“We're not sure, but it looks like they need coffee.”
This is why DOOR does “community” checking on every Bible story translated into sign language with Deaf people!
“Community checking” or “comprehension checking” is when you have a group of Deaf from a country -- preferably some who have some biblical knowledge and some that know nothing about the Bible – come together to watch the translated Bible story on DVD being signed in their “heart language.”
Afterwards they are asked a series of questions to check to make sure the signing of the story was CANA (Clear, Accurate, Natural and Acceptable).
The above incident occurred during “community testing” on the Bible story of when Jesus was brought before Pilate.
The translation consultant asked the Deaf, “The people were shouting something back to Pilate, what was it?”
Their answer, “We're not sure, but it looks like they need coffee.”
It turn out that the sign for coffee and the sign for crucify in Tanzania Sign Language are pretty close! If you haven't been to church or don't know anything about the Bible, you probably won’t know the sign for crucify and will just figure they meant coffee.
Therefore, the Deaf Tanzania translation team will be making this clearer in their revisions.
HOW TO SIGN “WORSHIP” 
The Deaf groups from the community in Tanzania made a clear distinction between signing “worship” with your hands palm together, fingers straight and aimed towards the ceiling, versus signing it with the fingers of your left hand covering your right hand, which is in a fist.
The sign with fingers straight and aiming towards the ceiling is how you worship the one true God; the other one with closed fist is how you worship idols.
Such distinctions are very important in correctly translating the Word!
GENDER DISAGREEMENT
While showing the story of Jesus' birth to a group of Deaf women, the translation consultants and translation team ran into some gender disagreement.
On the Tanzanian Sign Language DVD, the translation team of all male signers had to find a way to pantomime Mary's labor pains. The Deaf women, displeased with the final result, graciously gave feedback of the correct sign vocabulary to use in describing this particular scene of the story.
OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS
During the comprehension checking in Tanzania, Deaf participants come from various faith backgrounds. After watching the story of Jesus' trial and crucifixion, a translation consultant asked for feedback and a summary of the story.
One man said, "I'm not a Christian. I'm Muslim. But this is what the story says …" and then proceeded to give a comprehensive and clear rendition of what he'd just seen.
Praise God for this confirmation of the DOOR teams’ efforts. Pray that all their work will result in similar clear, accurate, natural, and acceptable translations!
CONFIRMATION
Near the end of the trip, a young, well-educated Deaf woman came for a day of testing. She had extensive education and training in both Swahili and English. After watching the Tanzanian Sign Language Bible, she told the team she preferred watching the signed translation to reading print translations. Why? Because the signed Bible is in her mother tongue—what she knows and understands best.
COMMITMENT
DOOR is committed to not only getting God’s Word to the Deaf for the first time in their sign language, but to do it right! It’s God’s Word! It needs to be done right!
DOOR needs committed partners to help complete this task. “Community testing” takes a lot of time and a lot of money. Would you prayerfully consider joining our team with your prayers and your financial commitment?