Jeanne Austin, long-time supported missionary of The Compass Church, serves with Wycliffe Bible Translators and began work among the indigenous Popoloca people of Mexico during the early 1980’s. At that time, the Popolocan language was not in written form, it was an oral language. Jeanne’s work began by creating an alphabet, grammar and ultimately, a written form of Popoloca. Her team then began translating the New Testament into Popolocan. In addition, they began literacy projects that enabled the Popoloca to read their own language for the very first time.

Summer and Fall 2016 marked a historic moment as the New Testament in two of the Popolocan dialects were presented to their respective communities. A presentation of the third dialect translation will be on December 4th.

At one presentation, over 200 members of the community joined in the celebration. One Popolocan man traveled more than 10 hours to come to the dedication and purchased six New Testaments to take back to his home! There were speeches, hymns sung in Popolocan, a shared meal, and 200 New Testaments distributed. In the evening, there was a special service of combined churches where Scripture was read and preached in Popolocan. The main churches are now planning to hold reading classes to enable widespread use of the New Testament.

We are thankful that the Popolocan people now have the New Testament in their own language! We are deeply grateful for the faithful service of Jeanne and her team (some who have gone to be with the Lord before the completion of the work) over these many years.

Please pray that many Popoloca will grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and that many more will come to know Him. In addition, pray for the unhindered reception of final presentation in the village of San Luis on December 4th.