I Dec. 05  I Nov. 05  I  Oct. 05 I  

November 2005

This Year's Harvest

 “Look at these beautiful books! They just came from the printer!” A group of enthusiastic co-workers have gathered around the bookshelf in the entrance hall of IBT’s Moscow office. Here all the newly printed Bible portions are exposed and duly admired.

So far this year the harvest has been rich – the first New Testament in Yakut was printed in May and has been well received in Siberian Yakutia. The Buryat children, also in Siberia, received the Children’s Bible in their language. The Gospel of Luke was published in four new languages – Caucasian Agul and Ingush, Beludzhi, spoken both in Turkmenistan and in neighboring countries (that’s why this particular book is printed both in Cyrillic and Arabic script), and Koryak, spoken far away on the Siberian peninsula Kamchatka. Besides, portions of Luke’s Gospel were published in the small Siberian Nganasan language, with only about 1,000 speakers. For the Aguls, Ingush, Beludzhi and Nganasans, this is the first Bible portion ever in their languages! And in order to make it easier for the Koryaks and Nganasans, who are not so used to reading their languages, these texts have also been recorded on cassette. 

“It is important that one of the first books in our language is a part of the Bible”, said Nganasan translator Svetlana Zjovnitskaya. “I have been working on the translation with a special interest, because I know that it will be used by coming generations. In spite of all the difficulties, it has been a creative and fascinating task.” Now Svetlana is looking forward to using the Gospel of Luke as a textbook in school. 

Also some Old Testament Bible portions have been printed this year, namely Proverbs in the Dagestani languages Avar and Bezhta, a book containing Ruth, Esther and Jonah in the North Caucasian Nogai language, Genesis in Adyghe, also spoken in Northern Caucasus, and Prophets in Crimean Tatar, presenting the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Solomon, Daniel and Jonah – personalities who are well known to Muslim readers. In Chechen recently a book containing Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther and Daniel was published. 

And the list of printed books for 2005 is not yet complete! “Before the end of the year we plan to print Genesis in Kalmyk, Pentateuch, Ecclesiastes and Psalms in Tuvin, and in Turkmen the Gospel of Luke and a CD recording of Ruth, Jonah and Exodus”, says Tatyana Maiskaya, head of the publishing department at the Moscow office. 

Dear friends, through your faithful support, both financially and in prayer, you are providing God’s word to the people groups in Russia and CIS. May God richly bless you!

Project of the month 

One project which has been ready for a long time, but where we are lacking money for printing, is Psalms in the Kalmyk language. The Buddhist Kalmyks, living on the steppe north of the Caucasus, will greatly benefit from this book.

Please support the printing with your gift this month!