Beautiful lake, dirty water

This is our life. We live on a beautiful lake which is full of debris and disease. This is what happens when you draw tap water from a dirty lake.



But then, on our "bad days," we look out our window and see this...

Many of our Tanzanian neighbors haul water from the lake in buckets every single day.

Therefore, we're thankful that we have running water in our house. Well, today the water was off all day long but we're thankful that we have running water on most days. :)

Passion avocado

Two joys of living in Tanzania...

avocados the size of your head

passion fruit growing in your backyard

We make fresh guacamole, fresh fruit salad, fresh fruit smoothies, fresh fruit juice. My wife even discovered how to make chocolate pudding with avocados! YUM!

Savoring Acts with a can of root beer

Rejoice with us, we finished the book of Acts in the Jita language!!! So we celebrated with a can of root beer.

Let me explain…

The process of translating the book of Acts in the Jita language was very similar to that of translating Jonah (check out the blog posts if you missed them Translating Jita Jonah Part 1, Translating Jita Jonah Part 9). First, the Jita translators adapted the book from Swahili into Jita. Then they cleaned it up, made it sound natural, and checked spelling and clarity. Then I examined the book to make sure that the author's original meaning was communicated accurately. Then we went to the community to make sure that the language was natural, clear and acceptable. Finally, we met with a Consultant as a final check on accuracy and clarity.

This has truly been a team effort. Translation work was started on Acts in December 2010. I am the 5th Translation Advisor to help the Jita team with this book. One of the Jita translators left SIL to return to his church as pastor. We tested portions of this book in the community at least three times. There are 1007 verses in Acts.

Whew!

But it was worth every ounce of hard work.

Now the Jita people can read what Jesus told his followers before he ascended into heaven (Acts 1:8).

Nawe muriramira amanaga omwanya gunu Mwoyo Mweru ariija kw-imwe, muribha abhabhambasi bhaani mu‑Yerusareemu na mu-mbaara ejindi joone eja echaaro echa Yudeeya na echa Samaariya, na okukingira ku-bhuteero obhwa echaaro choone.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.

Now the Jita people can hear Peter's testimony about Jesus after God healed a lame man (Acts 4:10-12).

Emwe bhoone aamwi na Abhaisirayeeri abhandi bhoone, enikena mumenye kwa echimari ati, unu emereguuyu imbere yemwe ni muwanga, kwa obhuturo obhwa risiina erya Yeesu Kirisito Omunajareeti. Niwe unu emwe mwabhambire ku‑musarabha, nawe Nyamuwanga :aamusuuruye okusooka mu‑bhafuuye. Na niwe unu Ebhikaame Ebhyeru ebhyayika inguru yaaye ati, ‘Ribhuyi rinu emwe abhombasi :mwaremere, niryo ryabha ribhuyi rinene erya orufuka.’ Gutari-wo omweruro ku‑wundi wonewone! Okubha ritari-wo risiina rindi mu‑chaaro choone erya obhuturo obhwa okuchichungura eswe abhaana bhaanu!

All of you together with all the people of Israel, I want you to know truly that this man who stands before you is well by the power of the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. He is the one you killed on the cross, but God raised him from the dead. And the Holy Scriptures speak about him, 'The stone which you builders rejected, has become the cornerstone.' There is no salvation by any other! For there is no other name in the whole world having power to save us!

Now the Jita people can understand the simple, beautiful gospel message in Acts 16:31.

Ikirisya Raatabhugenyi Yeesu, niwo uja okuchunguka.

Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.

Now Jita people can enjoy the promise in Acts 2:38.

Peetero ^naabhabhwira ati, "Bhuri umwi wemwe ate ebhibhiibhi bhyaye, na abhatiijwe kw‑isiina erya Yeesu Kirisito, korereki afwirwe echigongo ebhibhiibhi bhyaye, emwe omuja okuyanwa echiyanwa echa Mwoyo Mweru."

Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." 

Now about the root beer...

Root beer is not available here in Musoma. In fact, we hadn't tasted root beer in over two years. But last time we went to Mwanza (the nearest "big" city which is 3 hours away) we found a store selling three cans of A&W root beer (manufactured in United Arab Emirates). So we bought all three and split them among three missionary families. We were saving our can for the opportune moment.

When I came home from work and announced that the Jita people now have the book of Acts in their own heart language, we celebrated. We broke out our can of root beer and each of us savored one sip. It was delicious! Now we're praying that the Jita people will savor God's Word and delight in Jesus.