Biographies of John & Brooke Bryant

John Russell Bryant was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA on January 26, 1963.  His parent’s names are Russell and Barbara Bryant.  He has two older brothers, Daniel and Timothy.

John grew up in a Christian home and at a Christian camp called Monadnock Bible Conference in Jaffrey, New Hampshire.  The camp is located at the base/bottom of Mount Monadnock. with  over 100 acres of fields and forest all around.  Young people come from all over the northeast part of the USA to the camp and they heard the Gospel and about living the Christian life.

Pastors often came to the camp to preach.  One time, when John was around 12 years old, he heard a man preach about people from other countries who did not know about Jesus Christ.  John felt strongly that God was calling/asking him to be a missionary, to go to another country for the sake of the Gospel.  John wanted to go right away, but he was too young and needed training.

After completing his high school courses at Conant High School, John went to Wheaton College in Illinois.  He completed his Bachelor’s degrees in Bible and Philosophy.  He still planned to be a missionary but he didn’t know what he would do or where he would go.

During college, John became interested in Bible translation work but since he was an active person, he wasn’t sure if he would like it.  He was afraid you would just have to sit at a desk all the time. That didn’t sound like much fun because John like to stay active!  (later he found out that actually you have to sit at a desk A LOT!!!)   A missionary in Papua New Guinea invited him to come and see her translating work.  John went to Papuan New Guinea and loved the place and people.  He decided that he would become a Bible translator.

Brooke Gage Bryant was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA on February 15, 1964.  Her parent’s names are Donald and Kimberly Pederson.  She has one older brother Chuck and one younger brother Jack.

Brooke’s father worked for the U.S. Air Force so they lived in many different places in the USA. 

During high school, Brooke met a man that told her about Wycliffe Bible Translators.  Wycliffe’s goal is to translate the Scriptures for people who do not yet have God’s Word in their mother tongue.  Brooke was very interested in this work.

After high school, Brooke went to Wheaton College for one year but then finished her Bachelor of Arts in Art at the State University of New York in Albany, NY.

John & Brooke meet and get married:

John went to college with Chuck Pederson,  Brooke’s older brother.  They became good friends.   Because of their friendship, John met Brooke.  He heard about her mature spiritual life, so he hoped to meet her.   In 1982, they met and began dating.  On June 1, 1985, they got married.  By that time, they both knew that they wanted to become Bible translators.

More Training and Education:

In order to become Bible translators, we joined the organization called Wycliffe Bible Translators.  They required us  to receive training in subjects related to languages/linguistics.  We had to take courses in:

Anthropology/culture

Phonetics/language sounds

Phonology/alphabets and sound analysis  

Translation/how to translate into other languages.   

  

We had to learn how to listen and write down the sounds of people’s languages.  Some people don't have any alphabet so we had to learn how to start from the beginning.

America is a very comfortable place with easy living situations so we had to learn and practice basic skills about living in difficult places;

i.e. killing a chicken and cooking it

cooking our meals over a fire

hiking and camping outside

basic medical training

how to learning another language

living and traveling in another country, etc.

We were preparing to go to Irina Jaya Indonesia.  In order to go there, John had to get a Master’s Degree so after completing the linguistic training, he studied Community Economic Development at New Hampshire College.

God had a different plan:

We were preparing to go to Irina Jaya, Indonesia which is near Australia.  But God had a different plan.  When John was getting his Master’s degree, our boss called us and told us we could not go to Indonesia because we could not get a visa.  So, we had to choose another place.  We decided to plan to still go to somewhere in Asia.  We did not have any interest in going to Thailand.  We didn’t know anything about Thailand but finally we decided to go there because many of our friends were going to Thailand!

When we arrived to Thailand, our first child, Briana Ashley Bryant, was 2.5 years old and Brooke was pregnant with our second child.  Six weeks after we arrived to Bangkok in May 1990, Mikella Brooke Bryant was born.  Two years after that, in 1992, our third child, Jonathan Caleb Bryant, was born in Chiang Mai.

In 1990 onward, we spent 1.5 or more years learning Thai in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai Thailand.  We began to also look for a language that needed Bible Translation.  I read about the Red Karen people and I thought, “I would like to work in a language like that” but another SIL family were already working with the Kayah.

But months later,  my boss called us and told us that Bill and Ruth Kauffman wanted help with the Red Karen.  Would we be interested?  We took a trip to Mae Hong Son, No Pa A village and we met Khu Ooreh.  We talked to him and he invited us to come and help them.

God had planned and prepared from the beginning for John & Brooke to be together and to help the Kayah with God’s Word.  We are so glad and thankful that God guided our paths to the Kayah because they have blessed us so much.

WHY did John & Brooke become Bible Translators?

John and Brooke both love God’s Word and read it each day to grow and stay close to God.  They were both so thankful that they had God’s Word in their own language.  Luke 12:47b says, “When someone has been given much, much will be required in return;”  John & Brooke both felt that God had blessed them so much by giving them God’s Word in their own mother tongue, so they wanted other people to have God’s Word in their mother tongue also.

Through reading and thinking about God’s Word each day, God spoke to their hearts and they grew in their relationship with God.  They learned how He wanted them to live even though they failed God often.  We are all sinners saved by God’s grace!  And through God’s Word, He comforted them.  They felt very sorry for people who could not read God’s Word in their own mother tongue every day.  They wanted to invest/give their lifes for something that would last forever.  God’s Word and people will last forever, so they decided to give their lives to translating God’s Word.

When we first began working with the Kayah people

We had many interesting and also difficult experiences when we first began.

1. John & Brooke move to No Pa A:

The Kayah people built us a wonderful bamboo house even with its own bathroom and a bamboo water system.  We were so happy to be with the Kayah people and to have our bamboo house.  We had dreamed and prepared for this day for many years so this was a fulfillment of all our dreams!  Finally, God had brought us to a people group!

We found that life took a long time to do everything everyday.  We didn’t have a washing machine or shower or a stove to cook on like in Chiang Mai or in the USA.  So, everything took a long time to do.  And we had two children at that time.  We washed clothes and cloth diapers, cooked over the charcoal, took baths in the stream or in our bathroom. and tried to learn the language. I know Khu Ooreh wondered if we would be able to live there like that!  Maybe he thought we would starve!

Tharadu Htu Reh gave us Karenni names;  Hte Reh, Hte Mar, ByaMar, MeeMar, Jar Reh.  I am so happy and proud to have Kayah names for our family!

1. Learning the language

It was challenging to learn the Kayah language because they didn’t have any language learning books.  When we learned Thai, we had books to learn the language and teachers.

But, that was OK because we had received training in how to learn languages.  At first, Brooke and John walked around No Pa A village to try to learn the language but then we found out that we were learning Eastern instead of Western Kayah.    Brooke thought maybe they were pretending and we weren’t learning a real language at all!

We lived near all the single men and women and they kindly helped to take care of us.  But, when Brooke tried to learn Western Kayah from the women, they ran away because they spoke a different language or dialect and didn’t feel confident to teach Western Kayah.  Later, God gave Brooke the opportunity to learn with Hway Phaw and  Naw Naw.

John was more fortunate because Lerphaw, Noah and others all spoke the Western Kayah dialect and were able to help him. 

John & Brooke had different language learning methods.  John liked to talk and joke with everyone and learn the language, even if he made a lot of mistakes.  Brooke liked to study the language and try to make sure she could speak it correctly. 

Thara Phae Bu had responsibility to teach us but he couldn’t speak English at all, so at first, he began to teach us nouns-the names for things.  We went to Khu Ooreh and got some verbs so we could make sentences with both nouns and verbs.  One day, John pointed to a cassette player and asked Phae Bu how to call that.  He responded with “hay jya to”.  I wrote down this word in my notebook because I thought that was the name for ‘cassette player”.  In later years, when I looked at my notebook, I realized that he said “cannot say (no word for that)”. 

Learning the tones in the Kayah language is difficult.  They are more difficult to hear than the Thai language and we don’t have tones in English.  One day I was driving our truck towards the border.  Tharadu Htu Reh said, “va thayeeshay.” (I’m afraid)  I thought he was scared and I asked him “Why are you scared?”. Was he scared with me driving?  He said again, “va thay eeshay.”  I couldn’t understand why he was afraid.  Finally, he spoke stronger, “va thay eeshay.”  I finally undertstood.  He wasn’t afraid, he wanted me to stop the truck so he could pee!  The tones and sounds were so similar!

2. 1992-1993

This was a challenging time for us.  We had lived in No Pa previously, then we went back to Chiang Mai to Payap University for awhile.  Around Aug or September, we returned to No Pa A.  We unpacked all our things and slept for one night in our house.  At that time, the Burmese army was near the border and they were shooting mortars.  We could hear the noises, “boom, boom”.  We were not afraid because we were not that close to the border.  I also knew the Karenni would take care of us.

The second night, Tharadu Htu Reh came to us and said he felt we should leave because they were concerned for our safety.  They were concerned the Burmese could attack.  We wanted to stay because we had only just arrived the day before and we unpacked already.  I suggested we stay one more night but he didn’t think it was a good idea.  He forgot to explain one very important detail—Everyone was leaving!!  If he had told me that, I would have accepted his suggestion more quickly!  When our family left in our truck, we were so surprised and saddened when we saw all the people fleeing towards Nai Soi with their belongings on their backs.  That night, the Karenni showed their love for us even more.  While we stayed in Mae Hong Son, though we didn’t know it, they were carrying all our belongings over the mountains from our house in No Pa A to Nai Soi.

We have always been so amazed by the Kayah people.  They are so resilient even though life is so difficult.  When they must flee, they just start again and build schools and churches and a clinic again for their people.  They didn’t rely on anyone.   Some groups see the kulabu and think they are rich and always ask money or things from them but the Kayah were not like that.  The Kayah people have great dignity and self reliance.  Instead, they served and took care of us and didn’t ask us for anything.  In fact, sometimes they gave US money for our expenses.  Amazing!  We have been so blessed by God to be able to work with the Kayah people.  As Brooke has said, “I have not met a Kayah person that I don’t like.”

Eventually we rented a house in Nai Soi so we could still be near the Kayah and work with them.  From 1991-1993 John was analyzing the language and grammar, working on a dictionary and literacy materials.  But, these were difficult years for our family. We grew so tired and weary of moving our family back and forth between Chiang Mai, Mae Hong and Nai Soi as we had three young children.  Jonathan was only 6 weeks old when we went to No Pa a the second time.  We didn’t like being in Nai Soi because we wanted to be with the Kayah so in 1993, the Kayah kindly allowed us to build a home in Section 7 on the top of the hill.  Kyaw Hla Sen took responsibility and bought various old houses to get the wood to build the house.  Some joked that our house was as big as a Buddhist wat.  We loved our wonderful house because it had a big porch around the house.  We had a beautiful view of the rice fields and winding river below as well as elephants!

No one built houses on the hill because there was no water.  Crazy Kulabu! We had a difficult time to get water up the hill.  We used the well at the bottom of the hill but it was across the road.  We pumped the water up the hill but sometimes cows would walk by and break off the piping.  It took a long time to get the water system set up and Brooke had three children including a baby.  It was quite difficult for her.

We had to put up gates on the doors of the porch because Jonathan was always trying to escape.  One day, John forgot to watch him and Jonathan escaped from our house and went down the road.  Thankfully, Khu So Reh/Su Reh, a landmine victim, saw him and brought him back to me.

People say that when you try to translate the Bible, satan will try to fight you when you begin a translation project at the beginning of the work and again at the end.  This was very true for us.  We experiened a lot of painful difficulties at that time.  We cried out to God but He seemed very quiet.  He was allowing us to suffer and to grow in our spiritual life and this was very difficult.  We had to choose to keep seeking God and we had to trust that God’s character was truly good, even though it felt like He wasn’t hearing us or comforting us.  We had to believe what God says in His Word about His good character.

Also, John had gotten cerebral malaria.  (and in later years, he also got Hepatitus and Typhoid and pain in his arms)

1993-1995

In 1993, after learning and analyzing the language, we were finally ready to start translating the Gospel of Mark.  Thara Ler Phaw helped me for many years, faithfully sitting with me and working and working and working.  Eventually, we finished the Gospel of Mark and dedicated it.  Then, we did Luke and Acts.

While we were back in America for 14 months, Diddy Phaw, Noah, Htu Ler Phaw and perhaps others translated the rest of the New Testament.  So, we had many years of checking checking checking.  Ler Phaw faithfully worked with me.

2000 onward

God knew that we still needed help to make the translation more natural in the langauge.  So, though we didn’t know him, God was preparing and calling Saw Myar Doo (Myar Reh) to get training at Payap University in Linguistics.  God took care of him and he got his Master’s Degree in Linguistics.  He became very important to the translation because he understood how to make it more natural in Kayah.   He began to work with us for many years after that, day and night, to bring the Kayah NT to completion.

From 2005 or 2006 onward:

Again, satan attacked us all terribly.  He especially attached our daughter with severe depression.  Brook and I cried and prayed to God for 3 years as we tried to help our daughter and as we struggled financially.He also attacked us financially so that we had to struggle for years and John had a lot of pain in his arms all the time.   It was difficult to use the computer.   Satan especially attacked Myar Doo and all his family as he worked with us on the New Testamen.    Myar Reh’s sister and father both died and he experienced problem after problem.  Satan kept trying to make us give up, to discourage us.   Though we continued to work, we could only rely on God to keep us going because we were all in great pain and sadness in our lives.  But God was faithful and kept giving us the strength to keep going.  Praise only to Him who is faithful!!!  As soon as the translation was printed, the suffering and great difficulties also stopped. 

2009-2010

It took a LONG time to get the New Testament  typeset so that it could look beautiful.  The Kayah project is probably one of the most challenging and complex projects in the world because they have three different scripts.  But, God prepared smart computer people from England and from the USA to help us.  He also prepared the technology exactly at the right time!  And finally, God also provided the money bit by bit for three different scripts.  That’s a lot of money because it costs a lot to print a New Testament.  Praise to God!

ALL PRAISE to God.  This work was not done by John & Brooke.  God called and prepared many Kayah and Kulabu in this generation to complete this work.  People in America and other countries have been praying and providing money for over 20 years.  He gave all of us the resources, the abilities, the perseverance to complete the job.  All Praise to God for His mercies and His help.

Kayah Translation Project Background:

The Kayah Translation Project began in 1988 under Bill and Ruth Kauffman (SIL International).  After two years of survey, it was determined that there was a definite need for a New Testament in the Kayah language.  In 1991, John & Brooke Bryant (SIL International) were asked to help with the project.  Invited by Khu Ooreh, a Catholic Kayah leader, the Bryants located to No Paa village.  They learned Kayah, analyzed the phonology and grammar, promoted literacy efforts and created a lexicon/dictionary of Kayah words.  Working with a language helper (Ler Phaw), a translation of the Gospel of Mark began around 1993-1994.  During the following years, they gave translation training and a Kayah Translation Committee took on the responsibility for checking the first draft of the New Testament.  The whole NT was first drafted/written by 1995 but books were redrafted or revised through the years after that.

The project’s goal was to provide a New Testament for all Kayah speakers wherever they were located.  When communication with Kayah leaders inside the homeland (Myanmar) became a possibility, John & Brooke visited with both Baptist (Kayah Phu Baptist Association) and Catholic (Loikaw Diocese Bishop and priests) leaders.  When the New Testament was mostly finished, we had three Scripture Read-Throughs in different locations to give opportunity for the Baptist, Catholic and refugee population to give feedback on the presentation and/or content.

The entire New Testament was checked exegetically for accuracy, consultant checked and checked with village people for naturalness.  This took many years to complete all the editing and checking.

Translation, Literacy and Scripture Use Progress:

Learn language (Khu LerPhaw, Klaw Reh, Noah, Naw Naw, etc.)     1991-1994

Analyze sound system and write up Phonology (w/Khu Noah & Khu Klaw Reh)        

Grammar sketch written (w/help from Klaw Reh?)

Lexicon/dictionary completed and published (w/Khu Noah’s help)

Writer’s workshop/literacy materials produced (Karenni literacy committee, Anne (Klassen) Helgerson, Khu Ooreh and Khu Ku Reh, & Rosie)

Adult primer completed (Karenni Literacy Com.)

Mark, Luke & Acts printed and distributed (w/Lerphaw’s help)          1996-2000

Various NT books completed (w/Ler Phaw, Pray Reh Winlay             2001-2004

             and Myar Doo.

Jesus Film completed (Pray Reh Winlay & other Kayah)

30+ literacy books produced

Christian Life materials (Pray Reh Winlay, Diddy Phaw)

Consultant check of NT completed  (Myar Doo, John, Brooke.           2005-2006

                      various kulabu consultants, Myan Bible Society)

Reviewing by committee of Kayah Phu Baptist Association

Village check of remaining books (Myar Doo)                                      2006-2008

Final changes and Script/font work (Myar Doo)

Scripture Read Throughs (various Kayah religious leaders                   2007-8?

                                               (Baptist, Catholic, literature)

Typesetting (Myar Doo, Dennis & Nancy, Martin H)                           2009

Publication of New Testament                                                              2010

Our Hopes for The Future:

Brooke and I believe that God has said that He has not forgotten the Kayah people.  Though they have suffered much, God can deliver them just like He delivered the Israelites in the past.  As the Scriptures have said, “This is an easy thing” for God to do.   If the Kayah people come to Him, humble themselves, repent, choose God to be their only God and learn His ways, He will bless them and take care of them. 

We hope for peace and unity among all who believe in Jesus Christ.  May they became a light to ALL Kayah people and all tribes.  They must not fight each other because they are holding God’s light.  They have God’s Word now, so they must hold it close to their hearts and read it and think about it each day and let God speak to their hearts.  And they must obey God’s command and share the GOOD NEWS about God’s forgivenss and grace through Jesus Christ with all their Kayah and other tribes.

Finally, God has given the Kayah people God’s Word as He promised He would do already.  Now, just as God has had mercy on the Kayah, we hope that the Kayah people will encourage and help all the other tribes in Karenni State to also have God’s Word in their language.  May God bless them generation to generation.