Thousands celebrate Guaraní Bible launch

CAMIRI, Bolivia — When the Bolivian Bible Society offered to provide transport for people wanting to attend the launch of the Guaraní Bible in this southern Bolivian town on December 8, it never dreamed that nearly 1,000 people would respond.

But that is exactly what happened - for Bolivia’s Guaraní people, the publication of the Bible in their language was a significant moment in their history and many wanted to be part of the celebrations. So, on the day before the launch, people from scattered communities across the eastern Izozo region piled onto trucks and a train hired by the Bible Society and began a day-long journey, arriving in the town at 4am.

Churches in Bolivia were equally overjoyed at the publication of the new Bible and willingly raised money to help the Bible Society meet the costs of transporting so many people to the launch. Churches in Camiri also provided breakfast and lunch for all those who had travelled so far.

“That such a spirit of Christian brotherhood was shown before the launch even started is probably one of the reasons why the atmosphere at the ceremony was like a fiesta [festival],” said Dr Bill Mitchell, UBS Americas Regional Translation Coordinator, who attended the event.

Many others made their own way to the launch and, by the time the ceremony was under way, about 2,500 people were crowded into Camiri’s stadium. The launch, a joyful event full of music and thanksgiving lasting three hours, was attended by local officials, Guaraní leaders, church and mission leaders and Bible Society staff.

The publication of the new Bible is a significant milestone for the Bolivian Bible Society (BoBS) because Guaraní is only the fourth language of Bolivia to have a complete translation of the Bible. The other three are Aymara, Quechua and Spanish - the country’s official languages. But for the Guaraní people, who, according to Dr Mitchell, are at a “crucial point” in their history, the new Bible is also “a sign of hope”.

“The Guaraní people mostly live in the Chaco, an area that stretches through the southeastern corner of Bolivia and through portions of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil,” he explained. “The Chaco is facing widespread desertification due to climate changes, and the way of life of the Guaraní people, who are mostly small-scale farmers, is under threat.”

"In addition, they are a minority in Bolivia. The arrival of the Bible in their language is a sign of hope for them and will help them to preserve their culture.”

Dr Mitchell added that the background to the translation of the Guaraní Bible also painted a positive picture of the growth of Christianity among the Guaraní, who number around 70,000.

“The translation team was made up entirely of Guaraní people - no missionaries were involved in the actual translating work,” he commented.

“This is a very good sign of the growth and development of the church in Latin America in general and among the Guaraní in particular. In the last few years of the project the Translation Consultant was also a Guaraní speaker - Tito Lahaye from neighbouring Paraguay.”

Work on the Guaraní Bible began in 1992 following a meeting between churches, the Hable Guaraní Literature Committee, UBS and BoBS. The New Testament, originally published in 1974, was revised, and the Old Testament and Deuterocanon translated. The Bible is available in both Roman Catholic and Protestant editions.