Trip to Maroua (August 2018)

Nice meals in Maroua

Apparently, this is the best time to be here in Maroua. It is raining and so the environment is fresh. I was blessed to be well taken care of by my friends, colleagues, mentees and those that I have coached and those that I supervise. It was good to spend time with them, their families, go to church with them and get to see where they live and work. Get to eat with them, visit their restaurants etc. In the Keufkeuf's home, MariAnne their 2 year old daughter thrilled me. She knows how to manipulate the computer alread!

MariAnne Richard's smart 2 year old daughter

Eating together in the mat is fun

Kadada, his wife and daughter

What a great word "Thank you"

On Friday 10th August I received a phone call from one of the translators that I had trained in Maroua. I thought he was calling because something was not working as is often the case with some of the translators that we support. So right away, I was already getting ready and even said a breath prayer asking the Lord to help resolve the problem that Kosma Jonathan might have. To might greatest dismay, he said he was only calling to thank me. He said all what they had learned especially about how to check their word list was useful and it helping them to advance in cleaning their text.

This was very encouraging as hardly does anyone ever call me back to say thank you. 

Kadada helping Kosma Jonathan (Mbudum team)

Later that same day, I was teaching the exegetes and translation consultants some advanced tools in ParaTExt on how to setup their space to do exegetical work. I got feedback that this was really what they wanted to learn and that it was going to be immediately put to use. This is very encouraging as I feel that my time is not wasted but instead useful as I can be part of the Bible Translation process by helping translators to speed up their process.

ParaTExt workshop in Maroua

July 30 - August 3rd, I spend the week working with 14 participants from 7 language communities in Far North of Cameroon. We ate together prayed together and studied together. I learned a lot about them and their communities. Most of them we have been on contact on the phone for me to help them remotely but this time was face-to-face and building relationships. It should be noted that my French is not very good but several times, they told me that my type of French is instead the one they understand better.
Our devotions came from Walking with Jesus Video series. It was indeed very timely and useful. Participants learned a lot and had so much to share from this video series. Personally, I love these videos and want to see them translated into major language groups in Cameroon.

Kadada (My Trainee) helping participants

Mofu-Gudur translators

Matal translators discovering send/receive

Group photo with all the participants and regional director for Grand North

Chai house. This is where we eat our meals everyday. Nice and open place. 

This is the series that we used for our devotions all week. It is amazing, a must watch especially for new believers.