I stood graveside, listening to our interpreter translate the story of this village. An old man told the history of war and sacrifice. My heart beat faster as I learned that the armies of my forebearers had battled in this place. I suddenly felt very vulnerable. Defenseless. Fearful that people who looked like me had left a trail of violence and destruction. Despite this, I found the strength to quietly admit my heritage. I waited for the response.
The silence weighed heavily but was broken when the village elder said, “No. Your people defended ours. We are indebted to them.”
My smile trembled through tears.
Two hundred years ago, two battles were raging around the world. The physical battle was sometimes the violent imposition of control by colonial powers. At the same time, a spiritual battle was underway. You might be surprised to hear that, at least in this case, the colonial power was not the spiritual aggressor.
During the 12th century, Islam spread aggressively into Asia through military conquest. Their influence continues until today. But during the colonial period, local people enlisted the assistance of a European colonial power to resist the imposition of sharia law upon their people. Through this alliance, Sharia law was held off.
It was after this that European military chaplains told the local people about Jesus Christ. Baptisms followed. Peace triumphed both in the region and in the hearts of the people.
As the peace continued to hold, Mennonite Christians from the Ukraine and Switzerland came to these communities. The first Mennonite church was built in this village in 1834. These missionaries are buried in the graves where I stood crying.
Three graves were unnaturally close together. They were the graves of a mother and her twin babies. All three died during childbirth. I winced involuntarily, then trembled for several moments thinking of my daughters and grandsons.
During the past 182 years, this community of Christians has persevered despite daunting challenges. This year, they decided they had waited long enough to have God’s Word in their language.
So for the past two weeks they set aside every other priority in order to translate the Bible for their people.
On Friday January 29, 2016, they celebrated and dedicated the first 18 books of the New Testament in their language. Their plan is to finish the rest of the New Testament in their language after harvest—this April. Their vision is to have the entire Bible translated into their language by the end of this year. Their faith in action is inspiring!
But do you see the heartbreaking tragedy here?
They waited 182 years to begin something that took two weeks to accomplish. 182 years.
I can barely type. My hands are shaking, and my heart is pounding so hard.
People told them they could not do it. Told them they were not qualified. Told them they were unable. Told them they were not intelligent. Told them they were not permitted.
Today, even after they have done it, through the gift of the Internet, someone took extra effort to tell me they have not done it.
But . . . they have done it. God enabled them. All we did was have the faith to tell them He would.
To God be the glory, both now, and forever. Here. In this place. And in every place, both in heaven and on earth. His testimony is powerful . . . and it’s spreading. He guarantees its impact in Isaiah 55.
