History of Bible Translation in Kambera (Sumba)

In 1982, almost a century after Christianity entered Sumba, the Synod of the Sumba Christian Church (GKS) wanted the Bible to be translated into the Kambera language, which is a common lingua franca in the East Sumba to Central Sumba region. Initially, the GKS initiated Bible translation directly by translating the Old Testament through the literal translation method. This method seeks to maintain the grammatical structure, word order and technical terms of the original languages (Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek) as closely as possible into the target language.

Dr Daniel Arichea happened to come to Sumba. He is a Translation Consultant from the World Fellowship of Biblical Institutions (UBS) who is seconded to the Indonesian Bible Institute (LAI). Pak Daniel suggested that it would be better for the GKS Synod to translate with a dynamic method that prioritises conveying the meaning of the text in the target language.

 

The GKS leaders agreed and were convinced by this suggestion. So a Translation Workshop was held from 28 February to 3 March 1986 at Payeti GKS, Waingapu, led by Dr Daniel Arichea. From the workshop, three people were selected as the Bible Translation Team into Kambera, and four more as the Research Team. The three translators: Rev Mbaha Ratobandjoe, Dr Oe H. Kapita and Rev M. Yiwa. While the Research Team consisted of theological researchers, language researchers, women's language flavour researchers and typists.

Although the roles of all the team members were considerable, it should not be forgotten the long struggle of Rev. Mbaha Ratoebandjoe who was familiarly called Boku (meaning grandfather), one of the members of the translation team who for the completion of the project had to go back and forth from Sumba to Bogor, and even lived for a long time in the LAI translation complex in Bogor.

 

Boku was originally a primary school teacher in Maumaru and Waingapu, East Sumba. In 1939 he was appointed as a teacher of the gospel in Maumaru and Kenanggaru congregations. Boku's theological knowledge was not acquired through formal education, but by reading books and diktats by theological lecturers at Karuni. After 1965 Boku became a consulent pastor in several congregations in Sumba until entering emeritus in 1983.

 

His experience serving in different parts of Sumba enriched Boku's language knowledge. "If I had been placed in the city, I might not have mastered the Kambera language well," Boku said. He believes this is part of God's plan for his life. With a good command of the local language, Boku has been used by God as a tool to communicate His Word to the Christian community in Kambera, Sumba.

 

Initially, the translation of the Bible into the Kambera language went quite smoothly, but the processing of the manuscript took a long time. So, on 16 June 1992, Boku (meaning grandfather) was invited to the LAI Translation Complex in Bogor to resolve various translation issues. Boku worked in Bogor for more than a month until the end of August 1992. As Boku saw too much work to be done, he decided to continue this translation correction in Sumba.

 

Boku's plan to consult on manuscript issues with the other two translators could not be realised. Due to his advanced age, Dr Oe. H. Kapita was declining and could no longer do his job properly. Meanwhile, Rev M. Yiwa was paralysed and mute due to high blood pressure. Rev M. Yiwa passed away in 1994.

 

In addition, Boku also faced difficulties because the manuscript was re-examined based on the 1992 second edition of the Bahasa Indonesia Sehari (BIS) Bible. Meanwhile, the earlier translations were based on the BIS Bible published in 1984. In addition, word truncation also hampered the team's work because there are no standardised rules on word truncation in the Kambera language.

 

To facilitate and speed up the process of completing the manuscript Boku was asked to come again to Bogor. This time he came and stayed temporarily with his wife. On 31 March he and Apu (meaning grandmother) arrived in Bogor and immediately set to work completing the manuscript. For a whole year he lived in Bogor.

 

“Although Apu and I were homesick, I was determined to finish my work," Boku affirmed. "This is truly the grace of God! This translation work brings new history to my family, the church, and the people of Sumba." According to Boku, the people in Sumba have been waiting for a long time for the publication of the Bible in the local language.

 

When the Kambera language Bible was launched, on 9 June 1995, there was also the premiere of the Jesus film version of the Gospel of Luke in the Kambera language which was dubbed by the Indonesian Student Service Institute (LPMI) Jakarta. Boku also took part in this project. Apart from being a translator, Boku acts as a voice actor and dialogue director. The people of God in Sumba, especially in East and Central Sumba, welcome with great joy the presence of the Bible in a language that they understand and is close to their hearts.

 

 “ I am grateful that God is still using me to work for the people, ” he said. “ I am confident that all this is God's plan and I will complete the tasks entrusted to me. ” Hearing Boku's story, it feels like following his life journey. He has translated many manuscripts. Boku has always been consistent with his duties. In between his busy schedule, Boku always took the time to translate ecclesiastical texts. Even when he was sick, Boku still had time to translate spiritual songs.

 

Not just the Bible. This 75-year-old man was previously trusted by the GKS Synod to sit on the Deputy Deliberative Body (Bamusdep) for translation. His task is to translate into Kambera language ecclesiastical texts in the form of forms, songs, or other materials needed by the church.

 

The translation of the Bible in the Kambera language has historical significance in the course of the History of Growth and Development of the GKS because 114 years ago, precisely on 9 June 1881, the first evangelism was held in Sumba which brought several Sumbanese people to believe in Christ and receive baptism.

 

After World War II and the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, there was an awareness that the church in Sumba should be managed independently by Sumba's own sons and daughters, no longer under the control of Dutch mission organisations. So, representatives of congregations from various GKS churches gathered at Payeti, in Waingapu (East Sumba) to hold the first major meeting, which was recorded as the I GKS Synod Session on 15 January 1947, which was later recorded as the founding day of the Sumba Christian Church.