Language Learning Wilhelm and Abdulai. Since Wilhelm and Trudi have such different learning styles they have chosen to learn the language each with their own "tutor". Abdulai was one of the first Christians in Toussian. He came to know the Lord after being miraculasly healed.

Language Learning Trudi and Awa. Awa is the assistant pastor's wife, is literate in French, Jula and Toussian. She has been to Bible school and is very active with the women's group at church. Language learning with her is fun!

Trudi and some of the Literacy people discuss the upcoming Literacy season. Soungalo is the man to the left of Awa. He is one of the main translators. Piere has a beard and is the assistant pastor at the chuch and Awa's husband. Closest to us is Solo he's our main song writer.

Margaret Langdon came to help us with the Math book. She has lots of experience in Literacy, I want to learn as much as I can from this neat lady. She is teaching us how to use the Math book. We kind of "stole" her book and adapted it to the Toussian Language.

On the translation side of things we have two new guys who have gone through some training and are working on the Gospel of Luke. Sungalo the main translator is not pictured.

Revision on the Study guide continues twice a week. Sungalo, Barkari and Kalifa are shown here. Pastor Pièrre also is involved.

Twice a year the Assembly of God church where we usually attend has a "Womens Day". The women plan everything and even preach. My only contribution this time was to sing in the choir. I have been impressed with how many women can read and write in the church and the active role that they take in the church.

Bintou Traore (far left) leads the singing with Setu Koulibaly translating into French. Basically there are four clans (family names) in Toussian; Ouattera, Koulibaly, Traore and Barro.

Maimuna Ouattara (Watera) came from a Mulsim family. Her husband is a tailor and very involved in literacy, and is a song writer. There are lots of Toussian songs and people are encouraged to write their own. People really sing with gusto when it is in their native language. Hey, even Trudi sings much better in English than French or German! J Maimuna is preaching and Awa Ouattara is translating frrom Toussian into French. Awa (which means Eve) is my language teacher. Translating is not easy!

The women wrote their own skit. That is Bintou on the right playing the part of a man. This is a skit about a couple who have been praying to have a child for years. The wife's family wants her to leave her husband and seek traditional means (fetish) to have a child.

Three personifications come, one is money, one is he who gives children and one who gives forgiveness. The couple can choose one. Suddenely the wife wants money rather than the child she wanted in the first place, the husband wants forgiveness. In the end they choose forgiveness, but they get the other two as well.

Then there is much dancing and joy.

• Oct 2001  Sunday school outing, Fonio harvest
• Aug 2001  Cobly Reunion
• May 31, 2001  Return to Burkina Faso
• May 5, 2001  Germany, Az, Oregon office work
• Jan 2001  Our time in Germany

Go back to top of page.