Link to donate to the National Translation Center in Benin

If you are looking for the donation link for the National Translation Center in Benin, here it is!

A Mid-July Post

A street in my neighborhood after the rain

     For the past month, John Ramsey (from Wycliffe USA and a much more experienced travel veteran than me) and I have been catching our own zemidjans (motorcycle taxis) to the Wycliffe Benin office. Negotiating the price for a zem ride intimidated me a year ago, but it gets a lot easier with practice. There are factors that hike up the price from time to time, like flooded roads and rising gas prices. But on most days, taking two zems from the house to the office should cost 200 francs (about 40 cents) apiece.

    Cotonou is a big city, but when you live in the same neighborhood for long enough, it's not unheard of to be recognized by a zemidjan driver, especially when you stick out like a yovo thumb. For example, on the way to work the other day, I pointed out the Wycliffe building on the right so my driver would know where to stop. He just laughed and said, "I know, I've taken you here before!"

     Gas prices spiked in the past week, so zem drivers are charging more across the board. Taking the "normal" price for one or two special riders won't put a dent in their profits, but they can't afford to do that for everyone, so when it happens they call it a cadeau ("gift"). And if you're a yovo (white person), it's time to accept that you're last in line for that gift. A zem will sooner drive away than lose money on us, so for the past few days we have usually paid 250 francs rather than 200.

     On one morning this week, we left the house, hailed zem #1 at the end of the road, and I explained where we were going. I was about to ask "How much?" and start negotiating the price when another Beninese man passed by us on on his moto, shouted something in Fon at our zem, and continued driving down the road. The zem driver turned back to me, smiling, and translated, "He says you pay 200," gesturing for one of us to hop on. No muss, no fuss--our day was made! We were grateful to the stranger who recognized us--I think he must have been an off-duty zem driver. Maybe two yovos are twice as recognizable as one?

John and Jacques at a restaurant where we ate pounded yams

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise...

1 Peter 3:8-9

     Only God can work in a limited world to produce that which is limitless.

     We've all heard the expression "Time flies when you're having fun." There are those happy blurs when you don't think things could get any better, and before you know it they're memories. It's like binge-reading a 300-page book in two days (yeah, I know I'm not the only one). On the other hand, there are those moments when you don't think you can bring yourself to turn even one more page, low days when we are reminded of our very real insufficiency, but as time goes on it turns out that what once seemed hopelessly unpredictable actually flows to its own dilapidated rhythm. Time has a way of scooping you up and carrying you to point B whether you're ready or not.

     At the moment, I'm staring down my final few weeks in Benin. In the past 11 months I've experienced new things that were, at times, totally baffling in the context of my previous life experience. Through it all God has taught me, shaped me, and humbled me in ways I never could have predicted. I can honestly say that I'm looking forward to seeing what He will do next, but praying that I don't forget that I'm still here. If this were a book, I'd be tearing through pages to find out what lies around the bend. But this passage brings me back, reminding me of the eternal importance of right now.

With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.

    There's no limit to what God can do in the next three weeks, the next four days, the next 24 hours. What an honor to be included :)

     One thing I know, it's never too late to be reminded of the fundamentals. A list that I found in this blog post does a pretty good job of laying out the basic laws of expat life. It made me laugh (which, I'll be the first to admit, is not that hard...), but also a great reminder to keep an open mind to keep the most of this home stretch.

Back At It

On the evening of September 2, 2014, I landed at Cadjehoun Airport in Cotonou, a city where I knew no one, where my phone was virtually useless, not even knowing who was picking me up. It was a bit intimidating. When I claimed my bags and exited the building, I met two of my soon-to-be coworkers, whom I recognized by the sign they were holding that read "WYCLIFFE BENIN". They were there to drop me off with my new host family, which I would soon learn included 4 daughters. (My host sisters later told me that they weren't sure if "Kate" was a girl name or a boy name, and were super relieved when I turned out to be a girl, and that I actually spoke French!) I ate dinner. Then I laid in bed, listening to music and staring at the ceiling and thinking, "What have I done? How am I going to live in Africa for the next eight months? This cannot be real." I set my alarm for 9:00 the next morning, not wanting to sleep too late, because I didn't know these people at all, or what they expected of me.

On the evening of June 22, 2015, my plane once again landed at Cadjehoun Airport in Cotonou. I put in my Beninese SIM card while the plane taxied in. While I filled out my customs forms, I sent a message to another expat friend to tell them I had arrived, and make dinner plans for the following evening. While I waited at the baggage claim, my boss called to make sure I had made it, and I got a text from my host mom to tell me she was waiting outside. I claimed my bags and texted my host mom when I exited the airport. I spotted her first, and called, "Maman!" (Mom!). We hugged. We drove home. Many more hugs. My host sisters asked how my brother's wedding was. I ate dinner. I went up to my apartment and unpacked a bit, then slept until noon the next day, because I was tired and I felt like it.

In other words, I made it back to Benin, and my trip went really smoothly! Thank you to everyone that prayed over my travels, and to those who are still praying for my last six weeks here in Cotonou. I'll be keeping you posted.

Dear America...

Dear America,

It's been a while, and I've missed you like crazy. This chapter of my life has been beyond my imagination. You may already be aware that May 4th was Star Wars day--May the "4th" be with you. But May 4th also marked one year since my college graduation, and now more than a year since I've sat in a desk and been graded for my work. Here in Benin, I haven't taken many formal exams (not devastated about that), but the testing definitely didn't stop. As a result, I've learned some pretty amazing things here that might not have come to me so easily on your side of the pond, and I'm not the same person that disappeared into a security checkpoint at MSP last September. I know you've changed too, America, and I can't wait to do some catching up in just a few short days!

To be honest, this whole transition will probably feel pretty weird for me. There are certain things I'm doing before I leave Benin to avoid "crash landing" when I get home, like taking time to process this experience, and say the appropriate goodbyes before I leave Benin for a whole five weeks.

But listen, America, there are also a few things you can do to help "cushion my landing", if you are willing to lend a hand!

• Pray for me. Pray for peace during this transition. Pray that I would find ways to re-incorporate myself into familiar niches in the different realms of my life, and find new ones to fit into where appropriate. Pray that I would find appropriate outlets to share experiences. Pray against discouragement and negative emotions of reverse culture shock. Pray for refreshment and rest as I prepare to return to Benin this summer for one last month-and-a-half with the Discover group.
• Invite me. Seriously, I would love to go for a walk with you, get lunch or coffee together, do somersaults in a field of grass, come over for a visit--the possibilities are endless. There may be days when I don't feel up to going out, and please don't take that personally. I can't predict how I'll be feeling from one day to the next, but I can promise that your invitation will very helpful and encouraging for me, and it will make a difference. :)
• Give me grace if I try to shake your hand to say hello, if I neurotically hoard my one-dollar bills, or if I rave way too much about the water pressure in the faucets. I'll be working on that... In the meantime we can just turn those into interesting conversation starters, right? Speaking of which...
• Feel free to ask me about my trip. Saying "How was Benin?" is a wonderful way to do this! But also don't be shy about asking more specific questions. That will be really helpful for me, too. Otherwise I might not know where to start!
• Don't let me do all the talking. Tell me what's new with you! Tell me about the exciting changes and interesting experiences that have taken place in your life in the past 8-and-a-half months. I'll be excited to catch up on what's gone on while I've been away, because odds are I'll feel a bit behind.

If I forgot something... let's just figure it out when we get there. For now, I'll leave you with this very fitting verse:

I have much more to say to you, but I don't want to write it with pen and ink. For I hope to see you soon, and then we will talk face to face.
3 John v. 13-14, NLT

While I have you here, I have a side announcement: I'll be looking for hand-me-down children's clothes to take back to Benin in June. Anything that could fit a child age 4 and under (including infants) will work. (Except winter jackets. Benin doesn't need those.)

If you have some clothes to donate, send me an email--kapitchford@gmail.com--or just flag me down at church!

(December, @ El Dorado Beach)

Post-Retreat Pre-Departure Update

Press play and read on. You know the drill!

Last week, I took a retreat to a town in southwestern Benin called Grand Popo. Since I'll be flying home in about a week, it was such a blessing to have a peaceful place outside of my normal routine to debrief and reflect on my time in Benin so far.

And what an amazing week it was! The hotel where I stayed was right by the beach, with plenty of spaces to unwind and think. I took the photo at the top of this post during my quiet time one morning when I was surprised by a stunning sunrise.

Reading through my journals from the past year (starting before I left for Benin) proved (for the bajillionth time since I got here) that hindsight is 20/20, as I was able to recognize now more than ever how God was working in the positive, uplifting moments, but also in the difficult times, to weave a beautiful tapestry, a picture of his goodness in my life and lives of those around me. Right now I don't know how I'm going to summarize all that he's done without going on for days, but there were moments when I would just sit back in my chair, blown away by everything that he has shown and taught me, in awe that I'm still only seeing a miniscule portion of the big picture! I reflected on the experiences he has led (and sometimes carried) me through and could see more of how God has been working in me and showing me what it means "to will and to act according to his good purpose" (Philippians 2:13).

The week was over before I knew it, and I came back to Cotonou on Friday feeling refreshed and looking forward to spending one last week in the office, finishing up some translations, renewing my visa to last me through the Discover trip this summer, and saying goodbye to my coworkers. It's hard to believe it's already been eight months since I first got to Benin and first became acquainted with the people and places that now seems to familiar!

Unfortunately, my Facebook account was disabled this week (the reasons aren't totally clear). Anyway, I haven't been able to get it back, and I don't know what my cellphone number will be when I get back to the states, so email (kapitchford@gmail.com) and Skype (kate_pitchford) are the best ways to get in contact with me if you should so desire. :)

Thank you to everyone who has prayed and sent words of encouragement! You guys all win the "most amazing humans" award. I'm planning to post one more update before I depart.

Thirty Things I've Learned

     This is a for-fun post written in response to this article that a friend of mine shared on Facebook last year. I first read this list last September, and and I was struck by the honesty with which this writer reflected on their own experiences. So that was the day when I started composing my own list of thirty things I have learned. These things aren't restricted to my time in Benin. More just life in general, although I've been slowly writing it over my time here.

     Part of me felt intimidated to post this list, and at first I couldn't figure out why. But in all honesty it's because many of these items are things I'm still learning. So this list is also a good reminder for me to be thankful to God for his grace when I leap before I think. The good news: grace is free to all us humans who are not yet perfect (hi everyone). I've been learning to give grace to myself, too. All that to say I hope this doesn't come off as Kate trying to impart wisdom from a pedestal. Quite the contrary, it seems like many of these items started out as mental notes I made when I knew I had screwed up bigtime and wanted to avoid making the same mistake twice! So maybe a better title for this post would be "Thirty Thing I'm Still Learning"? I've included links to blog posts and articles I've enjoyed where relevant. Enjoy and be blessed!

1. People are more important than things. Invest in people.
   How are my values reflected in the way I prioritize my energy? I have this bad habit of getting wrapped up in tasks and objectives and totally forgetting about the people around me. I need to be deliberate about where I invest my energy, because I hope the people I love will hang around a lot longer than the things I surround myself with or the tasks I complete.
2. God has a plan.
   A friend of mine told me once about how she felt God asking her to trust him. He said, "I HAVE THE MAP. CALM DOWN." It seems God has a way of placing us where we are supposed to be, and his choices are not arbitrary. Instead of rejecting and running from a situation that I find unfavorable, I hope I will pause to wonder at God's reasoning, considering that he could have a very sensible reason for leading me through a desert.
3. Complaining isn't constructive.
   Sometimes speaking up about a negative situation can be helpful. Sometimes a hard situation makes for an entertaining story later on. But if I'm spouting negative thoughts just to be heard by people who I don't expect to help, and and intend to do exactly nothing to improve the situation, I am complaining.
4. That being said, learn to ask for help.
   Sometimes I do this thing where I refuse to ask for help and then think I'm helpless. I too-frequently forget that other people can't read my mind, and then wonder why those people haven't figured out what I need from them. I also used to think I was loving people by not bothering them with my problems. Pretty silly, huh? Asking can be intimidating and humbling, but that's also part of the reason why God made multiple humans and gave me a voice. Dependence is a powerful community builder. Now I've learned that a timely request for help can actually deepen important relationships my building trust--my trust in that person to respond positively, and their trust in me to be honest about my needs.
5. A little exercise is better than no exercise.
   Even a 10-minute run outside will make me feel worlds better than staying in one place and wishing I had done something all day.
6. Remain calm.
   Unless someone can think of a situation where freaking out is the best response?
7. Attitude makes a huge difference.
   As Charles Swindoll wrote, life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it. A good attitude is contagious. A bad attitude can also be contagious. My choice of attitude is entirely up to me. Wouldn't it be cool if more people realized how much power they had to influence others just through the attitude they project? In the words of my friend Katrina, "Today I don't really feel that great, but at least I still have arms!" Counting blessings instead of problems is a sure way to improve my attitude.
8. Be kind to your waiter/waitress.
   For many people who have never done any kind of food service, it is difficult to fathom the amount of details and tasks these people are juggling at any given moment--But you don't have to know that in order to treat them decently. The summer when I worked for a catering company, I will never forget a certain guest at a wedding banquet who read my name tag, addressed me by my name the entire night, and thanked me every time I so much as refilled their water glass. Although these were small gestures, I felt so uplifted and blessed by their kindness!
9. People root for you more than you know.
   And you better believe you're worth it.
10. A smile can go a long way.
    Guess what. Some days, Kate wakes up not feeling quite ready to face the world with a cheerful smile. If you know someone who does that every day, I'd like to meet them. But finding a reason to smile, or just smiling for no reason at all, can actually improve your mood! Google it sometime, it's totally a thing.
    Now let's talk about smiling while we're in public. Did the barista at Starbucks kick your dog? No? Then we can smile when we talk to them. And the one who smiles is secretly motivating everyone around them to smile too. It's like mind control. Pretty cool!
11. Give yourself more credit.
    You are capable of more than you think.
12. Pay attention to your words.
    There's an Eddie Murphy movie about a man who only has 1000 words left to say, and after he has used up all his words, he will die. To make this less morbid, I'll say this instead: what would I do differently if you only had 200 words to last me the whole day? Would I still gossip? Would I still make so much small talk? It's not that I want everyone to talk less, but this thought challenges me to make my words matter more. If my words are reflect the overflow of what's in my heart, what are my words saying about my heart? If I spend my conversations talking about petty things that aren't honest or helpful, who will take me seriously the 1% of the time when I want to say something true and important?
13. With friends, the little things count a lot.
    One time my friend decided to get me a coconut at the grocery store. Why? Because they saw it and it made them think of me. I felt loved. I feel like I'm often guilty of overlooking random opportunities to let my friends know I appreciate and care for them.
14. Let silence happen.
    It's only awkward if you make it awkward.
15. Journal.
    Even if I don't know what difference it will make, I am usually surprised. That's why writing in my journal is part of my daily routine. Journaling is a great way to keep track of both small and big moments that might otherwise get swept away with the day. For me personally, it's also a really good way to remember and look back on different chapters of my faith that I've already been through.
16. Pictures can't replace being in the moment.
    But don't get me wrong, there is also something to be said for taking the time to represent a place or event in a photograph. Working to capture a photo makes you pay attention differently, and I think that is also valuable.
17. God is not a vending machine.
    With vending machines, it's all pretty straightforward. I put a dollar in, and my cheez-its come out. Sometimes I catch myself believing that God functions in much the same way, fulfilling my wants in exchange for good behavior. I've seen too many Christians (myself included) getting swept away with the idea that if we are just good enough, and pray enough and in the right way, and keep our permanent record spotless, we have the formula for a perfect and blameless life, and then good things will automatically follow. Don't get me wrong, God knows how to give good gifts to his children (Matt. 7:11), but this can quickly ooze into the belief we somehow earn these gifts, and that when we are "good", God somehow owes us a long and healthy life, a spouse, a car, or anything else we might desire on a whim.
    We cannot understand God, as Donald Miller puts it, any more than a pancake understands the person that made it. A vending machine is pretty straightforward, but God's motives and intentions are mysterious to us, so "expecting" anything from God is kind of ridiculous when you think about it.
18. You will never have everything you want.
    Realizing this is essential if you want to find honest contentment. That there is something missing is a sign that we weren't made for this earth.
19. Learn to give a real apology.
    Being able to admit you were wrong without hesitation and without making excuses is very liberating. It's amazing how a little humility can sooth damaged emotions.
    (Interestingly, I learned recently that people can have different "apology languages". Gary Chapman, the author of The Five Love Languages, also writes about the five apology languages)
20. Always bring a nail clippers.
    I'm convinced that there is a certain level of hell where you always have a hang nail and never have a nail clippers. Before it comes to that, I'll be prepared.
21. Growing up just happens. There is no "pause" or "fast forward".
    This can go both ways. Sometimes you never want to grow up, because going to your first job interview sounds worse than summersaulting over a bed of hot coals and why can't I just stay in bed all day and watch cat videos instead? It's funny because you know exactly what I'm talking about.
    And then sometimes you wish you could grow up overnight, à la "13 Going on 30". I've sometimes caught myself wondering why I can't process stress as serenely as my parents can, why some things have the power to turn my world on its head while people with more life experience can maneuver through the same obstacles with the grace of Michelle Kwan. Why? Because they've lived longer.
22. You'll find what you're looking for.
    What I mean by this is that if you're looking for reasons to be cranky and negative, you'll find plenty. But if you're looking to count the blessings around you, there are plenty of those, too. This is one area where I am constantly having to remind myself to shape up.
23. You have more adventures when you realize you're not above sleeping on a couch once in a while.
    Or the floor. Or the ground... *cough, cough* Minnesota Boundary Waters.. On a related note, I feel like being a coffee snob is not worth the trouble.
24. Picky eating is literally one of the worst habits.
    For heaven's sake, just eat it. (Note: Don't hurt yourself here. The "just eat it" policy does not apply in the case of food allergies or if your dinner hosts in a West African nation that shall remain unnamed have filled your stomach to capacity and still insist that you haven't eaten nearly enough. In the latter case, you're on your own, but sweet-talking is a promising option.)
25. Be honest with yourself.
    This requires me to get to know myself and learn to love the person I am. It means not wishing or pretending to have extra qualities I wish I possessed, and not ignoring my faults. When I'm feeling particularly introspective, I might step back and observe my thoughts, actions, reactions, and emotions as an objective learner. If I can manage to do this, I can better understand myself and not balk in horror at what I might find (because, believe it or not, it isn't all good). Honesty with myself has to come first if I want to be honest with other people.
26. Stop with the excuses.
    I catch myself making excuses all the time. But my excuses are often used to justify myself for acting in a way that I don't admire, or for not acting when I should have. Instead of owning up to those uncomfortable facts, I divert the attention by throwing an excuse in the way. But I find that when I'm honest with myself and hold myself accountable for actions, underneath that pile of excuses was hiding a more responsible person!
27. If no one is available to serve you some humble pie, it's perfectly acceptable to help yourself.
    And it's a little less embarrassing that way.
28. Do at least one scary thing every day.
    This one should have its own blog post (maybe it will in the future). It's perhaps the best piece of travel advice I've ever heard, and I discovered it when a friend I met in France posted this article on his Facebook page. (Recommended for anyone spending time abroad!) In Benin, this one scary thing might look like going to the market and negotiating assertively, exploring a new part of town, trying a new food (no matter how grey and shapeless), or it might be as simple as asking my host sister a deep question, preparing an American breakfast for my family, or following God's nudge to go and pray with a co-worker. Something that jolts me out of my everyday routine and forces me to think
    But why shouldn't this apply to life back home as well? What would that look like? Starting that important conversation, volunteering for something new, going rock-climbing... the possibilities are endless!
29. It's okay to take care of yourself.
    A lot of people feel obligated to put others first (not in itself a bad thing), but when this principle is taken too far, self-maintenance is in danger of falling by the wayside (which is a bad thing). But not listening to my body and my emotions when they need to rest and recharge is immature on so many levels. It means I think I can fool everyone into thinking I'm some kind of hyper-productive cyborg when in reality I'm only halfway functional. God gave us limits to remind us of our dependence on Him. I've learned that things go much better for me when I respect those limits.
30. You're allowed to have bad days.
    It's okay to gaff it and face plant and trip up the stairs. And you're allowed to be angry, sad, confused, and frustrated. Negative emotions are just part of this whole "life" deal, and "the only way through them is through" (I put that in quotation marks because I can't take credit for it. I read it on a post somewhere, and if I find it again I'll put the link here!). Sometimes the only for me to move past and have closure after a negative experience is to think about what I learned and try to keep from digging myself into the same hole.

Have an interesting jewel of life-wisdom to share? I'm still in the market! Feel free to share in the comments. I love hearing from you!

Quotes and Anecdotes on Bible Translation

Press play to start the music, and scroll on fellow adventurers!

Some notable quotes on Wycliffe Benin, pulled from interviews shot for the documentary that was made, and from footage taken on March 1st. I am so humbled to be involved with an organization that leaves such a positive impact everywhere it touches!

     "What Wycliffe is doing in Benin is truly important. Today, we see that it is becoming easier to touch lost souls in their own languages, and that is important for the Lord's church. That's why we give ourselves, body and soul, to do everything in our power to help Wycliffe advance its work in Benin."

--Pastor David Mensah, friend of Wycliffe Benin

     "When we read God's word in our maternal languages, we see that Christ was incarnated not only in our cultures, but in our everyday lives."

--Daniel Dedji, Director of Wycliffe Benin

     "...in 2006 we did a study to find the literacy rate of faithful church attendees.... And that revealed that more than 80% of faithful church attendees in Cotonou and the surrounding area are illiterate.... That means that these Christians are only able to listen to God's word on Sunday, and then it's another week before they hear it again. When that's the case, it's hard to have a well-rooted body of believers.... That is why Wycliffe makes literacy its field and its battle horse, and that's why literacy training is instrumental in all of our projects."

--Carole Houndjo, Language Project Coordinator at Wycliffe Benin

     "We plan to continue our holistic projects, because our objective is not to always be motivating people by pushing them from behind. No, it is to give them all the information and skills that they need, so that they themselves, they are free."

--Yvon Kohunfo, in charge of projects at Wycliffe Benin

     "When a rich man has a dream, he gets up the next day to make it happen himself. When a poor man has a dream, the next day he kneels down to pray and fast for its realization."

--Reverend Tohoubi Camille, friend of Wycliffe Benin

     Lastly, at Christmas time, our dear friends Nancy and Terry were kind enough to let me "check out" a sizable stack of books from their collection. I was glad to be armed with some new reading material, and a good number of the books I borrowed are about travel and linguistics, which have been very interesting to read.

One of the books is called The Multilingual God (2012). It is a book of stories about Bible translation from all over the world, eloquently complied in to one very impressive collection by Steve Fortosis. Since I am working with an organization that deals specifically with Bible translation, this one has been particularly fun to read, and it's making me more aware of the enormous range of questions that can arise when translating a text as complicated as the Biblical scriptures. It's helping me to better understand the dedication of the translation teams here in Benin, many of whom have been working for upwards of 10 years so that their people can read God's words in their "heart language."

As I was reading, I wrote down stories and anecdotes that I found particularly interesting, and now I'll share them here. All of the following passages are either direct quotes or paraphrased passages from The Multilingual God, telling stories from real Bible Translation projects all over the world. Enjoy!

*

     "When translating Luke 11:11, Neil Anderson read aloud to the Folopa: 'Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?'

     They stared at Neil blankly. 'Why not give him a snake?' they asked. After all, a snake was a rare treat that could feed a whole family. But a fish in Folopa territory was very small and would barely qualify as a snack."

*

     "To enter the home of an acquaintance in a Zanaki village, one calls out loudly at the doorway. The only people who knock on the doorpost are thieves who do not want to be identified. If they hear stirring inside, they immediately sneak away. Thus [Revelation 3:20] was actually implying that Jesus was no more than a thief.

     An appropriate translation of Revelation 3:20 in Zanaki might be: 'Behold, I stand at the door and call out. If anyone hears my voice and invites me inside, I will enter and eat with him and he with me.'"

*

     "When it came to translating Christ's feeding of the five thousand in John 6 into the Samo language, the translator had to be very specific about even the type of grass the crowds sat upon.... This could be important simply because, if the wrong type of grass is named, the Samo might become distracted and incredulous, knowing, for example, that people would never sit down on a particular type of grass."

*

     "Saying that Jesus 'told them plainly' (John 11:14) does not communicate clearly in the Chewa language. Chewas would say, 'Jesus smashed the matter' (like a gourd)."

*

     "The Chacabo Indians of northern Bolivia have an unusual way of declaring mastery or excellence. A man known for his running ability is called habali ibo (an owner of running). Lunguists... wondered how to express 'God is love,' since in the framework of the Chacabo language, 'love' cannot meaningfully function as a noun. They decided to use the ownership concept. 'God is love' became 'God is the owner of loving.' Being interpreted, this implies, 'God is [the] supreme expert at loving'."

Other translations of "God is love":

St. Lucian Creole -- "Love is the character of God."

Jur Modo -- "God is what is in the middle of love."

Manding -- "If you say God, you say love."

*

     "... for the Cuicatec Indians of Mexico, the word for worship... comes from the same root as that for a dog wagging its tail, implying the idea of worship as 'wagging the tail before God.' It is not the kind of idea we normally associate with worship in Western usage... but for the Cuicatecs the phrase indicates unwavering loyalty and intimate devotion. After all, isn't the dog a perfect example of such an attitude? Whenever a dog glimpses his master, he almost jumps out of his skin with excitement. His ears perk, his tail wags, and he stumbles all over himself just trying to please, trying to honor this being who feeds him, walks him, and occasionally gives him a doggie treat. That's worship."

*

     "When Nogo, language assistant in the Usarufa language, heard in his language that Jesus told the wind and water to be quiet, he was incredulous. He cried, 'No! No! Wind and water don't obey.'

     Translators thought they'd used the wrong word and began reviewing it with Nogo. Finally he realized that it was true as expressed. Jesus had actually calmed nature's fury with a word. Many times in days to come, Nogo would be heard saying to a fellow tribesman, 'Have you heard of how this Jesus made the wind obey?'" 

*

     In the Folopa language of New Guinea, the term for God is Bete of Betes. This literally means "the source of sources."

*

     "God's all-sufficiency is clearly pictured in a Chewa equivalent for 'land of milk and honey.' It reads literally, 'the land of "what can a child cry for?"'"

*

     "When John Lind was translating Luke for the Sierra Popoluca Indians, an Indian came to the term taciacputpa, 'to be saved.'

     'What does this word really mean?' he asked John.

     John decided to answer with a question of his own. 'How do you use that word?'

     The Popoluca gave an example. 'If a man were in jail for a crime he had committed and another man paid money to the proper authorities for the prisoner's release, this would be taciacputpa.'

     Lind went on to explain that this is essentially what Jesus did for humanity.... [He] came and paid out debt and saved us by dying in our place. The Indian verified that Lind was definitely using the correct expression for 'to be saved.'"

*

     "Once they understood it, the crucifixion of Jesus had a much more profound impact on the Folopa than it does on violence hardened Westerners. At one point the Folopa watched a film about Jesus' life. Though they had been told the portrayal was a pretense by actors, the women erupted with excruciating wails of grief when they saw Jesus being nailed to the cross. They couldn't help reacting this way, because Jesus was someone they were coming to trust and truly love."

*

If you were wondering whether the English Bible has any parallel examples of translation acrobatics, Jesus' teachings on worry in Matthew 6 give us an example. Did you know that in verse 27, which most of us know as "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" the original Greek actually reads, "Can any one of you by worrying add a single cubit to your height?" This is an adjustment that doesn't change the meaning of the verse (i.e. Worrying doesn't accomplish anything important) but helps the verse to speak to western readers, for whom longevity is often a more resonating concern than stature. But translators go to even greater lengths to make sure that the new translation is faithful to the original intentions of the author.

I hope these stories were as interesting and fun to read for you as they were for me!

God of the Dust

I don't know what's hanging from that tree on the left,
but I like it every time I walk past it. (Taken not far from my house)

(When I watched this video, I thought, "This has

gotta be from the 90s". I was wrong--2003!

Can you believe that was 12 years ago?? Anyway...)

Three times last week, God asked me to do one simple thing. No, the sky didn't open up and God's voice didn't boom down at me in any audible way. It was totally silent. It felt like an idea coming into my mind, to go and have a conversation with a co-worker, and I realized it was the Spirit's nudge saying, "Go and talk to that person." You know what I'm talking about, right? And when you believe it's God who speaks, it seems like following through with it should be a no-brainer. I mean, come on, is there anything easier than just talking? So I'd love to say I gave the correct response all three times. That was not the case.

On Monday, God asked me to go and talk to a specific person in the office, and to pray with them, and I didn't. I stayed put. I continued with my work. I moved on with my day. It's not like it was scary or anything. All of my co-workers are Christians! I knew I could do it, and it would be great! Apparently, I was just not interested in interrupting my day for 5 minutes to go and do it.

But on Tuesday I felt called to go and pray with the same person, and I knew I could not put it off again. I went to the person's office and said, "I feel like I'm supposed to pray with you," because I didn't know what else to say. They invited me in, we meditated on a chapter in Isaiah, and we prayed. Afterwards we both felt happy and spiritually recharged.

On another day later in the week, I was feeling tired. I was really looking forward to getting home, making some cous-cous, and talking to a friend on Skype before bed. And then I felt that darned nudge again. And this time, I felt compelled to talk to a person who, let's just say, I wouldn't normally seek out on my own. I was feeling stubborn, and I was really tempted to ignore it. But I couldn't shake off the feeling, so I went to look for them, and we shared an interesting conversation and prayed.

That was it. Nothing earth-shattering, just what God asked.

The next day, I was reflecting on these events and was reminded of the parable of the talents that Jesus tells in Matthew 25. Here is the beginning of it:

“Again, the kingdom of God will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. The man who had received five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more talents. So also, the one with two talents gained two more. But the man who had received one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money." (Matthew 25:14-19)

It occurred to me that we can replace any reference to money in this parable with the idea of responsibility.

Let's say God called one man to move far away and plant a church in a foreign country.
God called a second person to start a Bible study with the other women in her dorm.
To the third, he said, "Do you see that man over there? Go and talk to him."

The first man obeyed, and trusted in God to be his support and guide as he carried out this exciting call from God. Although daunted by the task ahead, he moved with his wife and children to Romania, and  after a number of years, they had successfully planted a church that brought many to faith.

"Well done, good and faithful servant!"

The woman also obeyed. She started a Bible study in her dorm, which had a spotty turnout at first, but gradually grew to a tight-knit group of 7 women by the end of the semester. At the end of the year several women expressed their gratitude to the group's leader for following through on her idea to start a Bible study, and were thankful to have found a close and supportive group of friends.

"Well done, good and faithful servant!"

The third person barely even recognized God's voice. He watched the stranger for a moment, surprised at the bizarre whim that had come over him, and quickly dismissed the idea from his wandering mind. That would be awkward, he thought to himself. I don't even know that guy... So he continued with his day as if nothing had happened and quickly forgot about the man.

. . . .

More often than not, when we are in the third person's situation and we ignore God's voice, we are not even aware of our quiet disobedience. It doesn't put a single wrinkle in our day. We might not even realize it was God's voice that called us. Or, like the servant with one talent, we think these small responsibilities that God gives us are so ridiculously insignificant that He probably won't notice one way or the other whether it gets done anyway. After all, what is one conversation in the grand scheme of things? It was really more of a suggestion, so we are free to ignore it.

Truthfully, God will probably not come crashing through the third man's front door to teach him a thing or two. I'm not saying he can't, but that's usually not his style. He is not a God of retaliation, but a God who responds, and if the man were to hear him, God would not mince words:

"You were just lazy! When I asked you to go, you stayed put. When I asked you to speak, you were silent."

Ouch.

Let's not be confused. God takes our obedience very seriously. And at the same time, God doesn't need us to fulfill any of his plans. If we don't obey, God doesn't scratch his head and say, "Oh, fiddlesticks, what am I going to do now?"

"Can a man be of benefit to God?
Can even a wise man benefit him?
...What would he gain if your ways were blameless?"
(Job 22:2-3)

So what's the big deal? The big deal is that God wants our help. He desires our obedience so that we can enjoy a life working alongside the best boss in the universe. And somehow, in the course of our tiny human lives, we've gotten the idea in our tiny human heads that under any circumstance it's okay to say, "Thanks for asking, God, but I have other tiny human things to do right now." We think that God only cares about the big, "exciting" callings that he gives to people who aren't us, so instead we resolve to stay comfortable and save our energy until he asks us to do something that really matters. What we usually don't realize is that if we can't manage to complete the smallest tasks God gives us, the wise Master will never see fit to "put us in charge of many things" (Matthew 25:21, 23). And because of this, we miss out on the adventure he has in store for people who are prepared to take him seriously.

How many times has God desired to work through his servant Kate, only to get stuck with Monday Kate? Monday Kate is passive and unwilling to be interrupted. Monday Kate has "other things to do", and there is no place for that in God's kingdom.

Tuesday Kate needed to be reminded twice, but finally did what God was asking of her. Tuesday Kate is far from perfect, but she is blessed to be able to participate in God's kingdom, and is learning how to serve better every day. I would rather be Tuesday Kate any day.

If He were God over all the forces of nature, over the stars and galaxies, and over life and death itself...

...and not also the God of the dust, of small whispers, of mundane activities, and of "inconsequential" conversations,

then he would not be God.

To think that one side matters more than the other, that God is only at work in the big stuff, and that he only cares about the people with "more important" callings, is to bury a enormous chunk of who He is, much like the servant buried his talent in the ground. That's a surefire way to miss out on plenty of adventures that are in store for those who are not too proud to listen to the God of the dust just as attentively as the God of the universe. The question is never whether God is speaking, but whether his kids are ready to listen and follow through with even the smallest calling.

The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.”
Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.
Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
(1 Kings 19:11-13)

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It would be interesting to hear stories from others, about a time when you felt called to do something small. Did you get to see any unexpected results come out of that? Share your story in the comments, or anywhere, really.

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(Click here for an interesting commentary on Matthew 25 from BlueLetterBible.org. The parable of the talents is at letter "B". I've really gained a lot from reading the their passage studies, and I would highly recommend them!)

My weekend was great, thanks!

(Do people actually play the songs while they read these posts? I'm curious.)

Hello everyone.

     Have I mentioned that I love my job? Well I do. When a day feels just a little too long and taxing, it's possible that this important detail can get momentarily lost under a wave of stress.

     But last Sunday, March 1st, was a great reminder of just how much I really, really love my job.

     And it all started with me skidding into my office at 2:30pm, totally frantic because I thought I was running 15 minutes behind and our video wasn't even ready to present at the event that started in one hour. 45 minutes prior, while lingering with my host family after church, I had received a text from my multimedia colleague, Paulin, saying that we had been asked to make a tiny change in our video, which could easily take an hour or two to re-export, and then we had to get there with the video and our filming equipment to shoot the event, which started at 3:30. Translation: there was literally not enough time.

     As quickly as I could, I excused myself from the after-church social conglomerate, caught a zem back to my apartment, changed clothes, grabbed the camera bag and some gaff tape (because I was so flustered that I honestly didn't know what else to grab, but you can never go wrong with gaff tape), was lent 500 francs by the store keepers on the corner who know me (I love them) because I was completely out of small change to pay the zem driver, and caught another zem to the Wycliffe office.

     Although I thought we were running horribly late, Paulin, to his credit, was totally un-phased and remained cool as a cucumber, which helped a lot by reminding me that my perception of this time crunch was 10% real-life and 90% my cultural upbringing that prioritizes punctuality right up there next to eyesight. I credit Paulin's calm, and some helpful advice from the director Daniel, and literally none of my own coping strategies, with helping me to see this clearly and let go of that burden of stress on the spot. :)

     (I'm reminded of a quote I saw being passed around on Facebook a few weeks ago, that says, "Not once does the bible say 'worry about it,' 'stress over it,' or 'figure it out.' But over and over it clearly says, 'trust God.'" Maybe by the time I leave Africa this truth will finally find its way through my stubborn skull)

     Long story short, we didn't end up finishing the small adjustment, and took off for the event location with the video as-is, but it was fine--Wycliffe Benin had a fundraiser to put on! The job at hand for Paulin and I was filming and photographing the event, so we zoomed over to the conference center to get all set up. When we got there, the place was buzzing with our Wycliffe co-workers preparing reception snacks, organizing the merchandise table, putting out name plates for special guests, and setting up the projector.

     "And then what happened, Kate??" Yeah, we totally started on time (No thanks to my worrying. Funny how that works...). Once everyone had arrived, there must have been 250 people!

     Wycliffe Benin had invited a group of special guests to sit in front and offer wonderful testimonies of the work they have seen Wycliffe doing in their country through the development of local languages and Bible translation. We have video of each of them speaking, and in a subsequent blog post, I hope to write down some highlights from their comments to share with you! In the meantime, here are some photo highlights, courtesy of the Wycliffe Benin Multimedia Department.

One of the very entertaining MCs at the fundraiser

Pauline and Mariette selling Wycliffe Benin merchandise

Paulin (in the photo above) and I tag-teamed the filming/photos as usual--but
for the first time, we have official Wycliffe Benin Multimedia Service vests!

A group played some fantastic traditional music on the stage

Papa Tebe and Mathieu

And the worship team was wonderful :)

I have a new game.
It's called "Spot the Baby Who's Spotted the Yovo Taking His Picture"!
There are actually 2 in this one. ;)

Do you want to know how much we were able to raise? From this night alone, in donations and pledges combined, we raised approximately 8,000,000 Francs, which is the equivalent of...

$13,504 USD!

Whoa! That's awesome! GLOOOIIIRE A DIEU! (That's something that people often shout in church. It is French for "GLOOOOORY TO GOD!")

I asked our friend Igor for an update on how fundraising is going so I could give you an idea of where we're at. Here's what I got:

• For the construction of the outer wall last year, we raised $18,490. That part is finished.
• For 2015, Wycliffe Benin is trying to raise a total of $207,627 to finish the administrative block and training room, of which we now have over $14,000, but Igor said they are getting new donations every day.
• I also learned in the course of preparing for this event that the land itself on which we are building the headquarters was given to Wycliffe Benin as a gift by friends of the organization. People are also able to donate cement to help with construction.
• God is blessing this project in so many ways!

Please continue to keep this project in your prayers. Here are some specific ways you can pray for us:

• For the Spirit to continue to inspire our fundraising team with new ideas to continue this process.
• For strength and safety for the construction team.
• For all personnel involved to rely continually on God's providence to take care of each need as it arises.

And finally, if you were interested in donating to support this project, you still can. Here is the link to the donation page again. If you have any questions, always feel free to ask.

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This is a totally unrelated but fun tidbit: For those who don't follow me on Facebook or Instagram (if you don't have Instagram, you couldn't see my photos before, but you can now), my oldest host sister offered to braid my hair! Unfortunately I can't keep them in for much longer, because it's already been a few weeks (T_T), but I really enjoyed trying something totally new, and I'm glad I did it! Here's a couple photos:

Me and the hair expert :) (It's not all my real hair)

Unless the Lord Builds the House

     First, I'd like to point out that I updated my list of ongoing prayer requests on the left, and added the link to my Instagram page on the right. I am pretty sure you don't need to have an Instagram account to see my photos. Sometimes you'll find bonus pictures there that I don't always post on my blog, so if you're interested in seeing even more pictures, take a look! Otherwise, press play for mood music and read on.

    In my previous post I mentioned that Wycliffe Benin is looking forward to a huge fundraising event on March 1st (Scroll to the second part of this post for specific prayer requests and other information related to that). The whole office's activities are geared towards this day--preparing and printing programs, handing out donation cards cards, scheduling speakers, sending invitations, contacting donors, and talking up the event in churches. I meant to finish this post last week so that you could know more about the event and join me in praying for its success, but like most everyone here I have been more busy than usual in the past few weeks, so you'll have to excuse the last minute nature of this info! I'd be kidding everyone if I said it hasn't been a bit hectic around here. But it's a holy kind of hectic! (Feel free to quote me on that later)

     In the media studio, we've been working on a 10-minute "documentary" to show on March 1st. It will include interviews with Wycliffe Benin personnel, church members, and supporters, (all Beninese) who talk about the work Wycliffe Benin does, and its impact in local churches and communities. It will be really exciting to show everyone this compilation of dialogues that all talk about the positive work God is doing through this organization--we're praying that God would use this video to uplift and encourage all of it's viewers who are rooting for the progress of Bible translation in Benin, even Wycliffe's own personnel. Perhaps I will be able to post some quotes from the interviews in a future blog entry.
     For Paulin and me (a.k.a. the "Wycliffe Benin Multimedia Department", in case you forgot), the past few weeks have consisted of scheduling and conducting a number of last minute video interviews, transcribing every interview (a very interesting and fun exercise if I do say so, but maybe that's just my language nerd talking), researching microphones, recording a radio ad, and sorting through B-roll footage and old photos.
     When not doing any of those things, I get to translate material (from English to French) related to Wycliffe's Discover trip this summer. The trip begins in June, and the trip leaders have started convening on Google Hangouts every couple weeks to prepare for it. We share our phone conferences with leaders of the Discover group that's going to Papua New Guinea. I'm excited to be learning from the other leaders and begin exchanging with the soon-to-be participants. Prayers are definitely appreciated for all the leaders and participants as we get ready for our respective trips. :)

     Meanwhile, back at the ranch (in my apartment), I have new shelves! Oh my gosh, that sounds so boring when I write it out, but GUYS they're seriously SO USEFUL, both in getting some of my things up off the floor for the first time, and in helping me master my infinitesimal kitchen-counter space (which I'm getting pretty good at, believe it or not!).

With the instructor and students at the
Grace of God language center

     In my free time, there are English lessons. Like my co-worker Yvon, many Beninese people are very enthusiastic about learning English, and love taking advantage of opportunities to practice their skills with a native speaker. On most Tuesday nights, there is an English Bible study that meets at the home of my friend Elisabeth (who attends the same church as me). There are usually 4 or 5 of us together each week. We start our time together by reading and discussing a passage, bringing up any words that are harder to understand, and finish with a vocabulary lesson. On a couple Sundays, I've also had the opportunity to visit an English class at the "Grace of God Language Center". Many of those who attend classes there are motivated to learn English for professional reasons, to interact with international partners. It's been cool to meet and work with such driven students, and I've been very impressed with their speaking ability!
     On Sunday nights, it's English class with my host family. They often host visitors like me who are living for a short time in Cotonou, and foreigners coming on Wycliffe business don't always speak very much French. So in the interest of language practice, we meet together on their back patio in the yard, where there is a blackboard, once a week. Sometimes we make lists of useful vocabulary. Other times, I "forget" how to speak any French at all, and we pretend I am a visitor arriving in Benin for the first time, and they have to show me to my room! They must offer to carry my "suitcase", taking care to point out the "fan" and the "curtains", and stressing the importance of the "mosquito net" to their new and clueless Anglophone tenant. They did splendidly! And role playing always makes merry :)

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In case the other song ended, I got you covered for part two ;)

     As promised, since I've been talking your ear off about this upcoming event with Wycliffe Benin (yup, the one on March 1st), this is the part where I tell you what exactly is going on!
So here's the sitch:
     Wycliffe Benin is in the process of constructing a national headquarters. Right now, we work from one of several office spaces where they've rented, but unfortunately our needs and abilities frequently seem to exceed the current capacity of our work space. Hence the need for a more permanent place for Wycliffe Benin to operate from.

(R to L) Me, Carole, Igor, Blaise, the pastor, Mathew,
Olivier, Daniel, Reine, Mariette, Léa

     When I arrived in Benin in September, the future headquarters was a cornfield. We made a trip to the site one day to pray over the land before beginning construction. Does the photo on the right look familiar? This must have been my first full week in the office. That white stone we're standing around was there to mark the area where the headquarters would go. You'll see it in a couple pictures further down, too.

RIP to all that corn...

     By October, we were ready to start construction. But before we even laid the first brick, the Wycliffe Benin personnel, a number of pastors that we work alongside, and even the construction workers, all met together on the land to pray over the entire project. It was an amazing event to participate in, and so great to see so many people come out to praise God for that milestone. It is inspiring to see how everyone involved so wholeheartedly give this project to God, the master of all builders. I find this verse particularly fitting:

Unless the LORD builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the LORD guards the city,

The watchman keeps awake in vain.

Psalm 127:1

     After the time of prayer and worship, several pastors and the Director of Wycliffe Benin each laid a brick in the foundation of the wall that will surround the future headquarters.

Pastors pray for the placing of the first brick

That same white marker stone on the day
they laid the first brick

Wycliffe Benin Director Daniel Dedji hands one of the first bricks
to Leon, the head of construction, to place in the wall's foundation

Wycliffe personnel with some of the attendees.
The two "yovos" in the group are Paul and Peg from Wycliffe Associates
who were in Benin to help get the project rolling.

Anyway, the construction will be completed in 3 parts: the outer wall, which has was already completed at the end of 2014 (wohoo!!); the administrative block and training room, which will be built in 2015; and the hospitality block and refectory, to be built in 2016.

     We at Wycliffe Benin would LOVE for you all to join us in praying for this project, and for the event on March 1st. Here are some specific ways you can pray with us:

• Praise God for all that had already been accomplished in his name through the efforts surrounding this project! The outer wall is already completely finished!
• For health and energy for WB personnel and those involved in the construction.
• For a successful fundraising event this Sunday, that it would be a day of celebration of the ways God has already provided, and a day of joyful testimony of His work through WB.
• For us at WB to continue to surrender our plans into God's very capable hands.
• For energy for WB staff--like I mentioned, we've all been sort of swamped as of late.
• That all the plans that the enemy makes against us would turn out as nothing more than a totally embarrassing fiasco for him and his peeps.

     As always, thank you for your prayers, and I hope this list is a helpful guide :)

     Finally, for anyone who may be interested in supporting this project financially, here is the link to the donation page for the construction of the Wycliffe Benin headquarters. Even if you don't feel called to give in this way, I hope you will still join me in praying for their fundraising efforts, because this is a project well worthy of your partnership, whatever that may look like.

     May God bless you abundantly and keep you safe!