Learning the ABCs

Learning the ABCs
Do you remember learning your ABCs? For most Americans, we had our first alphabet lesson in Kindergarten and joyfully learned the Alphabet Song. Going to school here in Baawa is new to this generation of learners, and the privilege of going to school is primarily for boys. The Samburu girls and women are the workhorses of their households and we see them most days fetching water and carrying firewood in our village. Although the Samburu women are very intelligent, they don’t know how to read and the opportunity for women to learn how to read isn’t available within our village – until now! The Lord has really been pressing on our hearts about the illiteracy of the Samburu women and I am excited to tell you about the reading program we will begin within of our village!
A few weeks ago, Nick and I (thanks to Jodeco Road UMC), gave out KiSwahili Bibles to our church under a tree (Samburu Bibles are not available, yet). We wondered why only a few Bibles were taken by the church members?? The pastor told us that only a few members can read - well, that makes sense! The lack of education and accessibility to the Bible have created a sub-culture within the Samburu tribe of oral learners. Bible stories are passed-on through the generations within the Samburu tribe and told during ceremonies and special occasions. The desire to read is strong among the elders and mamas, especially with the newer generations learning how to read in school…………….we are so blessed to be introducing the Samburu within our village to the joy of reading.
We will begin our reading class with 7 Samburu mamas and 1 Moran (Samburu warrior) and we will meet and learn 2 days, each week. We pray that the Lord will make this a fun and easy way to begin reading and at the end of 12 weeks, we will present each student with their own KiSwahili Bible. Will you please join us in praying for our class and for our ability to teach KiSwahili to our students?
Praise be to God for calling us to Samburu and for the willing minds ready to learn to read!





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