Bible Translation

We are in Ghana because of  Bible translation!  At the edge of Tamale there is the headquarters for one of Wycliffe's partner organizations, GILLBT – Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation. 

Dan Dzokotoe, took us here to see the work and meet the people.  Dan is Director of Human Resources and Administration.  

  

GILLBT won a UNESCO Award for their contribution to literacy in Northern Ghana.  In the last 50 years their work has helped 50,000 Ghanaians to read!

Carolee represents the board of directors of Wycliffe Canada as she meets the staff and directors of GILLBT.   Ken joins right in with the meetings and discussions. He’s getting to knows a lot about the deeper issues of Bible translation – what board and management are concerned about!  Ken has been a director of missions (with Mennonite Brethren) for 8 years so issues and concerns of mission leaders are familiar to him.  

Our first meeting was on Saturday, November 10, with Sayibu Imoro, who is the chair of the GILLBT board.  Ken found it very interesting to hear Sayibu and Carolee asking each other questions and discussing the work of being on the board.   It was an energizing 2-hour conversation! 

 

Emily Lamptey joins Carolee and Sayibu for a photo.  Emily is executive secretary to President Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah.  She hosted us on his behalf because he is away in the US for meetings.  

Tuesday, November 14, we spent a whole morning at GILLBT.  It started with attending staff devotions at 8:00. Carolee was introduced at the end and asked for “a few words.”  She talked about the rewards of seeing transformation in people’s lives.  That was followed by a meeting with 5 of the senior staff.   Carolee opened with greetings from the Wycliffe board in Canada and talked briefly about how God gifts the body of Christ with people who are uniquely suited for their positions.   Then followed an intense hour and half of discussion.  They had so many questions and so much to share!  Their passion for the work of Bible translation is huge!  

The meeting was followed by a tour.  I, Carolee, was thinking about 12 years ago when we had a tour of GILLBT.   At that time I knew very little about Wycliffe and Bible Translation.  What a change in the last 12 years.  By now I have been on the Wycliffe board for 7 years.

 

 

On our tour we had the privilege of meeting Mary Steele.  She has been doing Bible translation work for 50 years!  That's right - fifty years in Northern Ghana, working with several different language projects!  She is now a consultant.  Last year Mary was given a prestigious award, which was presented to her by Her Royal Highness, Queen Elizabeth!! 

This large computer screen in fascinating.  It shows 5 different languages at one time!  We saw this in an office where 2 Ghanaians and 1 senior missionary were checking a translation to prepare it for printing. 

A highlight of the tour was praying over a newly translated New Testament in the Nawuri language.   The dedication is happening later this month, in a village about 4 hours drive from Tamale. 

This batik wall hanging shows the various aspects of Bible translation and literacy work.