2023 was a momentous year for our family, with the loss of my (Jennings') father in May, after he received a cancer diagnosis in March 2022. Back in Congo, a New Testament was dedicated in the Omi language, the Bila and other teams made progress in their translation, and five new teams translated their first Scripture book. Douglas and his teammate Dr Bagamba attended a conference in Thailand, and continued with research to help our partners make better decisions in planning.
January - the Omi New Testament + Genesis is dedicated! This is translator Pario Pierre.
March - First day of baseball season! My Dad was a lifelong baseball fan (grew up on the Cardinals, converted to the Braves and sometimes Cubs). In my folks' apartment in Birmingham.
There are tens of thousands of displaced people living in camps near Bunia. Children are often sent into town to beg during the day. A group of local pastors are helping vulnerable people, including displaced children, with gifts of food and other necessities. Here, they are with sacks of rice and bars of blue soap. (Photo used with permission)
April - One of Dad's oldest and dearest friends came to visit, one of the last visits he had.
May - Elmwood Cemetery. We were so blessed to have family and friends with us that day.
May - Douglas with his colleague Dr Bagamba and wife Banage, at a Language Assessment conference in Thailand
June - at Duke Gardens with dear friends
Juneteenth at a celebration in Birmingham, at historic Kelly Ingrams Park
June - During a visit to Wilmington, NC, we saw dear friend Doug Wright, who is working on a French Model Translation for Congolese translators. It follows the structure of Sudanic languages, to help translators create drafts that are more clear and natural. Many teams are using it and finding it very helpful for translation.
July - Early birthday celebration for me with my sweet book club friends!
July - working with the Bila team via Zoom, to check the Gospel of Matthew
July - Saying goodbye to my dear friend Susan, who helped me through a year of caring for elderly parents
August - a woman carrying Tembo New Testaments to a distribution site in Bunyakiri. The New Testament was published in 2017, but distribution has been very slow, especially in the villages.
September - Nyali Kilo translators working on a draft of Ruth
October - A Bible translation student defending his final thesis before a committee
October - ballet lessons with these two girls, such fun!
November - Daniel had worked for us for nearly 13 years. He shares a birthday with Douglas, but is nine years older.
November - Graduation day for the ten Bible translation students!
November - When the president of the largest Protestant denomination in the area died suddenly, thousands of people attended the funeral and burial. An army of ladies mobilized to prepare food for them all. Taking a break after a few hours of peeling and cutting potatoes.
December - flying out of Bunia, with a view of the city. Bunia has grown exponentially in the past few years, as it has become a provincial capital, and also due to many people fleeing war in their villages to come to the city
December: the ministry for widows took up contributions to give each woman cloth, a "pagne", for Christmas, so she can make a new outfit for the new year.
Christmas day with Douglas' sister and her family
May God bless you in 2024!
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