Sena Bible Distribution

BBC Mission Trip to Malawi and Mozambique

27 th August – 7 th September 2008

This trip was the culmination of a project initiated in 1992 when an initial group (led by Barry Funnell) visited Malawi to assess and evaluate the translation of the Bible into the (yet untranslated) Sena language, The Sena people group in Southern Malawi consists of more than 300,000 people.

The translation was done by Word for the World, and specifically by the team headed up by Barry (see) who has worked in Malawi on this project for the past 10 years. BBC has supported Barry throughout the project and raised the funds for the printing of 5000 of the final product.

Barry also introduced us (BBC) to “the Talking Bible” now available in the Sena language. Understanding the high illiteracy rate amongst the Sena people, the scope for using this Bible is enormous. At short notice, 50 of these Bibles were ordered (at R300 each), in Faith, to take with us to distribute to another group of Sena people, on the Mozambique side of the border. After an appeal for the funding of these 50 Talking Bibles, an amount in excess of that required was raised – Praise the Lord!

The trip is undoubtedly the toughest undertaken by BBC yet!! The team consisted of nine men, travelling in three four wheel drive vehicles (two with trailers), carrying food, camping equipment, fuel, water and personal belongings for the entire 12 day trip. We covered close to 6000km. The entire trip was completed within budget, in spite of having to buy diesel in SA at its highest point (R11/litre) and having to pay the equivalent of double that in some places in Mozambique!

Day 1 (Wednesday) … In a nutshell…. We left Benoni at 2:00am on Wednesday 27 th August and reached Maxixe that evening (900km), where we camped.

Day 2(Thursday) was an early start and another full day’s travelling on rapidly deteriorating roads (getting worse as we headed north). We had hoped to reach the Zambezi (Caia ferry crossing) that evening but were still about 160km short as darkness fell and we realised we would not make the ferry before the 6:00pm shutdown. Potential campsites (noted on the maps) did not exist so we ended up camping in a village on the side of the road.

Day 3 (Friday) we made cellphone contact with Barry and the team who were by now in Nsanje ( Malawi base camp) where we were due to meet them. It looked promising for a late afternoon rendezvous, but…that was not to happen. We were delayed crossing the Zambezi ferry, then missed an unmarked road that added about 150km to the trip, were delayed another hour at the ferry crossing of the Shire River and then encountered some of the worst roads imaginable – across the flood plains of the Zambezi which had been devastated by the floods only a couple of years previously.

The end of day 3 found us in Mutarrara, late tired, and again, looking for somewhere to sleep. Our prayers were answered as we stumbled across a World Vision office (still open late in the evening) and who assisted us in finding “accommodation”!!

Day 4 (Saturday) – Another early start, confident of covering the short distance to the Malawi border and then to Nsanje in good time. Again, due to shocking roads, made very slow progress and eventually arrived in Nsanje by early afternoon.

Saturday afternoon – without delay – we delved into the “mission business” and determined to make up for lost time. We split into teams: one heading off to Bangula (where the bibles were being stored), to collect bibles and begin the distribution process to two schools and a rural village. This team arrived back at base camp (Nsanje) after 9:00pm, having achieved set objectives as well as being hosted and honoured in a village by specially prepared food and invitation to eat. (Some background knowledge of local culture and traditions being extremely valuable!

A second team met with the Malawi team and planned and ministered in Nsanje.

The third (technical team) headed out to another village where they set up and showed the “Jesus Film” (fully translated in Sena). The film was shown times and is an experience that has to be seen to be believed….

… the team sets up at dusk – generator, sound system, projector out of the back of a vehicle, on to a large erected screen (white cotton on metal frame), that can be viewed from both sides. Worship music plays (LOUD!!!) and folk begin gathering, some curious as to what’s going on. Once its dark the movie begins, and due to the pitch dark night, it is difficult to know what is going on, but there is a definite sense of vibe and activity. At the end of the movie lights (off the generator) are switched on and visible is a crowd of some 400 people who had gathered to watch.

Day 5 (Sunday) – two parallel Church services – with members of our team preaching at each (Pastor Grant at one and Trevor at the other) – what a blessing! (see pictures of the services). Highlights being the enthusiasm of the local congregations, their passionate praise and worship, and absolute hunger for The Word. Bibles were distributes during both services.

We were invited to lunch at Pastor Arnold’s humble home where he had prepared food for our entire team as well as all the visiting local pastors and team (about another 10).

Sunday afternoon was time for Prison Ministry. The local team (after lengthy lobbying and presentation) had finally been given permission (by the Malawi Minister of Correctional Services), to run a literacy training program in the Nsanje Prison. Special permission had been obtained for us to be taken into the prison (strictly no cameras allowed), to present a demonstration of the literacy program, and to distribute bibles to those enrolled for the program.

Late Sunday afternoon we visited Nsanje Port (on the Shire River) and the local Sanje Market – both worth of separate stories on their own!

Day 6 (Monday) – the plan is to head back south (with Barry and the Malawi Team), back in to Mozambique (to Murumbula) where Pastor training had been scheduled, more Bible distribution and showing of the Jesus Film…. But we hit a hiccough at the border – due to a misunderstanding with one of the visas, and one totally obnoxious and arrogant border official, the holder of the visa in question was not allowed back into the country.

This meant having to split, with one vehicle having to go all the way back to Blantyre, and then back down through a different border post, to Tete.

The rest of the party continued as planned and achieved said objectives, in spite of the most bizarre weather which came up – howling gales and dust storms across the country. So bad that the poles for the big screen snapped during the showing of the Jesu Film that night.

Day 7 (Tuesday) – plan was for the two parties to meet in Beira that night. A very difficult day covering long distances over particularly bad roads. The ‘detour’ team arrived in Beira at dusk and had the unenviable task of trying to find accommodation (camp place) for the night. Again, due to an absolute answer to prayer, we were led to camp in the grounds of “Biques” Restaurant. The second team arrived at about 9pm (guided in by cell phone).

Day 8 (Wednesday) – another long day travelling to another night time arrival at Guinjata – challenged by very thick, soft sand that stretched the 4X4 expertise to the limit!

Day 9 (Thursday) – a day of relaxation; fishing, swimming or nothing at Guinjata Bay. A good time of reflection, quiet times and communion.

Day 10 (Friday) – Travel to Xai Xai to prepare for the Annual Soccer tournament. Stayed at the YFC ( Bethel) Campsite and met up there with our support team who had travelled down from Benoni the previous day.

Day 11 (Saturday) – an early start to a long and tiring, but successful soccer tournament. (see pictures), with children’s ministry and meeting and interacting with other local Pastors and Missionaries.

Day 12 (Sunday) – a good start and uneventful journey back to Benoni.