Postscript

More people in Africa speak French than anywhere else in the world.  That’s because it is the national language in more than 10 countries in Africa, mostly in central and west Africa.

While French is a national language in these countries and is often a language of wider-communication (people who have different mother tongues use it to speak to each other), the linguistic landscape of these countries is quite diverse.  Many languages are spoken.  As a matter of fact, French African countries have some of the greatest needs for Bible translation in the world in terms of number of languages without scripture.

A few years ago Wycliffe, together with a few other organizations, launched the Francophone Initiative.  The goal was to encourage leaders in Francophone Africa to engage in Bible translation.  The first consultation, held in 2007, led to the creation of a curriculum about Bible translation and mother-tongue ministry that is used in seminaries.

I spent this week at the second Francophone Initiative Consultation which was held at the CIERVA in Cotonou, Benin (West Africa). This time more than 70 theologians (including pastors, denomination leaders, seminary staff and administration, staff of Bible translation organizations and other ministries) from more than 10 French-speaking African countries met together. At the end of the event they prepared a declaration which stated their goals for the next several years for promoting mother-tongue ministry and Bible translation in Francophone Africa.

The final version of the declaration is in progress.  I’ll be interested to see what’s in it, and what results we’ll see from this meeting of leaders in the coming years.

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Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

Anyone considering a job in Bible translation, literacy or any related work with the organizations associated with Wycliffe has to first complete cross-cultural and linguistic training.  Training centers are located around the world.

The last of the stories I’ll be helping with in Europe is on the European Training Programme (ETP). I’ve been in the UK this week conducting interviews.  Since ETP has campuses in Germany and the UK, we’re getting photos and interviews in stages.

It’s been fascinating to learn about it.  The director of ETP UK told me that they shut down the training in Europe for a full year in order to assess how to do it better.  They saw that many people were being trained for things they never did.  In other cases, people received so much training before they began working that by the time they put their training to use, they’d forgotten key elements.

The program now uses a distinct approach which focuses on helping people acquire training and experience which build on each other.  Their just in time training begins with several months of training, followed by an internship for two years, followed by more training with the option of getting a master’s degree.  Then additional training as one wants to expand their skills or refresh their knowledge on a subject area.

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Jeff and Martijn drove up to Wycliffe Netherlands for the day to help with another IT project.  It was just a just hour drive from where the office is in Germany to the office in the Netherlands.

The old rack mount.

The office needed a new rack mount for their server switch installed. A network switch routes traffic between computers and is the central point between all the computers in an office. The network at the office had expanded, and the old rack mount wasn’t big enough to fit everything anymore.  A new rack mount would give them the increased capacity they needed for their bigger network.

Out with the old, and in with the new.

This project involved unwiring the network switch, removing the old rack mount, installing the new rack mount and rewiring the network switch.

The new rack mount.

Between the two of them, they finished the whole project in a day, and they were back in Germany by the evening.

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Jeff has been working with his supervisor, Martijn, on a cabling project at one of our offices in Germany.

They’ve had to install conduit along all the office walls and in the attic. Then, they’ve been working on running internet and electrical cables through the conduit.  The last part of the job was installing the electrical outlets and internet ports. Jeff enjoyed this project because it combined some of his IT knowledge with his construction skills.

(Click on the images to see them at full size.)

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Getting photos and doing interviews for the stories we put together requires lots of logistical work.  Often most people just see the final story with the photos placed in.  Let me show you a few photos of more of the behind the scenes look at our trips to Denmark and Romania.

Photo by Connie Neumann

In this photo we’re either figuring out our next location for photos, and where to eat…or both.  Søren always had lots of great ideas for photo locations especially when the light was just right.  The bag with him is full of his photo gear.

Eating was actually a challenge in Denmark because of the cost.  The Danish krone is worth a lot more than the American dollar, so everything felt very expensive. We ate a lot of fruit, granola and yogurt in the apartment where we stayed to minimize the cost of our meals.

Photo by Connie Neumann

We got lost our first time walking around Aarhus, Denmark.  We were almost an hour late to where we were supposed to meet with Søren and Lise.  I think in this picture Jeff and I were in a discussion about how to get to our destination .

Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

We spent most of our time in Romania in a small village called Margau.  The village had some great old and new contrasts…like…a wood fired water heater along side great wireless internet.  The scenery around us was beautiful, and the slower pace of life made this part of our trip very enjoyable.

Photo by Connie Neumann

We experienced the wonderful hospitality of Ghiță and his family.  We had every meal at their big outdoor picnic table.  The food was wonderful.  A special treat that Jeff and I enjoyed was making our own soda.  Homemade syrup (fruit juice and a simple sugar syrup) + sparkling water–try it yourself!

Photo by Jeff Pubols

On trips like this, you never know when you’ll be busy and when you can relax.  This was one of the moments we had to chill out.

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Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

Before we left Romania, we spent a day with the Wycliffe Romania administrative staff.  They have a small, but growing team.  This team does publicity, church relations, events, processing new staff, and more.

Administrators play an important role that is often overlooked because these kinds of roles are not considered font-line jobs.  However, without good administrators serving in a variety of functions, Bible translation and related work would be hindered.  I guess it’s sort of like trying to drive a good looking car without an engine. Even though you can’t see the engine from the outside, without it, now matter how good a car looks, it won’t drive.

After we had finished some interviews and photographs with the staff, Jeff met with Jeroen to assess the IT needs of Wycliffe Romania and consult with them about what kinds of IT systems they need to run their office more efficiently.  His report will go to the Wycliffe Europe Area IT services director.

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Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

When Petru and Mirela arrived at a small Baptist church in Huedin, Romania, they told the church up-front that they could only make a short term commitment.  They only planned to stay until they were able to go abroad as missionaries. Petru was to be their new pastor.  Not only would he be the main pastor of this small church in the city of Huedin, but he was also to serve some of the tiny village churches not far away.

The reaction was mixed.  Some embraced his vision right away.  Others thought that they should stay in Romania because so much missionary work still needed to be done in Romania. There weren’t even enough trained pastors, especially out in the smaller towns and rural areas.

Church members shared with us how Petru began to teach them about God’s global mission.  He was even invited to share at some of the other churches in the area.  Slowly many who initially had concerns began to change their opinions.

Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

But, then came the issue with fund raising.  Petru and Mirela desired to join Wycliffe and serve in Africa. They would need to raise financial support to cover their personal and ministry expenses. How would they raise funds?  Can a bunch of little churches in a country with less wealth than others really send a missionary abroad?

YES!

People from Huedin and from small rural churches all over that area came together and partnered with Petru and Mirela.  They provide support through prayer and finances.  Some of their financial supporters don’t even have their own bank accounts, but they’ve found a way to make it work.  Ninety percent of Petru and Mirela’s monthly funding is regularly given by people and churches in Romania.

Petru and Mirela along with their two children now serve in Africa, and after they complete language learning they will begin to help with a Bible translation project.

Ghiță, one of the church elders and a lay pastor, reminded us that in God’s Kingdom, size does not matter…only faith. Another woman who is a church member said to us that if God can multiply the widow’s oil, surely he can do the same for them.  She told us that Petru and Mirela have shared in their last letter that they will need to purchase a vehicle.  She said that they are praying for how they can respond to this financial need.  She was confident that God would supply.

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Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

Ghiță and Emil are good friends and are both elders at their church.  We listened to them share their stories, today.  They both recalled the days of communism in Romania as the context for their desire to support Bible translation, now.

Ghiță was a Bible smuggler for 10 years.  He said that one day someone approached him and asked him if he could help distribute Bibles.  When he agreed, he was given instructions to meet someone, somewhere to get more instructions.  His additional instructions included passwords, locations, distribution methods… Bibles were illegal.  Getting caught bringing them in and distributing them was punishable with a prison sentence…or worse.

He said that he used to collect the Bibles at night and drop smaller quantities to other people at various locations so that if they were caught, only a portion of the Bibles would be lost.  Then each person who received Bibles had instructions on how to distribute them from there.  Ghiță told us that one night he revealed to his parents what he was doing and showed them his basement which was full of Bibles. His father looked in horror and said, “You’re going to get us all arrested!”

He was followed and sometimes harassed.  Other Bible smugglers, sometimes friends of his, were arrested…tortured…sometimes never heard from again.  He was always at risk.  Even other members of his underground church could be informants who could turn him in at any time.  He said that he thought the government had to know what he was doing, but for whatever reason they decided not to arrest him.

Emil was a member of an underground church.  Just going to one of these churches put him at risk for imprisonment.  He said that many people were approached by the government to “just help get a little information.” Sometimes the request came with threats.  Other times it was put in such a casual manner that it just didn’t feel like it could be all that bad.

Emil was approached.  The government wanted him to be an informant.   He said the way they asked him made it sound very harmless.  It’s just a little information–who comes to the church? what is preached about? where do you meet? who has a Bible? and the like. It could have been easy to say, yes.  He didn’t agree.  He said no.  It cost him his employment.  But, knowing how he was approached, he said he could see how easy it would be for someone to agree.

Whether they knew it or not, informants often supplied information that led to Christians being arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and sometimes killed.  In exchange for the information, they were usually safe from prison, often were able to keep their jobs…but not always.

Both Ghiță and Emil said that it is because of these experiences that they understand the value of the Bible in a special way. When the Bible was not easily accessible for them, people found a way to bring it to them.  Today, they can help others who don’t have the Bible. They can participate in seeing the Bible translated for those that don’t yet have it in their language.

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Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

After two short flights on Czech Airlines and a four hour drive from the airport in Budapest, Hungary, we made it to our next destination: Oradea, Romania. This is the city where Wycliffe Romania is located. It’s in the western part of the old kingdom of Transylvania.

Photo by Connie Nuemann

We head to another city an hour from here tomorrow, so tonight was our chance to get a brief orientation on Romania and where we’re going from Jeroen, the Wycliffe Romania director.

Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

Romania was a communist country from the end of World War II until their 1989 revolution. Much of that time, the country was led by Nicolae Ceaușescu, whose rule was characterized by increasing brutality. Christianity was made largely illegal by that government.

Today, the church is growing and sending people to share the gospel abroad.  Wycliffe Romania has more than 10 members who serve both in Romania and in Africa, with several preparing for service in other parts of the world.  Our focus here is on writing a story about a small church that is providing prayer and financial support to a Wycliffe Romania couple that serves in Africa.

My first impressions… it’s really different from any other part of Europe I’ve visited.  It’s also really hot–over 100F (40C).  And…the mosquitos…they are aggressive.  Maybe they are the true inspiration behind the vampire stories!

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This is the part of my job that I love.  Yeah, sitting in an office is OK, and I still do that a lot.  But, I love getting out, seeing people, experiencing their lives, working in what sometimes feels like odd places and at strange times of day.  In the photo below, Connie, the writer along with us, is actually going through her notes while sitting out on Lise’s balcony.  We’re writing a story about Lise.

We spent most of the last few days in Lise’s neighborhood.  She lives in Gellerupparken housing estate which is considered to be Denmark’s largest ghetto.  We’re staying in another apartment nearby.  The images I have in my mind when I think of the word ghetto are not what I saw there.  But, context is everything, and I’m not from Denmark.  The income of most people living here is comparatively lower than most people in Denmark, and I suppose that is why it’s called a ghetto. Many of the people living in the estate have moved to Denmark from the Middle East and parts of Africa.

We followed Lise around for several days interviewing and photographing her, her friends and family. Lise is the first person to apply for membership with Wycliffe Denmark in probably 20 years.

Photo by Søren Kjeldgaard

I’ve heard several times from others that there seems to be a trend among European Christians–many don’t think Christian cross-cultural work is for them anymore.  But, spending time with Lise reminded me that God’s call isn’t limited to certain nationalities.  Jesus desires all of his followers to serve the Kingdom of God at home and abroad. Europeans…Africans…Christ’s followers from every part of the globe…all have a place in cross-cultural ministry.

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