An Orphan: a Village Boy became Translator
“even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (Isaiah 46:4)
The story begins quite a number of years ago (1970), one of those school kids, who often visited missionary family, Wycliffe Bible translator. It was hard to judge his age, for he had a rather grown-up look on his face. Looking at his size, though, he couldn’t have been may be about ten years old at the most. From under his Topi (Nepali hat) showed lots of curly hair, unusual for Khaling people. He wore Nepali Daura, Suruwal; tunic which were rather ragged and had lost the original color - but most boys wore clothes like that.
Later the missionary had found that he was an orphan boy, alone at home because his both parents were died. Before his mother died, she taught him, “not steal, not lie, respect others, and, lastly, she made him promise: “to go to school and learn as much as he ever get the opportunity to learn.” Those were the last words the boy remembered his dying mother told him to do. The boy’s father had already died several years before when boy was four or five years old. There were older brothers and sister but all were grown and away from home. After the mother had died, the boy lived all by himself. Nobody thought it strange. After all, the boy was old enough to take care of himself. It was, therefore, by no means thought strange that the bereaved boy should stay by himself in the empty house and do the chores that needed to be done. After all, he knew at his age what the work was. He was terribly afraid of something that might come and harm him. He would, after he had cooked and eaten his evening meal, sit by the fire till it died down and he fell asleep.
Perhaps it was expected that the older brothers would return from India, it was thought to be a temporary arrangement to leave the boy by himself. Indeed, the older brother did come, but he stayed only briefly. He sold the land partially and went to India with a wife. So it came, that the boy decided to live with his neighboring family, working hard without complaint. One thing, however, he never once forgot: his mother had impressed upon him before she died: ”Do not steal”, “do not lie”, “respect others”, and, “to go to school and learn as much as you ever get the opportunity to learn” so that you will be able to stand on your own. By working hard at any task given him, the boy was able to insist on being allowed to go to school, quoting his mother’s wish on her deathbed.
Then somehow, the boy had managed his study and accomplished high school. In 1980, he went to the capital and found job as trekking guide, which gave him a good salary. In addition to being a certified trekking guide, he also had worked for the British Royal Engineers Army for three years as a "Sirdar” (Guide) from 1982 to 1985. (that was, overseer for the porters and other staff and liaison between them and the foreigners). As did everyone else, he felt that after hard work he deserved good fun - and that was gambling and drinking alcohol because he had good pay. It left him not entirely happy and satisfied, but he did not know anything else.
Alcohol was ruining his life. He had no hope. He really wanted to die, himself, whether drinking or how, he did not want to live because both his parents died before he entered even teenager. Therefore he had a question that why should he had to live himself. But then, in 1984, he met a group of teachers and students from Singapore who proved instrumental in restoring his life and hope. The Singaporean came to see the Himalayan foothill as tourists and he was their trekking guide. On trekking, before every meal, he noticed some teachers and students bowed their heads and closed their eyes. One day, one of them a student asked him what religion he was. He told her, “neither he was a Hindu nor a Buddhist, but he respects all gods”. He found out from her that they were Christians and they were praying before each meal.
Over the next few days some of the teachers and students from S’pore were talked with him about the good news of Jesus Christ. On the last evening of trekking, they boy accepted Jesus as his personal savior and Lord. The teacher started to pray for him and, while he did, the Lord anointed him, “a very warm feeling, like a fire started flowing down in his body, his tears started to flow, the boy realized he was a sinner and he prayed 'Lord, forgive me. I'm a sinner. If I’m acceptable to you, then I'm ready to give my life to you”. After this trekking, he started to attend the church in the Capital.
In early March 1985, a year later he was baptized early one morning (4:45 am) in a mountain stream because of strict rule and regulation of his country. 'It was cold morning', as he remember. But he didn't change his clothes right away. He had something to pray. He went up on huge rock and kneeled down and he prayed. One prayer, "Lord, you saved me. You gave me this new life. I don't want to come to Heaven by myself. 'Lord, save [my] people in mountain. I want to see many [of them] in Heaven the day I come". That only he prayed there, and then he changed clothes.' On his baptism day, somebody named him, “Simon” so Christian friends started called his name, “Simon” after all. Actually his given name by birth is different.
In 1985, right after Simon received baptism, he gave up his trekking job because it was not easy for work with non-Christians at the time. The Lord had a plan for him so he met with same missionary whom he knew them well. Therefore the missionary asked his help to do the scripture translation. As Jesus called Simon and his brother Andrew while they were fishing, immediately they left their fishing nets and followed Jesus. Similarly, Simon also left his trekking guide job and started Scripture translation in his own mother tongue.
Thereafter he went to study the Mother Tongue Translation Principles Course at the “Indian Institute of Cross Culture Communication Course (IICCC)” in Maharastra, India. After that he came back and he translated entire New Testament.
In 1986, one day he had a question that why he was translating the New Testament in his language? He had a thought as, 'who will read that he was translating the Scripture? There was no one Christian and no one church in his village at the foothill of mountain. He didn’t need to translate the Scripture in his own reading etc. but despite of all he completed the gospel of John.
The word of God challenged Simon while he was translating chapter 21 of the gospel of John. After the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, one of the disciples Simon Peter said to his colleagues that he was going to fishing. His colleagues also followed him and went to fishing all night at the Sea of Tiberias but that night they caught nothing! Simon remembered his prayers and calling from God to reach out his own people group in mountain.
The Lord is faithful. Then in 1987, for the first time, 11 of his tribes (Khaling) accepted the Lord Jesus as their Lord and savior in the village. He was very much encouraged. Then he said, ' O Lord, I will translate for these 11 believers”. In 1988, another 26 accepted and in end of 1989, another 48 became Christian in the mountain. The numbers of his translated Scripture readers were increased. 'That really encouraged him to complete the translation faster as urgency'.
Finally, within 6 years in 1992, the translation completed but the consultant checking, typesetting in England, and NT printing in India delayed. However, on Christmas day in 1994, the New Testament was dedicated to the Lord in the Khaling village. Within half an hour, they sold about 200 copies of the Khaling New Testament. 'It’s a joyous time, when the harvest comes'. 'You cannot imagine Simon’s happiness. And then, his tears couldn't stop, when he saw his tribe, many Christians and he gave many thanks to God'.
Now, there are more than 14 churches already planted in the regions by the grace of God. 'So, 'he has a big community, his mother tongue speaking community there in Heaven'. Praise the Lord. The Lord has been gracious and has been significant years in lives of many Khaling. The Lord has been Faithful, consistent all these years. The Khaling Old Testament printed and dedicated to the Lord in 2011.
Since 1998, Simon is serving as the Founder and Executive Director of “Translation Movement of Nepal”. The organization has already completed Ten translation projects, and other few NT projects are underway now.
Rai