Lamp on a Stool

Before

 After months of slow progress on the script and choreography, harmonizing a dance team and a drama team into a cohesive group, we finally got to see "Lamp on a Stool," a story of modern day Daniel and his friends in Babylon, on stage.  It was more dynamic than any of us thought possible when we started in May. We performed it for about 200 people in the Jos Christian Youth Conference (JCYC) in collaboration with Common Ground Connection. If you'd like to see the show, you can go to this link on facebook: Lamp on a Stool

During 

 Please pray for this team as we continue our study "Purpose Driven Life" we started during the "Camping" week before the performances.  You watch "Come Home," the story of the prodigal son the second day of the conference.  Both of the 40 minute plays stretched our hearts, bodies, and relationships!  What an striking and life changing way to interact with the truths of Scripture! When I studied Scripture engagement for my masters, I never imagined doing something like this. 

After

One of Us

 "Abigail" responded the young woman filling the many water jugs in the cafeteria of the retreat center where we are celebrating our anniversary.  I had asked her her name in English. Zach promptly said to her in her language, "Good morning."  She laughed, she asked, "Are you from here?"  What a question...an identity question...are we from the same place?  "We live in Jos." Zach explained. "Who did you learn the language from?"  What a question...a communal question...who do we have in common?  Zach replied, "In our office, we have colleagues who speak your language."  "You are one of us," Abigail said with a genuinely delighted smile.  What a statement...a statement of belonging because we speak her language (if only a few phrases.)

As we walked out of the cafeteria, Zach said "See you later!" in the language, and I said "Thank you very much."  As her response and joyful laughter rang out from the screen door behind us, I turned to Zach and said, "That is why we do Bible translation."  We are one with her and her people because we speak her language.  God does too, more than a greeting or a well known phrase.  God knows the intricacies of how her language works and how it moves her heart.  We praise him that the Irigwe people already have the whole New Testament translated into their own language, they can know that God is with them, knows them, and has "moved into their neighborhood!" (John 1:14 MSG)

 Please continue to pray for the hundreds of other language communities in Nigeria where this reality is still masked because there is little or no Scripture yet in the language that speaks to their heart. 

One of our colleagues here is wearing a shirt that says, "God speaks your language" in the Nigerian Pidgin.