Sandawe lady
If you’ve ever seen the movie “The Gods Must Be Crazy” you will get an idea of the language and culture of the Sandawe. Though the movie focuses on the bushmen of the Kalahari desert in the southern part of Africa, the Sandawe are a part of that larger group that moved through Tanzania. The Sandawe stayed as their kinsmen pushed on (or were pushed) south. Not only are the Sandawe unique to those who are praying for them but they are also unique to those who live around them.
Their language, which is tonal and includes clicks, makes for difficult translating. But translators are continuing to work and are currently trying to finish up on the book of Luke. There is also a dramatic reading of the book of Luke that is in the process of being recorded so that the Sandawe can hear the word of God in their own language.
Keep praying for this ministry. As I look around me in my office I can see a number of different translations of the Bible on the shelves next to me: at least eight translations—all in English! We must realize and remember how blessed we are that we don’t have to learn another language just to find out what God wants us to know about Him. Continue reading ‘Sandawe Update 2, 2010 - The Sandawe are not just unique to us; they are unique to the people around them’
The Rangi church continues to need a full time pastor to oversee the various ministries happening in Pahi and the surrounding area.
Rangi meeting in Pahi
Cloudi Roman, an evangelist, has agreed to help Dr. Chanji with the church work for the time being. Cloudi has completed four years at Bible college and he is being assigned to work in another area of Tanzania to complete his training in cross cultural ministry before he will be allowed to return to work among his own people.
The Girls’ High School continues to thrive but one hurdle that needs to be crossed is the accreditation needed from the government. Even so, the school has 360 young women who are learning and growing at the boarding school. About 30 girls were baptized over Easter; praise God! Continue reading ‘Rangi Update 2, 2010 - “God’s Word is being put into the heart language of the Rangi”’
Here is the latest news from Radio Nuru:
“‘It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”-Romans 9:26
Mwani men gather around playing a game
We have used the above verse as the opener for this update, asking you to remember back ten years ago, when national believers from other existing tribes in Mozambique told our team of missionaries in Pangane that they didn’t know why we were attempting to bring the Gospel to the most stubborn, resistant group of people (the Mwani); they failed to see the possibilities then and continue to lack vision now, but now it seems that their murmuring may be in the process of being quieted. The sadness is that when the Mwani fields begin to be harvested, the fruit may not be able to be joyfully brought in to the local church, but may have to be stored to the side in scepticism and prejudice. Muchante, Abdul, their wives and we all agree that God is being honored through Radio NURU and that His Word is bringing change, hope, light, and truth to the homes of many people. Yesterday morning, a young Mwani man named Musa got on his knees in Muchante’s home to accept Christ as his Savior, and another neighbor named Assane joined the prayer time. He says he “isn’t far behind in line to do the same.” Today a small home with a grass roof was purchased in a neighboring village called Xinavane so that Muchante and Abdul can have a meeting place for new believers and seekers who need prayer and encouragement. Pray that Muchante and Abdul, ‘good seeds’ according to Jesus’ parable, will multiply sixty, seventy fold and more! There are many stories of how God is showing folks His power and love. We are constantly being encouraged through our weekly survey/interview trips to outlying villages.” Continue reading ‘Mwani Update 2, 2010 - “His Word is bringing change, hope, light and truth”’
Although there are no workers currently among the Daasanach, one couple still make forays up there and they’ve related how the Daasanach believers are doing. They report:
A Daasanach lady
“In April this year, we had the privilege of sitting in home after home of Daasanach believers, and hearing over and over again their accounts of a similar experience of the Lord’s gracious protection over their lives. Some months before our visit, Daasanach land was hit by an outbreak of cholera. In communities like theirs where good hygiene practices are virtually nonexistent, the spread of such a disease is rampant and devastating. Severe dehydration and death occur even more quickly in such a hot, arid environment. We listened in awe as our friends related the story to us.
Relief supplies for the epidemic were flown into the area by the government. There was a certain village that was well know to have numerous Daasanach believers that was denied any of the supplies. “Let their God take care of them”, was the calloused explanation that was given. Evidently, our gracious God, who is able to protect the honor of His own Name, chose to stretch out His mighty arm to answer that mocking challenge. Here are some of the testimonies we heard from the believers about those weeks… Continue reading ‘Daasanach Update 2, 2010 - We cried to our God and He answered us!’
“Do not bring us the Gospel as a potted plant. Bring us the seed of the Gospel and plant it in our soil.” - Mr Murthi (Indian evangelist)
Bara men with guns
We’ve mentioned before that the time seems ripe for the Bara. Doors that were closed for generations are beginning to open. People are hungry for change and open spiritually. We’ve asked you to pray for more workers to go out. Please also pray that these workers would have a desire to teach the Bible and not simply impose their set of doctrines and practices that sometimes cloud the Good News.
Sadly, the current methods of evangelism here often focus only on conversion in order for numbers to be added to a church, instead of making disciples. Nominal Christianity is rampant in the urban areas where so many don’t have even a basic understanding of their faith. This often leads to syncretism with their traditional animistic beliefs. Pray that this would not spread to the unreached areas as well but that a real, living, and radical faith would take root. Continue reading ‘Bara Update 2, 2010 - Spiritual Hunger and Opening Doors’
There is a lot to pray about for the Sandawe people group.
Dr Jon and Melissa Eager are currently on home assignment so that adds extra work to the medical staff who
Sandawe group
have remained behind. The dispensary and mobile clinics continue to need prayer in their ongoing work to meet the medical needs of the area.
One of the concerns in the medical work is the work going on at the village of Birise. During this rainy season they need to cut their airstrip well, otherwise the monthly medical flights will not be able to land. They’ve had a change in village leadership and this has affected their motivation.
Although we don’t have much in the way of details to report to you, faithful pray-ers, there seem to be tensions between local church leaders in Usandawe. It seems that both cultural and traditional perceptions are playing a role in this. The leaders need wisdom in order to find a Christ-honoring solution to the problem.
In this agricultural society the blessing of rains mean that there is a chance for a crop. God has been good—there doesn’t seem to be any famine amongst the Sandawe but we need to continue to pray that the crops will grow and also that there will be no flooding. We praise God for the good rains that are coming in the Usandawe area. Continue reading ‘Sandawe Update 1, 2010 - “God has been good—there doesn’t seem to be any famine among the Sandawe.”’
One of the exciting things about our line of work is watching a church develop, not into a building but into
Pahi church leadership
an indigenous body of believers whose Savior is Jesus Christ. Seeing the work of discipleship take roots in the believers is an exhilarating thing to see and watch emerge.
Right now there is a body of believers meeting together to worship the Lord but the acting pastor in the church is also the clinical officer from the health center. Though doing a good job he does not have the time or energy to visit church members, arrange services and organize ministries well. Although he has a passion for serving the Lord, his obligations keep him from focusing on all the needs of the church.
Claudi, however, is finishing his 4 year studies at Nassa Theological College this spring. He has a heart to reach his own people and hopes to be assigned to work back among the Rangi people. Pray for him as he finishes his studies, that he would finish well and be used of the Lord to reach his own people. Claudi is also engaged and he asks for prayer for both himself and his fiancé to do the work the Lord gives them. Continue reading ‘Rangi Update 1, 2010 - “The Rangi can now read the word of God in their own language.”’
An ethnomusicologist held a seminar in December that had a profound impact on the Gabra at Kalacha.
Gabra Man
The focus was music and it lasted for 5 days. In that period of time over 40 Gabra men, women and youth gathered together for a time of studying God’s word and music development. In the past years the Gabra believers used songs that were mostly translated from trusted hymns and songs that had been used from outside the Gabra culture. During the seminar, the people gathered to learn to develop music their own way to in order to worship God and celebrate what He’s done for them.
During the seminar one man stated, “We didn’t get much to eat or drink because of the drought, but we sure feasted together in the word.” Another man summed up the time by saying “I love this teaching! We can’t stop now though, the rains haven’t come and we need to keep praising God until they do.” (Two weeks later the rains did come, in abundance).
The seminar resulted in a number of new songs that are being sung that are distinctly Gabra. One elder recently shared, “These songs are just too good to keep here at Kalacha; let’s take them to other Gabra up in the Hurri Hills.” Continue reading ‘Gabra Update 1, 2010 - “These songs are too good to keep to ourselves”’
A report from Daystar University called Unreached People of Kenya Project, Boran Report, December 1982 highlights the life of the Boran people and their traditional religion. The report states:
“The Borana religious life is influenced by the circumstances in which they live. Most important of their religious goals are those which concern the cattle, the grass and the rain, and therefore these are featured most frequently in their rituals and worship. Prayer and sacrifice are common in their religious practice, with the idea of seeking God’s blessing and provision foremost in their thinking.
“Traditionally, the Borana believe that God’s wrath can be avoided only by consistent proper behavior, not by dependence on medicines or charms. Borana fear God, esteem charity and justice, endeavor to avoid evil and place great value on ritual precision. They pray daily and avoid the unclean.
“Much of life is wrapped up in ritual and ceremony. Events such as circumcision, clitoridectomy (pre-dating Islamic influences), marriage and the like, while not primarily religious in nature encompass a large amount of religious ritual and ceremony, and thus cannot be excluded from the social-religious realm of Borana life. In actuality, it will be safe to say that all of Borana life is inherently related to the religious and ceremonial sphere.” Continue reading ‘Borana - “Much of life is wrapped up in ritual and ceremony.”’
We’ve mentioned before that for the Bara, following Jesus means a radical shift in not only their spiritual beliefs, but their entire worldview and daily lives as well.
Bara man and boy
Men especially are very reluctant to leave the ways of their ancestors. They do not want to let go of the spiritual powers they have from their ancestors through charms etc…, or their promiscuous lifestyle where having many wives is a sign of wealth and masculinity and extramarital affairs are expected. Cattle stealing is also a strong part of their identity. Even though the practice is changing, young men still feel pressured to prove their manhood and bravery by stealing at least a few cows. Even if one is caught, serving a prison sentence is a mark of a “real” man.
These are just a few of the ways that Satan has blinded the eyes of the Bara and made it difficult for those sharing the Gospel to help the Bara, especially the men, understand what truly good news it is.
Pray that the Bara would really understand God’s message—and see it as good news—and recognize that what they must give up to follow Christ is nothing compared to what they gain in following Him. Continue reading ‘Bara - Barriers for the Bara’
