Hello Everyone,

It has been a very full re-entry here in LR after returning late Wed (March 10, 2010) from FBC’s first trip to connect with the Dadiya Scripture translation project in Nigeria. I’ve been very eager to report on what happened and what God did and is doing there. I (and the team!) so appreciate your prayers. The Lord enabled me to go and go hard with little sleep which was a great answer to prayer – thank you.  None of us got sick, at no point did we lose luggage, and all travel (a very great miracle, esp. in light of the violence in that area) at each point was successful. God certainly went before and attended our steps as only he can. He is the omnipresent caring God. In general, we captures lots of stories; had many divine appointments; were greatly blessed and encouraged to see the translation, outreach and ministry work that is going on among the Dadiya people; were so encouraged to see the impact the translation work has already had over the last 5 year to bring hope to the community at large and unity to the church generally, as well as the impact it is poised to have now as audio recordings of the scripture are being prepared to go out and literacy initiatives are scheduled with the primer the translation team has developed. Each of the translators has worked very hard and is so committed and it was such an encouragement to see the hearts of the pastors on the team and committee.  I’ve listed just a few of the details of the trip chronologically below and look forward to telling you each more!

Our flights through Chicago and Frankfurt en route to Abuja were all fine with no luggage lost and some rest for most of the team. I got most of my remaining (’late’) papers graded before my battery was drained and a little sleep. We had a truly great team and it was a real delight to be with Rosie & Glenn Stephens as well as Ken Tuttle, and to get to know pastor Will and Nancy Hamilton (both are terrific). Everyone had such a serving attitude, was very laid back and flexible, and connected and served so well with all those we met. Not sure I’ve ever been with a better team!

We arrived in the afternoon in Abuja and went through customs, passport control, etc. before we could meet up with Chuck Brod (longest serving FBC missionary, with SIM) and their driver Endurance.

Will, Ken and I rode with Endurance and it was so interesting to see the ‘Hamatan’ (dust skies from the Sahara) effects on the sun, etc. as well as the unique topography. I shot as much video as I could enroute (Chuck had warned us that taking pics in the car was not always smiled upon).   Seeing the mix of new infrastructure construction (roads mostly) and obvious population crowding and poverty was striking.

We had a great reception at the mission house (owned by the IMB but managed by the Brods, especially Judy) there and got some rest and great food. I enjoyed a brief (needed) rest and then picking up as many words in Hausa as I could and asking the Brods questions about where we were going, things there, etc. What a godly couple. At that point most of our trip was up in the air due to travel uncertainties and contingency plans.

The next day in Abuja we met with the  ECWA (Evangelical Church of West Africa) leadership for a couple of the district church councils there and had a good discussion about what they are doing, the 10 year ECWA strategic plan (3 years into implementation now), challenges and opportunities there and how we might be a support and encouragement. It was a particular delight to see the afternoon Enlgish classes that were going on for women as we left (practicing vowels, at least 50-60 there) – they run them multi times a week for 2  hours a time. Lots of kids around and Nancy was in her element immediately (we called her the kid queen).  We also were able to meet with and hear from the national director for Campus Crusade (called the Great Commission Movement there) and in particular about the Jesus Film work that is going on and the new efforts over the past 5 years to integrate it more tightly to on the ground ministries. This has had a much great effect with actually fewer showings. Overall, we heard time and again about how discipleship and growing deeper in spiritual walks is the greatest need of the Nigerian church (sounds familiar!).

After my first run in Nigeria (it was hot!) with Ken, got a little needed rest and all the while in Abuja we were trying to take advantage of the times with the electricity was on and the internet was on. I was still trying to grade and post papers and take care of Liberty stuff so it was a couple late nights. Got packed up for departure the next day for Gombe State and prayed lots re. the plane flight.

Those prayers were answered as we had no trouble with the flight, getting to the airport, luggage or arriving even on time in Gombe City. We were met by several members of the GCM Jesus film team that were heading to the Dadiya area for film showings as well as Beatrice, a fellow formerly with GCM who has his own discipleship ministry in that region. Very hot and dry but we did a great job of keeping hydrated all along the way (lots of bottled water!). Azi (the driver we had arranged ahead of time was there with a van for us which fit fine). We later learned that one of the GCM men had been robbed in his car on the way to Gombe City from a town up north just that morning (took most of his clothes, all money, but providentially left his laptop). We drove to Kaltungo, the closest town with a ‘hotel’, before heading on to Dadiay area. God answered prayer as we were able to pass all the check points btw Kaltungo and Bam Bam (btw which there had been intense ethic fighting with the Dadiya and Tungali a few days before). Seeing the main area village of Bam Bam (long ‘a’) was an experience I’ll not forget. We were welcomed by the translation committee (a large number of pastors and leaders from many local churches) and of course the translation team. We had formal introductions and it was so great to meet the translators we’ve prayed so hard for. It was late so we headed down to where the Jesus film (gosple of Luke on film) was going to be shown that night in the village (only the second showing ever there) in Dadiya. The team drove to the site but I particularly enjoyed walking with a group of the translators there and speaking with pastor Illiya (who lives several hours away in a different state – the Dadiya live in 3).

The Jesus film showing went great with numbers growing throughout the showing (and Muslim prayer calles increasing as well, it was Friday). Other than a few motorcycle drivebys there was not anything in the way of disturbance. It was held in a natural ’square’ in front of one of the ECWA churches there (ie. a very plain rectangular building). ON several occassions we heard people comment, ‘Jesus has become a Daidya-man’! Ken, Nancy and I stayed the night in the village and the rest of the team (including Chuck who was so great at taking care of arrangements and negotiating things we didn’t even know about!) drove back to Kaltungo. It is not safe to travel the roads there at night due to robbers and God kept them safe on the 40 min drive (rough roads and potholes were the biggest challenge, not the checkpoints, which was good). We who stayed got to see many respond to the message of the film and the strong invitation that followed. Everyone was invited to a follow up training early the next morning (6) at the church there. Other than blaring Muslim prayer and radio through a speaker apparently right next to where we slept, we and the GCM team and Beatrice had a good, if short, sleep.

The next morning we got to see life starting in the village (up and at em at 5:30). Took tons of pictures of folks on their way to draw water (so many pictures during the trip of the need for the pursuit of life giving waters), etc. 95 people came to the JF follow up and the team did a great job of walking them through the meaning and implications of what they had heard and responded to. It was great to watch Ken and Nancy relating with the kids afterward, I had a precious interaction with a 9 year old boy asking him if he had come to the show the night before, “Yes” he said. I asked him what he learned … he said “The I have sins and the God came down to earth to be my Saviour’ (no prompting and in English he said this!). So I asked him what he learned this morning and he said ‘That we should live like Jesus and that worshipping idols is wrong and getting drunk is wrong’ (2 strong issues there). Incredible for such brief exposure. The GCM team is now working to plug these folks into existing churches for growth and discipleship.

After breakfast and interviewing the pastor who initiated the translation project and the older man whose work of a brief gospel recording in Dadiya in 1961 had sparked that upon its discovery (he had come to meet us – they had never met!) the rest of the team arrived  and we got to meet again with the translation committee and (all on camera) hear about the impact, hopes and challenges that have attended the project. There is now an semi-annual all church convention of all Dadiya churches and overall the people group has experienced a great sense of self identity (they are pretty hard pressed by larger tribes) and now hope for preservation of and literacy in their language. We got to hear from each translator and from the chairman what verses had taken on new meaning as a result of the translation of Luke (that they already knew but in their language encountered in a fresh way). The responses were incredible. The excitement that they feel for the audio distribution of Luke (which is being fully recorded this weekend by our team there) and the literacy launch in April was palpable (and was equally anticipated by the community at large and its leaders). We then broke up and interviewed each translator, the GCM team, etc. in detail (such valuable records and stories!).

The afternoon saw a meeting of our team with the chief of the Dadiya (the ‘Folo Dadiya’: Ahikah A. Abubakar) – a muslim. He was very excited about our visit and the project and shared how he considers the Wycliffe national coordinator (”Dr. Katy”) and Wycliffe  translation consultant that has been working with the team directly (Randy Groff) part of the Dadiya people (”Randy is Dadiya, just the wrong color’ he said).

After sweet interactions with the group, children and then some goodbyes we all headed back to Kaltungo. While certainly not quite up to Motel 6 standards we did get good food (no kitchen, just open fire outside) and ‘minerals’ (what they call sodas). Electricity would come on in the evening (and much needed fans – no AC). Sleep was a real blessing but not before taking Will and Nancy out to educate them about the awesome star views there (I can’t imagine what the town people sitting out in the dark thought of us wandering around and looking up). It was so far south that I was able to see a number of things that I have rarely seen (Canopus was so high in the sky). My little binocs weren’t much but it was still great.

Sunday we split the team into 3. Rosie and Glenn stayed in Bam Bam at a local baptist church (where we hoped that – and God provided – that they would be able to have a local lady we knew of come to interview who had had her husband killed and lost her leg in an ethnic attach some years ago and  had a prosthetic limb provided through Randy’s assistance last year). They had a good service but the interview turned into a divine appt for Rosie to lead this lady who has experienced such hurt to Christ. The change in her spirit was so immediately dramatic it deeply affected Rosie and Glenn. What a blessings!

Will and Ken went to an ‘interior’ village so way away, Localopoli, and had a great time despite getting there as the service was nearing the end. They got a double portion as Will preached and Ken displayed some truly original dance moves in response to their choir singing.

Chuck, Nancy and myself went to Pastor Bensons village church some way outside Bam Bam (he is one of the translators and such a dear solid man which a precious family of 6) along with 2 of the other translators (Mr. Baka and Mr. Goji). It was a driving adventure as our van was not designed for the offroad paths. We got stuck 3 times and were 1.5 hours late getting there but all had waited and we had a wonderful service. It was a real privilege to hear them sing and dance and particularly moving for me to get to share from Ps. 19 about the God who speaks and has spoken everywhere and who’s word ‘revives the soul’ gives ‘wisdom to the mind’ and ‘joy to the heart’ eliciting our response of praise, confession, and faith. God was gracious to give some relevant illustrations. The best part was to meet an older man who had come to Christ in the church the week before and to be able to thank the  church for supporting Pastor Benson in his work to bringing the Scriptures to the Dadiya language.

After and afternoon of seeing the translators 1 room ‘office’ receiving their gracious gifts of the Gospel of Luke in Dadiya and the literacy primer’ (such a precious gift) and sharing in prayer over the translators, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Kaltungo. Everyone on the team was united in our sense that God had been so good to us and that we could not be involved in a more worthwhile project. We certainly left parts of our hearts there to pick up in the future.

The next day we flew back to Abuja after hearing more about the work of the Jesus Film teams in that region (and about the mugging of Samuel mentioned above  – God certainly protected and enabled him). In light of the renewed tragic violence in Jos (lots of women and children murdered in a mostly Christian area by attackers) we would not have been able to drive back to Abuja and the flight went as scheduled. IT was moving to be able to pray directly for the crisis unfolding there being right there. God bring your peace to that land!

We all were deeply thankful for the greeting and provision at the mission house from Judy, Endurance and co (ice, AC, food and rest – it doesn’t get much better). It was particularly fun to hear from Endurance about a Bible study he had led for his church ‘house care group’ while we were gone (and which Will had helped him prep for). He is a dear brother and we saw the village on the way into Abuja where he and his brothers live.

That night Chuck and Judy took us in to Abuja for a great pizza meal.

Our departure day was marked by frantic internet activity, a great visit to a local market/bazaar where we got to bargain our hearts out for lots great things.

We did our own brief interviews of reactions to the time (thanks to Nancy) and had a great prayer time with the Brods and Endurance before departure. Our flights were once again smooth and uneventful (save a little medical emergency behind me on the flight to Frankfurt, but it worked out ok). God held up our plane in Chicago an hour so we could make all our connections and all our luggage made it back.

Thanks so very much for your prayers. We were very conscious of them throughout the trip and God certainly heard them.

There is so much more to share about the time and what God is doing there, but suffice to say that I’m thrilled that God has connected the church here with this people group and project as much for our own appreciation of the Scriptures and the reality of their need to go out worldwide as anything else. Keep praying for the Scriptures to be made available to the the Dadiya people in their own language and for God’s blessing on those involved and those who receive them and the attending efforts.

Yours with thanks,

David

*PS Luthansa did not strike as planned. Some of us were actually hoping they would so we could get some extra time there, but once again God was gracious.

So thankful for all of you!
David