Conscription threat looms, but God’s faithfulness stands stronger

A year ago in April, fear was lurking in Achokia. As OGC’s Civil War raged into its fourth year, disturbing news was filtering up to the remote mountaintops of Achokia. Conscription letters were being issued across the country, pressing 18- to 31-year-olds into service to fight against their own countrymen.

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The Achok translation team boldly stated that all they could do was pray. That was everything they wanted from us who were at a distance, too. They would faithfully remember that God was right there with them.

Meanwhile they were furiously planning to launch a first-ever vision-building trip across their entire language area. Days later, they hit the trails, two people on each small motorbike, venturing first to the most difficult to reach village. It was worth every bit of effort!

Theresa and Ellen, Ken and Victor, Richard, Noah and George—everyone took a turn sharing one aspect of their work, one motive, one purpose. From the basics of the ability to read and write their very own Achokian to their outlook of translating the New Testament in 15 years, the excitement was palpable, and encouragement poured back in return.

“In the midst of darkness, you have given us light and happiness.”

The Achok translation team made a special mention, too. They know they are not on their own in this translation task. So, they told their people about the church in Canada, loving believers who pray for them and support the translation effort. This stunned the Achok—they were amazed and motivated, committing to be faithful in prayer.

From one village to another, the team brought encouragement, literacy teaching, hymns in Achokian, ideas and enthusiasm. In turn, they were lavished with meals, prayers, and comments like, “Put all your effort into what you are doing. We’ll help you!” At least one brother, in the midst of region-wide struggles to survive, pressed money into the hands of the team.

Threats of conscription had not clearly passed. But God’s faithfulness filled their vision.

Thinking back on the entire trip and looking ahead into the unknown, Victor concluded: “We are not discouraged. We just want to know how God will cause us to face this. We will continue to translate, in the jungle as needed. We just don’t yet know where or how.”

Notes: Achok, Achokia and Achokian are pseudonyms for a people, their region and language in a remote mountaintop area of Southeast Asia. OGC, “Our God’s Country,” is a pseudonym for their country, and all personal names are pseudonyms, to protect the Achok translators.