Dedicated

Last Saturday we spent the day at our cluster’s first dedication ceremony! The Vwanji people were officially receiving their first books of the Bible (Ruth, Jonah, Mark, Titus, Timothy 1 & 2, Philemon) and celebrating the progress of their language. They are the first language that we are working with to have such a celebration and also the first language to have the gospel of Mark printed and in people’s hands! It’s been seven years since the first survey of the language was done and so you can imagine how happy people were to have reached this key stage.

Our role on the day was to man the bookstall (we really are the grassroots!), selling these books and all the other literacy and Scripture Use materials we have produced over the years. We had almost 20 separate titles including books on how to learn to read and write Kivwanji (the language), local stories, health booklets, bible study materials and cassettes and CDs of Mark! To see people’s excitement on getting hold of books in their language for the first time was a joy to see – especially as they clustered in groups outside the church trying to read for the first time!

Obviously providing people with the materials is ‘just’ stage one in the process. If we don’t do our work properly no one except the best educated few will be able to read and write Kivwanji. We must continue to find good ways for people to access teaching on reading and writing and support groups for them to keep using their language together. As always this is only just the beginning…

Here are just a few pictures to give you a taster of the day. We'll try and get more online as soon as possible!

The congregation watching a choir (there were 4!)

Mhalila, one of our translators, reading from the book of Ruth in Kivwanji

Us, Katherine and Konga (our new Vwanji SU/Literacy Coordinator) selling books!