Sacrifice and Survival
Above: Bernard Asewie, a Chumburung translator in Ghana, poses with his family.
"I say goodbye to my wife and family, not knowing when or if I’ll return,” said Mark Dundaa. As a Bible translator for the Krachi people of Ghana, he would often cross Lake Volta, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes.
Because he could not swim, and boats he traveled on had no life preservers, he feared for his life. Every trip hinged on sacrifice ... and survival.
Bernard Asewie, a Chumburung translator, agreed. “If the boat I travel in strikes a submerged stump and overturns, there is no way I could survive.” Mark, Bernard and other Ghanaian translators still face these travel stresses daily.
In 2005, just weeks prior to leaving on a 10-day survey trip to Ghana, my friend Pete Bowyer and I read a startling headline concerning Lake Volta: Ferry overturns, hundreds missing. Once there, we observed the commercial transportation these teams from The Ghana Institute of Linguistics, Literacy and Bible Translation (GILLBT) must use. Without exception, vessels were dangerously overloaded, and passengers had no access to safety equipment.
For us in JAARS Maritime Services, that was unacceptable. We want to protect, as much as possible, the people who serve in translation projects around this lake and its river systems. These dedicated men deserve the best equipment we can give them.
As a result of our trip, 10 translation team leaders have been trained how to swim and how to help others, too, in case of accident. One hundred twenty life preservers, five EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons), and a Vecta II Radio Direction Finder have been delivered to GILLBT, along with training in the use of this lifesaving equipment.
Also, Maritime Services will soon provide one Pro-Skiff; one wide, stable pontoon boat; and three Porta-Botes, enabling teams to travel to remote locations not served by commercial vessels and in a safe, timely manner.
With God’s help and provision, fears about survival will no longer affect future “goodbyes.”
—John Pepper is the director of JAARS Land Transportation; he also assists Maritime Services.
This story originally appeared in "Water, Wind and Weather," the Fall 2008 issue of Rev. 7.
