Rice terraces cascade down the hillside just like the water within them that constantly trickles from one paddy to the next. This beautiful mountainous farm belongs to the ‘hill-tribe’ minority peoples who live in Sapa, north-western Vietnam. Throughout much of South-East Asia minority language groups in the highlands carry out life separated from the bustling cities and coastal industries by treacherous mountain roads and unique languages. Although 86% of Vietnam’s population speak Vietnamese as their first language, there are about 100 other minority language communities concentrated in mountainous areas like this one. A handful of these languages have some Scripture portions, but Wycliffe and its partners calculate that at least 45 language communities still need a Bible translation project to begin. They are still waiting to hear the Good News.

Photo: UN Photo/Kibae Park