Lutheran Bible Translators Australia (LBTA)

Papua New Guinea - Bukawa Language

William (Bill) and Dianne Eckermann began linguistic and translation work among the Bukawa speaking people of Papua New Guinea in 1990. The Bukawa language is spoken by over 10,000 people who live around the coastal area of the Huon Gulf in the Morobe Province of PNG.

Bill and Dianne have three children, Daniel, Angela, and Andrew who grew up in PNG, doing their primary schooling by correspondence, and secondary education at the Ukarumpa International School's Secondary Campus. Daniel and Andrew are both married, and Bill and Di have two granddaughters from Daniel and his wife Anne.

In February 2001 dedication services were held at Bukawa and Busamang for the completion of The Bukawa New Testament.

Bill and Di and family left Bukawa for Adelaide at the end of 2002. Since then Bill continues to work part time as incoming support enables. In 2007 his analysis of the Bukawa grammar was published by the Australian National University in Canberra in the Pacific Linguistics series. Another of Bill’s roles is as a Bible translation consultant. He has made several trips to Vanuatu to help SIL translators there with the consultant checking of translated materials, and will return again in 2008. From time to time he also helps to do consultant checking by email, for translators working in PNG.

In 2007 the Eckermanns agreed to assist a group of Sudanese refugees in Australia, who speak the Ma’di language of southern Sudan and parts of Uganda, with a project to re-translate the New Testament and ultimately all of the Bible. This support has included translation training, and then mentoring and advising the team of 8 or 9 men who are undertaking the project. By the end of 2008 they hope to publish the translation of Mark’s gospel, and work is underway on the book of Acts.

Bill and Dianne re-visited the Bukawa people in PNG during 2008. They found that the Elementary schools they helped to establish are working well, and less than 100 New Testaments remain in storage in Lae. Since the visit, Bill has prepared several ‘read and colour’ books and a picture dictionary for the Elementary schools to use, and is working on a longer term project to revise and reprint the Bukawa Dictionary, and make it available for a PNG linguistic database.

Click here to read the latest newsletter from Bill & Di

LBTA in PNG Video

This interesting video is available for hire from the Board for Mission Office. It gives the background behind the translation of the Bukawa New Testament. It could be used in women's or men's groups, study groups or congregations.

Northern Australia - Aboriginal Kriol Language

Margaret Mickan works in Australia with the Aboriginal Kriol speaking people of Northern Australia. Margaret is based in Darwin.

In May 1991 the third edition of the Kriol Holi Baibul was dedicated. It involved the release of all the New Testament and 30% of the Old Testament. Work continues on the rest of the Old Testament with Numbers, Ecclesiastes and some of Psalms recently completed. An important milestone will be reached when the full Bible has been translated and published in Kriol.

But translation is only the first part. The second (equally important) goal is to see that the Baibul is widely distributed and used throughout the large area where Kriol is spoken. Many communities, who have not had any contact with or knowledge of the Kriol Baibul, will need to be trained to read Kriol so that they can help others to read it. This task could take at least five years.

Then there is the Kimberley area of Western Australia (WA) where the Aboriginal Education Workers in the Kimberley schools are currently trialling a different spelling system to the one used in the Northern Territory (NT). Their Kriol is different to the NT Kriol. The Kriol Baibul may have to be adapted for use in WA and this would also require extra help.

Click here to read the latest newsletter from Margaret

Kriol Bible Update

Excitement is brewing as the Kriol team continues the proof-reading stage in preparation for the printing of the Kriol Bible.

Extra people are involved in preparing Bible Kits to be used to encourage the use of the Scriptures. These include bible bags, a time line and a booklet with additional helps, as well as a pocket-size copy of the Gospel of John in Kriol.

The Bible will go to the printers by the end of October, and while it's there the Kriol team will be planning the dedication and post dedication promotional tours. A dream is to involve some secondary students studying in Darwin, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, in the tours.

We are extremely grateful that the Bible Society in Australia has pledged support for the publishing of the Kriol Bible. It is anticipated that each Bible will cost around $50.00 to publish.

To assist in promotion, the LCA has set up a special fund within Lutheran Bible Translators Australia which members can contribute to. A lump sum will then be presented to the Bible Society towards publication costs. The LCA also hopes to contribute towards the cost of colour illustrations in the Kriol Bible.

If you would like to help put a Kriol Bible in the hands of those who are eagerly waiting for it, your support would be very much appreciated. Please make donations out to LBTA – Kriol Bible Translation and send to the Board for Mission, 197 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006.

God bless each of you and all you are doing in his mission.

Margaret Mickan.