Meeting December 10, 2005, about Banna Spelling

The Banna Christians (and maybe some officials) met with the translation team on Saturday, December 10th, to discuss the various options for a spelling system. I expected them to choose the same system the Aari leaders had chosen, which would not show vowel length at all. Instead, they chose a system used by another neighboring people group (unrelated language), which shows vowel length by adding a second character to syllables with long vowels. Since they already have to decide from context on consonant length and tone, it is good they won't have to guess at vowel length as well.

Upon first hearing the news, I was concerned that the Christians may have chosen this system because one of my colleagues expressed a preference for it. I thought, "If that's the case, they may still dislike the system and ask to change it after we've rewritten the primer and published several more books." That worried me.

I read from my Aari New Testament each evening, and that evening I came to Mark 15:6-15. I saw that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to Pilate for judgment out of envy, and Pilate knew it. I saw that the chief priests influenced the crowd to ask for Barabbas' release and Jesus' crucifixion. (Crowds are often willing to be "stirred up" for evil.) And I saw that Pilate, knowing full well that Jesus was innocent, handed him over to be crucified anyway because he wanted to please the crowd. I said, "Lord, it was all politics. I hate politics!" But then He reminded me that all these things happened according to His plan. If the crowd had not been swayed by the chief priests, or if Pilate had stood firm for justice, we wouldn't have a Savior!

"Okay," I said. "I don't know whether the decision re. the Banna spelling was politically motivated or not, but I know You are sovereign. Many people were praying for Your will to be done in the meeting, and I am going to trust You that it was."

We will need to rewrite the primers for teaching people to read. And the books we've published will need to be reprinted in the new spelling. That's okay. Please praise God with me for the decision that was made, and pray that the Banna Christians and the officials who read Banna will enthusiastically participate in a literacy effort. There is much work to be done. Pray for strength and perseverance for all concerned.

Thank you again for your part in all this by your prayers.