Today we fondly remember Wycliffe worker Mary Gardner, who died in Jerusalem one year ago today, and celebrate the continuing work in Togo.
Mary teaching Greek in Togo
Mary had worked with speakers of the Ifè language, in Togo since 1990, and had been involved with developing a writing system and dictionary, starting literacy classes and preparing materials, and working on the New Testament translation with Togolese mother-tongue translators. In 2009, the New Testament was dedicated.
In the early part of 2011, Mary had travelled to Jerusalem, to The Home for Bible Translators, to study Hebrew. Learning Hebrew was part of her training to become a translation consultant, so that she could support the Ifè translators as they translated the Old Testament. It was on one of her days off when that a bomb exploded at a bus shelter where she was waiting.
We praise God for Mary, for her service and her love for the Ifè people. Her death has not stopped their work.
A Togolese organisation, ACATBLI (The Christian Association for Literacy and Bible Translation in the Ifè Language), runs the work of translation and literacy classes in the area, and progress is being made. Their literacy programmes have flourished: 6 areas are covered (including Ifè people in Benin), making up 100 study groups in which 4,000 people meet twice a week. As well as equipping them to read and write in Ifè, classes teach maths and French (the national language). Increased literacy has helped to share information about health issues, including HIV/Aids and Guinea Worm.
Members of ACATBLI shared this about remembering Mary:
“This March 23, 2012 will be the first anniversary of the death of our dear Mary Gardner Mariya from Ifè project wich becom ACATBLI today. Dear Mariya, ACATBLI and Ifè people will not forget you. Rest your soul.”
You can find out more about Mary from our biography of last year, and more about ACATBLI on their website (fr).
The Ifè are learning to read God’s word in their language. 350 million people still can’t, because they don’t have God’s word in their language. What can I do?
- Go to blog homepage.
- Go to main Wycliffe Bible Translators UK homepage.