Signs of the Times

From an item in The Salvation Army War Cry Chicago, Illinois

Another of those New Testaments in languages with exotic-sounding names is ready for the press in Mexico.

This time it is a dialect of the Chinantec Indian language of southern Mexico. Translators W. Paul Smith... and his wife Dorothy, members of Wycliffe Bible Translators, have spent most of 17 years on the project.

The Smiths lived for several years in the Indian village of Ojitlan, Oaxaca, to learn the previously unwritten tonal language and formulate a Chinantec alphabet before beginning the translation. Two of the tribesmen served as language helpers....

According to Mr. Smith, this translation will serve some 10.000 Indians of the Ojitlan dialect. Translation or preliminary linguistic work is under way by Wycliffe tennis in eight other Chinantec dialects.

"Many Chinantecs are illiterate, but Scripture portions already published in Chinantec have created a lot of interest in learning to read," reports Mr. Smith. "We have seen people with no former interest in literacy become motivated as soon as they hear the Word of God read in their own language. We expect an enthusiastic reception for the New Testament when it comes off the press."

New computer techniques recently adopted by Wyclifi'e will speed up a translator's work, improve accuracy in the translation and lower the total cost of a New Testament.

From an editorial
in The San Diego Union
San Diego, California

The beatitudes... expressed Christ's healing words to a world so needing hope. The words are as pertinent and perceptive today as that day in Syria nearly 2,000 years ago.

It is part of the greatest story ever told. From it we obtain inspiration, guidance, principle, expectation and hope....

Christianity has spread from a handful of followers to hundreds of millions all over the world. It lives, more vigorous than ever, 19 centuries later.

The spirit of worship, brotherhood and eternal hope is the road to real peace. It can only come from a perfect understanding and practice of the message reported from those Syrian hills.

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy."

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