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(Note: we hope to keep this page fairly up-to-date with news of our work. Unfortunately, internet connections are on occasion hard to come by in Africa. So, please check frequently.)
Bissa New Testament Dedication
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The sign out front said, “The people living in darkness have seen a great light”. This was the big day for the Bissa people. Ruud and Connie Hidden from The Netherlands came to Burkina Faso around 1980 to help translate the New Testament. Now was the celebration of the fruition of their labors. We were able to be there with Wilhelm’s retired pastor friend from Germany and his wife. For us it is a reminder of why we are here. To help produce God’s word in the language of the people.
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It started at 5:30 am on Saturday morning 5 January with a bus ride to Garango. This took quite a bit longer than planned as the bus we hired did not have their papers in order and we had to wait an hour at the police check while the situation was “discussed”. The program started at 10 am instead of 9 am. Not too bad for African time. It was a 3-hour bus ride stretched into 4 so we had lots of time to talk and joke with each other.
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There were lots of Honored Guests, speeches and formal protocol. The translation of God's word coming to the Bissa people. The archbishop said that God now spoke in Bissa to the Bissa people. Just like at Pentecost the people could understand, each in his own language. Each speaker was in this special podium with a roof to protect from the sun, it didn’t protect from the wind.
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You don’t have much of a celebration in Africa without dancing and music. Various dance teams vied for being best, although it was no contest. They danced to songs written for the occasion in Honor of God who had brought His word now in their own language.
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Hiddens presented Bibles to Guests of Honor. Also the Archbishop of Koupela lead in the dedication prayer over the Bibles. Wycliffe Bible Translators and the sister organization SIL seek to work with all churches. Most of the Bissa Christians are Catholic although there are Assembly of God, Baptists, Apostolic etc.
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Here you see the crowd of around 700 people (that’s a guess). The honored guests got to sit in comfy chairs the rest of us sat on benches.
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Our guests, Dietrich and Doris were impressed with the whole atmosphere. Their time in Burkina Faso has been a big learning experience. Learning about Africa, how we work and live with Colleagues and Africans. And seeing life up close.
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Just as there is no celebration without dance there is no celebration without food. There was tons of it. There were 3 different buildings where people were seated. Rice with meat and tomato sauce, fruit and cold drinks were in abundance.
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The goal is not just a book, but changed lives. It doesn’t do anyone any good if the book sits on the shelf. I “caught” this gal with a copy of the Bible reading with a small friend looking over her shoulder. This is what it is all about. God’s word in the hands of the people changing lives, from darkness to light. It’s why we are here. It makes us think of the day when it will our turn to rejoice with the Toussian people.
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