Friday Field Notes

BEGINNINGS AND ENDINGS – Michael and Naomi Ersland

We give thanks to God for providing for us and blessing us these last few months. Our baby girl, Jael, was born. Ford is a wonderful big brother! We had an unexpected trip to the US for medical concerns that quickly resolved and we were blessed to see family and some friends during this time before we returned to Ghana! Before this, the Komba Bible manuscript was sent to the printers back in April. The printers completed their formatting and sent it back for review. Currently there are 3 individuals reading through the entire Komba Bible to make final edits before sending the text back to be printed. There are a few more steps before the Bible will be placed in the hands of the Komba people.

As you can see, we are coming to the end of this project. We have been praying about what is next and having discussions with various people. We continue to feel called to serve internationally with Lutheran Bible Translators. LBT has recommended we take a sabbatical after leaving this project before we start something new. We also need to take some time to see you. You have been an important part of the Komba Bible translation. We won’t be able to see everyone, but we hope to see many of you.

ersland PRAYER LETTER

CHANGE IS ONE THING – Rev. Tim and Deac. Erin Schulte

I have lived and worked in Africa for eighteen years, so I’m familiar with the experience of learning a new culture. I worked for the Peace Corps and went to the Seminary, where they trained me to survey a community. I’ve spent the last two years talking about, reading, and writing about how to approach people and their language as a learner. Despite all that, I still marched into Marché Bantaï and bought a dirty little potato.

As the blunt line from a recent book I read goes, “Change is one thing, but acceptance is another.” I can tell myself that I’m inquisitive and respectful, but my actions show that that isn’t always true in the deepest parts of me. This time, it was a potato; it could be someone’s heart next time.

By God’s grace, I got three things right. I can build on these things as I learn to accept all the culturally sensitive advice I’ve agreed to. I tried to prepare. When that failed, I tried to learn with my feet. And when that failed, I asked some questions. As Erin and I spend the next year struggling through our French lessons, we will do our best to prepare well for our work with the Subula team. But we will augment those language successes and failures with lots of foot learning. Every walk around the camp, every short trip to Bantaï, and every deep dive into the much larger – and ironically named – Petit Marché (little market) is another chance to build relationships with those whom we’ve come to learn from. As the Holy Spirit strengthens those relationships over the years, we can ask better questions.