Hold the Mayo

Raissa, the Brazilian staff of YWAM Tribal Winds, was sitting at the kitchen table two days into the second week of translation work at YWAM’s satellite base in the Hopi village of Kykotsmovi (K-town for short) praying and discussing whether or not she should track down and enlist the help of a certain Christian Hopi man she knew. She had lost contact with the man, nicknamed Mayo, some months back. Within two minutes, unsolicited, Mayo called her asking if she could use his help with anything. By the next day, Mayo joined the Hopi translation team in the living room of the base.

God handpicked the team who joined us throughout the week. There were seven or eight members of the Hopi nation who were with us at least a portion of the week as we got to know and love each one and the different strengths they brought to the already-talented team of Master’s students and instructor who facilitated the oral translation of chapter one of Ruth. There were so many “God moments” as the Hopi translators related personal stories of how Ruth related each one of them personally and deeply.

Living and working among the Hopi for this brief period of time, it was fascinating to see and hear the Hopi’s local customs and legends and how many of their stories had parallels with Bible stories. These precious people have an imprint of God character but need to see Jesus and accept Him for who He is.

While we did a thorough translation of the first chapter of Ruth using a relational storytelling method, the rest of the translation of the book happened apart from the larger group of Master’s students. Raissa and one remaining Master’s student stayed in the area to help complete the project with the new, very confident and capable Hopi translation team. The Hopi are already asking for an oral translation of Esther!