African Drumbeat - July, 2014

Al Hawthorne, Director
Peg Seitz, Assistant Director
First I offer an apology for the lack of a report the past two months. It is not from the lack of things
happening in Africa, but truly, so many things happening in Africa, as well as in Orlando as we held our
Strategic meetings in June.
Some of the exciting things that have happened include the relocation of Blake and Lindsey Berry and
their new daughter Madelyn, to Kinshasa and some of the challenges that brought. See the article in this
edition.
Other events like Peter and Sunny Oh making it back to Juba, South Sudan to re-start the construction of
the training center expansion after being evacuated last December. This is a great step as Ken Kauffman
also made it back after a serious illness and he is now helping to keep the center there running in great
shape.
Gregg Bartholomew has made a multitude of construction-related trips including to CAR, South Sudan and
Ethiopia.
This is just to say, the Africa Area is as busy as ever! Peg Seitz is moving into her role as Assistant Director
to Francophone Africa and just recently completed a trip to Cameroon where she worked with our
Program Manager Dwight Erickson and out new Site Volunteer Coordinator, Beverly Meyers
But one of the most exciting news is a new WA direction related to our direct involvement in Bible
translation with our work related to the Open Bible Stories. These are 50 key Bible stories from Genesis
to Revelation. As a way of moving forward in this direction, we have now started a Translation Services
Department as part of Wyciffe Associates Operations Division, and we will be working with national
church leaders to begin assisting them in getting these key stories translated and then moving into full
New Testament translation work in the near future.
Please continue to pray for our leadership in this exciting new direction and the God will go before us as
we seek His will in getting His Word out to those who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus.
Blessings to you all,
Al Hawthorne




Sinking Barge with WA Truck Onboard!
Lindsey and Blake Berr are relocating to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo which puts them in a
more strategic location for reaching out to the dozens of languages still waiting for Gods Word in their
language.
As a part of this move they needed to take the Wyciffe Associates pickup truck from Gemena to the
closest port city. The plan was simple: drive the truck to Akula, put it on a boat and leave a national
driver to guard the truck on the boat for the short 1-week trip to Kinshasa. Most of the Berrys
possessions were packed inside the bed and cab of the truck for the move.
On May 23rd, already 1 week late, Blake received a call from Luka, the guard. He said that the barge
was in the middle of the Congo river when the motor quit. Without the ability to steer, the barge ran
into a large rocks, and the barge started to fill with water. Thankfully, the front of the boat, where the
truck was loaded, came to rest on the rock, and for the time being it was not in danger of sinking. But
we knew that could change at any time!
Blake and some local friends begin looking for a new boat and barge to go up river and save the truck . A
suitable combination was located and after several hours of negotiation, an agreement was made. A
contact who is an expert in river travel/salvage and had volunteered to go with the new boat and
supervise the transfer of the truck to the new barge, but the whole plan was delayed by heavy rains for
24 hours. By this time, hundereds of people had been enlisted to pray!
Once on site, they made the transfer of the truck from one barge to the other and it went VERY
smoothly. Once secured, the barge was loaded with some ballast (other peoples stranded stuff) to
stabilize the new barge, and they departed. The boat ran at full throttleup river and made it back to
Kinshasa, safely, the morning of the following day to unload the truck.
We were able to get some video of the transfer from one barge to the other for your viewing pleasure.
Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOuNq0_FfAQ.

People & Projects - Theres Something Happening Here









Upcoming Team Trips




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Introducing Madelyn Nell Berry born July 2, 2014




Africa High Priority Jobs
Program Manager Wycliffe Associates
South Sudan (885071)
IT Systems Administrator (Bingham Academy)
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (885490)
WA Assistant Area Director, Anglophone Africa
Addis Ababa, Nairobi or Jos (885567)
Multi-Skilled Computer Specialist
Tanzania (885324)





Guesthouse Manager Wycliffe Associates
Cameroon (884484)
Language Survey Coordinator - WA
Democratic Republic of Congo (885608)

Cluster Administrator Finance Officer SIL
Mbeya, Tanzania (885387)




For more information, contact Tim at tim_coleman@wycliffeassociates.org.

Upcoming Teams

WA New Facility Upgrade Dem. Rep of Congo 885633 08/25/14-9/12/14
English Language Learning Ethiopia 885599 12/1/14-12/13/14
Bunia Constuction Dem. Rep of Congo 885534 01/19/15-2/04/15
English Language Learning Tanzania 885561 02/11/15-3/01/15
English Language Learning Ethiopia 885600 04/13/15-05/01/15
For more information, contact Judy at judy_yon@wycliffeassociates.org

Praise God for safe travel for Carole Ellis who assisted with an English Language
Learning (ELL) program in Chad and then returned to her own ELL assignment in
Cameroon.

Praise God that Lindsey and Blake Berry have been blessed with a baby girl, Madelyn
born in Cameroon on July 2. Please pray for a good adjustment and health for the new
family of 3.

Pray for a good transition of management/staff at our WA guest house in Jos, Nigeria.

Pray for strength and wisdom for Elaine Shellabarger as she wears several hats in
Jos.

Pray for peace in our hearts as we leave those we hold dear here in Jos, and for ease in
settling for a time back in the U. S. (Janet & Paul Pollock)

Pray for peace in Jos and all of Nigeria, and the return of the 200 kidnapped girls.

Praise to God for His sovereignty and provision in every situation!

Pray that a construction project manager will be found to serve in Bamenda, Cameroon
for a few months.

Praise God for a safe and successful 12-day visit to Cameroon by Peg Seitz. She
reports that as usual, Gods timing was perfect!

Pray for peace and stability in Northern Cameroon where Boca Haram continues to be
responsible for kidnappings and other violence.

Praise God for the many faithful supporters who make our work possible through their
prayers and gifts.

Praise God for Jean and Anne Ndiriman who will serve as Program Managers in Moundou,
Chad. Pray for successful contacts as they raise funds in Canada for their assignment.

Pray for Gods perfect plan in assigning an Assistant Area Director for Anglophone
(English-Speaking) Africa.