That day was significant for me because it was the first day I was translated into 2 different languages.
My team has had the honor of living in Chicaman during our time in Guatemala. Chicaman is awesome but the heart of the ministry we are working with is for the surrounding villages.
Often times it takes hours up bumpy, steep roads and then a small hike to get to the churches that have been built in these small villages.
The thing that I didn’t realize when I was freaking out that I didn’t know Spanish when we got here, is that the villages we are working in don’t even speak Spanish. Some people do but the majority of people here speak Pokomchi.
On September 21, 2022 I shared with a group of women in a village called Belejú. These women had been given a device that had the New Testament recorded and translated into Pokomchi. We were there to follow up with them and make sure they were able to use the devices and see what fruit has come from hearing God's word.
I opened with encouragement and sharing that every word in the Bible is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and how the word of God is a love letter to us. I reminded them that we don’t read the Bible to know the Bible, we read the Bible to know God.
My words were first translated to Spanish and then someone translated from Spanish to Pokomchi. It was a neat experience.
Being translated is a tricky task. You have to keep your words and sentences simple and also break your thoughts and sometimes your sentences up so the person doesn’t forget what you said. Sometimes in Spanish things are said backward from English or vice versa so sometimes the whole sentence needs to be read to be translated correctly. But it’s an art that my team, Gloria a Dios, is learning well!!
The women that day warmed my heart. After much patience (I’m learning the women are very timid here) they started to share the stories they were reading. Each one accounting another sweet reminder of things Jesus did during His time on earth or how He was crucified and raised to life!! It was awesome to be witness to God changing peoples lives or speaking love to their hearts and families through His words in their own language.
So I will always remember the 21st day of September. And if you want to be a part of this ministry and what it is doing here in the villages of Quiche (the region of Chicaman and surrounding villages), Guatemala I know a guy, so let me know! And please continue to pray for what God is doing here in Guate!!!
