An unexpected trip

Zach helping prepare to
ask about language use in the church

"Would you like to come with us to Makurdi on Monday?"

The question seemed like a bit of a long-shot.  We usually plan with communities a few weeks in advance, sometimes even months.  Now I was being invited to meet with church pastors in less than a week!?

I had just met Rob Koops for the first time in a few years.  He was checking the translation of the Book of Ezekiel into the Kuteb language and suggested I drop by to meet the translators.  He wanted me to talk about Scripture engagement with them.  We had a nice chat, and found a few exciting things were happening using the Kuteb language.  For example in one church, they were using it for their children's Sunday school.

However, I had a few meetings on Monday to get ready for a visit to a different language community (Gbagyi).  So I asked two others on the Scripture Engagement team, Rita and Scott, if they would be willing to go.  I asked them on Thursday, and yet neither of them hesitated.  Yes!  They would go!

Rita and Scott practice before the trip

The Kuteb language area is about ten hours' journey from Jos, so about twenty pastors from the Kuteb land were coming halfway.  Rita and Scott from our team met them five hours from Jos in Makurdi.  Thank God for their safe travels there on Sunday and back on Tuesday, and also for how pleased the Kuteb pastors were with the discussion.  (Pleased, but also sobered realizing how little they use Kuteb.) Please pray that the meeting with Kuteb pastors will spark more use of the Kuteb New Testament and the books of the Old Testament that are already published.  Thank God for this special opportunity and for Scott and Rita's willingness to go!

(By the way, I helped train Rita in these Participatory methods in June. It is so exciting she has an opportunity to use those skills now.  Thank God!)