Even when we speak the same language, we don't use the same words. Our Banna translation team in Ethiopia spends many hours with the specially appointed Review Committee seeking the best way to express Biblical texts in the Banna language. It's not as easy as one might think. The Committee has read meticulously through Acts and Mark over the past two months and helped us to improve the wording tremendously.

Recently the translation team organized people to help them read the Kafa Scriptures. As one group read about Jesus' crucifixion in Luke, a man began to weep and said, "I am not a follower of Christ who gave his life for others. If someone wronged me I would plan to revenge him sevenfold. So how can I call myself a follower of Jesus, who endured such suffering although innocent?"

He then went and asked forgiveness from his wife and from his neighbors for the way he had treated them. Kafa translator, Matewos, wrote, "He repented of his sin and asked forgiveness from people and from the Lord. The story of this man increased our conviction about the power of hearing the word of God in one's own tongue, to transform lives and to lead people to spiritual maturity."

• Please pray that the Banna Review Committee will faithfully meet with the translation team to check every New Testament book.
• Pray for spiritual breakthrough among the Banna people just as happened for the Kafa man who read the Kafa Scriptures for the first time.
• Pray with us as we check Leviticus with the Kafa team in February 2011.

submitted by Carolyn Ford

Learn more about the Banna People.