Abuja 2021 LT Cohort

 In 2019 we got together in Jos and it was awesome. In 2020 the Corona virus saga started making things more and more difficult. Finally there was an open window and I traveled to Nigeria for the workshop. Because of Covid-19 travel challenges, I didn't make it to Jos. This time the workshop took place at the Bible Guest house in Abuja with 9 participants. I had two TAs Victor and Ahihud. This made the work load lighter.

It was an awesome two weeks of learning and growing together. Praise the Lord everyone was safe and returned safely. No issues with coronavirus.

Adieu Pa Mongwa (13th Feb 2021)

Pa, the news that you have gone home really hit me hard and even my wife too. After the dedication of the Pinyin New Testament you called me to look for time so we can go out and eat achu in celebration. You even said to bring my wife along. I was still looking for the right time for that. 

I spent several months working on the Pinyin App, sometimes I was working and murmuring. At times I will try to avoid you and your phone calls. On your own part, you never gave up on me nor on the project that you really had at heart. There was enough to discourage you but you stood tall. I learned a lot from your passion, dedication and commitment. 

You were a man of your word and wanted the best and nothing but the best.  May the unfolding of God's Word that you have laboured for all your life, give true light to the Pinyin people and may you rest Abraham's bosom. Eventhough in mourning, I have many reasons to rejoice and celebrate your life. You are a true example in our generation and your ways and words will forever remain fresh in our memories.

Adieu Pa Mongwa.

Njem story

I enjoy photography and sometimes I do think that photos speak volumes. The Njem community in Ngoila, East of Cameroon highly welcomed their alphabet, reading/writing book and the gospel of Mark & Luke. 

With these transformation tools in their hands, the community now has what it takes to bring the transformation and impact that the Church and community leaders want to see.

Knowing how to read in certainly a big blessing that we sometimes take for granted. Knowing how to read especially your heart language makes understanding especially the Word of better.  

No wonder why the Bible says in Psalm 119:130 NIV "The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple"

Pinyin New Testament

 August ending was a very exciting moment for us to dedicate the Pinyin New Testament. It was the first of its kind for CABTAL to dedicate a New Testament in print, audio and electronic formats. This is going to facilitate access and speed the reading of the in Pinyin. This will also boost literacy among the Pinyin people. 

The goodness of God

A couple of weeks ago, I began getting some noise in the car but it was not easy to figure out where the noise was coming from. Even the mechanic could not figure it out so I kept managing but deep inside me, I knew that the noise was a bit scary.

One day I went downtown, then I really noticed my steering wheel wasn't balancing very well. As I drove pass by, other drivers were so concerned and kept alerting me, pointing to my tire. I carefully packed and noticed that the tire was almost falling off. If I had just taken another road descending on a hill, the story will have been dangerous but God led me to another road.

This time I called another mechanic and although it took him a very long time to come, I had to wait. Waiting along this streets is not easy, you can't really go away for fear the council police might impound your car. You can't really sleep in the car for it was very hot and just so on.

Finally my friend Walters the mechanic showed up and checked and lo and behold the wheel was almost about to cut off. This means that my tire was going to jump out on me on the highway!

I am so thankful to God for protecting me this way.

While waiting, the Lord brought a very old song to my heart. The words goes thus:
My eyes have seen
My ears have heard
My mouth should talk about the goodness of God...

My eyes have seen
My ears have heard
My mouth should talk about the goodness of God...

God is good oh o ye, God is good oh o ye.

End of the year 2019 and new year 2020

My family and I always spend the end of the year in a very special way because I take a break from work and the girls are out from school too. Unfortunately, my wife gets very busy at this time of the year. This year, we are not able to travel because of the crisis in Anglophone Cameroon so we can't spend Christmas and New year in the village as has been our custom.
All of us helped my wife to get things made especially in making our own clothes! This was really fun. Then the new year was really good because Marie's mother visited us and we spent the day together. She brought us lots of food stuff from the village.

Unfolding of Language Technology...

By all means, the unfolding of Language Technology is accelerating Bible Translation and language development. We are excited to train people who will in turn train others. Two weeks this November spent in Jos Nigeria for a Language Technology Cohort has proven to be very useful as we can see that the seed we are planting God Himself will make it grow as others continue to water it. We look forward to that time when there will be great life transformation because of this. Of course we are only following on the footsteps of others who have done a great job here in Nigeria even before us.