Expanding Possibilities through Tablets
By Ricky DiMartino, IMN Editor

Expanding Possibilities through Tablets

By Ricky DiMartino, IMN Editor

Scripture engagement specialist Phil Baer recently visited the Maya Harero* people group in the most southern part of Mexico. His mother and father were the SIL linguists who first translated the New Testament into the language of this people group. For decades the Maya Harero population and, by consequence, their language were in danger of extinction. Generally speaking, there are two branches of the Maya Harero people, a northern branch and a southern branch, of more or less equal size. According to reasonable estimates, the population of the southern branch, dating back to the 1870s, never reached above 85 persons, even dipping below 50 in the 1940s. During this time it was estimated that one in every four deaths was the result of homicide. One factor for this was the practice of polygyny and the fact that marriageable women were sometimes difficult to find. The situation for the people and their language would well be described as precarious.

A Maya Harero woman and her daughter are shown how to use the MegaVoice Envision tablet. (Photo by Phil Baer)

Much of that has changed now. The combined population of the two branches is in the neighborhood of 1,200. In spite of the encroachment of outside influences, Baer notes the people continue to value their own language and culture. The situation goes well beyond linguistic vitality. Their understanding of God’s Word has been integral in reconstituting their identity. In the words of Baer, they have “learned that God loves them, which gives them a foundation of who they are.” 

But the flourishing of the Maya Harero people is not without obstacles. The next generation, though active in the language, faces much of the same pressure as do young people around the world. “Many of the children are unchurched,” comments Baer. “Many of them are secular without any concern for God in their lives.” It has been Baer’s experience, however, that people outside the church can be open to learning about Jesus through media. 

And therein lies a primary reason for Baer’s most recent visit. Baer and a colleague traveled to Mexico to deliver various media tools and provide training on how to use them. Among the many tools were 10 MegaVoice Envision tablets equipped with clips from the Luke film in the Maya Harero language. “People are able to evangelize in the community by only a click and a point,” Baer says. “The tablets empower people who are not technologically savvy, enabling them to share the message with the people in their community.”

IMS staffer Bruce Bush helped Baer load the MegaVoice tablets with clips of the Luke film prior to Baer’s departure to Mexico. (Photo by Ricky DiMartino)

The blessing of God’s Word through media goes beyond that. Women now occupy transformative roles of influence for their society. “The tablets are empowering technological novices, many of whom are women,” says Baer. “Women are the best resource people for a particular family group. They’re there with the children. For them to share the video via the tablet is just kind of a natural thing. They’re the stalwarts of these community groups.”

Baer has used cellphones to deliver Bible media content in the past. But, he explains, the phones have essentially been used as small tablets, as few people have access to the Internet or a cell signal. According to him, the MegaVoice Envision tablets are easier to use than phones and preferable for playing media, because phones are not loud enough and the screen is obviously smaller. On occasion, the tablets froze, which necessitated resetting them by the use of a small paper clip. But the value of the tablets—large screen, volume, simplicity of operation, and favorable storage capability—proved true on this trip. Ultimately, the people “loved the MegaVoice tablets.” Time will tell whether the tablets have staying power. Baer, however, cautions that “media by itself is not the answer. The answer is motivated people.”

* a pseudonymRicky DiMartino joined SIL International Media Services (IMS) in 2020 and works as the IMS PR Coordinator. He became editor of the IMN (and defender of the Oxford comma) in 2021. You can contact him at ricky_dimartino@sil.org.App Building Foundations CourseAfter a one-week course, seven students from around the globe were trained on how to use Reading App Builder (RAB). They are now equipped to create, publish, and promote a variety of apps, such as read-along apps, quizzes, digital songbooks, and more. Discover future training opportunities on the Courses page of the IMS website.