For the past few months, Lydia and I have been really struggling with the concept of living by faith—and finances are only the tip of the iceberg with this topic. The varied intersections of life and faith seem to be more like a four-interstate exchange than a four-way stop (of which I’ve seen zero in Africa…why have with stop signs when the public transport busses simply flash their brights and plow through any and every intersection). Faith is a bigger concept than belief, and life decisions are rarely straight-forward. God uses dreams to help us traverse these roads, both the images born at night and the vision we have for the future, but more on this later, I want to keep this update short and to the point.
The girl sitting next to me in the picture is named Tswara. She and her friend Poncho (hidden at the back of the bus) have been working to translate the Bible into their native tongue. Poncho, a single mother, started translating the Gospel of Mark with no training or support; no computer or internet connection at home; no idea of what it would take to finish. She simply knew that Jesus had changed her life and she wanted to bring life to her own people. Now, Poncho and Tswara are a part of an organization (Lutheran Bible Translators), have an office with computers, and are both working on obtaining an accredited Diploma in Bible Translation through The Word for the World. They are both helping to bring the transformational gift of God’s word to their people, and will have done so before their children are grown.
Faith–that beautiful and difficult meeting place of evidence, obedience, and power—drives people like Tswara and Poncho to reach for seemingly impossible goals to bring life to their families and their communities. These training events held by The Word for the World are making valuable cross-organizational and cross-cultural improvements to ongoing work all across Africa. It has been amazing and eye-opening to be both a student and a teacher at this event.
We’ve been here for three weeks now and the vast need for help in a variety of ways is becoming incredibly clear. People at home have questioned why Lydia and I are doing “two different things” as we start to work with Bible translation and women’s empowerment. More and more, we see that the work God is putting before us is intrinsically tied together. Our blurry vision is clarifying. Communities need the truth of God in a reliable and understandable form which can be used a reference for teaching, a source of inspiration, and a tool for preserving language and culture. As a community is changed, the women need to be literate, trained, equipped to care for children, and empowered to stand up for the truths revealed in Scripture. God is sanctifying families by revealing His truth and empowering these precious people of His kingdom.
At this point, my training is going well. The specific needs of the projects within the World for the World are becoming clear. Lydia’s opening lectures and initial interviews with women leaders are going fantastic. God is giving us the evidence of His working here with us; and it is amazing to feel the arms of a loving father gently, but firmly, guiding us in His will. We are learning to live by faith, because He is faithful.
Prayer Requests
- Protection, Health, and Hygiene: We both have been struggled on-and-off with “running stomachs” and Lydia caught a stomach bug of some sort. Water is not always available and the quality of the food is sometime questionable. Please pray for continued grace from God, and protection from the enemy. There are around 80 people, from 5 countries all gathered in a small lodge. We regularly pray and praise God for our health, though at times there is a definite feel of spiritual attack, so we value your prayers as well!
- Wisdom and discernment as we navigate the vast needs represented here and figure out where and how God will be using us in the near future.