Biem written down
There is no Biem word for “read.”
That is because the Biem people have always been an oral society. Every ancestral story and piece of family history has been passed down by mouth.
Even though the Biems have a complete spoken language, it has not existed in written form. Consequently, the elders of the island have been concerned about losing their language. Absent the structure of a written standard, the elders lament that the young people don’t speak “proper” Biem anymore.
Since 2009, Wayne and Gail Chen have worked along with others of their team to learn Biem culture and language as well as to build relationships with the Biem people. They share that, after many hours of “banging their heads against the wall,” they have become proficient Biem speakers.
Three families have worked together to develop the written Biem language, which is based on the English alphabet.
Recently, 23 students enrolled in the first Biem literacy class. The Chens are excited about their friends learning to read and write their language for the first time.
They share that the literacy work, which is headed up by co-worker Thomas Depner, is essential to the Bible translation project which is now under way. Wayne has recently been working on chapters from Exodus. They anticipate that Firm Foundations Bible teaching will begin by summer.
Please pray for God’s grace on the Biem translation team and on the upcoming Bible teaching. Pray for Wayne and Gail Chen and their family -- that God will encourage them in their part of this important task. Pray, too, for Biem hearts to be open and prepared to receive God’s Word and respond to the Gospel.