Lutheran Bible Translators is committed to bringing the transformative power of God’s Word to the Datoga Taturu people in Tanzania. The Taturu language group is spread across six different regions, which impacts the scope and direction of the translation program. From the scarcity of Christians within the language community to logistical issues in reaching nomadic groups, every challenge only deepens the resolve of local leaders.
The vision is clear: to see lives changed as the community engages with Scripture in the language they understand best. This initiative, part of our broader mission to make the Bible accessible to every language group, has seen both significant progress and faced notable challenges.
Last year began with two workshops in Shinyanga and Mwanza. Participants, including community stakeholders and translator candidates, came to learn more about Bible translation. Early meetings like this allow us to interview and get to know potential translators, while establishing understanding and consensus around the entire program and the direction.
In our workshops, we discovered there are multiple dialects we are dealing with – if there’s dialect confusion or we do not choose the appropriate dialect, it can lead to problems later where the community will not accept the translation. To build community awareness and understand the language situation better, we have begun to pursue Oral Bible Storytelling with teams formed across dialects. Teams craft and share Bible stories (e.g. Cain and Abel) to share with communities, which significantly enhance understanding and collaboration. This initiative not only promises effective dialect selection but also fosters unity, ensuring translations resonate deeply within the community and paving the way for a community-involved effort.
Missionary Tiffany Smith plays an important role in the partnership with the South East of Lake Victoria Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania. As a community engagement specialist, she facilitates decision-making and guides teams toward better practices in translation and Scripture engagement by bridging the gap between the local team and Lutheran Bible Translators. Tiffany emphasizes the complexity of translation, advocating for direct community involvement in the process to capture cultural and linguistic nuances effectively. Describing her role as akin to a “GPS,” she helps the program leaders navigate challenges, while maintaining the community’s central role in driving translation forward to the goal.
As we look forward, our efforts continue to be guided by the belief that Scripture is more than words—it’s a source of hope, life, and transformation. Our partnership with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the unwavering support of our donors are vital in bringing the light of God’s Word to the Datoga Taturu people, aiding in their socio-economic development and spiritual growth.
We are grateful for the opportunity to provide an update to The Bolick Foundation, whose mission aligns so beautifully with our own. Together, we forge ahead, committed to making a lasting impact on the Datoga Taturu community in Tanzania.
Lutheran Bible Translators is a faithful partner of The Bolick Foundation.