One for the bucket list, and then some

Like my last post, this one comes with a soundtrack, because most things in life are better with music. I gave this one two songs, because you might just need both songs to get through the whole post. That means you'll have to press play two separate times, but I think you'll survive. ;)

As I had mentioned in a previous post, last week Wycliffe Benin welcomed visitors from Wycliffe Netherlands for a visit. They had specifically come to see the Idaasha translation project in Dassa, Benin, which they support financially. The group consisted of 2 Wycliffe Netherlands personnel and 4 guests who have donated towards the project. Through their visit they were able to see firsthand the work they have been supporting, give the translation team their blessing in prayer, and bring back photos and footage to show their churches the work that they are supporting.

Here's what we did while they were here!

If I may draw your attention to a previous post, I had mentioned on my bucket list that I wanted to visit the village of Ganvie. Well on October 8th, that's just what we did. It was the day after our Dutch visitors had arrived, and we all piled into 2 cars to drive northwest to a dock where we climbed into a boat and shoved off into Lac Nokoué (Nokoué Lake).

We were thoroughly enjoying the view in every direction. Meanwhile, the occasional fisherman would drift by... 

And then the village came into view. It got closer...

And closer...

Until there we were, in Ganvie.

And all we could say was, "Wow... is this real life? This place is incredible."

(For those of you that don't know, Ganvie is a village that is a few hundred years old, with about 30,000 inhabitants, built entirely on water. Their houses, stores, churches, mosques, restaurants, and all manner of public gathering places are on the water, supported by stilts. I can't even begin to imagine the creativity involved in constructing a place like this. We saw all ages of citizens poling and paddling boats of all sizes through the "streets". Boats would almost be a more important form of transportation than walking! Well, that and swimming. Can you imagine what it would be like to grow up here? Holy cow!)

 

So yeah, my job can be pretty awesome sometimes. It's almost as if God knows how to give good gifts to his kids. ;)
But seriously, God never stops giving good things to those who are ready to notice and say "thanks".
"You parents--if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him."
Matthew 7:9-11

Sunset back in Cotonou--we returned to the city by boat.

The next day, Carole, our Dutch visitors, our driver Eugene and I set out towards the north and arrived in Adja on a Thursday afternoon.

The view from my hotel room in Adja

Our final destination would be Dassa, the home of the Idaasha translation team, who are supported financially and prayerfully by Wycliffe Netherlands. However, we had the opportunity to visit the Adja team on our way up, so that is what we did. For many of our Dutch visitors and me, this was our first time visiting a translation site. I felt totally humbled to be interviewing with these faithful servants who have been dedicated to translating the Bible for so many years.

The Adja translation team in their office

Wycliffe Netherlands, the Adja team, and Carole

While we were in Adja, we were invited to the home of Nancy and Terry Sullivan, two Wycliffe missionaries who live and work in the area. They were happy to have the company (they said our group set a new record for the number of people to share a meal at their table), and we were all happy to have such welcoming and entertaining hosts! Nancy and Terry are very animated conversationalists, and I think I speak for everyone when I say there was never a dull moment in their presence.

  

The Sullivans' helper Louise had prepared a splendid (and also very American, to my not-so-secret delight) meal: spaghetti with tomato sauce, garlic bread, and salad--salad!--with *ah!* ranch dressing!

I never expected to be so elated at the sight of ranch, but then again not too long ago I never expected to be in Benin, so I decided to have my moment with the ranch dressing.

Scripture review meeting

The next day, we moved on to Dassa, where we met with the Idaasha translators, as well as their entire team of reviewers--those who help to refine the translation and check for theological correctness, cultural relevancy, etc. They involve members of many of the local churches, and of all denominations. Evangelical, Catholic, Assembly of God, and so on, they were all represented, all sitting around the same table, all actively involved in producing a Bible translation that would change the lives of each of their congregations. It was an amazing thing to witness.

The whole Netherlands gang

The Idaasha translation is also what I will be helping to record, with my colleague Paulin, to make a sort of "Bible on tape". Before I arrived, they had already recorded the book of Mark, and we will eventually get to record Hebrews and Acts, which are also finished. The next step for them is to put the Mark recording onto memory cards, which people can then purchase and put into their phones to listen to Mark being read aloud. These memory cards will be sold from the Wycliffe office in Dassa.

The creativity and ingenuity with which this team strives to bring the word of God to the Idaasha people is so encouraging, and it's amazing to think about how lives will be changed because of these simple ideas and simple devices. It was also very cool to see our partners from Wycliffe Netherlands engaging with the Idaasha team, and they left with a much better picture of the important work that they are supporting. The translators, in turn, were so happy and encouraged to meet people from a different part of the world who were so excited about the work that they were doing. It seems apparent that God used this visit to accomplish good things in all directions!

(Oh, and I got my very first official Wycliffe t-shirt! It says "Wycliffe Netherlands", but I went to Hope College, so that's still mostly accurate... Go Dutch!)

The following day, Saturday, we spent exploring more of Dassa, with the expert help of Prosper, another Wycliffe missionary who is from the area. Unlike southern Benin, where the terrain is more flat, Dassa is surrounded by many hills. We got to do some climbing, and were rewarded with more than one amazing bird's eye view of the city.

The view from our hotel wasn't half bad either :)

Dassa sunset of the hills (which preceded an incredible lightning storm)

The following day, Sunday, we visited a church where Idaasha is spoken. The whole group sat in on a Sunday school class where teachers use a comic book called "Jesus the Messiah". It's a book the originated in the Netherlands, and has how been reproduced in many of Benin's indigenous languages. While they are still waiting for the finished New Testament, the comic book allows Christians to learn about the life of Jesus. Here's a photo from the classroom.