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What Gene Does
Eighteen years have gone by since we started with the Manobo and it will probably take at least another 10 years to finish the translation and Bible commentary. They have been the best eighteen years of our lives. It has been a real privilege to be God's channel to the Manobo. And, God has been shaping and molding us also during those years - sometimes much to our discomfort - but always for our benefit.
Translation of the Scriptures
Now that there are Manobo believers and they are doing all of the evangelism and other Bible teaching, I am able to concentrate on translating the Scriptures into the Manobo language. I study to determine the meaning and then do a rough draft translation. Then I go over it with three Manobo translation helpers, who are also Bible teachers, until I am confident that it communicates to them what I understand the passage to say and until they are confident that it will be easily understood by those reading it or hearing it.
After I enter the corrections they have made into the computer I print it out again and one of my translation helpers, Piduy, along with Carol's help checks it with other believers to make sure it communicates. I enter any corrections they have made into the computer and then Carol converts the translation into the lowland dialect. About every 10 days Piduy and I travel 22 miles down the rough, discontinued logging road by motorcycle to check the translation with lowland Manobo believers. We make note of any changes and leave the translation with them to check over again by themselves.
Revising Bible Commentary
Until the New Testament is finished I am not writing any more Bible commentary but concentrating on translating the Scriptures and revising the Manobo in the Bible lessons I have done in the past. After I revise a lesson I give it to my translation helpers and they correct it - often rewriting much of it to make it clearer - and they also add more cultural illustrations. When they are done with the lesson it is usually full of red corrections and rewrites which they have done to make it more natural Manobo. Another Manobo believer will then type the corrections in the computer and I will go over it to make sure that everything is correct. Then, Piduy, reads the lesson through as "homework" and makes more corrections. When it is all done Carol converts it to the lowland dialect and the next time I go to the lowlands I take it there for some of the Manobo Bible teachers there to correct it. Because of the two dialects and the distance between them the whole process of revising the Manobo in a lesson is spread out over a number of weeks.
Advising Church Leadership
We do not yet have ordained leadership in the Manobo churches, but the Manobo Bible teachers serve in that capacity until there are enough of them qualified to be ordained as elders. They are able to handle most of the problems that arise in the Manobo churches, but sometimes they come to me for advice, and sometimes I have to step in and counsel them.
Maintenance
I also keep the motorcycle, computers, tape recorders and other equipment and the house maintained and oversee the maintenance of our airstrip.
What Carol Does
I am very thankful that God in His grace has allowed me to have a part in taking the Gospel to the Manobo people. I am not a great language learner and I have no outstanding talents, but I have had the privilege of actually being present when after months of chronological teaching people have understood that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for their sins on the cross. One lady was so in awe of what Jesus had done she kept repeating what Jesus said on the cross, "It is finished." She had been trying for years to work her way to heaven.
I have had the privilege of hearing Gene's translation helpers as they discuss God's Word that they were hearing for the very first time. What a joy to have people come to me and ask for scripture books and then hear them reading it out loud in their homes!
I have seen children whom I taught to read and write several years ago become Bible teachers and translation helpers and men and women who desire to please God. I have had a part in improving the health of people who used to depend on sacrifices to the spirits for good health. Sometimes people say, "You have sacrificed so much to live in the jungles of the Philippines," but it's not a sacrifice - it is a wonderful privilege.
Being a Translator's Helpmate
My job is to do whatever helps Gene so he can concentrate on translating the Scriptures and writing the Bible lessons. For example, if there is a book that Gene wants to use for reference that has no Scripture index, I make an index. If there is something that needs a lot of research, I help him with that.
Providing Snacks & Heading Off Interruptions
As Gene and his translation helpers work I bring them snacks and also handle as many requests as I can from people who come to the door so Gene and his helpers aren't interrupted.
Converting the Translation
We work in two dialects. When Gene has the mountain dialect translation done I make the changes to the lowland dialect and print it so that he can take it to the lowland villages where he checks it. I do the same with the Bible lessons.
Formatting and Printing
I take the Bible lessons and Scripture portions that Gene and his translation helpers have completed and reformat them in the computer into book form, add drawings and pictures where appropriate and then print the books on our laser printer. Then I oversee the Manobo believers who put together the books for the Bible teachers and for anyone else who wants them to read and study. We make covers for the books and then drill holes along one side and sew them together.
As the Manobo continue to evangelize my job keeps getting bigger and bigger as the number of believers and Bible teachers keeps increasing. Sometimes a Bible teacher just happens to mention that he is nearly done teaching one book of the Bible and needs the teaching material for the next book of the Bible so all of a sudden I need to have several new books of Bible lessons ready within just a few days. I am very thankful for the computer equipment the Lord has provided to enable us to do the job.
Literacy
The only reading material the people have in their language is what we can provide so I work on small reading books that we hope will encourage the people to improve their reading skills.
Writing a Manobo Dictionary
We can't remember all the Manobo words we hear so I type new words into a Manobo dictionary in the computer with examples of how they are used so Gene can refer to it when translating.
Helping the Clinic Girls
I also help the girls who work at the medical clinic when there is something they can't handle.
Homemaking
... And, in my spare time, I do the cooking and housework. |
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