Megavoice for Kouyas

During my last year in Ivory Coast (1996-1997), I spent a few days at Philip & Heather Saunders’ house in Daloa. There was also an experienced translation consultant and a group of Kouya people. The translation of the final chapters of Luke – the crucifixion and resurrection accounts – were being checked for accuracy and clarity.

Philip and Heather Saunders checking Luke

But there were some problems, although not with the translation. The phone was cut off; Clare, a short termer, became painfully ill; with the house full of people, the plumbing stopped working;  a poisonous snake appeared in the garden – Satan was trying to prevent the Kouya people hearing about the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ in their heart language.

Kouya Gospel of Luke

During my first year home in Belfast, 300 copies the Gospel of Luke in the Kouya language were printed. A member of my church (Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church) paid for the printing in memory of her husband who had been a printer. In autumn 1998 Philip and I returned to the Kouya area in Ivory Coast. Along with Kouya colleagues we visited all 13 Kouya villages distributing the Gospel of Luke.

In 2001 three Kouya men were in the UK for the typesetting of the complete New Testament and took part in a Sunday morning service in Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church.

Members of Kouya translation team in Belfast

In 2002 the Kouya New Testament was completed and printed and arrived in Abidjan port the day after all Wycliffe personnel were evacuated as civil war tore Ivory Coast apart – and the Kouya villages were right in the middle of it.

Ambroise & Didier unload Kouya NTs in Abidjan

Until this day there has been no celebration, no dedication for the Kouya New Testament in Kouya territory. Many people do have copies, but literacy classes have been disrupted and many people have not had the opportunity to learn to read and write their own language.

Barthe & Eugenie reading Kouya NT

Megavoice solar powered MP3 player

Now something is happening to enable those people who can’t read to hear parts of the New Testament. Dramatised readings of Luke and Acts are being put on Megavoice –  solar powered MP3 players. Each Kouya village will receive 3 Megavoice players; listening groups will be formed, and leaders will be trained by Scripture Use specialists. These groups will be the equivalent of Bible study groups that many Christians in the UK and elsewhere are familiar with – except that the Kouya listening group members will be listening to the Megavoice rather than reading the New Testament in their hands.

My church – Saintfield Road Presbyterian Church in Belfast – is celebrating our 50th anniversary this year and we want to share our joy with the Kouya people. So on Sunday last I had the pleasure of introducing the decision of our elders that the proceeds from sales of our 50th anniversary booklet (£5 each) would go to financing Megavoice players (£25 each).

If anyone reading this would like to give a Megavoice to a Kouya village for Christmas, let me know and we’ll work out how you can send your donation.