
God’s mind and his word of hope and life through the rough seas.”
The queues that formed after the service
at three sales points reflected the fact that, from beginning to end,
Lungga speakers themselves have been the driving force behind this project.
Although technical support was given by agencies including the BSSP,
SIL and Mustard Seed, the majority of the funding was raised locally
through small-scale efforts sustained year by year after the project
began in 1981.
Equally importantly, a local man, Alpheus
Zobule, was a member of the translation team. This experience laid the
foundations for further study which will culminate in Mr Zobule becoming
the first Pacific Islander to become a Translation Consultant in the
South Pacific (see below).
The pastor who chaired the fundraising
committee summed up the islanders’ feelings on this special day:
“Today God has arrived in Ranonga.
He has arrived in our own culture and is speaking to us in our own language.
This is indeed a great day for our people.” (WR 388/20 - 10/11.04)
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