Daily Topic for May 23, 2010
Notice that in John 10:10, Jesus starkly contrasted what Satan offers (death, destruction and theft) with what He offers (an abundant life). One of the major differences the gospel makes in the lives of Christ’s followers is the knowledge and hope that a wonderful God loves them and will care for them! Now that the Kaingang people have the Bible in their own language, they have had the opportunity to personally know the God who came to give them abundant life that cannot be taken away. The results for their earthly lives are encouraging.
Thank the Lord for the abundant life now lived out by the Kaingang people!
by GC
Ursula Wiesemann served with the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) for decades among the Kaingang people of southern Brazil. Upon her arrival in 1958, she had met a group who had lost all sense of self-respect. They walked with stooped shoulders and sad, long faces. All their contacts with the outside world had convinced them that they were stupid and worthless. They had no written language and struggled to learn Portuguese, usually abandoning the effort. Gradually, Ursula encouraged a few to learn both Portuguese as well as Kaingang, which she had put into written form. One student, Galdino, learned to pose his own content questions as follow-up to stories they had read. This proved a turning point for him and other students as well.
After more than 40 years of transcription, translation and instruction, Ursula says “the old patterns of hopelessness are no longer visible.” Their leaders are now bilingual and increasingly well educated. Not only are they well educated, they read the Bible in their own language and understand the message of hope it portrays.
Although they still face incursions from illegal poachers and loggers, they are gaining the ability to address these threats. From a dwindling population five decades ago, they have regained numbers to about 25,000.
Learn more at joshuaproject.netPray that the Bible in their language will speak to the hearts of the Kaingang people and their leaders. Pray that the number of believers among the Kaingang people will grow as their population blossoms.
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