Once in a Lifetime

Sitting on a green hillside in plastic lawn chairs, sun shining above, breezes sweeping through, and foreign languages loudly issuing from speakers attached to snaking extension cords. 

We were at an outdoor church service in the mountains of Peru when it happened. I had a once in a lifetime experience.

The AWI staff member that we were with went up to the elders of the church and handed them a package wrapped in white tissue paper. Carefully the paper was torn away, and two books were revealed. 

Two Bibles.

Now what made this such a special moment? In America a person can walk into almost any bookstore and find a Bible to purchase and bring home. What made this moment something to remember?

Well, many of the people in that small mountain village speak Quechua. Quechua is their heart language, the one that they know and understand with ease. The language that they use to express their emotions, share their thoughts, and discuss their experiences. The language that they use to sing lullabies, encourage their spouse after a long day, and say “I love you.” But until that moment, they had never seen a full Bible in Quechua. They had never held an entire Bible written in the language of their hearts. 

Just recently the translation and publishing of the Bible in three different dialects of Quechua was completed. Now Quechua speakers, like those in that small mountain village in Peru, are beginning to gain access to the word of God in their native language. 

This is striking to me. In the U.S. we talk about what kind of Bible we would like to buy. What version, what size, what type… Do we want it to have cultural study notes? Would we like to have a concordance in the back? Does it have good maps and diagrams? Those things are all well and good, but can you imagine never even having seen a Bible in English? If you are walking with Jesus daily, can you imagine hearing and reading verses only in your second language? Can you envision the impact the absence of an English Bible would have on your life?

Then picture seeing an English Bible for the first time. Picture all the possibilities of understanding that are suddenly opened up to you. You only have two Bibles to share between all the members of your church, but you are still excited to be able to read and learn in the language that hits your heart with fullness and life.

Wow. Take a breath and ponder for a bit what that experience would be like. 

And then imagine getting to see someone have that experience for themselves… 

It was beyond words.

After seeing the presentation of the Bible in Quechua I began to realize how much I take scripture for granted. I so often undervalue the ability to read my Bible whenever I want to. How frequently I forget that the word of God is a treasure to dig into, to appreciate, and to steward with joy!

May we all come to more fully understand the depth of the gift we have in scripture. May we come to see more clearly its great value and to engage with it in a way that brings God glory. Amen and amen.