work

I am still feeling my way around what I supposed to do here. I have visited the youth center a few times and am torn between being there very often or hanging back until we are all used to each other. I have been to the youth Bible study and am impressed by the focus and caring the young folks give their study time. Benny seems to be working very hard and he is not quite used to me yet. Part of it is the fact, I think, that I am a woman. With both him and our friend Philemon who leads the adult Bible study, they are used to working strictly with men and I am a bit of a shock for them. I know that this will change in time, and it is really up to me to be patient. Philemon and i have discussed taking me to different churches but he is not licensed and I also am not yet. So i spend a lot of time walking around talking to different people and just keeping an appearance.
Last week was a prayer meeting for the release of the new Kalanga Bible translation. At this point, it is just the New Testament and Psalms, but it is an important start. The Kalanga people area strong influence in this area in particular and this translation will be a great blessing. The meeting was packed-we were jammed into a room and it was a wonderful meeting with speeches and songs and great joy. Afterward, we did not stay as long as I would have liked, but I did get to talk to a few pastors and church representatives. Here it is important that people at least start by gettingto see you around and involved so I felt like this meeting was a step in the right direction.