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When I heard the Word of God in Altai my heart began to sing!
In the middle of December two IBT colleagues had the privilege of presenting the first New Testament in Altai in Gorno-Altaisk, the capital of the Altai Republic in southern Siberia, on the border with Mongolia and China. It was a thrilling experience. It became very obvious that the New Testament had come at the right time. The number of Christians among the Altai people is growing. On the eve of the presentation all the churches were invited to a great celebration at which Altai people in national costume sang Christian songs in their language, read passages from the New Testament and treated us to Altai food, including boiled sheep’s intestines… So many expressed their joy at having the New Testament at last. “Now we can read the Word of God in our language day and night!” one young woman called out. The next day representatives of the government, university, cultural life and all Christian denominations, as well as a Buddhist monk, a shaman and a Muslim imam took part in the official presentation at Gorno-Altaisk University. “The New Testament is a gift to the Altai people. Because of this book many Altai people will return to their language and to God,” the Social Affairs Minister said. The Director of the Language Institute stated: “The fact that we now have the New Testament in our language is a sign that our language will survive.” “I should like this New Testament to be distributed to every Altai home so that all the Altai people would have the opportunity to read it,” said the Orthodox priest, while the imam congratulated the Altai people, adding: “As a Muslim, I am very glad that the New Testament is now in Altai.” The shaman said: “Altai people, receive and read this book, for it is a great gift!” Just imagine what might happen when all these people really begin to read the Word of God in their mother tongue! Thank you for your support during 2003. We wish you a Happy New Year and hope that you will continue to support us with your prayers and donations in 2004. Barbro Lindström
Project of the Month The Altai New Testament is the sixth of the fifteen New Testaments that IBT intends to publish by 2005. The others are making good progress! Support the work on these with your donation to the project of the month. |
Joy shone in the young man’s eyes as he took the microphone and said: “I have never spoken in public before, but today when I heard the Word of God in Altai my heart began to sing! I am so happy! Thank you for translating the New Testament into our language!”