In 2012, Peris and I chose the Book of Joshua to study with
our Tabitha women. I wrote the studies each
week, Peris translated them, and they were taught in at least 200 local Bible
studies throughout our hillsides. The
women loved the stories of the battles, that made great drama material, and
taught them to be strong in the Lord, and Peris and I were encouraged in our
faith, too.
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| Moses praying as Joshua led the Israelite army in the defeat of the Amalekites |
With over eight years of studies in our files, we finally
were able to begin the process of getting them published in our third term at
Tenwek. In January 2016, we formed a
local editing team that began working on our study of the Book of Joshua,
adapting it to be appropriate for men, youth and women.
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| Peris, Carol Trachsel, Rev. Elijah Bii and Rev. Elijah Bii working on the Kipsigis translation as I looked on. |
Working with our church’s Discipleship Department Director,
Pastor Hellen Rutto, in August 2016 the Kipsigis and English versions of the
study were published in Nairobi. When they were presented
to our church leaders at a conference, they immediately asked for a Swahili
version, which was then published in October.
Slowly, Pastor Hellen and other church leaders have promoted
the studies, and little by little, groups here and there are beginning to use
them.
Shortly after returning to Kenya in August this year, we had
lunch with our friend Peter Rono. He was
excited to tell us about a study his home fellowship group had recently begun. “Do you know how difficult it was for Joshua
to take up where a leader like Moses left off, to lead God’s people into the
Promised Land? But God had prepared him
during those years in the wilderness.” As
Peris and I listened, we were thrilled to hear that our study of Joshua was
being used, even though Peter had no idea where it had come from. “But the problem we have is translating the English
into the Kipsigis for the mamas in our study,” he said. He was overjoyed to find
out that the study was also in Kipsigis and immediately put it to use in his
home fellowship group. These
fellowship groups, centered around the study of God’s Word, are relatively new
to our area. Praise the Lord!
The study is being used in two other churches in Bomet, and in
a laymen’s group nearby; a youth group in Nairobi hopes to begin the study in
January; we are hearing more stories each
week of how it is being used. We thank
God!
Distribution networks are still developing, and include our
local Tenwek Bookshop, run by our friend Joyce,
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| All three translations being sold at Tenwek |
and the Bomet Book Center, managed by our friend Eric Bii.
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| Peris and Robert talking with Bookstore Manager Eric Bii |
Pray that we will be able to streamline the distribution
network to make it easier for groups to obtain the studies. We are all new to this. And pray with us that people will really meet
God in these studies and grow deeper in their faith.
This week Pastor Hellen asked how soon we can get going on
the next project. We hope to begin with
a series of studies of God in Crises, in January, followed by the Book of Ruth,
followed by the Book of John. The
studies are written. Pray for God’s
wisdom and timing in getting them edited and published for His use and glory.
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