NEW XADE Scripture Engagement Phase 1 Workshop
New Xade workshop participants
- Durk Meijer
- Ambe Rogers
- Douqoo Xukurià //Gana
- Masego Rasemeà/Gui, Sekgalagadi, Setswana, English
- Bikcky Gabokgalengweà Sekgalagadi
- Gabasekelwe Galoratweà /Gui
- Gakebatocsele Sekereà /Gui
- Mosadinadikgaba Xeramaà /Gui
- Gakebarapele Xhanneà //Gana
- Biotumelo Xguwa Xukurià //Gana
- Gakeorore Dichakeà //Gana
- Keshapiwa Gaoberekweà //Gana
- Gakegolole Okganne Tschokodisoà //Gana
- Mmaboitekanelo Moetià //Gana
- Kabathukutha Qonlakoà /Gui
- Kphetolo Kethamasengà //Gana
- Mmutla Maipeloà //Gana
- Mmolawa Besela à //Gana
Participants and venue
There were at least 4 participants each from the following churches: Word to Africa, African Evangelical Church. There were also participants from other Christian groups in the village like the ZCC. The first morning we met in the yard of the African Evangelical Church and from then on at the place where tea and lunch were prepared, which was at the house of Bikcky Gabokgalengwe where the Word to Africa also meets.
Stories
Participants showed interest in the stories of Joseph and Noah but the first story chosen for the workshop was from Luke 10:25-37. The second story they chose was from Luke 19: 1-9.
Key words discussed
- Priest
- Levite
- Samaritan
- Inn and innkeeper
- Tax collector
- Salvation
- The son of man
Other matters discussed
- Aim of Workshop
- Objective of workshop
- Explaining the Work of Jesus
- What happens after the workshop
What participants loved about the stories?
- Samaritan who helps
- Zacchaeus response to Jesus
What did the participants not like?
- Robbers
- Priest and Levite
Characters in the story
Luke 10:25-37
- Man of the Law who wanted to justify himself and asks Jesus a question on eternal life
- Jesus, the teacher, confirms the commandment to Love God and neighbor. Jesus also tells the story
- The man who travels from Jerusalem to Jericho
- Robbers who beat the man and take his clothes leaving him for dead
- Priest and Levite, who are indifferent
- Samaritan, who washes the man’s wounds, carries him to inn and foots the bill.
Luke 19: 1-9
- Zacchaeus, a tax collector who wants to see Jesus, climbs a tree to see Him and then has Jesus over in his house
- The crowd and people who complained
- Jesus, who called Zacchaeus down from the tree and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ house
Despite confusion about the date of a community meeting where people could be chosen to do some cleanup work in the community, the people came faithful afterward and participated with great excitement. They practiced with great enthusiasm and put great effort in telling the stories accurately, clearly, and naturally. One person knew a song about Luke 19: 1-9, which sparked the interest to compose a song about Luke 10:25-37. They spend almost half a day making sure that the whole story was accurate and clearly communicated through the song. Initially it seemed a bit more difficult to remember, but that evening when Rogers and I walked through the village, we passed a young woman with a baby singing the song. The people also twice performed a drama version of each story.
At the end of the last afternoon, they all indicated that they wanted to go on with getting the stories of the Bible in their language. They took all on clearly their own identity as //Gana and /Gui, yet they felt that their language is similar enough, so that they don’t need two separate Bibles. We met to think how to continue on after the workshop. They were not ready to decide which people should participate and choose any leaders, but one man suggested that Douqoo Xukuri should be the interim leader. It was made clear that nobody would be paid. Once a team has been established and people start putting in significant time, only then we will be able to look at the need to provide for restitution for a few workers, so they can care for their and their families daily needs. These funds will not automatically from the outside, but the team will look together with local churches and the San partnership liaison how this should work and where the funds would come from. They decided to start meeting each Thursday afternoon to repeat the stories and prepare new stories at the rate of at least one story each month.
We closed our time with repeating the stories once more by telling them, acting them out, and singing one of them, as well as a time of prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Durk Meijer, August 25, 2013
