How Long Will It Take?

The Tedim Still Wait

by Becky Kerr

High in the Chin Hills of Myanmar live a people group that eagerly awaits the completion of the entire Bible in their language. In fact, when Kim Hibbard, a BI consultant residing in India, comes for a checking session and visits a Tedim church, she is always bombarded with the same question: “When will the Tedim Bible be finished?” Currently a revision of the New Testament, published in 2000 by Bibles International, is being conducted. And on the heels of that, no doubt, the translation team will be ready to begin the Old Testament, a process that generally takes 12 – 15 years.

It’s not just the eagerness of the people that is commendable; it’s also their diligence. Currently two men, Mung and Sian, are working as translators. Both are well-educated men who hold positions of leadership in their churches as well as teach in a Bible college. Their family responsibilities are heavy as well, with Mung and his wife operating a children’s home that houses 17 children. No doubt the love of Christ compels them.

Sian has found a way to involve his family in his translation ministry. He has his three little girls memorize and recite verses in the book of Psalms that he has translated. This accomplishes two very worthwhile goals: 1) It allows his children to hide God’s Word in their hearts, and 2) It lets Sian see if the translation sounds natural in the Tedim language.

Pray for these two men and the rest of the Tedim Chin translation team. And as you do, thank God that His name is being glorified in places all around the world.