carolynford

We finished the consultant check of Genesis in the Kafa language on
Wednesday, April 7th. Praise God! The team did a wonderful job of
translating, so the checking went very well.

I am headed back to Alduba among the Banna people, leaving Friday, April
9th, and arriving in Alduba Saturday afternoon, April 10th, Lord willing.

We also finished recording the script for the Jesus video in the Banna
language mid-March and look forward to receiving the finished product in
about six months.

Next week I am hoping we can continue with the consultant check of Acts in
the Banna language.

Praise God for the encouragement of His Word and the privilege of helping
get it into the heart languages of the peoples of Ethiopia.

On Sunday, September 6th, I visited the church I attended regularly in the late 1970s. At that time Pastor Mattewos was single, and few people attended the church. Mattewos spent many hours in prayer and many hours visiting in homes to build up trust so that he could effectively share the Good News about Jesus. In 1982, he married Etaferahu. Through the years they have remained among my closest friends. This photo was taken of them, their three sons, and me in their home, where I enjoyed a lovely meal and visit after the church service. That church has since added several extensions to the original building and has planted many other churches in Addis Ababa and throughout Ethiopia. Mattewos now administers educational centers in several places where needy youngsters are fed, cared for and educated. May God give each of us perseverance in prayer, relationships, and service so that we may enjoy the fruit He will bring in His time for His glory.

Donna and I are still in Addis Ababa. Two of our Ethiopian colleagues plan to drive up here from Alduba (Banna area) September 15th to renew insurance on a pickup truck. They will take Donna and me, along with as much of our stuff as we can fit in, back to Alduba. It will be much less expensive for them and for us than if we hired a truck to take us down. Meanwhile Kafa translators Mattewos and Gezahegn, who lost their advisor to leukemia last year, have given me their translation of the book of Ruth to look over. I hope to meet with them toward the end of next week to do a consultant check on that book. Please pray for the Lord’s enabling as this will be my first formal work as a consultant. I feel very inadequate. They have given me a back translation (i.e., they have written the Amharic equivalent of each word or phrase under the Kafa word or phrase). This helps me know what they have said, since I don’t know the Kafa language.

God has been so gracious to me. I never would have chosen to stay in Addis Ababa for a whole month, but I see that it was His plan so that I could adjust to the time change and all the changes that have taken place in SIM Ethiopia since I was last here. Please continue to pray for a close walk with the Lord for me, and that I will be an open channel for the expression of His love. Thank youǃ