Books and More Books: A Long Process

Jonathan Bamford (standing on the left) with JJ Rasmussen (seated) with the Isnag language assistants.

“Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.” John 21:25

With that strikingly significant verse, Jonathan Bamford completed drafting the New Testament translation in the Southern Isnag language in July 2025. “We have months of editing ahead of us,” posted his wife, Heidi. “But this is a milestone. So thankful that God’s Word is available to the Southern Isnag [of the Philippines].”

Happily, on February 15, 2026, the “months of editing” were over! “The final consultant check for the Southern Isnag New Testament is complete,” posted Heidi.

In case you as a Missionary Flight Sponsorship donor ever think that your contribution is insignificant, let’s take a look at the high level of work you are supporting as God’s Word penetrates into new people groups that have never had God’s Word in their own language. Word by word, sentence by sentence, paragraph after paragraph, book by book, church planters make Scripture available to people in their own heart langauge.

What Jonathan Bamford had just finished for that last verse in the book of John (and, previously, all the other books of the New Testament) is called the exegetical draft. That is, Jonathan studied the text and put it into the Southern Isnag dialect. After that, his language helper, Devis, went over it with him, editing for clarity and fluency.

Once that is done for any book, the “months of editing” ensues.

• Recording draft – A group of Isnag people listen to the draft, audio-recording what they understand as each section is read. Jonathan listens to their comments, makes improvements, and again goes over it with Devis.
  
  
• “Back to English” translation" – Heidi then translates the Isnag draft back into English, comparing it to an English translation. Is anything missed? Is anything added? Heidi’s English translation is sent to the consultant, in this case Jogvan (JJ) Rasmussen in Italy, who makes sure it communicates what the author intended. He also checks for anything that may trip up the readers. Jonathan goes over JJ’s notes, makes edits, and checks it again with Devis.
  
  
• Comprehension checks #1, #2 and #3: Jonathan, Heidi and co-worker Vicky Martin go over the draft with Isnag people who have never read it before. After the comprehension checks (doing even more than three if needed), Jonathan considers the sections where confusion or misunderstanding has become evident, and he makes additional edits. Again, this is checked with language helper Devis.
  
  
• JJ Rasumussen comes at intervals from Italy to do onsite consultant checks of translated work.

This present year, Jonathan plans to work on Genesis, Exodus and other Old Testment portions – about 1,200 verses – which they plan to have checked by JJ in April 2027.

Are you tired yet? It’s not over! It will take another year after that to proofread all the text, audio-record and compare with written text, typeset, print and – finally – distribute it to the Isnag people.

The Final Piece of the Puzzle

After one of the major consultant checks, Jonathan likened the whole translation process to a jigsaw puzzle. “I know that putting a puzzle together is supposed to be a fun group activity, but I can’t help it: I’m very interested to see who will put the last piece in.”

Jonathan translates, language helpers like Devis check it, villagers listen and tell what they understand, JJ the translation consultant evaluates for clear meaning, more villagers hear the text and retell it to Jonathan, Heidi or Vicky. “We have worked very hard to get all these pieces to come together, but alas, I was not the one to put in these last pieces.”

“It was our pilot, Ryan de Roos. At the last minute, he swooped in with a highly skilled language helper and the consultants,” wrote Jonathan. With the team all in place, a check can take place.

Donors to Missionary Flight Sponsorship have provided year after year to sponsor the flights that have supported the Bamfords living in the Southern Isnag village. Individuals like you have ensured that language helpers and consultants could come together for the many checkpoints of the translation. You, in a sense, have made it possible for the puzzle pieces to be placed. And you should rejoice in the results! “Sometime in the spring of 2028,” wrote Heidi, “we hope to have an audio and printed Bible ready for distribution. Won’t that be a great day!”