Story by Jenny Davies and photos by Linda and Fritz Fankhauser
A NEW GATEWAY TO THE GOSPEL There was double celebration in Eastern Equatoria in January when MAF pilot Raphael Flach landed on the newly reopened airstrip to bring the brand-new translation of the Bible in the Tennet language. A few days, he landed again with VIP visitors, including Bible translators, to celebrate with the community as the scripture was dedicated. Arilo and the surrounding area is home to the Tennet, a Nilotic people group with an estimated population of 1015,000 who are classified as minimally reached with the Gospel according to the Joshua Project. The Tennet live mostly in South Sudan, although some have been displaced into Kenya and Uganda by war.
Eastern Equatoria State, which hasn’t been serviceable since 2013. On Tuesday, he made the first landing at Arilo Airstrip with 170 kg of Bibles, which also happened to be the first delivery of a brand-new translation in the Tennet language to be received in the community. On Friday, MAF flew nine passengers from SIL to attend dedicate the long-awaited scripture portions picking them up again to Juba the following Monday and Friday.
“The New Testament, which was printed in 2020, but because of Covid-19 we were not able to deliver and dedicate it then. We are doing it now, so the church can begin using it,” SIL Language Programme Manager Paul Otto explained as he prepared to The last week in January was an board the MAF plane in Juba. exciting week for the Gospel in “We will stay for a few days to Arilo. On Monday, pilot Raphael do some training called ‘faith reopened the airstrip in Arilo, comes by hearing’, with the
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church leaders, to teach them how to use it. People who don’t know how to read and write can listen to the scriptures instead.” Translator Osfaldo Cirino was part of the team travelling to attend the celebrations. “We are flying today for the dedication of the scriptures. We expect many people at the celebration from the town there to attend. Also, some neighbours who will come to celebrate with us,” he said.
BIBLE DEDICATION The celebration to dedicate the scriptures took place on Sunday 23 January. The service started with songs and an opening prayer by Rev Peter Lowot. Welcomes were extended to the Bible translators and government officials. Many of those in attendance, SIL’s Richard Malik noted, were
