“Great is Thy Faithfulness” in Kuna Sung at Kuna Hymnbook Dedication in the Panama National Theater

The theater’s ornate fresco ceiling, gorgeous velvet stage-curtains, gilt-edged opera boxes, and enormous chandelier provided a magnificent backdrop to the striking red headscarves of the Kuna women that dotted the seating area. The theater was filled for the first time in its history with Kuna people.

Every Kuna lady was dressed in her finest “mola” blouse—with the intricate hand sewn geometric patterns typical of this craft—and her wrist and leg beads carefully wound for this special occasion.

The dedication program was in Kuna. Churches in the Panama City area presented choral numbers, and the choir numbers were interspersed with the rousing singing of congregational hymns from the new hymnbook.

Wycliffe translators Keith and Wilma Forster wrote their friends describing that moment in the National Theater, “Tears were just below the surface as the words to that hymn washed over our souls. It was impossible not to think back to more than 35 years ago when in our little village singing was enthusiastic but did not come with ease.”

The 57,000 San Blas Kuna people are located primarily in the San Blas Archipelago along Panama's northeast coast. The Forsters helped to complete the Border Kuna New Testament in 1992, and the San Blas Kuna New Testament in 1996. Now they are working on the Old Testament translation for the San Blas Kuna.

An earlier hymnbook dedication was held September 22, 2007 on the island of Ogobsugun. At least 1,200 people gathered on the basketball court—including chiefs, old ladies, young people and children. The Kuna had come from all along the island chain in motor-driven, dugout canoes. Some had faced an arduous 14-hour journey on open sea to reach the dedication site.

Twenty-seven island churches were represented. Several of the churches presented choral numbers selected from the new hymnal and the more familiar hymns were sung enthusiastically by the crowd. Stars twinkled brightly overhead and the Forsters wrote, “We like to think that our Heavenly Father’s heart was blessed to hear His praises rise heavenward.”

The New Mexico Singing Churchmen of New Mexico, with 35 music ministers and worship leaders, participated in the hymnbook dedications. In the week between the dedications, the Singing Churchmen held teaching workshops and choir practices at Kuna churches around Panama City. In addition to working with choral groups from the various islands, there were piano lessons, guitar lessons, children’s talks, and lessons for pastors on sermon preparation.

Wycliffe translators have completed about 300 language programs in the Americas and have ongoing work in 343 languages, most of it in Mexico, Brazil and Peru. Wycliffe’s vision for the Americas is that all languages needing a Bible translation will have Bible translation programs begun by 2010.

—Arthur Lightbody
October 31, 2007.