Postscript

More from my trip to Ethiopia in March…

Bible translation work goes beyond the translation of the Bible itself.  We want to see people actively engaged with scripture using what they learn to help them with the difficulties they face, so other materials are often also translated.

One challenge faced by many communities in Africa is how to appropriately respond to HIV and AIDS. A booklet called Kande’s Story addresses this issue using a scriptural approach.  It has been translated into many languages in Ethiopia including Guji-Oromo.  The church took the lead in conducting workshops in the area using the translated Kande’s Story booklets in order to educate and create an environment of openness to facilitate dialogue about HIV and AIDS.

The people we visited in Chambe told us that other programs about HIV and AIDS had been done in their community, but in the national language, Amharic.  Because Kande’s Story was in their language, more people understood the content and responded to the teaching.

Below is the story that resulted from our trip there.  Read it and be encouraged.

God is at work.

God’s Word Speaks on HIV:
Kande’s Story in Ethiopia

by Christine Jeske

On a Sunday morning in the town of Chambe in southwest Ethiopia, Pastor Bilu Demissie Shorbote explained to his congregation the words of Psalm 23.  “In Christ,” he said, “there is a place of healing and comfort.  Has anyone here experienced God’s comfort?”

“Amen.”  The people responded together.

Bringing hope and light

In recent months, the town of Chambe had experienced new and tangible evidence of God’s comfort through a booklet about HIV and AIDS.  The booklet, originally titled Kande’s Story, tells the story of a young woman whose parents die of AIDS and how members of the local church respond with support and healing.

Kande’s Story is a true-to-life account based on stories told by a church leader from northern Nigeria about children in his community.   The story was first written in 2004 by Shellbook Publishing Systems, who then allowed SIL to further adapt and use the story and add a facilitator’s manual.  Since then it has been translated into 139 languages, including thirteen in Ethiopia.  Among these is the Guji dialect of Oromo spoken in the village of Chambe.

As people read and discuss Kande’s Story, they uncover ways to apply scripture to their everyday life as the facilitator’s guide includes Bible passages.  Together participants discuss Jesus’ treatment of lepers, God’s view of sexual sin, justice for orphans and widows, and much more.

Healing a stigma

An estimated 2.1% of Ethiopian adults were HIV positive in 2007, but that number has been climbing toward the Sub-Saharan African average of 5%.  A staggering 22.5 million people across Sub-Saharan Africa are HIV positive, and nearly 15 million children are orphans due to AIDS.

The stigma of the disease remains strong in Ethiopia.  Communities often ostracize those suspected of having HIV and their family members.  Churches commonly teach that HIV is the wrath of God and a proof of sin in the life of the infected person.  Many people will not touch an infected person, and they even fear to pronounce the name of the disease, calling it instead “that thing.”

The impact of the story is noticeable.  In Kibre Mengist, a city near Chambe, a group of HIV positive people have started meeting every Friday in a public place. Together they share coffee, friendship, and support. Their public presence boldly announces their HIV positive status to the community with an openness unheard of before Kande’s Story workshops.

“I used to be afraid of people who are HIV positive,” said Hamero Kedir, a young woman from the region.  “Now I will say hi, shake their hands, and come close to them to try to help them.”

Spreading the word: “a new taste of freedom”

When government leaders in the region surrounding Chambe heard about Kande’s Story, they became excited.  They approached the presenters and asked for the workshops to be repeated in each of the 15 districts across a region of four million people.  Previously in this region the fliers, posters, and radio broadcasts regarding HIV and AIDS were only in the national language, Amharic.

“The government has given training on HIV, but this one is special because it is in our mother tongue and whoever is given the training should give the training to another,” explained church leader Worku Mute, who is referring to the method where those who read the story and participate in the workshops are asked to teach others about the disease, so the story spreads exponentially.

Others can help spread Kande’s Story. Guji translator Danbala Elema said they need more copies of the translated booklet to distribute.  The first printing included 20,000 copies, but some four million people speak the language.

“My wish is that it could reach every people,” said Worku, who coordinates the sending of local missionaries through Evangelical Church Fellowship of Southern Ethiopia and would like every missionary to have a copy.

As the church service closed in Chambe, Pastor Bilu Demissie Shorbote and the congregation sang, “Jesus saved me from dying, cast away my sin.  Now I am free and happy.”  Today, as people read Kande’s Story in their mother tongue in Chambe and across Africa, Jesus is giving those affected by HIV and AIDS a new taste of freedom and happiness.

Read a longer version of this story

Popularity: 29% [?]

When you think of the Bible, do you think of a book?  The Bible is now available in a variety of media in many languages.  Some people access it on their phones or on special audio devices.  Some watch it on video. Others hear and learn scriptures through oral transmission.  Still others engage with scriptures in interactive computer programs. This video takes a comedic look at some of our hang-ups about the medium of the Bible.

Popularity: 33% [?]

Helping people use and actively engage with Scriptures is an essential part of Wycliffe’s ministry.  However, Wycliffe is not the only organization that is passionate about and involved in Scripture engagement.  Some friends of ours in Nairobi just produced a video about how some AIM (Africa Inland Mission) staff are helping the shepherds of Lesotho engage with God’s Word.

Lesotho [lih-SOO-too] is a small, land-locked and mountainous country located in the south eastern part of South Africa.  It is not part of South Africa, but an independent country of about 2 million people.  At least five languages are spoken there. Wool is one of it’s exports, and boys can be set apart to be tend flocks of sheep from a very young age.

While Lesotho has a high literacy rate, shepherds have a strong oral culture and many are not literate.  AIM staff are helping some shepherds learn to read and write which gives them access to God’s word in their language.  Staff are also hoping to launch a Bible school which will transmit all of its teaching and Scripture orally and through audio.  This will allow shepherds to engage with God’s word and learn to teach others about God’s Word without having to learn to read.

Learn more about orality and ministry to peoples from oral cultures.

Learn more about Scripture engagement ministry.

Popularity: 33% [?]

Jeff and I had the opportunity to visit a small town about an hour and a half from Durban with a local church ministry team.  This team provides encouragement, spiritual guidance and medical advice to people with HIV/AIDS and those that are in some other way affected by the disease.

It has been reported that millions of people in South Africa are infected, and the infection rate is the highest in the world.  This area has one of the highest infection rates in the country.  One of the pastors of the church we visited said that they wanted to respond, but didn’t know how.  A doctor at the church spearheaded a program to meet the needs of those infected by HIV and AIDS in the community.  It started as a small hospice program.  Soon they found that many patients were not dying but were recovering enough to return to work and daily life.  The ministry changed its focus. While the hospice remains open, each week follow up is done with patients not in the hospice.  Volunteers check on each patient’s well being (including a medical questionnaire) and conduct a Bible study with the patient and anyone else the patient invites to participate. We each went with small groups to check on a few patients.  To us the people we visited did not look ill.  The antiviral drugs that many people take, while not a cure, do allow people to have healthier, longer lives.  People that live longer can continue to care for their families, contribute to the larger society through their work and interact with their communities in a meaningful way.

We were in a Zulu area, so many of the people we visited only spoke Zulu.  The Bible study and much of the rest of the content of our visit was done in the Zulu language.  Seeing the Zulu Bible in use reminded me that this is what we desire to see in all the language communities where Scriptures are being translated.  The Scriptures in a language the community understands best being used not only in church but also to address relevant current needs, even providing encouragement to those struggling with affects of HIV/AIDS.  A woman in the photo above committed her life to Christ after the Bible study was complete.

Zulu is one of the 11 national languages of South Africa.

What about the families where parents have died from AIDS?  The church also responded by starting a ministry for child-headed homes.  They offer child-care for younger siblings and assistance with studies for the child heading the home. This is a critical care component giving children who lead their families the opportunity to complete their education. However, the life of a child who has suddenly been thrust into adulthood, is not easy.  Learn more about child-headed homes.

Learn more about how Wycliffe is addressing HIV/AIDS.

Popularity: 20% [?]

I sent two volunteer/colleagues (Craig and Søren) to Mozambique in May to gather several stories about Bible translation work taking place there.  They visited two translation projects–the Meetto project located in a town called Balama, and the Koti project located in a city called Angoche.  The stories are in still progress, but this video will give you a preview.  It shows some of the things Craig and Søren saw while they were there. Enjoy!

Popularity: 17% [?]