When people ask where we have been and we respond “Kenya” there is a kind of normal response. “You went to Kenya, Wow!” Then comes the quizzical look and the question, “Why?”
The simple answer, People.
If you have clicked over to the page honoring Dr. Kenneth Pike perhaps you will understand. There are an estimated 380 million people in the world without access to any literature in their mother tongue. They cannot read or write in their mother tongue. They are unable to feel, understand or reason from literature that speaks to their heart. What is most important to me is their lack of access to The Bible, God’s Word in their heart language.
We went to Kenya to come in personal contact with these people and to interact with them. We also met others who are learning these languages, reducing these unwritten languages to written form, inventing alphabets, preparing literacy material and translating The Bible.
That encompasses the “what” of our trip, Ministry – Bible translation
Our key contacts were with the national Bible translation group Bible Translation and Literacy
(BTL) a member of the worldwide Wycliffe family of ministries. BTL is a Kenya directed
organization enabling Kenyans to reach out to fellow Kenyans.
What follows are photos from our interaction with the people of Kenya and the ministry of Bible Translation.
Suba, located on Lake Victoria
Daniel, BYL worker (L)
Naphtaly, Suba translator
An orphanage at Suba
operated by Naphtaly
Suba Boy
Compelling eyes
Suba Teen
Bubble Gum and Candy, universal “Kids Stuff”
Suba Children
Mae, handing out the gum
Shelly shows Suba children their pictures, digital is great!
Mae in route to the Translation Center via boat on Lake Victoria
Sharon with Suba children
Translation consultant Nicky DeJong assists a local linguist
Conterxture Video team
recording Naphtaly
Suba Bible Study using Romans
Suba mother and child at the study
Study continues
Local Suba pastors
The BTL Logo at the BTL Ruiru Conference and training center
On the porch of the dining facility
Ruiru Training Facility Classroom Building
Ruiru Classroom
Ruiru Guest House
Ruiru Guest House
Guest-room Entrances
Guest-room Study area
Bed and Wardrobe
Twin Beds
View towards Bath Area
Dining Facility Entrance
WA Africa Area Director Eric Hagman and BTL Officials
Grinding Grain
The Massai
Literacy
The Ruiru Kitchen
Preparing Lunch
Serving Lunch
Ed Lawler from the East Congo SIL Branch with our team
Working together for Literacy and Bible Translation
The BTL Finance office
BTL HR Office
WA is constructing a new facility for BTL on the same campus
This building will replace the aging and dangerous structure
Eric Hagman assists the national workers in the construction task
Mae in her element, interviewing the Bender sisters, WA Volunteers
Charity Bender, from Ohio, is interviewed by the video crew also
