Project 8535

Translation work began in Topura (a dialect of the Wedau language) in 2005. The Gospel of Mark was published in 2010 and just under 2500 verses of OT selections, plus Mark and Acts in 2016. Currently Luke plus the Pauline ’T’ epistles and Philemon have been consultant checked and all but six of the remaining NT books (plus the remaining Psalms) are in first draft.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic Stephen, the translation advisor, is unable to travel to work with the team in the village, but they are continuing to conduct village translation checks in his absence.  In order to finish drafting and advisor checking, five team members will periodically travel to Alotau to work intensively over three-week sessions, until it is possible for Stephen to once again make trips to PNG to meet face-to-face. Staying at the SIL (PNG) regional centre will allow the Topura team to meet virtually with Stephen over the internet for daily translation/checking sessions.