Ikizu

Bible Translation is hard work!  (Click here to see more pictures, and HERE to see pictures of the recent dedication!!!)


On March 29, 2012 the Ikizu people dedicated Luke and Ruth in their language!  This is the first time they've ever heard or read Scripture in Ikizu! They are working on Translating: Genesis

You can be praying that: 
  • the translator wouldn't be sick
  • more people would become Christians
  • nothing would stop translation from happening (including drought, not enough money, and people going against the work)

Population: 50,000 Ikizu and Sizaki people
(The Ikizu and Sizaki people consider themselves to be different people groups, but their languages are really close to each other.  The groups get along well, and the Sizaki seem happy to use the Ikizu Bible translation as their own.)

Religions: Christian, Muslim, and people who practice traditional religion.
In the traditional Ikizu religion, the sun is the main god, and people also worship their deceased ancestors. They believe there are many taboos to follow and special places to worship, such as groves of trees.

Here are a few stories about the Ikizu people and translation work.  






Meet the TRANSLATOR!

This is Rukia.  Rukia is the only translator for the Ikizu people right now.  There were two translators, but one of them recently moved away.  Rukia is a widow; her husband died about 15 years ago, leaving her with three small children.  She followed the religion of Islam for a long time, but got frustrated because she couldn't understand what they were saying in mosque.  (In Islam, people are only allowed to use Arabic.)  Eventually Rukia came to know Jesus through reading a Bible and getting to know people at a church.  Because she knows what it feels like to not understand what people are saying in church, Rukia is determined to get the Bible into the Ikizu language. 

Rukia is working really hard, but she has been sick a lot lately and really needs your prayers.  There has also been a lot of trouble finding people to help with the Ikizu translation and they really need a lot of prayer to keep getting more Scripture into their language. 
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