The Pouye Translation Committee had translated several books ofthe Beble and Scripture portions, including much of Genesis and Exodus, Jonah, Ruth, Mark, Luke, Acts and Tit’s (all in various stages, some are published, thers need checking and revision). Even after several years of literacy trainingthe strong oral culture remains vital and thriving, while literacy in vernacular has yet to take hold. This has affectedthe use ofthe written vernacular Scripture portions in circulation.
Their first experience tellingthe stories was intheir home village of Yukilau, central tothe area. The church was filled and many people were standing outside. Even several elderly “big men” who did not regularly attend church came to hearthese “Beble stories in Tokples”. The first storyteller introducedthe story in fluent vernacular and soon was full-swing intothe story. His gestures, facial expressions, and dramatic telling pulledthe crowd in, and when he finishedthere was silence. Then someone yelled outo”Namii naratwarku!” (Tell usthe story again!), andthere was a buzz of agreement. After he finishedthe second time,they wanted him to tell it a third time! This time he invited anther storyteller to tellthe same story again. Whenthey had finished,the crowd erupted with positive comments about this experience, going well overthe allotted time.
One ofthe elderly “big men” was so enthusiastic that he said, “If church was like this every Sunday, I would be here every Sunday morning AND evening!”
