Stories of Diaspora

This is just one story of how God is using people working with groups in the diaspora to enable Bible translation. In this situation, we hope to see Bible translation enabled in a language where living and working in the homeland would be impossible. We believe that this will become an increasingly significant strategy for SIL through the work of the Global Diaspora Services. 

Araya Zekerias, formerly a prosecutor of the high court in Eritrea, could hardly believe it when he found himself living in a refugee camp in Ethiopia. Due to war, political unrest, the establishment of indefinite involuntary military service, and persecution of Christians, many thousands of Eritreans, just like Araya, had fled to Ethiopia where they lived as refugees.

Stefano is presently part of a Kunama language team who meets virtually every week to translate the New Testament. He has been instrumental in Kunama church growth in the United States. He has helped transition new Kunama arrivals, done medical and legal translations, and has helped produce the Jesus Film in the Kunama language. Most importantly, however, is that all these activities stream out of Stefano’s underlying sense that the scripture is vital for everyone in their own language.

Clene, do you consider yourself a part of the global diaspora?

“I do. I have lived outside my homeland of Rwanda for almost 26 years. We moved from Rwanda in 1994 and most of that time, we have spent here in Kenya; so, I see myself so much as a member of the diaspora."

As a Korean American, Sunny Hong understands firsthand the critical role of diaspora people groups in translation work. (Diaspora are dispersed people groups who settle outside of their homeland.) But Sunny’s own path to serving in missions took many unexpected turns.

“If you could tell the world one thing about Jesus what would you say?” I asked, looking into the eyes of Kividi Kikama on my computer screen as I conducted my interview over Zoom.

Does having scripture in one’s own language really make an impact? Is it easier to do Kayah Li (Karenni) language translations inside or outside of Myanmar? Is there a difference between the behavior of Christians and non-Christians living in the Karenni diaspora? These are the questions that I wanted to find answers for when I interviewed Cember Paw, Bible translator and member of the Karenni diaspora in Finland.