In the year 2009 the Pochury Bible translation suffered a major setback when the translator Rev. Thsüwachu Nyuwi passed away on August 25, 2009. The long awaited Bible translation in Pochury which was nearing completion came to a dead end following his demise. While trying to come to term with the reality of his departure and the lacuna so created by his absence, the Pochury people did not know which way to go and whom to turn to. It was during that time Rev. Aheto, who was earlier the translation advisor of the Pochury Bible translator, came to Meluri from the Bible Society of India (BSI) office, Shillong to meet with the people of Pochury and resuscitate the dying translation project from its ICU.
Having consulted with the tribal leadership, Rev Aheto came to my house and persuaded me to take up the challenging task of completing the partially completed translation. It was our first meeting and yet I had no qualms sharing my standpoint with him on a number of subjects. So friendly and thoughtful was he that I began to look upon him as my own Pochury brother. After a brief exchange of opinions, seeing his willingness to make concession for me to work on the project alongside my regular teaching assignment at Shalom Bible Seminary, I expressed my readiness to work with him.
The following year my work began and it took me nearly five years to complete the project, much longer than I expected. With his support and encouragement, the first complete version of the Pochury Naga Bible was published and released on September 24, 2014. The difficulties associated with the work of Bible translation is best known by those who have involved themselves personally in it. Rev. Aheto gave me a lot of freedom and flexibility to work according to my convenience. Aware of the practical difficulties involved in making frequent travel to Shillong, he would make all the arrangement and come to me and offer all the necessary technical assistance I needed. It takes an advisor of great humility and understanding like Rev. Aheto to climb down from his position and meet me in the comfort of my own house. Had it not been for his personal interest and love for the people of Pochury, the desire to have a Bible in our own language would remain a distant dream even to this day.
In my years of working with a wide range of people from different backgrounds, I have come across few people who are as readily available and easily approachable as Rev. Aheto. His love for the Word of God and the people of Pochury is unmistakably evident from my personal experience of having worked under him for a period of five years. A humble, sincere, and committed servant of God Rev. Aheto was, the people of Pochury will remain deeply indebted to him for his leadership in the successful translation of the Bible. In his demise, his family has lost a loving father and a husband. Me? I have lost a dear brother!
Rev. Aheto was the Youth Secretary of WSBAK at the time of his departure from this world. On this sad occasion, as our Sema brothers and sisters bid their final adieu to this dear servant of God, the people of Pochury, particularly the Pochury Baptist Church Council (PBCC), stand in solidarity with them and mourn the dead of Rev. Aheto. To his dear wife and children, we convey our heartfelt condolence and pray for solace from our heavenly Father. May the God who feeds the sparrows and care for the lilies be there by your side at all time to meet all your needs.
