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12/24/2009

Two parables in Badwe'e for dubbing

We are again at the forefront of developments that will have impact far beyond our projects.
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA MINISTRIES has produced parables that are delightfully acted out and much more able to convey the meaning of the parables. The BIBLE STORIES VIDEO PROJECT (BSVP) is one that caught our interest. We are now working with the biblical texts in Badwe'e, adding to them the explanations that give the Badwe'e audience the fuller information that he needs to understand the text. We are hoping that this video can be shown soon in Badwe'e and that it will enliven their understanding of the Christian faith.
It is available for purchase in its English version here.

A paper on the verb "to be" in Nzime and Badwe'e

On Dec. 21 I finished my paper on the verb "to be" and its related copulas in Nzime and in Badwe'e. Our linguistic consultant Steve Anderson has now read it and pointed out areas to improve it. The goal is to publish it on the SIL branch website.
That will enable anyone with an interest to have a deep knowledge of this intriguing aspect of the language.

12/18/2009

Roman Catholics Launch the Use of Badwe'e in Worship

The Roman Catholic church has several orders of worship for use in a chapel when there is no priest present. One is for Sundays, another is for funerals, and another is for everyday use. In the past, these were all equally unintelligible, mumbled at a monotonal pitch in a foreign language.
When we came back after our 4-month absence, a surprise awaited us: the Roman Catholic parish in the Badwe'e area of Minduru had requested that we assist them in preparing an order of worship in Badwe'e. We are now done with that task and it will be going back to them soon for revision.

January Ekoalea at Seminary

Our coworker, January Ekoalea, is at seminary now, learning more about biblical languages and all the other subjects. He aspires to graduate in three years with a BA in theology.
One of the joys he has discovered is that Badwe'e believers in Yaounde are eager to see him enter the ministry! They are helping him however they can. Other seminary students have said that they have never seen this kind of spontaneous love before.

Presbyterians Launch a New Program, Because of the Badwe'e Scriptures

When does a Bible translation team know that their work has passed into the realm of "successful" translation projects? Much research done on this topic concludes that a Bible translation is a longterm success when the Church accords to the translation a special place in the institution's life.
We were quite pleased when January Ekoalea passed on the welcome news that the Presbyterian Church has chosen to anchor the Badwe'e translation in the life of the church. The way they have chosen to do this is by using Badwe'e as one of a handful of languages in which they promote the texts on which everyone should preach and teach. Pastor Abeng, a speaker of the neighboring Bikele language, has chosen Badwe'e to play this special role in the southeast of Cameroon.
The decision was made at the highest levels before being communicated downward. At each level the Spirit led the church to say "Yes!" to the new role of Badwe'e Scriptures.
What they are now doing is entrusting to our translation team in Somalomo the work of adapting this preaching calendar and guide. We have encouraged Ferdinand to work with January's son, Diphath, giving him a small budget to facilitate this extra activity.
What Scriptures do to the church is known to you all: First it is the imperishable seed that falls into the heart prepared by the Holy Spirit. It comes to life and fulfills all the potential that is locked inside it. Then it leads the new believer into an ongoing work of repentance and growth. Finally, it restores in the new believer the image of God and gives him the mind of Christ. His hope of full and final transformation is nourished by the promises of God's Word.
So now the one, big protestant church found throughout the Badwe'e area is committed to asking its pastors and lay-preachers to read its texts and preach on them. The language of the people will become the language of the pulpit. The translation will be rooted in the life and calendar of the church. Join us in praising the Lord for his gracious providence!

12/14/2009

A valued friend died!

Rev. Olivier

12/11/2009

The Roman Catholic Order of Worship

Many Roman Catholic faithful have wanted their worship to be meaningful in the sense that it was translated into Badwe'e and Nzime clearly. Now some of their priests are coming to our Cameroonian coworkers to get help in the translation of these orders of worship. Two of them have written them out by hand! The Nzime order of worship is now in use and the Badwe'e will be done soon.

One of my jobs this week has been to correct errors of all sorts in the Nzime document and then to produce a Badwe'e one based on it. These will have a guaranteed wide usage.

I have learned how they talk about making the sign of the cross. They use the verb "slap/stick on": -bIr, where the vowel "I" is at low tone and inbetween the vowels "i" and "e". The verb is used in the context of building a mud house, whereby someone grabs a handful of wet mud and slaps it onto the wall, where it sticks. The sign of the cross is done in somewhat the same way in their thinking.

12/06/2009

Beginning a New Phase of the Njyem Work

From Jan. 13 to Feb 5 I worked with a speaker of Njyem, Colette NKOM. We were limited to spending the mornings together. We have made significant progress on the adaptation of the Scriptures from Badwe'e, finishing Mark's Gospel in first draft. Rufine ADJOWA, her older sister, participated with us on the reading of the first 4 chapters.
The Badwe'e Bible portions include the New Testament, Genesis, Ruth, and Jonah.
I am doing this in the expectation that it will be an offering to the Lord Jesus which he will accept and bless as a means of bringing new life to the Njyem.
Other than doing the first draft of Mark's Gospel, we have adapted the AIDS book ("Kande's Story") into Njyem. We also transcribed natural texts and analyzed them. For us to have an adequate knowledge of the unique features of the Njyem language, we must do this analysis.

Last updated: Feb. 8