Clap your hands!

Clap your hands, all you nations. (Psalm 47:1 )

When a Tanzanian claps, the sound seems loud enough to reach heaven. Steve & Mary Pence were clapping and singing with their Tanzanian brothers and sisters on the way to the celebration of the Gospel of Mark in Safwa. One of their brothers held high a small blue booklet: some of the first of God’s words ever published in this language.

A choir ran to greet them and broke spontaneously into a traditional Safwa dance—arms outstretched and knees bent. Soon a Safwa marching band took the field. Painted turquoise flowers shone fluorescent from their faces.

Safwa hymns were celebrated. The audio version of Safwa Mark is now available on smart phones. School children who peeked into Scripture booklets expecting Swahili found Safwa instead. They discovered they could easily read their own language.

For the Safwa people, there is much to celebrate. God’s Word has arrived. But it has only begun to arrive. There has been work on the books of Matthew and Acts. Completion of the New Testament is years away. Literacy rates must rise. Safwa churches and believers need to learn to use God’s Word in their meetings and their lives. Pray that the Safwa translation project will continue!

Story Source: http://www.wycliffe.net/stories/tabid/67/Default.aspx?id=5300&pg=1
For more about the Safwa translation project, search for “Safwa” at : https://theseedcompany.org

March is a month of recovery, renewal, and reengagement as we do long-range planning in the office. Mom will be coming for a visit, so there likely will be some roaming and revelry, too. J I am thankful for the health and strength God has given to both of us… and I don’t take that lightly.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership with your prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry. God is using you to help provide the Scriptures for many just like the Safwa. Rejoice!