Have you ever been misunderstood? Misunderstandings happen easily even in a culture familiar to you, but imagine what would happen if you entered a foreign culture. Something as innocent as a smile may be considered friendly or may come across as suggestive. Missionaries want to minimize misunderstandings in order for the Word of God to be expressed as clearly as possible. To overcome cultural misunderstandings, missionaries work to achieve an extensive understanding of a culture. To do this, they begin by entering as learners – observing, documenting, and categorizing everything they see. Simultaneously, they begin learning the language by listening, isolating the sounds of the language, and learning words from the nationals by pointing at certain objects and role-playing. Language consultants keep track of their progress and offer insight into how to reach the next level of fluency. Missionaries are required to be at a high proficiency language and culture level before Bible teaching can begin.

“There is nothing more rewarding than hearing the awe in someone’s voice when they say, ‘God speaks my language!’ It’s worth giving your life for,” – translator Darcy Berglund.

The process of translation is a tedious one. Missionaries work side-by-side with nationals to ensure that the wording of the translation accurately reflects God’s heart as written in the original texts. They also work to express it in a way that fits the language’s natural patterns. After a portion of Scripture is translated, they send it through multiple checks by both nationals and missionary consultants who ensure the quality of the translation before it is approved for printing. The missionaries then teach from the freshly translated Scripture. They teach chronologically, starting in Genesis and ending in Revelation with emphasis given to overarching themes throughout the Scriptures.

What would you understand if, after your conversion, you were left to figure out Scripture on your own? Most likely, you would be pretty confused or even end up believing something false! Missionaries labor to equip the new church with the resources it needs to thrive by translating the Bible into their heart language and by teaching them read it. They also disciple the new believers, all the while keeping alert to any false doctrines or syncretism (blending of religions) infiltrating their thinking. As the church matures, the missionaries gradually hand over more and more responsibilities until the church is able to function independently. The missionaries then move out to the city where they remain distant but available to offer help and guidance if needed.