On Thursday and Friday a few of us went to Katherine to see the translation of the Prayer Book from English into Kriol. Bishop Greg Anderson picked us up at 5:00 am in the morning, and we drove for three hours from Darwin to Katherine. On the way he taught us basic Kriol grammar, including prepositions and verbs.
We met many Indigenous church leaders there who are helping to produce the Kriol Prayer Book. The translation team are all missionaries and Indigenous church leaders around the Territory.
It was our privilege to meet those who had translated the Kriol Bible in the past.
We conducted a mock funeral with a mannequin on a sick bed, testing out the draft Prayer Book for funeral services.
Afterward, we were seperated into groups and some of us began to translate the Lord’s Prayer from English into Kriol and the others translated the Kriol back into English. The reverse translation helped us to make the final translation more accurate.
Very soon, we got to know some of the Indigenous Church leaders better. They were very friendly and patient, helping some of our team members to understand Kriol.
By the end of Thursday lunch we had come to know one another better as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ.
We give thanks to God for the experience we shared, and the friendship we have developed over the 2 days in Katherine, it was a wonderful cross-cultural experience.
Please pray for Bishop Greg Anderson and CMS Translators Kate and Tavis as they continue to lead the translation of the Kriol Prayer Book. pray for accuracy, and completion within the time schedule, so that many Kriol communities will benefit from their labour, giving glory to the Father in formal worship across the diocese.
Please also pray for the Indigenous church leaders, especially Rev. Marjorie, Rev. James, Rev. Carol, Mandy and JoJo as they continue to translate the Prayer Book. Please pray for their health, wisdom and energy to lead their churches in rural communities. And pray for more ministry workers to work with these fantastic Indigenous leaders in their communities.
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