I can’t believe it! My last update to you was 6th July. I’ve been in touch with many of you individually, and also with several Wycliffe prayer groups in Scotland, but I’ve had this niggle in my mind that I should be writing a general update… and so the summer has gone!
I’ve been involved with the Mbula team, checking Leviticus. We split the checking into four separate half-weeks in August and early September. The internet was sometimes unstable, and most of the time we were unable to keep the video running, so it was voices only without faces. To tell you the truth, my mind gets locked into the text… Mbula, English, and Hebrew, so that faces don’t occupy my attention except for our opening and closing prayers and longer discussions. I also had a couple of consultants-in-training join us on Zoom for Leviticus …they sit peacefully on the side, listening. I hope they found it useful. Since then, the team has been reviewing what we did, and resolving a few remaining questions.
Perhaps they have already turned their attention to Numbers, and we hope to meet to work through this book in October, or November at the latest. At that time I expect Kaduwe to join the other two listening in, after his semester in Israel. It lets them see how I approach the team, our Zoom relationships, and what we discuss in the draft translation. Again, I hope each of them finds it useful.
I always enjoy checking, alongside the tiring side. Yes, each day takes a lot of energy, but every now and again, a passage jolts me.
Across in Ethiopia, the Gamo Bible was dedicated in August; see picture below, in a new church building in process of construction.
Margaret had input to Gamo from 2001, and just this week a package arrived here, with two copies. Yes, two, one in the traditional Ethiopic script and the other in the alphabet as we know it. Again, see the pictures below.
Several more Bibles and NTs are still in transit to Ethiopia after printing; pray for their safe arrival soon, please. They will also be dedicated when they get to their destination.
We’ve also had news of Soarimino, the young woman in Madagascar. Putting her training to use from earlier this year, she presented some work on Bible concepts that it is difficult to find words for. Olivia, her consultant and mentor, told us that she did well.
Mufaya’s wife has had several visits to Lusaka University Teaching Hospital. She is slightly improved and more stable, and has been referred back to a hospital in a town neighbouring Kaoma, where they live. This will be easier travel and less costly for each trip, but please pray for her still.
I have done less writing than I wish, and other things have needed attention. So, thank you for your continued support,
Ronnie & Margaret
Out of Africa 