Matu NT Bible

One Small Tribe Shall Rejoice!

MYANMAR — Thirteen years ago, while I was on holiday in Myanmar, I visited the Bible Society for the first time. A customer in the Bible shop, who had overheard that I was from Australia, approached me and asked a question which was to have a profound impact on my life. He said quietly, “When are your people going to help us get the Bible in our own language?”

I had no answer for him then, but that question was the catalyst for my total commitment to the translation of the Bible into the languages of all people. Later I discovered that the man was a Presbyterian pastor from the Matu tribe, which numbers about 22,000. Most of the Matu are Christians.

On many occasions afterwards, whenever I spoke about the work of the Bible Society, I told audiences about the Matu pastor’s question – and prayed that translation work would begin. On the last day of my most recent visit to Myanmar, two members of the five-member Matu translation team came from Matupi to Bible House, Yangon (formerly Rangoon), to have their work checked by UBS Translation Consultant Dr Stephen Hre Kio.

I had the immense privilege of meeting the diminutive Rev Ngai Tim, now 67, who was the first person to put the Matu language into writing. He has been in ministry for 47 years, using a Bible which is not in his own language. It is estimated that at least 3,500 people have become Christians as a result of Ngai Tim’s ministry.

Road disappears!

Stephen goes to Yangon twice a year to meet with the Matu translation team. When he plans his visits, he makes sure it is not the rainy season. If it rains, the road in Matupi disappears and the translation team have to walk for five days before they can get any transport. On this occasion, Ngai Tim had walked the first 100km of the 600km journey.

“In 1992 I decided to go to Matupi instead of the team coming here,” Stephen remembers. “It took me seven days by car, stalling on steep hills, avoiding the holes in the road, and having to put a fire under the engine in extremely cold weather on the high mountains.”

There have been many obstacles, but the Matu New Testament will be published this year. Translation work has taken eight years, and the Old Testament may take three times as long. But Ngai Tim says, “I will not be happy to leave this life until the whole Matu Bible is finished.” (WR 343/10 - 9.99) [PHOTOS]

<<<Back