In the last 50 years, SIL* has helped produce 27 New Testaments for isolated indigenous people in the vast Peruvian rain forest. Today there are over 500 evangelical churches in the language groups where linguistic work was done. In 1988 a group of these churches formed FAIENAP (Brotherhood of Associations of Evangelical Native Churches of the Peruvian Amazon). We are working in partnership with FAIENAP to translate portions of the Old Testament for five Peruvian languages by December 2007.
Each year FAIENAP translators spend nine months translating the Old Testament into their mother tongue at the FAIENAP center, and three months checking the Scripture** with their language group.
A Testimony
Elivio shared the challenges and blessings he experienced while checking his Old Testament draft. "I was well received in all the communities where I went to do the checking of the books of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The people had many questions because they wanted to make sure that they would receive the Word understanding it well. They asked me when the Book would be ready for them. They said they need the Book so that they can preach in their language, instead of using the Spanish Bible.
"Some of my travel between villages—by canoe, sometimes with and sometimes without an outboard motor—was very long and dangerous. There were times when we were hungry, cold and even discouraged until we finally got to the next village. While I was away from my family, they worried about me and felt sad. But I knew I was doing the right thing checking the translation we had done with my own people. Little by little, we did it with God's help. The money we received for the travel expenses helped a lot. It was not just useful for the purpose of checking. We were also able to preach and encourage the brethren when they were discouraged."
*SIL is a Wycliffe affiliate organization.
** Checking Scripture ensures that the translation communicates well with the reader.