New Translation Project: The Senga People

In September, Ken and our co-worker, Pastor William, had a one-week stay with the Senga people. They had to travel eight hours to the north to reach the Senga areas. Much of the road is very good and paved, but other portions have huge pot-holes. Ninety-eight miles of the 230-mile trip is bone-jarring washboard road.

A Senga home with a granary for peanuts and another for corn. Bundles of grass for a new roof is on the right. The mountains in the distance are in the neighboring country of Malawi.

Nearly 100 miles of dirt road takes almost four hours since we can travel only about 25 miles per hour on the rough road.

It was exciting to be back with the Senga people. We had not been in their area since 2014 when we did a linguistic survey among them. The Lord said, “Translation into Senga cannot wait any longer”, so we pushed ahead to make this trip despite an already busy workload.

While we were there we had an important meeting with church leaders from different denominations. They really feel the need for the Bible in the local language. Many people cannot understand anything but the Senga language.

Thank you for praying. We felt that God had arranged divine appointments.

Ken with some of those who attended our meetings.

Pastor William helped with the translation of the first Senga hymn: Amazing Grace.

Ken presented the Senior Chief with a copy of our survey report. The report documented Senga as a distinct language and the need for literacy and Bible translation. When the chief wants to send an important message, if his cell phone isn’t working,  he can use the drum hanging in the back of the picture!

Your prayers and support will make it possible for these Senga children to one day read the Bible in their own language.

Together, with you, we are now involved in three Bible translation projects. The Toka-Leya people are 650 miles from us and the Senga are 230 miles to the north of us. Don’t stop praying!!