Post by stephenpatrick on Jan 7, 2010 11:08:22 GMT -5
Good morning.
I'm currently in the middle of reading a book called, "These Words Changed Everything." It is about the bringing of the gospel to the Chamula Indians in Southern Mexico. They are decendents of the Maya Indians. Our good friends, Ken and Elaine Jacobs, missionaries with Wicliffe Bible Translators, moved to Mexico in 1959 and started their jobs with learning the language and putting it to words so they could translate the Old and New Testament for this people group, called "The Impossible People."
WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT?
The Chamulas of southern Mexico had little hope. Descendants of the once-proud Maya Indians, they were enslaved by Spanish conquistadors to build a great city and its cathedrals. Centuries later the majority Ladino population continued to discriminate against them.
Chamulas kept themselves poor and wretched by practicing witchcraft and ritual alcoholism within a system designed to keep any one man or woman from rising above the rest. To protect themselves, the tribe kept outsiders at arm’s length and violently guarded their traditions.
Fear was perhaps the greatest price Chamulas paid for the counterfeit comfort of tradition — fear of fellow Mayas and fear of gods who required unwavering obedience and sacrifice.
Then it happened. Chamulas finally met their written language — written words in their own mother tongue. These words caused tens of thousands to abandon their allegiance to death and poverty. These words forged prosperous new lives and permeated communities with uncompromising hope. For the Chamula people, These Words Changed Everything.
I'll relate a story at the end of the first chapter which confirms my original statement, that confirms the truth of John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
A young woman, Paxcu, one of the first believers within the Chamula tribe, had her house torched one night. While she escaped death (even though she was shot in the face and chest running out the front door of her hut) her 2 nieces, and her brother and sister didn't fare so well. They found the the charred remains of thirteen year old Tumina in the burned out house, and collected them in a pail for later burial. They discovered seven year old Abilena, ten year old Domingo, and four year old Angelina huddled together in a mud bathhouse just yards from the home. Domingo was dead, his head nearly severed from his body by a machete blow. Angelina was alive when police arrived but died en route to the hospital. Only seven year old Abelina had survived. A machete slash across her face knocked out some teeth and almost severed on arm, but the bone remained intact.
While recuperating from her wounds three weeks later, Paxcu had a dream. In her dream, Paxcu's sister and brother who were killed in the attack, Tumina and Domingo appeared at her bedside. Paxcu recounted the story.
"My brother put his hand on one shoulder and my sister put her hand on my other. They said, 'Paxcu don't cry'." In the dream, Paxcu challenged her younger sister, "But you burned up."
"No," replied Tumina, "I haven't burned."
Then turning to her brother, Paxcu said, "You died from a machete."
"No," countered Domingo, "I'm alive in heaven."
Paxcu paused, then asked, "Is our mother there?"
"No," they said sadly. "She's not here. She never heard the Word of God."
Paxcu shared her dream with Losha and told her sister that the children, including Losha's daughter Angelina, had not died but were alive and together in heaven. Losha was doubtful, especially since she had seen the children's remains. But the grieving mother had to admit Paxcu's dream confirmed what the new believers were learning as they studied the Good New Words. Believers don't die–they go to be with the Lord.
When I finished reading this first chapter I was floored. I truly believe this is real life confirmation of the truthfulness of John 11:25-26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Ken and Elaine are one of the most quiet and unassuming couple I know. You folks would love them.
There are now tens of thousands of believers in this tribe. This is one of the great modern stories in the history of the spread of the Gospel. The economic, social, educational, political and spiritual transformation of the Chamula Indians is a miracle in our times. I think all of you would enjoy reading this.
I'm currently in the middle of reading a book called, "These Words Changed Everything." It is about the bringing of the gospel to the Chamula Indians in Southern Mexico. They are decendents of the Maya Indians. Our good friends, Ken and Elaine Jacobs, missionaries with Wicliffe Bible Translators, moved to Mexico in 1959 and started their jobs with learning the language and putting it to words so they could translate the Old and New Testament for this people group, called "The Impossible People."
WHAT’S THE BOOK ABOUT?
The Chamulas of southern Mexico had little hope. Descendants of the once-proud Maya Indians, they were enslaved by Spanish conquistadors to build a great city and its cathedrals. Centuries later the majority Ladino population continued to discriminate against them.
Chamulas kept themselves poor and wretched by practicing witchcraft and ritual alcoholism within a system designed to keep any one man or woman from rising above the rest. To protect themselves, the tribe kept outsiders at arm’s length and violently guarded their traditions.
Fear was perhaps the greatest price Chamulas paid for the counterfeit comfort of tradition — fear of fellow Mayas and fear of gods who required unwavering obedience and sacrifice.
Then it happened. Chamulas finally met their written language — written words in their own mother tongue. These words caused tens of thousands to abandon their allegiance to death and poverty. These words forged prosperous new lives and permeated communities with uncompromising hope. For the Chamula people, These Words Changed Everything.
I'll relate a story at the end of the first chapter which confirms my original statement, that confirms the truth of John 11:25-26 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
A young woman, Paxcu, one of the first believers within the Chamula tribe, had her house torched one night. While she escaped death (even though she was shot in the face and chest running out the front door of her hut) her 2 nieces, and her brother and sister didn't fare so well. They found the the charred remains of thirteen year old Tumina in the burned out house, and collected them in a pail for later burial. They discovered seven year old Abilena, ten year old Domingo, and four year old Angelina huddled together in a mud bathhouse just yards from the home. Domingo was dead, his head nearly severed from his body by a machete blow. Angelina was alive when police arrived but died en route to the hospital. Only seven year old Abelina had survived. A machete slash across her face knocked out some teeth and almost severed on arm, but the bone remained intact.
While recuperating from her wounds three weeks later, Paxcu had a dream. In her dream, Paxcu's sister and brother who were killed in the attack, Tumina and Domingo appeared at her bedside. Paxcu recounted the story.
"My brother put his hand on one shoulder and my sister put her hand on my other. They said, 'Paxcu don't cry'." In the dream, Paxcu challenged her younger sister, "But you burned up."
"No," replied Tumina, "I haven't burned."
Then turning to her brother, Paxcu said, "You died from a machete."
"No," countered Domingo, "I'm alive in heaven."
Paxcu paused, then asked, "Is our mother there?"
"No," they said sadly. "She's not here. She never heard the Word of God."
Paxcu shared her dream with Losha and told her sister that the children, including Losha's daughter Angelina, had not died but were alive and together in heaven. Losha was doubtful, especially since she had seen the children's remains. But the grieving mother had to admit Paxcu's dream confirmed what the new believers were learning as they studied the Good New Words. Believers don't die–they go to be with the Lord.
When I finished reading this first chapter I was floored. I truly believe this is real life confirmation of the truthfulness of John 11:25-26
Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Ken and Elaine are one of the most quiet and unassuming couple I know. You folks would love them.
There are now tens of thousands of believers in this tribe. This is one of the great modern stories in the history of the spread of the Gospel. The economic, social, educational, political and spiritual transformation of the Chamula Indians is a miracle in our times. I think all of you would enjoy reading this.
