Quechua-speakers line up to buy Bibles
By Marty Lange, a vernacular media specialist with SIL

Background on the Quechua:Cuzco Bible The New Testament of the current Quechua:Cuzco Bible was published in 1969 and the complete Bible, including a revision of the New Testament, in 1988. This was a project of the Peruvian Bible Society in partnership with churches in southern Peru, particularly the Iglesia Evangélica Peruana (a Peruvian denomination) and a British mission, The Evangelical Union of South America, now called Latin Link.    Following a revision project, a second edition of this Bible, with a revised text and study helps, was launched in March – April 2005. This was wholly a Peruvian Bible Society project, on which I was the UBS Translation Consultant. The 10,000 print run sold out and a second impression was printed. These Bibles arrived in Lima in late August and are now being distributed to communities in the southern mountains. — Dr Bill Mitchell, UBS Americas Area Translation Coordinator

PERU — Suddenly there was a flurry of activity at the front of the church. Thirty or so people were there, crowding round, holding out money in the direction of the pulpit. Although I didn’t hear the announcement given out in Quechua, it only took me a moment to realise what was going on. The normal price of a Bible in Quechua:Cuzco is 30 soles (US$10), a huge sum for most Quechua-speakers who earn less than 10 soles (US$3.00) a day. (In some places a daily paper costs between five and seven soles.) But it was September, the month when the Bible is promoted in Peru. Thanks to the Peruvian Bible Society and to donors in North America whose generosity had subsidised the price, it was possible for these people to buy a Bible in their own Quechua language for only 10 soles.

That morning Pastor Tomás Puma, two friends from the US and I had gone to Ttinki, an agricultural and cattle-raising district in Cuzco Department, south Central Peru, to distribute 200 Bibles to people who, the previous month, had paid for their copy. First we had the privilege of taking part in the service with these believers. Then those who had already paid their 10 soles were called out individually by name. They made their way to the front to collect their Bibles: some had bought two or three copies. We saw them go back to their seats clutching them, kissing them and poring over them in great excitement. Some sat down and immediately began reading various passages. Others headed for the door with the Bibles they had bought: they were evidently collecting them on behalf of believers who lived in communities at a distance from Ttinki and were now going to distribute them.

When all the Bibles had been handed out, there were 17 left over. It was then that the pastor announced that those copies were for sale. There was an excited flurry as lots of people ran holding up 10 soles, each hoping to become the owner of one of these 17 Bibles. By the end, all the Bibles were sold and as there were not enough copies for everyone who wanted one, a new list was made of the names of those who paid for one. Then they designated a person to go to Cuzco to collect more Bibles and bring them back to Ttinki.

We praise God for his powerful Word and for the enthusiasm of the Quechua-speakers for reading it in their own language. (WR 407/35 - 12.06)