Speaking My Language

00:00
Tilahun Mendedo
I want every Christian on planet earth just to open the Bible and read a verse and say, thank you, Lord, because you are speaking to me through thy word and God. You are speaking my language. I want them to speak that loud because we are privileged. Many, many people are out there without the word of God. 

00:26
Rich Rudowske
Welcome to the essentially translatable podcast brought to you by Lutheran Bible translators. I’m rich Friedowski. 

00:31
Emily Wilson
And I’m Emily Wilson. 

00:33
Rich Rudowske
Today we are going to talk with what we consider the founding father of the essentially translatable podcast, our very own Dr. Tillahun Mendeto. Dr. Tilahun serves as the executive development officer of Lutheran Bible translators. He is past president of Concordia College in Selma, Alabama, and pastored congregations in Alabama. His PhD is in missiology from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne. Before we get into that though, Emily, let’s make sure we make life easy for those folks who are listening to us. Maybe you catch this podcast, but you catch it accidentally. We want to be sure that you have us intentionally in your feeds. How can folks subscribe and find us, right? 

01:12
Emily Wilson
So we are on all of the platforms. So Podbean, you can find us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio. Spotify is one of my personal favorites. They do this nice little background for us for our album artwork. But really, the point is, wherever you actually listen to music and podcasts, you’ll probably find us there. 

01:35
Rich Rudowske
Just search for essentially translatable, follow us and yes, essentially translatable or LBT podcast. 

01:43
Tilahun Mendedo
Either of those. 

01:44
Rich Rudowske
Usually you’ll find us. You’ll find a picture of us. 

01:46
Emily Wilson
Leave a rating. 

01:47
Rich Rudowske
That’s right. 

01:48
Emily Wilson
If you want. 

01:49
Rich Rudowske
We do appreciate the feedback that we’ve been getting. Folks have sent us emails and messages and we do really value your thoughts. If you have ideas for things that you’d like to hear us talk about on the podcast, we’d love to hear those. How can people get in touch with us? 

02:01
Emily Wilson
Emily right. You can email us either at info@lbt.org or communications@lbt.org that’s going to go right to my inbox. And I’ll be able to respond with a smile. You won’t be able to see it, but I’ll be smiling. 

02:15
Rich Rudowske
It’ll come through in the language. 

02:17
Emily Wilson
Exactly. Lots of exclamation points. 

02:19
Rich Rudowske
There we go. So we call Dr. Mandido our founding father, because if you would go back and listen to the very first episode of essentially translatable, which we launched when we had time to pivot and had some margin created by the fact that we couldn’t get out and visit folks due to the COVID lockdowns. Tilone suggested that this was the time to launch a. And it’s taken all this time to get him on the show, but boy, just a great guy to talk with. And his stories were phenomenal. 

02:48
Emily Wilson
It’s true. 

02:49
Rich Rudowske
Yeah. 

02:50
Emily Wilson
Actually, there was a few times that I was just so riveted. And you’ll hear that probably in the awe of my question, asking, he’s a gifted storyteller, and we can’t wait for you to sit back and enjoy Dr. Tilahun Mendero’s stories. 

03:12
Rich Rudowske
We are here in the studio with Dr. Tilajun Mendero, the executive development officer at Lutheran Bible translators. And it’s so great to have you here in the studio. 

03:20
Tilahun Mendedo
Well, thank you very much, Pastor Raduski, and also, Emily. It’s a privilege to be here. And what a time. 

03:27
Emily Wilson
What a time. Welcome. 

03:29
Rich Rudowske
And were chatting a little bit before we got started recording again. I just want to mention for the whole audience here, this podcast is well over a year old, but originally it was your idea that we should have a podcast here when Covid started and we couldn’t get out and do some of the things we’re used to doing. Can you talk a little bit about that? 

03:45
Tilahun Mendedo
Well, you know what? I even don’t recall that. The truth of the matter, there are many things that God has forced us to think about, and sometimes when we are not able to be responding accordingly. And God uses all kind of means to keep our movement in a way that may benefit others. And this may be one of the many ways to communicate God’s word and social media and other things when he knew that this global pandemic has an effect and impact on the global community. And maybe such kind of communication is the best way. And it sounded sometimes kind of like the old way because the radio wave has been given a lot of good news message to people across the globe, and then we forgot that, and it’s no more important. And we thought, everything is just like that small world. 

04:42
Tilahun Mendedo
Here you go. Now, God used this situation to communicate and connect to our friends and family and our churches and even globally. And there may be people out there outside of the United States who be tuned up with your message. Yeah. 

04:59
Rich Rudowske
And we’ve had a lot of fun doing it and really great guests and trying to give voice to some folks that maybe don’t usually get a platform to talk about how they see things and Christianity. And yet your friend President Bunda has been on here. Dr. Boafo’s been on. So, yeah, we’ve had some great guests. And again, just wanted to take a moment to say thanks for the idea. And it’s been a lot of fun working on it. And we’re looking forward to talking with you and some of your stories. 

05:28
Emily Wilson
Yeah. Just wanting to jump in. And you grew up in Ethiopia, and we’ve heard a lot of stories in the office from you of life. But let’s share a little bit with the audience about what life was like for you growing up in Ethiopia. Could you share a little bit about that? 

05:43
Tilahun Mendedo
Yeah. Ethiopia is a country which is located in northeast part of Africa, Horn of Africa, actually. And a country which is surrounded by or bordered with so many countries. Up in the north, we have former part of Ethiopia, which is now Eritrea. And up north also from there, we have Egypt. And in the eastern part of Ethiopia, we have Somalia. And the southern part of Ethiopia is bordered with Kenya. And in the western part of Ethiopia is bordered with Sudan and the South Sudan. And the North Sudan. Now. But the reason why I say that it has an impact and it has a reason why I would like to mention all that historically, and of course, geopolitically and religiously. 

06:35
Tilahun Mendedo
And my growth in Ethiopia was like any ethiopian young boy and looking after my herd and going to school and as a devout Ethiopian Orthodox Christian, and following the church mass and litany, liturgy and all kind of traditions. And of course, I was a first born. And so as a young, first born african boy, and the burden of the family was always on my shoulder. So that’s how my life in Ethiopia. Worked hard in the field and worked hard also any kind of work that helps me to sustain or survive. And through so many issues, common life like any average african and phase and also community blessings we have in the community in Africa. And one of the blessings to be born in Africa is you are no longer just child of your mama and daddy. You belong to the community. 

07:41
Tilahun Mendedo
So we raised that way. And I have seen also good days and bad days in my life in Ethiopia. And if I mention few of them, probably hunger and starvation and famine, I’m someone was born in a time when worldly renowned singers and famous people came out and say, do they know if this is Christmas? And some of you might be very young to remember. And in a time when they come and have world concert, including Michael Jackson and big icons in the world singing we are the warlit. And that was a time when a young lady, ethiopian lady dying, but a baby was trying to get some milk out of his almost dead mama. That was the poster child of ethiopian feminine hunger in the went through famine, drought, civil wars and political unrest. 

08:46
Tilahun Mendedo
And went through a time of communism, and were under the grip of the communist regime for about 17 years. With so many civil wars, drought and famine and struggle and all kind of issues, here I am. And then sometimes I ask that question, how did that happen and how did I survive? And what’s the reason behind? And so Ethiopia still going through challenge and was really impacted by challenge, and maybe we’ll go through still so many challenges. But one thing I can assure you is such a beautiful land and a nice country with so many potential, and that may come out one day. 

09:33
Emily Wilson
I had a chance to visit Ethiopia in 2019 and just, it was so incredibly beautiful. I’d never been to East Africa before, and the people welcomed us so warmly. The hospitality was second to none. Everywhere went, we never were without something to drink, something to eat. And just the kindness shown to us was just amazing. Could you share a little bit about the role of missionaries in your life? You’ve shared a little bit at the offices here of how you’ve grown in faith because of missionaries. And it all started in Ethiopia, right? 

10:18
Tilahun Mendedo
Yeah, that’s true. And as I mentioned, I came from a very devout eastern orthodox or ethiopian orthodox family, and my parents are very devout Christian. I have never missed mass or any holidays. And a matter of fact, my parents, they are patrons of St. Michael. And we have that holiday always in our heart, in our minds. But one thing I have to say, though, that was a kind of nominal Christianity. And we have the name that we are christian and we practice so many things on the side, such as sacrificing for animals, the well being of our animals. 

11:08
Tilahun Mendedo
And I come from a large family, and my mom is from the Oromo tribe, one of the largest tribes in Africa, and my dad is from the Walleta tribe and in the southern part of Ethiopia, they both lived in Doromo land in RC, and I was born in RC. And that’s why I came to know the language and the culture. So according to what the culture and the language and the community demands, though my parents are, quote unquote, confessing christians, they are at the same time also practicing some sort of syncreticism. And in addition to that, the scripture was not available in heart of our mother tongue or in our heart language. So it was read by the priestess in Gez, and it was recited by the priestess who understand and perhaps who read and recited that as part of their educational system. 

12:12
Tilahun Mendedo
And then our role is just to follow what the priests say. So we had no idea what that means, even sometimes. So it was in that situation at the age of 15, I was looking for the truth and searching for the meaning of life. And questions come to my mind. Why do I see children starve and die in my eyes? Why do I see brothers are fighting one another for meaningless cause sometimes? And why do I see all this kind of unrest in the nation? And it was a time when the communists also banned religion because for them, religion was a myth. And whoever believed in that kind of thought, considered as kind of ignorant, unscientific, and to some extent, sometimes they label you. We are brainwashed imperialists and puppies of the Americans. So that was the kind of context I was brought up. 

13:20
Tilahun Mendedo
And then when I met the missionary the first time, it was an amazing incident. It was not really a planned incident. I ran into a young girl who was singing about Christ, and she was standing by the street and waiting for a public bus. And I remember the town where I come from, perhaps Pastor Rodrisky visited that area is Nazareth, which is 50 miles south of Adisababa and very commercial town and city. And I saw this young girl and she was singing, and I was very much attracted by her voice, but I knew she was older than I, but I just have to go and ask, what are you singing? And she said, oh, I’m singing for Jesus. Oh, you are singing for Jesus. What a talk. So it was kind of like then I said, what do you know about Jesus? 

14:23
Tilahun Mendedo
And she told me, oh, are you from here? And I told her yes. And I told her my dad, and she knew my dad. Oh, so that’s your dad. Oh, great. And then she shared me that Jesus loves me and for God so loves the world, that he gave his only begotten son for you to die. And I was like confused. And for two reasons actually. Number one, I was angry because a woman is lecturing me, just understand, this is african mind. And I was groomed to be a deacon and a boy deacon already following through ethiopian orthodox canon and tradition. But here you go. Even I have no idea what she was singing about. 

15:07
Tilahun Mendedo
And second, I was confused because she was using the Bible text one after the other, which I didn’t have the privilege of opening the Bible in my heart language. And the Christianity I have is only what my parents told me. Early in the morning, say this, in the night, say that. And when he go by the church and bow down and make the sign of the cross and when there is a wild wind, come and just pray for Hail Mary and all those kind of things. But if somebody come and ask me where in the scripture or where in the Bible, I have no clue. I have the mask, religious mask, but I don’t have Christ. Then this young lady was telling me then I couldn’t really keep up with her and I said, hey, you know what? 

16:06
Tilahun Mendedo
Can we have another time so that we may have a very decent, good discussion? Because I hate to say that I gave up. It was my way of getting out from that trap anyways. But the other day we came together and we talked, we talked. There is nothing for me to offer. But she was well versed, she knew her Bible and she bombarded me and she beat me up. And then I surrender for Jesus. And she asked me if I would just kneel down and say whatever she said to her and then just say, I renounce the devil and its work. And from this time on I give my life for Jesus. And I lift up my hand and she laid her hand and prayed for me. And that’s how the walk started. My spiritual life journey began right there. 

17:02
Tilahun Mendedo
And one day when she was teaching us kind of Bible study and I was a kind of student who was just absorbing and taking quick and fast. And then we couldn’t get along with her because we’re kind of like disagreeing whether I got to be baptized again. And I read from the Ephesians, the book of Ephesians, chapter four, where it says St. Paul to the church. At Ephesus, there is only one baptism and one lord and one religion, one faith. And she looked at me and she said, don’t worry, there might be some people who think like you. And then I said, okay. Then she asked me if I would consider joining her to travel to Adis Abeva, which is 50 miles up north, the capital of Ethiopia. And then here we go. 

17:59
Tilahun Mendedo
There is a Big Lutheran church which is now the International Lutheran Church, Lydeta mechanizes. And there by the altar and there is a tall german missionary. His name was Johannes Launhart from Hermannsburg mission, Germany. And he was preaching. And Pastor Johannes, some people who knew him, they can tell what I was describing about him. Very tall, close to 7ft, and he has very wide hands and stretching from wall to wall. And I said, what am I seeing here? Since I was born and raised in a country, and even if I was raised in Nazareth, a commercial town, my exposure to white people was very just white people. Quotation or Caucasian European was very limited. And only time I knew about Caucasian was when I watched soccer for World cup or Olympic games. 

19:02
Tilahun Mendedo
And now here you go, I see this tall guy, and not only just surprised me, preaching to the ethiopian congregation there, but preaching in Amaharik, and that is a lingua francois of Ethiopia. And he speaks flawless, and he was just talking, and he uses some English. And on our way out after the sermon, he was shaking hands, and he hold my hands tight, and he said in Amharic, which means God loves you. It was a shock. How would God love me? Because here I am really with so many questions in life. Then the next statement he mentioned to me was very interesting. He said that very interestingly. He looked at my eyes and he said, in Oromo language, wak yosijalada, which means God loves you. That was like a home run, because that’s my mama language. 

20:05
Tilahun Mendedo
That is when the shock came to my life. And he holded me tight and he said, fear not, I’m your brother and just stay here, and I’m going to give you something. I was not sure what he’s going to give me. I was just standing there, and he finished greeting everybody, and he came and he said, okay, come here. Now I have a special gift for you for a young boy at the age of 15. At that time, I was Afro and skinny with flip flop. And the communist told us, if you run into Americans or European, we have to stay away because they will brainwash us, and they give us candy or something, and they made us full. And then after that, we are puppies. Then I said, oh, am I going to be a puppy? 

20:55
Tilahun Mendedo
So is he going to give me candy and whatever, I’ll take it. But the story is different. Pastor Johannes reached out from his bag, and he pulled a book, a black book, and he put that in my hand, and he said, get this and don’t let anybody see you and run. I looked around, nobody spotted me. I put that under my jacket, and I ran and run and ran. I still remember how I ran, because if I were found by the communists back then, it’s in the early eighty s, and I could be prisoned, and there would be even a possibility I could be drafted to the military because they see me like I’m antirevolution. I’m not like the use force of the revolution. I could be executed. 

21:52
Tilahun Mendedo
And the worst part of that is they kill you and your parents have to look for your dead body. From one prison to another prison, from police station to police station. And if they found out you are somewhere there, and perhaps the surgeon or the captain or the police commander might ask your parents, hey, we had wasted our bullets on that dog. If you’d like to recover the body of that dog and you have to pay for the bullets, I mean, that is the Ethiopia I knew and I was brought up. But fortunately, except few prisons in life, nothing happened to me compared to many merchiers and strong people of God. So that was my encounter with missionaries. 

22:46
Tilahun Mendedo
And once this happened, and my parents were kind of suspicious because I no longer practice traditional religion or I no longer part of the prayer for Hail Mary. And they knew something is wrong with me and they were spying on me and they found out. I have that connection with the Protestants. They call them Pentecost, which is kind of Pentecostals, though we are not. And they see us like we are intruders. We have betrayed the religion of our fathers. The ethiopian orthodox religion, which is orthodox means the correct and the right from the right teaching to the teaching of the waste or imperialist. So that was really tough on my parents because they were excluded from any social associations, social guilds, and they kicked them out. 

23:49
Tilahun Mendedo
And as the pressure was mounting, my parents had no choice, but they gave me ultimatum and consult with my tribal people, and they literally disowned me. And that was when the missionary stepped in my life. And of course, after that, I was being supported and graduated my high school and became very active in the evangelistic outreach program in that area. And God used those small efforts in a mighty way to make a difference. And then from that, I joined the seminary in Ethiopia, and I was supported by the same missionary and other missionaries. And then I ran into many missionaries from the United States, from Germany, from Norway, and from Sudan. And so that helped me to see the grand vision of ministry. And then I was asked to lead a Bible school and training centers and mobile Bible school for the church. 

24:58
Tilahun Mendedo
And that was my work, and that’s how I was connected to Christ and missionaries and the lutheran phase at the age of 15 and probably about 35 years ago. 

25:13
Rich Rudowske
Wow. And so I just want to go back a little bit, too. You got that first black book from Pastor Johannes, and it’s a Bible, right? Yes. So talk about a little bit. Like finally when you stopped running and had a chance to open and read it, what was it like? 

25:28
Tilahun Mendedo
Well, it was amazing because I was curious to open it. And first I thought it could be science book, it could be a dictionary or it could be kind of book that I may just read fiction. And I waited until I get home. Once we got home, my home in Nazareth, which is adama now. I come from a very humble middle class or poor, I would say family. And my dad was a civilian in a sense. He was a military and civilian also. And my mom is a homemaker. And we are about 910 kids in the home and I’m the first born. So we have like three bedrooms and just small. And in one room there was a big jar, very big jar. I don’t know how to explain it. That jar. 

26:20
Tilahun Mendedo
The purpose of that jar is that my mom pours water into that jar and fills it because there is a shortage of water. And that’s what we use either for us or for the animals, for the entire family. We live in the town, but there was a shortage of water then. But I was hiding behind that jar. 

26:42
Rich Rudowske
Okay. 

26:43
Tilahun Mendedo
And I see only spark of light coming through that broken window. And through that ray of light, I able to open the book. And the first text when I opened that was from psalm 91. You remember psalm 91, what it says? And that was like an eye opening. The first verses are like the one, our God is a refuge and strength, right? And strength. And then he’s our shadow, and that’s a place where we shelter. And then it gives you affirmation. Whatever happens, you’ll be fine. Even all the arrows fly. Arrows fly on you and you will not be hurt. 

27:30
Rich Rudowske
Right? 

27:31
Tilahun Mendedo
And then I said, wow, there is nothing to fear for me anymore. And from that on, there are so many arrows in my life, so many challenges, so many struggles. But from that time on, the Lord opened my eyes. And here is the irony. When I opened that, it says the Bible, the holy Bible. Actually, it doesn’t say the Bible, the Holy Bible. Mitsah dos. And then I opened. That was the first chapter of the Bible from the Book of Psalm 91. I ended up, and that was like, boom. Then, surprisingly enough, I read that Bible from COVID to cover for almost six, seven months, probably four or five times. 

28:25
Rich Rudowske
Wow. 

28:26
Tilahun Mendedo
And in the communist time of Ethiopia, it is not like what so many people jump in the street of Adisawa today about evangelical Christianity. You hide and you read and you recite and you memorize because you cannot carry the Bible with you. And you never know when you’d be apprehended or arrested. And when you go to. Sometimes in high school, I was leading high school leadership, and my role was working with helping the scripture union and the mechanist church use office and making that connection and leadership. If we are found doing that. It is just a big crime during that communist time. But sometimes we sit in this big grass. I don’t know if you know about this savannah grass, even taller than us. We hide there like four or five. 

29:26
Tilahun Mendedo
We have sales everywhere, and we study the scripture and we have very little verse in case if we are not memorized, we write it. When the communists come all of a sudden, we always make our physics or chemistry book open and they come and they couldn’t find anything because they only see chemistry, physics and biology. Because the scripture was in our heart and in our mind. And you never know when you’d be in jail, you’d not have the text or the Bible. You share that to the fellow prisoner or anyone in the jail and comfort them and strengthen them. And that’s how my life was in time of the communist in Ethiopia. 

30:11
Emily Wilson
So when you arrived as a student in the US to study theology, what were some of the cultural differences you experienced? 

30:22
Tilahun Mendedo
Yeah, I don’t know where to begin because I dreamt a lot to pursue my education, but had no idea how big is the United States. Because the United States, who were taught by the communist, was imperialist. And ugly photos with shaft shoe and ugly nose and big ear with a lot of nail crouching you and eating you and kind of angry picture. That’s the way how the newsletter and all over the posters show you what imperialists are or Americans are. Okay? You were brought up in that kind of culture. And so coming to America for me was unknown. Water had no idea where I’m going into. And on the other hand, coming to America because the media and everything was government controlled. 

31:21
Tilahun Mendedo
And people may blame about why the northern Koreans are still under bondage of that regime, but they had no choice, because if you don’t know what is around, that’s all you know. Morning. Tonight we have only one channel and that’s it. So you drink that and you behave that way. But after I encounter with some educated people and missionaries, I started thinking differently and started reading books and getting some books smuggled from Europe or elsewhere and then started questioning. And then when I felt it is time for me to pursue education, I was very young because almost when I was 23, I already graduated from seminary. And when I was 27, I have already finished my master’s program and then went to Germany briefly and came back. And then my eyes were open like big, seeing Germany and my missionary friends and family there. 

32:25
Tilahun Mendedo
And then I said, wow, we don’t exist. We are not yet living. So what happened? And that quest of pursuing more education was in my heart. But the problem was, how do you get the scholarship? I just want you to know this. And even whoever hears this podcast, I had to apply for 350 universities to come to the United States. 

32:55
Rich Rudowske
Wow. 

32:56
Tilahun Mendedo
And at one point, my wife told me, I’m crazy. I lost my brain. And she felt like, oh, look at all these envelopes and all these tamps that would have been money to feed us for one month or two months, three months. And it was like, you press all the buttons and you don’t know where one of the buttons leads you. And in two weeks time, half of those mails returned back simply because I had old book from the 60s, world Alnamic book, and it’s a kind of old book, and the directory or the addresses are changed and schools have been closed or whatever. Then it was disappointing. Then there were four responses, very positive. One was from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, and the other one was Concordia seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The other one was Concordia seminary in St. 

34:00
Tilahun Mendedo
Louis, and the other one is lutheran school of theology in Chicago. And I said, hey, I can take any of them. And then the Fort Wayne seminaries package looks like more prominent and more convincing to me because it gives me four tickets in a year. And fortunately, I was a winner of that year’s scholarship for one african student, an amount of $120,000 for four years to pursue my phd. And this scholarship was from the World mission back then. And they call it Crisp, which is committee responsible for international scholarship program. And people like Ken Reiner and Pastor Rogner and many of them have been overseeing that. And I was fortunate. I had no idea what Missouri Synod is, I have no idea what evangelical Lutheran Church of America is simply because in Africa, a Lutheran is a Lutheran. So we don’t have all this. 

35:09
Tilahun Mendedo
But fortunately, I was given that privilege and came to this country once I got here. It was amazing, because the first thing I could see is like the affluent and the possibility. People say the sky is a limit, and even sometimes I don’t see any limit. You can be whatever you want. I mean, look, a guy was looking after his cattle and going through hell in Ethiopia and coming to the United States and pursuing a PhD in one of the seminaries here and achieving that goal and receiving a call and assigned to be a pastor in Mobile, Alabama for african american congregation for over six and a half years and teaching in a university at University of South Alabama, one of the public universities, good public universities and teaching also at Spring Hill College, just with catholic college in Mobile, Alabama. 

36:16
Tilahun Mendedo
And imagine how would that happen for someone unless it is in the United States? And how would that happen unless God transform your life through that word and make you somebody? Then imagine from that. Even God brought me to the position where I am even becoming a president of one of the Concordias and one of the universities in the Concordia system. This is unthinkable for a guy who was struggling to lead his life, to find a bread on the table and to see if there is an opportunity even to see the sunlight the next day. And coming to the United States, things change. And God opened the door and God brought so many people in my life and my family. And now all our children are grown up and attending school, universities and very proud of them. 

37:19
Tilahun Mendedo
Coming to America, to me, is not only just a privilege for me, but also a give back for me, because through my being here, I have so many kids we feed and support and we have so many students, high schools, universities, seminaries. And some of them know where they are. And how did God do that? Just through one person? Because he sent that missionary, Johannes Launhardt and many missionaries in Ethiopia who touched my life so that I am who I am today. And through me now, God is transforming many more. And what to say. Sometimes we don’t know what we are doing, but God knows what he’s doing. 

38:10
Rich Rudowske
Yeah. And clearly then God has used all of those experiences to bring you to where you are today now with a focus that builds on that pastoral experience, that teaching and leadership experience. Now to point to mission and say there’s all kinds of folks that are just like I was, who could be connected to God’s word, who could get involved and know a missionary, be a missionary. And that’s part of the work you do now. So talk a little bit about your passion for God’s mission. 

38:40
Tilahun Mendedo
Yes, that is the key factor because we are not our own. We are marked by his grace. On that day when we are baptized, we are set aside and we don’t live for ourselves. And God’s mission for me is God’s presence in our life and God’s presence in the lives of many. And how would that be explained is sometimes hard. But it is easy also, because when God sent his only begotten son to live with us and become one of us and dwell in us and the incarnation process, that’s God’s mission and that’s the reconnection we have also with the word. 

39:32
Tilahun Mendedo
And when our missionaries go in the field and learn the language, learn the culture, assimilate themselves and become one of the people and hear their oral language and find a word or a syntax or a grammar or kind of developing that language with the community and then transferring that mission or giving that Christ in a written word. Boy, that’s not for a one time moment, that’s for eternity. That’s what I call it. An eternal investment. So God’s mission and his salvation history coming to all of us in Christ Jesus through his word unfolded to all of us. And to me, that’s what God’s mission is. 

40:23
Rich Rudowske
Yeah. And you talked about, know, first going to Germany and then the US were eye opening experiences. You also, a few years ago, got to go to West Africa and talk a little bit about your experience there, visiting some of the translation literacy programs going on in West Africa. 

40:39
Tilahun Mendedo
Yes. After I left the university system and joined the Lutheran Bible translation, I was very much impressed by what I saw. First, it begins from here in the office, because it’s a small office. You come from multimillion dollar budget to a small organization with five, six people parked in a small office. And then I said, what am I doing here? And that’s kind of. But that’s how our human life is. We always forget where we come from. Then when Mike Rodwald shared with me how long he was in Africa, I knew he was in Africa. He and I went school together, but I didn’t know that he was in Africa more than I lived in Africa. And I was kind of who. Then what did you do there? 

41:33
Tilahun Mendedo
And the translation, Bible translation and missionary for the Lutheran Church of Misery Synod and all that. Then I said, what do you translate in the Bible? If people don’t have the Bible in their heart language and the message would be strange, they would not see Jesus. Boy, that story of my own life came that way. And I said, you know, I was like that ethiopian eunuch, except I have a wife and children. The ethiopian eunuch. 

42:04
Rich Rudowske
Okay, we’ll explain it to you later. If you don’t understand, write to info@lbc.org. 

42:11
Tilahun Mendedo
I had that wonderful religious experience, and I go to church. I come from the church and I have the liturgy and I have all that stuff, but I don’t have Jesus. Even reading the book of Isaiah 53, that is the heart of the gospel. You can’t go wrong with that. But still, what happens? You miss the point. And then I felt I was like, jesus, this should be like my life. And when I have this privilege and I was given a chance to go to West Africa, I will not lie to you. I went there with some pride. That pride was, I know Africa better than my friend David Federwood’s an american. Then I went there. I know nothing about Africa. The Africa I know in East Africa, even Ethiopia is. The day is different from the night. 

43:18
Emily Wilson
Different. 

43:19
Tilahun Mendedo
Then what striked me there was seeing young missionaries know Emmy, Formella and Joshua and Ruthie Wagner and the children and the way they live. And then that reminds me, the old days, how our german missionaries and the scandinavian missionaries lived in the rural part of Ethiopia. And it was a struggle, tough then, when I knew this is their callings and this is their vocation, and this is what God has brought them to do this mission and to get this word out in the hands of millions so that they sing this song of eternity from that book, the Bible. It was a humbling experience and another learning curve in my life and a beautiful. I love West Africa. It’s muggy and hot. When I was there, and I live in Alabama, it’s like that, but it’s beautiful people, nice people, enjoyed my time there. 

44:25
Emily Wilson
You’ve been impacted by Bible translation yourself personally and being here at Lutheran Bible translators. So what would you share with people? What do you think that they should know about the work of Bible translation? 

44:39
Tilahun Mendedo
That’s a good question. You know what happened just a year and a half ago when Covid came? We thought that the end of humanity, it could happen one day when Isaiah spoke to his people. God spoke through Isaiah to the people of Israel. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever. And what I say to my audience today is the same. Doesn’t matter where I come from, doesn’t matter where I am today. But at the end of the day, all this pass. But God’s word endures forever. And I say to my audience today, wherever they are, in Africa or Asia or here in the United States, sometimes we put all our effort and energy in a thing that is going to whizzer, that is going to pass like the flowers, like the meadow in the morning. 

45:42
Tilahun Mendedo
But the word of God is what we need to cling on because it is eternal. So when they pray for our missionaries and celebrate Bible translation ministry, we are approaching to international Bible translation Sunday on September 26. I want every Christian on planet earth just to open the Bible and read a verse and say, thank you, Lord, because you are speaking to me through thy word and God, you are speaking my language. I want them to speak that loud because we are privileged, whereas many people are out there without the word of God in dark. And I want them to understand also when they donate and give, we are not outgiving God. 

46:38
Tilahun Mendedo
There are many out there who are giving their life, sacrificing their life, stricken by ebola and malaria and all kinds of struggles in Africa or elsewhere, but they still endure to see more people in heaven. And just like in the book of revelation, as the elderly man asked, who are these? And the scripture says, and these are the people who washed their robes with the blood of the lamb. And they are wearing that white robes and holding the palm branch in their hands. And they cried out in loud voice, it says, salvation belonged to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb. So when we support Bible translation, we meant that one day before the lamb, we are singing with all those who be transformed by this word of God. And so it is an eternal investment. 

47:41
Tilahun Mendedo
That’s how I see it. 

47:43
Emily Wilson
So how can someone set up a time to meet with you or have a presentation done? 

47:51
Tilahun Mendedo
One thing that I’m grateful is also that God has given me so many people in my life, faithful donors, good counselors, pastors, friends. And if anyone would be interested in to hear God’s story in my life, I’m open to that. And if they have a church or event or I speak at the conventions, I speak at the Lutheran Women Convention or district meetings conventions and I preach and teach at our Lutheran Church of Missouri Synod congregations. And if I’m allowed to also speak at events and occasions, I’ll be out there for connecting folks to this important and noble cause that they enjoy and which I enjoyed also. So they find me through the address of Lutheran Bible translation and the office address would be here, 205 South Main Street, Concordia, Missouri. And the website is www.lbt.org.org. 

49:09
Tilahun Mendedo
And also, if they would consider to email me my first name, t. Lahon Tilahunmendedo mendedo@lbt.org. But if they make a call to my office and they can reach to one of our office people here and they can schedule my trip or my visit or my preaching and teaching, I would love to do that. It doesn’t matter where it is. 

49:41
Rich Rudowske
Yeah. And so everyone listening out there, you won’t be disappointed if you do that. To spend time with Dr. Tilone is a blessing. We want to thank you for sharing some of your life story with us. And really also, even more than that, sharing the good gifts that God has given you and being generous with those and giving your life in service to the spread of the gospel so thanks a lot for your time with us today. We appreciate it. 

50:03
Emily Wilson
Thank you. 

50:04
Tilahun Mendedo
Thank you very much. And God is blessing to you and your ministry and enjoy working with you, and it’s a privilege. Thank you. 

50:15
Emily Wilson
So, as promised, you heard my voice of awe. There was actually one point that I was kind of queued up to ask a question, and I was so mesmerized, like I couldn’t even have the words. But Dr. Tillejun Mendedo’s gift for being able to paint a picture of what life is like for him growing up and how important the faith was for seeing him through each stage of life and how important it is for him to share that vision of God’s mission with people around the nation and the importance of Bible translation in people’s own language, to be able to interact with what God is saying to all generations. 

51:04
Rich Rudowske
Yeah, there’s so many things going through my mind thinking about what we talked about with him, like the grit and determination that folks that are christians under persecution go through, and for him, a time of separation from his family when he embraced faith in a different way than they were used to that. 

51:21
Rich Rudowske
And then I think about also from the missionary’s perspective, those missionaries that first worked with him would have had no idea that their impact on just this one life would have an impact on so many other lives through the work that he does and how God really put on Talon’s heart to not just keep that blessing all for himself, but to share with others, both as he shares about the opportunities to be involved in mission, but even the resources that God has blessed him with, as he shares those with so many folks back home. 

51:52
Emily Wilson
Yeah, like his story of starting out and he’s like just this shepherd boy, and then how God was at work. And I think that’s just a call to action in my life and just in the church in general. It could be in the life of a Sunday school student embracing, like, oh, this gospel message is more than just for me, but for my classmates, to the adults in Bible study, and then going out into their community and being intentional in sharing the gospel, to being in an assisted living community, because that is an awesome place for being able to share hope and just the truth of Christ’s love for us. So wherever you are, you can be at work. 

52:39
Rich Rudowske
The word that comes to my mind is trajectory. So Tillahun’s life was on a certain trajectory, and then insert the gospel here, and then the trajectory changes, and that’s the opportunity we have when we share our faith. We never know exactly how that trajectory is going to change. But God does, and he gives us the privilege to be part of it. Thank you for listening to the essentially translatable podcast brought to you by Lutheran Bible translators. You can find past episodes of the podcast@lbt.org Slash podcast or subscribe on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow Lutheran Bible translators’social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Or go to lbt.org to find out how you can get involved in the Bible translation movement and put God’s word in their hands. 

53:24
Rich Rudowske
This episode of essentially translatable was produced and edited by Andrew Olson. Our executive producer is Emily Wilson. Podcast artwork designed by Caleb Rotelwald Music written and performed by Rob Veit I’m Rich Radowski. So long. For now.