1. RABBIT HABIT
My barber, George Houser, was laughing the other day about how a student at Johnson Bible College put a stop to so much rabbit on the dormitory table.
Students had eaten rabbit after rabbit after rabbit most every meal until they were tired of it. They had fried rabbit, boiled rabbit, baked rabbit. The boys complained, but it didn't do any good.
Finally, one student said he would stop it. He said just wait until he was called on to say grace at the table again. Well, the chance came. He bowed his head over his plate and began,
"Oh Lord, we've had rabbit hot and rabbit cold;[from "The Best Stories of Bert Vincent, " (c) 1968]
Rabbit young and rabbit old,
rabbit tender and rabbit tough;
I think, O Lord, we've had rabbit enough.
A-men!"
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2. Subject: an update from Alison
Greetings from Nairobi, Kenya!
This is my first newsletter to write and send from Kenya. I’ll be returning to Tanzania later this week.
You might enjoy seeing a few videos from the recent literacy workshops. I’ve posted four on my Youtube site:
1. Simbiti praise song. Even before Wycliffe began translating Scripture, Simbiti Christians began to sing to their Heavenly Father in their own language and style. This is one such song dating back many years among the Simbiti believers.
2. Cow song. This is a traditional Kuria song that young men would sing as they returned to their village after rescuing their cows that had been stolen from them. As this song was heard from a distance, women and children would run out to receive them and welcome them home.
3. Ugali and fish lunch. Ugali is a staple food of Tanzania; fresh fish is a main source of protein here by Lake Victoria. Both are eaten by hand. This is a brief clip of our closing lunch at the first workshop.
4. Egiruuta. This is a traditional Kwaya song that was sung when receiving men back from war. About 30 seconds into it, the group really gets into dancing!
So thankful for you all!
Alison
Alison Compton
Literacy Specialist
October 2010 Update, Text-Only Version
“Now I can understand the New Testament!”
That one simple testimony alone was my highlight — it made all the recent illness and struggles worth it. I would gladly do it all over again! The Kuria people number over half a million with a New Testament in their language, but very few know how to read it. My purpose in this recent workshop was to teach the writing system of the Kuria language so the participants (who are pastors and evangelists) could read the Scriptures. And by the end, they could! They left with a new understanding of the Scripture in their language and purchased several New Testaments to take back to their village areas. Please pray for these men and women as they go back with new skills to read Kuria Scripture!
From East Tennessee to East Africa
I find that one of the hardest parts about being a missionary is that I don’t have a shared history (or a shared culture or language) with anyone — at least not as close as I did in my hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee where I lived and worked with people I knew even from childhood. Yes, I do work with other missionaries who speak English — but as we are an international team, I’ve had to learn that jelly to my New Zealand friends is not what you spread on a sandwich, tea might really indicate a meal if I’m with my British friends, and what relief to realize a torch does not involve fire but just batteries!
So it is a real treat to be in East Africa with Prince and Chipo Makaya. They came to study as international students at Johnson Bible College, my alma mater, when I worked in Admissions. When I see them here on the other side of the world, I find myself relaxing in their presence. Ahhh, I’m with somebody who knows exactly where Kimberlin Heights actually is, who actually knew me in my “former life” before becoming a missionary. We’ve walked the same beautiful campus and sat in the same classrooms; we have several friends in common; and there are many of you who give so sacrificially supporting BOTH myself and the Makaya family!
The Makayas live and minister in Nairobi, Kenya. I’m a 10-hour bus ride away in Musoma, Tanzania. I come to Nairobi from time to time for business meetings (the head office for Wycliffe in Africa is in Nairobi) or for medical care.
I’m writing this newsletter from Nairobi just after visiting with the Makayas in their home, at the giraffe park with their kids, and in their places of ministry. This is the first time I’ve been in Nairobi long enough to personally visit their ministries (Good News Productions where Prince is the Regional Director, and Huruma Library where Chipo ministers to kids in the slums). Prince showed me around the production studio where I had fun posing behind the camera and on the set. And Chipo invited me to Huruma Library to teach about the life of Joseph with the kids. I enjoyed acting out the part where Joseph is put in charge of all of Egypt and is dressed up in a special robe, necklace, and ring. Everywhere he goes, people bow down to show respect for him. (If you would like to see photos, email and I’ll happily send them to you!)
So this born-and-raised East Tennessee girl is very thankful for the Kimberlin Heights connection with the Makayas all the way over on this side of the world!
Praise God for:
· Quality medical care in Nairobi.
· A fun time connecting with the Makayas.
Please pray for:
· Sorting out logistics for shoulder surgery. Turns out there is a tear in the rotator cuff and a defect in the shoulder joint. All caused by the force of the ocean when I got caught in a wave in July!
· Bible Sunday, October 24: we will be promoting our work in local churches on this day. Many people don’t know we’re translating the Bible into their language!Field Address:
Alison Compton
Box 1235
Musoma
Tanzania
East Africa
www.alisoncompton.com Wycliffe USA:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
PO Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862-8200
1-800-WYCLIFFE
[from: Alison Compton via forwarded email, 20 Oct 2010]
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