Along the banks of the Congo River, tributaries wind into the jungle, feeding fish into pools where industrious Ngombe-South speakers gather them to feed their families. These people know how to live in the forest, hunting wild game and gathering edible snails and caterpillars to supplement their diet. They also harvest firewood, rattan vines, and several palm-tree products to use and to take to market plying the river as a thoroughfare. Small gardens provide yams and plantains for household use.
The Ngombe-South people enjoy a good joke, but they also encourage appropriate behavior. When a person transgresses culturally accepted norms, someone composes a song to publically announce the wrongdoer's crime and "reeducate" him toward proper performance. Beneath the harmony among these people hums a drone of fear. For them, all power comes from an initiation to the unseen world. Any dissonance in life requires immediate response to the spiritual cacophony with sacrifices to restore peace.
Soon though, they will have new music and lyrics directed by the Master as the Word comes to them in their mother tongue. Believers will have access to MP3 audio Scripture to share with neighbors and friends. The team expects pastors to use the translated Scripture for teaching and preaching. Because singing is used as an education tool among them already, Ngombe-South speakers can readily compose songs from the translations, publicizing God's Word and internalizing it as they learn the songs.
Scripture Prayers for the Ngombe in Congo, Democratic Republic of.
| Profile Source: Anonymous |
