A Hunger and a Thirst

October 2014 was a very special month for the Dagaaba people of Ghana. Why? Because it is the month that the Dagaare New Testament was published by the Bible Society of Ghana. Up to this point, there was no printed Bible in the language of the people with whom I work. The Bible was read in English and then interpreted into Dagaare. Many of the people of my church are illiterate. Some are not. There is a hunger and a thirst for God's Word, especially among the younger people of the church. Josbeth, pictured above is a quiet person, not loud spoken at all. A year ago, when asked to read English in church, he would read haltingly, not sure of himself at all. He would read the shorter passages for the worship services. Now, Josbeth comes to church and volunteers to read even the long passages in Dagaare, reading with conviction, as if he really believes what he reads. 

This is Comfort and Samuel. Samuel has been teaching all those who want to learn to read Dagaare and those who can read, but want to read better. Samuel is a church leader and Comfort herself will be a leader some day. Comfort attends Bible study and our English/Dagaare reading classes. She, too, has a hunger and thirst for God's Word. Samuel is hesitant to assign people to read during the services because he wants people to volunteer to read because they have a desire in their heart to serve God in this way.

These two boys are Wisdom (grade 5) and Godfred (grade 6). They walk from their village about a half hour away to attend worship services and when they are able, English/Dagaare reading classes. Wisdom often leads devotions at his school, giving the message. He wants to be a pastor when he grows up. They both have shown that they are hungering and thirsting for the Word of God. The day this picture was taken, they sat under the nymn tree and read the Scriptures aloud for 20 minutes before the service started.

It has been such a blessing to watch these young people grow not only in their ability to read, but in their desire to know the Word of God. New Testaments are made available to those who attend classes and take their turn reading in church during the services. For others of the church, they are made available at a reduced cost. Pray that God's Word would be planted in hearts and that someday, these young people would make a difference in their community and beyond!

A New Opportunity

 

In 2013, an Early Grade Reading Assessment (EGRA) was done here in Ghana. Eight thousand (8,000) second grade students from all over the country were assessed. Both English reading skills and the local language reading skills were tested. (English is the national language.) The results were unbelievable! Overall, not one student could read a primary two level story, 50% could not read a single word of the story, 44% were struggling readers - reading less than 10 words a minute, 4% were able to read with SOME understanding, only 2% could read fluently and understand what they read.

 

Literacy in the local language scored even lower. 86% of the Dagaare speaking students could not read a single word of Dagaare. 10% were struggling readers. 4% were able to read with some understanding. No one could read Dagaare fluently and understand what they read.

 

 

So, as an elementary education teacher, one who has taught reading in the past, the very distant past, I have started to go to the Kindergarten class last week. (There are six more weeks of school this year.) I wanted to evaluate what the children knew. So, I started with letter recognition. The highest score was 10 (ten) out of 26, the lowest was 0 (zero) out of 26. Both of these students were in the KG 2 class...they have completed almost two years of school! (You must keep in mind, most of the parents are illiterate.)

 

For the remainder of this school year, I will work with the Kindergarten students. In September, when the new school year starts, I will work with the lower grades and start reading clubs for the upper grades. And, I will watch and listen to see what God has in store for me! (I will still be taking care of the Kalsagri church, I am not leaving that!)