Literacy, really?

Imagine not having a Bible to read! The language that you speak at home with your family and in the community with your friends and neighbors has never been written down. There are no books to read in your language even though you speak it every day. Here in Senegal, there are many different languages that are not written. In our village, everyone speaks Joola. When they go to school, they study French but many do not become fluent. For example, I studyied Spanish in school and could have some conversations in Spanish but if I was given a Spanish Bible to access the source of Truth, I would be lost!

Here, when believers are taught the Word of God, that is all they have until the next time they sit with someone who understands the Word again. They do not have the opportunity to go home and read it for themselves. There is no individual Bible study or praying through the Word in an intimate moment with the Holy Spirit. We are so blessed to have God’s Word in our heart language.


This is why we include literacy as part of our ministry. We want the Joola people to be able to read and write their own language so that they will be able to read the Bible for themselves and study it whenever they like. Please pray for God to bless our program. Pray for fluent communication in Joola for us missionaries so that we can be competent teachers. Pray for God’s guidance in who participates.