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TRANSCRIPT
Christmas Countdown—The Word Became Human
Description:
Using Christmas Scripture readings, true stories of God’s power, prayers,
and crafts, children will count down December days until Christmas in a
meaningful way.
Aims:
• Children will hear or read the Christmas story from the Bible.
• Children will glimpse the excitement of people receiving the gift of
God’s Word for the first time.
• Children will learn a bit about different aspects of Bible translation
through true stories.
• Children will pray for Bible translation and people in the story.
• Children will create Christmas ornaments that remind them of the
story so that they can retell it.
Audience:
Grades K–6
Settings:
Your family can complete one segment each day at home from
December 1–25, or Sunday school teachers and teachers of five-day
classrooms can choose an option provided on page 3.
Minimum Time Requirements:
5–10 minutes each day
Scripture:
Various
If you have any questions or problems related to this lesson, please contact Wycliffe’s Children’s Communications team at: [email protected]. No part of this lesson may be republished or sold without permission. Copying for classroom use is encouraged! © Wycliffe 2013 More curricula to engage children in Bible translation are available at www.wycliffe.org/kids.
Materials:
• Bible • Scissors • Ornaments printed from page 18 onto sturdy paper (one per child for each day)
• Newspapers to cover tables for easy clean-up
• Items for coloring, drawing, and decorating ornaments (pencils, markers, crayons, glue sticks, glitter, plastic jewels, sequins, and ribbon)
• Paper hole punch • Small, empty box wrapped as a Christmas gift for Day One introduction lesson
If you have downloaded this
lesson from the website:
• Twenty-five small lunch bags or festive gift bags
• Ribbon, cord, or yarn for a line long enough to hold the bags
(Materials continued on page 2)
Introduction:
Gifts are often the main focus of the Christmas season. Whether giving or
receiving, we can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of purchasing and not
focus on what Christmas is truly about—the birth of Jesus Christ when the Word
became human. This Christmas Countdown helps children think about eternal
gifts, such as people receiving Scripture in their language for the very first time.
With Christmas Scripture readings, true stories of God’s power, prayers, and
crafts, children will count down the days until Christmas in a meaningful way. The
set includes twenty-five short segments—do them all or choose only what fits
your schedule! (You can even watch and listen to some of the included
Scriptures at www.scriptureearth.org.)
Preparations:
• Set a time of day to do the Christmas Countdown—after breakfast, at
lunchtime, or before bed. Try to be consistent to build anticipation.
• Collect table covers for easy clean-up (such as newspapers), pencils,
colored markers, crayons, glue sticks, jewels, beads, glitter, sequins, and
other items to decorate ornaments. (Choking Hazard: Do not use small
beads or other items with children who may choke on them.)
• Gift wrap a small, empty box for introducing this series.
• If time permits, preview and choose audio and video Scriptures for your
children available at www.scriptureearth.org.
• Print one ornament per child for each of the twenty-five days, or for the
days in your alternative countdown plan, and cut them apart.
• Optional: Prepare a poster board tree something like the pictures to the
right, or display the ornaments on your own Christmas tree.
If you have downloaded this lesson from the website:
• With a marker, number the outside of plain lunch bags or small festive gift
bags from 1–25 (or for your alternative plan from page 3).
• Place the empty gift-wrapped box inside bag number twenty-five.
• Print and cut apart the Christmas Countdown readings that start on page 4.
Use all twenty-five days or only the days in your alternative plan.
• Put one blank ornament per child and the daily reading into the
corresponding bag. Match the daily reading to the bag number.
• Clip the numbered bags on a length of ribbon, yarn, or string hung in a
convenient area. Each day, children will open a new bag, see fewer bags
on the line, and more decorated ornaments!
Materials continued from page 1
• Clothespins or clips to attach bags to the line
• Poster board tree similar to the pictures below
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 2
Alternative Countdown Plans:
Option One
Five-Day Option for Sunday School Teachers:
(Five Sundays in December)
Sunday Verses to Read Story to Read
1 Romans 5:15, Revelation 7:9 Use December 1: “Introduction Lesson”
2 Luke 1:26–30, John 1:14 Use December 2: “The Christmas Story for the Frist Time.”
3 Luke 2:1-14 Use December 10: “No Room at the Inn.”
4 Luke 2:15–20 Use December 13: “What Does It Matter Which Word We Use?”
5 Luke 2:21–38 Use December 25: “Jesus, the Perfect Kaiwá.”
Option Two
Fifteen-Day Option for Five-Day School Teachers:
(Three weeks prior to Christmas break)
Weekday Verses to Read Story to Read
1 Romans 5:15, Revelation 7:9 Use December 1: “Introduction Lesson.”
2 Luke 1:26–30, John 1:14 Use December 2: “The Christmas Story for the First Time.”
3 Luke 1:29–33 Use December 3: “Clear Words.”
4 Luke 1:34–38 Use December 7: “Following God’s Trail.”
5 Luke 2:1–5 Use December 9: “Finding the Perfect Word.”
6 Luke 2:6–7 Use December 10: “No Room at the Inn.”
7 Luke 2:8–11 Use December 11: “Angels.”
8 Luke 2:12 Use December 13: “Does It Matter Which Word We Use?”
9 Luke 2:13–14 Use December 14: “Joy Despite Persecution.”
10 Luke 2:15–20 Use December 15: “Stories to Share the Good News.”
11 Luke 2:21–22 Use December 18: “Bible on Cell Phone.”
12 Luke 2:23–24 Use December 20: “Breath of New Life.”
13 Luke 2:25–32 Use December 19: “Time of Grace, Gift of Understanding.”
14 Luke 2:33–35, John 20:22 Use December 22: “Your Heart Will Despair for your Child.”
15 Luke 2:36–38 Use December 23: “A Most Unlikely Media Specialist.”
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 3
Daily Countdown Time
December 1: Bag 25
Daily reading: Romans 5:15 and Revelation 7:9
Introduction Lesson
Seat children and pull the wrapped “gift box” from the bag, saying,
Who’s excited about Christmas? We all look forward to Christmas and
wonder what gifts we’ll open on Christmas day, don’t we? But during this
Christmas season, we’re going to learn about people who are receiving
the best gift ever! Can you imagine what that gift might be?
Have one person unwrap the box. Everyone will see that the box is
empty. Then say,
It’s sad to see that the box is empty, isn’t it? People don’t like to open an
empty gift box! Now I want you to imagine something with me. Imagine
that this empty box represents two thousand people. That’s a lot of
people, isn’t it? And each of these people represents one language group
that does not have a Bible. That’s a lot of languages with empty boxes!
These languages are called Bibleless people groups. Many of these
languages have never even been written down. People speak their
languages, but they don’t read or write them.
Since these people have no Bible, they can’t read that Jesus came to
earth as a baby! They can’t read about how He was born in a stable and
slept in a manger where animals eat. They can’t read about angels,
shepherds, or wise men that came to see baby Jesus. They can’t read
John 3:16 telling them that God loves them so much He sent His only
Son to die for them so that they could enjoy eternal life.
But did you know that Jesus is called “the Word” in the beginning of the
Gospel of John? He became human and lived with us! (John 1:14)
Each day we’ll read part of the story about Jesus, the real reason we
celebrate Christmas! We’ll also read a true story about Bible translation
and how Scripture is changing lives around the world. We’ll pray together
for the Bibleless people, and make ornaments to help us retell the day’s
story. We’ll see Christmas through the eyes of those receiving the best
gift ever—God’s Word in the language that they understand the best.
Just imagine—one day every people group, nation, and language will be
praising God!
Materials:
• Fold and insert pages 4 and 5 into this bag, plus the empty gift-wrapped box.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 4
Prayer Idea:
Dear God, help us to think about You and to see the needs of others this
Christmas. May we treasure You and our Bibles most of all!
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that reminds you of
today’s time so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s a picture of baby Jesus or
a Bible!
Further Instructions to Teacher:
For the rest of the Christmas Countdown, open your Bible and read the Bible
verses along with the story you placed in that day’s bag. Older children could
read the Bible verses and stories to everyone instead, if you like. After the
story, pray together and have children draw a picture on the ornament that
reminds them of the story. Then let them decorate and cut out the ornament
reminder. While they decorate the ornament, talk about what they learned and
how they can apply it to their lives.
Finally, hang the decorated ornaments on the poster board Christmas tree,
your own Christmas tree, or on the line with the remaining numbered bags as
a reminder of the day’s story. Each day you will see the number of ornaments
increase. Children can retell stories to visitors, proudly pointing out the
ornaments they created.
From here on, please cut the pages in half before placing them in their
numbered bags along with blank ornaments to decorate.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 5
December 2: Bag 24
Daily Reading: Luke 1:26–28 and John 1:14
Hearing the Christmas Story for the First Time
For many years the Mwaghavul people of Nigeria could
only listen to the Christmas story in the Hausa language.
You see, in Nigeria everyone speaks Hausa to talk to
people from different language groups in a store or on the
street. No one had written any Scripture in the
Mwaghavul people’s language yet.
But when they finally heard in their own language how
Jesus had come to earth, they asked, "Where did this
come from?" They didn't realize they had heard the very
same story every Christmas. Of course they could hear
Hausa words with their ears, but God’s message never
got through to their hearts because it wasn’t in the
language they understood best. Praise God that the
Mwaghavul people now clearly understand the Christmas
story with both their hearts and minds! They understand
what John 1:14 means when the Bible says that the Word
became human and came to live with us—it means
Jesus!
About 150 more Nigerian languages don’t have the
Christmas story or any of God's Word in their own
language. This region in Central Africa represents over 30
percent of the world's remaining Bible translation need—
more than eight hundred million people can’t read the
Christmas story in their own language yet.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Mwaghavul
people can clearly understand the Christmas story
through Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Dear Lord, please bring people to translate Your Word
into the many Nigerian languages that still wait. Remind
me to pray for them, because translation isn’t easy.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, write something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s “aha!” or “Jesus=Word.”
December 3: Bag 23
Daily reading: Luke 1:29–30
Fifteen-day option: Luke 1:29–33
Clear Words
Did you know that there are even language groups in
the United States that still don’t have God’s Word in
their language? A translation team working in
Montana had just finished translating the Gospel of
Luke into Cheyenne. You may have heard or seen of
the Cheyenne people group in old movies, but they
still speak their own language even today.
With the book of Luke finished, the translation team
was excited to help record and dub the “JESUS” film
into Cheyenne.
At the end of one recording session, the Cheyenne
man who read Jesus' part began to shake his head
and chuckle. “Wow!” he said. “That's good teaching!”
He had heard the stories and teachings of Jesus
many times in English when he attended a Christian
school as a young boy. But reading and hearing
those very same stories now in his language made
them really clear. They held new meaning for him,
and he finally understood them.
Another Cheyenne reader said that now the words
sounded so clear that they had to pay attention and
obey them.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became
human—Jesus came and lived with us! Now the
Cheyenne people can clearly understand about Him
through Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Lord, thank You that the Cheyenne people can see
and hear Jesus speaking Cheyenne in the “JESUS”
film. Please help teams translate that film into other
their languages, too!
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something
that reminds you of this story so you can tell it again.
Maybe it’s a picture of a schoolhouse or a boy
reading the Bible.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 6
December 4: Bag 22
Daily reading: Luke 1:31–33
True Joy
One morning a translator preached at a South Tanna
church on the island of Vanuatu. Later he sat with some
men who went to that church. Together they read
Matthew, chapter five, to check how well the people
understood the translation.
As they read, he sometimes heard a group of women
laughing and whispering to one another. Worried that the
text had some big mistakes that made them laugh, he
turned to the women and asked,
“Did you hear a talk [way of speaking] that is not straight
or clear?”
A couple times they were able to offer a better word or
phrase, but the translator finally realized that they were
not laughing over the mistakes—they were laughing
because their language made them happy!
In Tanna, many women speak only one language. They
don’t often understand what the Bible says in other
languages. And so for them, when they heard Jesus’
words in their own language and saw it written on a
page, they just had to laugh! They were so excited!
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the people of South
Tanna can joyfully learn about Him through Scripture
translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, that understanding Your Word brings
great joy—even laughter! Show me how to help the
nearly two thousand language groups that can’t
experience that joy because the Bible hasn’t been
translated into their language yet.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s a picture of a laughing face or someone preaching to
a group.
December 5: Bag 21
Daily reading: Luke 1:34
Now I See Clearly
Recently the Seimat translation team traveled to
a conference in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea.
They showed some really interesting facts about
their Bible translation and literacy project to other
teams there. Several Seimat men shared bits
about their culture and other interesting facts
they learned while working in the Seimat Bible
translation project.
One man named Rudolf is able to read some
English and has read the Bible in English. But he
had difficulty understanding what many of the
words and phrases meant. Many times it made
no sense at all!
He said that reading God’s Word in English is
like “swimming on the surface of the sea when
you can’t really see what’s down there beneath
you.”
Now that Rudolf can read God’s Word in his own
language, he said that it’s like “putting on a
diving mask, swimming down deep, and being
able to see clearly everything that is there.”
Christmas celebrates that the Word became
human—Jesus came and lived with us! Now the
Seimat people can clearly learn about Him
through Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, that we have Your Word in our
language. Now the Seimat people do, too! Help
us to dig into the Bible, and see clearly what You
have to say to us.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw
something that reminds you of this story so you
can tell it again. Maybe it’s a picture of a diving
mask or someone reading the Bible.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 7
December 7: Bag 19
Daily reading: Luke 1:38
Fifteen Day Option: Luke 1:34–38
Following God’s Trail
Some people groups in Alaska’s frozen north lands
follow trail markers in order to stay alive. You see,
much of that area has no natural landmarks like
mountains or streams. Even people who know a trail
can get lost and freeze to death in a snow storm.
So people mark trails with tall tripods—three poles tied
together at the top. They attach a piece of bright,
reflective tape to the top of each one. Even at night,
light will reflect from that tape.
One language in this area has a word that means "to
follow." It can also mean "to obey." People follow trail
markers, "obeying" them in order to get where they
want to go—even when they cannot see the trail.
The Bible translation team in one of those languages
couldn't find a word for "doing," as in "doing God's will."
So in John 6:38, they used the word for "follow or
obey." It reads something like, "For I have come down
from Heaven to follow, or obey the will of God who
sent Me; not to follow, or obey My own will.”
This makes it clear to readers that they need to follow
and obey Christ’s example instead of just knowing
about it.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now this people group
in Alaska can follow His trail through Scripture
translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Dear Lord, when people receive Your Word for the first
time, please show them how to follow it.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again.
Maybe it’s a tripod or a path with trail markers on it.
December 6: Bag 20
Daily reading: Luke 1:35–37
Motivated to Share
A translator sat on a covered log beside his
Lambayeque Quechua brothers who had come for
Quechua Scripture reading classes.
One of the brothers, Cosio, pointed through the
doorway at towns on the hillsides. His next comment
touched one translator’s heart deeply:
“Well, we have a lot of work laid out for us. We are the
ones who need to take the Gospel to each of those
towns.”
These men from seven churches began to read slowly
and with many pauses. As they read portions of
Scripture, Bible story booklets, and a Quechua
storybook, they began to read more easily and even
with feeling.
These reading classes began to train church leaders
and others to read the Quechua Scriptures well.
Then ty planned for a few chosen people from the
reading group to travel from church to church,
encouraging others to read the Scriptures in
Lambayeque Quechua.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Lambayeyque
Quechua people can encourage others to read and
learn through Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, that once the Lambayeque Quechua
had Your Word, they wanted to share it. Please remind
us to share Your Good News with people around us.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s a picture of a mountain range or a group of villages
scattered in the many peaks of a mountain range.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 8
December 8: Bag 18
Daily reading: Luke 2:1–3
It Tastes So Good
People celebrate Christmas in the Cape Verde Islands off
the coast of West Africa, just like we do here. The Cape
Verdean translation team worked hard to translate the
first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke into their
language before December, since it tells the account of
Jesus’ birth so well. When they finished, they gave a copy
to their pastor and asked him to look it over. That first
December Sunday, the pastor began his sermon as
usual, asking people to stand up to hear God’s Word.
“Our reading will be from Luke two, verses one through
seven,” he announced.
This time, however, he didn’t open the Bible in
Portuguese, the official language. Instead, he opened his
copy of the newly translated verses in Kabuverdianu, their
own language. The people listened intently. Then the
pastor paused and exclaimed, "It tastes so good! It tastes
so good!"
The translation team began to sob. A row of teenage girls
stared at each other in wide-eyed wonder and then pulled
each other into a group hug. The listeners’ eyes filled with
joyful tears. As the pastor read the last word, a
spontaneous cheer erupted: "Amen! Hallelujah!"
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Cape Verdean
people can delight in learning about Him through
Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Lord, thank You that people want more when they hear or
read Your Word in their language for the first time. Please
encourage translation teams to press on and finish
translating more Scripture.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s someone holding the Bible and crying, or a group of
girls hugging.
December 9: Bag 17
Daily reading: Luke 2:4–5
Fifteen Day Option: Luke 2:1–5
Finding the Perfect Word
The Finallig mother tongue translation team* in the
Philippines began to study all the different meanings of
words and phrases in their language. They learned
what a huge difference it makes to choose terms that
are correct and natural, just as people would speak
them. Matthew 2:14 says, “That night Joseph left for
Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother” (NLT). In the
first draft, the Finallig translation team wrote “the child
and Mary, his mother” word for word. It did not sound
natural, but the individual words seemed right.
However, as they explored the Finallig terms, the
translators remembered a single word in Finallig that
covered the whole meaning of the phrase. One word
actually means “the mother-child pair.” Once they used
that word instead, the verse sounded just like people
normally speak.
Thinking about the meaning of words helped the
Finallig team choose words that made the translation
easier to understand for the people. Then they could
understand the beauty and importance of who Jesus is!
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Finallig people
can more easily learn about Him through Scripture
translated into their language.
*A mother tongue translation team translates God’s
Word into their own language.
Prayer Idea:
Dear Lord, please help translation teams find just the
right words to communicate Your message in a way
that is easy to understand in their languages.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s a picture of a mother holding a baby, or Joseph,
Mary, and Jesus traveling to Egypt.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 9
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 10
December 11: Bag 15
Daily reading: Luke 2:8–10
Fifteen Day Option: Luke 2:8–11
Angels
As a child, grown-ups taught young Sunarjo that an angel
followed people, seeing every thought and action. That
angel used a scale to weigh a person’s good thoughts and
actions against bad ones.
As Sunarjo grew older, he felt the weight of his wrongs.
He saw less hope of the good weighing more than the bad
in his life. Wycliffe translators Peter and Sue Westrum
encouraged him to read Scripture. One day he read in
Luke that an angel told the shepherds not to be afraid.
They brought good news of great joy to all people. At that
moment Sunarjo knew that he had found the truth!
He recalls, “The mention of an angel struck me the most. I
knew about angels. But this angel brought a Good News
message for all nations—a Lord and Savior. God’s Word
lifted my burden.
Different messages speak to different people. The
Christmas story spoke to me. Because the Word of God
has such power, I believe God wants me to translate it for
people who do not have it in their own language.”
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now Sunjaro and his
people can let Jesus lift the burden of their sin through
Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Dear Lord, thank You that Your Word helped Sunarjo
understand that Jesus paid for his sins. Please help others
translate Your Word for more people groups so they can
know that Jesus paid for their sins, too.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s a picture of the angels bringing the Good News of
Jesus’ birth, or a picture of a scale measuring the good
versus the bad.
December 10: Bag 16
Daily reading: Luke 2:6–7
No Room at the Inn
When Congolese Bible translation teams in Africa heard
the phrase, “No room at the inn,” they had difficulty
translating it. They didn’t understand the Bethlehem
innkeeper’s response. A good Congolese person always
makes room to shelter people, no matter what!
To continue his translation studies, Congolese translator
for the Mayogo language, Pastor Mapuma, and his wife
Faustine, moved their family of seven to Kenya. They
rented a two-bedroom apartment in Nairobi. All seven
people squeezed into that little apartment.
Another Congolese translator, Pastor Choro, from the
Lendu-speaking people, also moved to Nairobi to study.
His family of five settled in a guesthouse. A few days later
thieves attacked the night watchman and broke into the
guesthouse. This reminded Choro’s wife of an attack from
her past. Frightened, she refused to stay at the
guesthouse. But where could they live?
Hearing of their trouble, Mapuma and Faustine invited the
Choros into their little apartment—bringing the total to
twelve people! Even though the families came from
different language groups, Mapuma cheerfully quoted the
Mayogo proverb, Kpála bedhe etï de, which means, “A
house is never full.”
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Mayogo- and
Lendu-speaking people can enter His house through
believing Scripture translated into their languages.
Prayer Idea:
Dear Lord, please remind translation teams everywhere
that You love them and that You will faithfully provide what
they need so they can finish the translation well.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s
a picture of a family of seven plus a family of five, or just
twelve people all together.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 11
December 13: Bag 13
Daily reading: Luke 2:12
Five-day option: Luke 2:15–20
Does It Matter Which Word We Use?
The Mbe translation team read in Luke chapter two, verse
seven, that Mary laid Jesus in a manger. The translation
team used the familiar word “ókpáng.” Their translation
expert, John, said, “Tell me about an ókpáng.” One of the
translators drew a sweet cradle hanging from ropes.
“What do the [Bible dictionary] notes tell you about a
manger?” John asked. When they learned that a manger in
Jesus’ day was actually an animal feeding trough, the Mbe
team objected, “We have always used the word ókpáng!”
John told them, “Jesus came to live among us in the
lowliest way possible. He didn’t sleep in a nice ókpáng like
every Mbe mother wants for her newborn. So we need to
find your best word for an animal feeding trough.”
“We feed our animals out of old, worn-out baskets that we
can’t use for anything else—an ɛ́dzábrí,” they replied. “Test
that term out on some Mbe speakers,” John suggested.
When the team tested the new term, the Mbe people
pictured the newborn baby lying in a feeding basket. They
realized that Jesus loved them enough to humble Himself
to reach them!
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Mbe people can
learn how much He loved them through Scripture
translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us enough to be born in a
stable and sleep in a manger. You left the glory of Heaven
to become our Savior. Help me to share this Good News
with everyone I know!
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again—maybe
an old woven basket, or Jesus sleeping in the manger.
December 12: Bag 14
Daily reading: Luke 2:11
They Wanted to Listen and Read Past Midnight
On one of the Oov islands near Papua New Guinea,
people recently celebrated the opening of a new church
building. During the ceremony, they listened to newly
translated Scripture verses. Afterwards the translation
team all went home, except for one translator named
Lekong, who lived there. The next day he came to work
saying, "After you left, everybody kept talking about the
Bible verses they heard."
"Oh, why…?" another team member asked.
"They said they had never heard God's Word like that
before. They told me, 'We did not know the Bible could
speak so clearly and powerfully. It is going to be wonderful
to have God's Word in our own language. Then we will
really understand it!'"
Later Lekong brought home Scripture recordings so
people could listen to more newly recorded verses. He
also brought paper copies of the Bible verses. People
listened and followed along on the printed pages. They felt
so excited—they wanted to listen and read over and over!
Lekong called a halt at midnight, saying, "This is enough
for now. I have to go to sleep, because tomorrow morning
I need to continue working on the translation."
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Oov people can
clearly and powerfully learn about Him through Scripture
translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, for preparing the Oov people to receive
Your Word in their language. Please use audio Scriptures
to excite and prepare other groups with Bible translation
projects underway.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again—maybe
people listening to the Bible, or someone translating.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 12
December 15: Bag 11
Daily reading: Luke 2:15–18
Fifteen-day option: Luke 2:15–20
Stories to Share the Good News
The storytelling workshop in Papua New Guinea started
off with a bang. Keith, the workshop leader, shared,
“Stories are the main way a society passes along its
values.… Jesus Himself constantly used stories to get
His message across.”
Students spent the first week learning how to write,
learn, and share memorable Bible stories. Then they
used those stories to lead Bible studies. It’s not as easy
as you might think to write a Bible story that people can
remember. The story can’t give listeners too much
information; it must be less than three minutes long; and
it must use body actions, drama, and enthusiasm. The
listeners have to be very involved in what the story is
sharing!
A man named Solomon shared one evening, “You
know, in our church we have all good people. But if you
say to them, ‘You are Christians. Tell me what you
believe. Tell me about Jesus,’ most of them couldn’t say
anything. When we are in church, we listen hard to the
sermon; but after we go outside, we immediately forget
what we just heard. This storytelling is the very best
way to help us tell others what we believe.”
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Maiadomu can
tell others about Jesus through Bible stories translated
into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, that storytelling teams can share
memorable Bible stories, like when Jesus taught in
parables. Help them tell stories that make listeners want
to study the Bible.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, write something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s “telling Bible stories” or “Jesus told stories, too.”
December 14: Bag 12
Daily reading: Luke 2:13–14
Five-day option: Luke 2:1–14
Joy Despite Persecution
A man we’ll call “T” grew up in one of the world’s major
religions other than Christianity. His family sent him to a
local religious school. He did not feel happy there, so he
ran away. Through a series of events, he met someone
from his home area who had become a Christian. That
person told him about a traveling teacher from Nazareth,
named Jesus. As he learned more about Jesus, T came to
the same decision that Peter, James, and John had
reached when they heard about Jesus—he left everything
and followed Him.
T’s community threatened to hurt him because he follows
Jesus. His family rejected him too—what a difficult life! But
T’s joy stands out. He is always smiling, always laughing,
always joking, and always ready to worship and give
thanks. In 2009 he attended a OneStory* training session
in Asia. There he learned many ways to tell Bible stories so
that people would enjoy listening to them. Now T wants to
tell important Bible stories to his own people so that they
can understand the truth about Jesus, too!
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now people like T can follow
Jesus and tell others about Him through Scripture
translated into their language.
*The OneStory program trains people to tell Bible stories in
their language in a short and interesting way so people can
remember them.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, for people like T who have paid a high
price to follow You. Strengthen them each day. Help them
to boldly tell others who need to hear about You.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s
someone telling a story to a group, or Jesus calling the
disciples to leave their fishing boats and follow Him.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 13
December 17: Bag 9
Daily reading: Luke 2:21
A Life Changed
In one community of Southeast Asia, a woman named
Sharon* started listening to newly translated Bible stories
with her friend Rose*. Over and over, Sharon played the
recording of a story that her team had translated. Then she
would check whether the meaning came through correctly
by asking Rose questions. With each story, Rose became
more and more interested. Then, after hearing about
Jesus’ birth, His baptism, and John the Baptist’s call to
repent from sin, Rose began to think seriously. She
thought about wrong things she had done in her own life
and how she needed God to forgive her. One day Rose
abruptly asked, “Could I become a Christian now?”
That surprised Sharon. She hadn’t thought Rose would
want to trust in Jesus until she had heard all the stories.
Excitedly, Sharon explained more about what it meant to
be a Christian. Rose put her faith in Jesus and believed He
died for her sins on the cross. Sharon invited Rose to
church. Rose soon learned about Jesus’ ministry, suffering,
death, and resurrection. Her faith in Jesus Christ grew
deeper. God’s Word, spoken in her language, began to
change Rose from the inside out.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now women like Rose can
put their faith in Jesus and grow through Bible stories
translated into their language.
*not their real names
Prayer Idea:
We praise You, Lord, that Your Word changes people from
the inside out. But many people don’t have the Bible yet.
Please call more workers to help translate so that people
can learn about You.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s
two women listening to a recording of the Bible, or a picture
of Jesus on the cross.
December 16: Bag 10
Daily reading: Luke 2:19–20
Unexpected Helpers
The Bondo* translation team asked a father and son to
listen to the recently translated book of Jonah and let them
know what they thought of it. The two men agreed, but first
the father told the team that he didn’t like the idea of
putting God’s Word into Bondo. The translators talked with
the two men for a long time. They discussed the
Scriptures, God, pastors, prayer, and healing.
After the discussion, the translation team started reading
the book of Jonah in Bondo to the father and son. After
only the first three sentences, the men stopped them. They
asked who had told this story. The team members
answered that two other Bondo speakers had translated
this into Bondo. The father didn't ask any more questions,
so they read on. When something was confusing, the team
made changes so that it would be understood.
Several times over the two and a half days of reading and
correcting, the father and son said they were very happy
with the story. When they finished, the father asked for a
paper copy of what he had heard to take with him. The
translation team gladly gave him one! Only our awesome
God changes hearts like this.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Bondo people can
clearly understand about Jesus through Scripture
translated into their language.
*not the real name
Prayer Idea:
We praise You, Lord, for using the Bible to change
people’s hearts. Please continue to use Your Word to
soften peoples’ hearts so they can learn what You did for
them.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s
a very big fish from the book of Jonah, or people reading
the Bible to a father and son.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 14
December 19: Bag 7
Daily reading: Luke 2:25–26
Fifteen-day option: Luke 2:25–32
Bwisi: Time of Grace, Gift of Understanding
An elderly Bwisi man said, “This is the fiftieth year
that I have attended church, but I have never read
any Bible verse in my language—until now! I am
like the old man, Simeon, in the Bible. The Holy
Spirit promised Simeon he would not die without
seeing the Messiah….People used to say that no
one would ever write the Bible in Bwisi because it
is an unwritable language…but here it is!”
Beatrice, a Bwisi lady, often could not understand
the Scriptures read in church because they weren’t
in her language. One Christmas day Beatrice
heard Mark 1:1–8 in her own Bwisi language. For
the first time, she understood that John the Baptist
meant, "people preparing their lives and hearts for
the coming of the Lord Jesus.” She also
understood that only Jesus has power to save
people from their sins. Beatrice said she will
continue to believe and trust only in the Lord Jesus
Christ for the rest of her life. Praise God!
Christmas celebrates that the Word became
human—Jesus came and lived with us! Now the
Bwisi people can clearly learn about Jesus through
Bible stories translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, that a team is translating Your
Word for the Bwisi people. Help them to do a good
job so that people like Beatrice can understand it
clearly.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something
that reminds you of this story so you can tell it
again. Maybe it’s a wrapped present with a big
bow, or it’s a very old man.
December 18: Bag 8
Daily reading: Luke 2:22
Five-day option: Luke 2:21–22
The Bible On Cell Phone
A few years ago, the Urbed dialect translation team
recorded an audio drama that includes important
stories from the Bible. The team immediately began
to hand the recording out. At first they thought that
they would have to give people a CD or DVD player,
too, because the Urbed people didn’t have them. So
the team bought a player called a MegaVoice. It is
solar-powered, meaning that the sun recharges its
batteries! This was perfect for the people to use, but
each one cost $35. So the team planned to only
hand them out if people showed real interest in
listening to the stories.
But the team overlooked one important fact. It turned
out that the Urbed already used their cell phones to
listen to music and poetry. They even watched
videos on their cell phones! Now the translators
carry short selections of the Bible story recordings in
their pockets, holding over forty videos of Bible
stories that start with creation and end with the
crucifixion. They wait for the right time, and then pull
out their cell phones and share photos, music, and
videos!
Christmas celebrates that the Word became
human—Jesus came and lived with us! Now the
Urbed people can learn about Him through Bible
stories recorded in their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, for new technology that allows
people to carry Your Word with them wherever they
go. Help people to use Your Word regularly so they
can grow strong in You.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something
that reminds you of this story so you can tell it again.
Maybe it’s a cell phone, or a group of people
listening together.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 15
December 21: Bag 5
Daily reading: Luke 2:33–34a
Peace Wall
On the day that the Lote people celebrated receiving
their New Testament, church leaders told everyone,
"This book is precious. It is our daily food. We must
study it and let it change us." The local church showed
their enthusiasm for the Lote New Testament with
singing, traditional dancing, and dramas.
One drama told this story from their history: Men began
killing each other after a member of one clan killed a
dog in another clan. Many people died. As the war got
worse, more people lost their lives. Finally, someone
built a peace wall—kind of like a fence—between the
two clans. Women of both clans brought their sleeping
mats to the peace wall. They also danced at the peace
wall, refusing to leave. When the men came to fight at
the peace wall, the women placed themselves between
the men of the two opposing sides. Then if the men
fired shots, they would kill their women instead of their
enemies. The brave efforts of these women finally
brought peace between the two sides.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Lote people
can understand that Jesus stands as a peace wall
between sinful man and holy God through Bible stories
translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, God, that You sent Jesus to stand between
sinners like us and the punishment we deserve. Please
use Your translated Scriptures to bring peace between
warring people and lead them to You.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s a fence or the cross with “Jesus” written on it.
December 20: Bag 6
Daily reading: Luke 2:27–32
Fifteen-day option: Luke 2:23-24
The Breath of New Life
Western Cakchiquel translators were checking John 20:22,
where Jesus breathed on His disciples, giving them the gift
of the Holy Spirit. The translation expert asked, “Do anyone
ever breathe on another person?”
“Well,” said one of the translation team, “not like the word
for breathe we’ve used in this verse. This just means using
our lungs to inhale and exhale air. But there is another kind
of breathing. As kids, our grand-mother would ‘breathe’ on
us before we left for the day. It was a blessing, a way to
show that she desired the very best for us. We also
breathe on rocks that we use in slingshots, so the stone
will hit the target.”
The translation expert asked if this other type of breathing
played a part in the Cakchiquels’ traditional beliefs about
spirits. They would not want to mix those ideas into
Scriptures. But the translators said it wasn’t part of the old
beliefs. They could surely use this word!
This second Cakchiquel word for breathe shared a deep
truth. Jesus desired the very best for His disciples—for
them to stay right on target. What more perfect blessing
could Jesus have breathed into His disciples than the gift
of the Holy Spirit?
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Cakchiquel people
can understand that Jesus gave them the blessing of the
Holy Spirit through Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Lord, thank You for inspiring the original Scripture writers to
use just the right words. Please help teams translate Your
Words in a way that makes sense to people and so they
understand more about You.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s
a slingshot and rock, or a stone hitting a target.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 16
December 23: Bag 3
Daily reading: Luke 2:36–37
Fifteen-day option: Luke 2:36–38
A Most Unlikely Media Specialist
Wäŋgarr Wutjara is filled with excitement, creative ideas,
and willpower. This mother of three grown children helped
to translate the New Testament in her own language—
Djambarrpuyngu. After that, she taught herself how to
record audio programs. Then she worked with team
members to make part of the Christmas story video usable
on cell phones. They watched, smiled, and started thinking
of new possibilities.
Next, Wäŋgarr created her first video, adding music and
pictures to the audio recording of Luke chapter eight,
where Jesus calms the storm. Because her life felt stormy,
she could relate to Jesus bringing peace.
Soon after that, Wäŋgarr heard that some children could
recite these two video Bible stories. When she asked their
mother about it, she said, “Every night my children fight
over my cell phone because they want to watch the Bible
stories before going to bed.” The mother asked Wäŋgarr
to make more videos!
One boy listens to the stories every night. He follows
along, saying every word that the narrator speaks. Other
children join in, reciting the stories too. They’ve memorized
Scripture! Youth leaders now send the videos to friends.
Wäŋgarr works hard to supply enough videos to meet the
demand.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now Djambarrpuyngu-
speaking children can watch, listen, and learn about Jesus
through Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, for giving Wäŋgarr the idea to put Your
precious Word onto cell phones. Please encourage more
people to use their skills in Bible translation.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s
people with a cellphone or watching Bible videos.
December 22: Bag 4
Daily reading: Luke 2:34–35 and John 20:22
Fifteen-day option: Luke 2:33–35 and John 20:22
Your Heart Will Despair for Your Child
When Mary brought baby Jesus to the temple, the
prophet Simeon told her that a sword would pierce her
soul. Do you think Simeon meant that Mary would be
killed by a sword? No! He meant that Mary would feel
great sadness when men rejected and killed her
grown Son, Jesus.
In the Merei language of Vanuatu, in the Pacific
Islands, the translation team thought about translating
the words literally: “A knife for fighting will cut into your
spirit/life.” But those words wouldn’t tell the true
message and would confuse people. A word-for-word
translation would lose what the Bible was really
saying. They needed to find something that made the
people understand better. Translation teams face
these types of challenges daily as they work to
translate the meaning of God’s Word in the right way.
The team tried different words and phrases that Merei
speakers use to show their emotion when someone
they love dies. Then they decided to describe it as,
“Your heart will despair for your child.” They found that
this wording meant exactly what Simeon told Mary!
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Merei people
can clearly understand Simeon’s prophecy and Jesus’
great sacrifice through Bible stories translated into
their language.
Prayer Idea:
Dear Lord, please help translation teams find just the
right way to express Your Word in many languages.
Remind them to ask Your help in making translations
the very best they can be.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something
that reminds you of this story so you can tell it again.
Maybe it’s a sword or a broken heart.
December 25: Bag 1
Daily reading: Luke 2:39–40
Five-day option: Luke 2:21–38
Jesus, the Perfect Kaiwá
The Brazilian mission “Missão Evangélica Caiuá” held a
weeklong Bible conference for Kaiwá and Guarani
church leaders. One Wycliffe specialist named Loraine
Bridgeman led a session that helped the Kaiwá think
about their history and what they value as most
important.
Loraine asked a group of Kaiwá church leaders to
make a list of the good character traits or things the
Kaiwá people treasure and appreciate most in people.
The long list began with these two points:
“A well-respected and honored Kaiwá person displays
humility, self-control, and meekness.”
“He or she should not get angry easily.”
When they finished putting more items on their list,
Loraine asked, “Do you know a Kaiwá person who
demonstrates all of these good thoughts and actions?”
The team thought for a long time. They couldn’t find
anyone who had every item on the list. Then the light
dawned. “Jesus is the perfect Kaiwá!” That’s why He
could pay for our sins.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Kaiwá people
can learn about Him being the perfect sacrifice for them
through Scripture translated into their language.
Prayer Idea:
Thank You, Lord, that you are not a foreign God to
anyone. Help Bible translation teams translate your
Word so that everyone can understand Jesus as the
perfect sacrifice for them.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, write something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe
it’s the word “perfect!” or the phrase “Jesus saved me!”
December 24: Bag 2 Daily reading: Luke 2:38
Christmas Story on CD
The Ngombale translation had stopped. A discouraged
translation team told the vernacular media* specialist about
their troubles. That specialist immediately thought that
Ngombale people might want to hear God’s Word, instead
of reading printed Scriptures.
So a Cameroonian co-worker, Guy Mevele, traveled to the
Ngombale area to record the Christmas story. Using a
laptop and portable recording equipment, Guy carefully
recorded the story. Then he edited it. He made ten CD
copies and gave one to each large church. They played
these CDs in Sunday services before Christmas.
For weeks the workers waited to hear how the people felt
about those CDs. Then one day a request came for forty
CD copies. Later they learned that the Christmas CD made
people want written Scripture in Ngombale!
When Easter came around, people eagerly purchased all
the Scripture posters the team printed. In the past, it would
have taken six to nine months to sell them all! People also
asked for literacy classes. Hearing God’s Word in
Ngombale made them want to read it too. Now the
translation committee is excitedly planning to produce the
“JESUS” film in Ngombale.
Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—
Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Ngombale people
can watch, listen, and learn about Jesus through Scripture
translated into their language.
*Vernacular media: a mother tongue language put into
audio or video form
Prayer Idea:
Lord, please don’t let translation teams get discouraged
and give up. Help them to find solutions to the problems
they face so work can continue on their projects.
Ornament Drawing Suggestion:
Before decorating your ornament, draw something that
reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s
people listening to a CD with a cartoon balloon saying
“Christmas story,” or a stack of CDs.
Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 17