The T'ara people are extremely isolated, living up in the mountains in southern Ethiopia far away from any other peoples. They are at least a two-day walk from Me'en territory, and the closest village is some twelve hours away by foot.

The T'ara were "discovered" not too many years ago, at which time their diet consisted of berries and honey. Of their total tribal members, only eight of them speak the national language, Amharic.

When we helicoptered into T'ara territory in June of last year, I spent some time teaching them and as well as learning a bit more about them. I learned that approximately fifty percent of them speak the Wolayta language, a major language in central Ethiopia into which the Bible has already been translated. When I asked the T'ara whether they would like elementary Bible materials in their own language, they broke out in applause.

Our strategy was to translate the chronological presentation of the Gospel into Wolayta, after which it could be translated into T'ara.

Since January of this year, a brother in Christ whose mother tongue is Wolayta, has finished the first twenty lessons of the chronological teaching. I was able to edit the lessons, print out a master copy, and have fifteen copies made of all of the first twenty lessons.

Just two weeks ago or so, we helicoptered back into T'ara country and taught for three days. We were able to finish the teaching of the first thirteen lessons, giving out the books written in Wolayta to those who were able to speak and read (even if only haltingly) the Wolayta language.

The T'ara were very excited about having the books and the possibility of having the lessons in their own language. I told them that if they were to translate, I would take their work, type it into a computer, and send the translation back to them via helicopter.

Shortly thereafter, a few of the young men who have been to school began to translate the first booklet into their own language. They worked through the afternoon and some into the night via candle light, and the next morning, they presented to me their work. They were tired, yet exuberant!

After we had finished our teaching and arrived back to Tikempt Ishet (just a twenty minute ride by helicopter), I typed the first lesson into the computer and printed it out. Before Markus, the helicopter pilot, left to return to his home base, I gave him the very first T'ara book to be dropped off to the T'ara on his way home.

I would have loved to have seen their faces when they first received the book. We are planning, however, to return to T'ara territory in some two months in order to continue our teaching, God willing. It is hoped that the young men will have finished translating the other lessons which we left with them.

The T'ara are already talking about taking these lessons to their people who are scattered far and wide throughout their mountains. It is a great blessing for you and me to be just a small part of bringing the Gospel and these elementary Bible materials to the T'ara people.

Pray

Pray that God will do mighty things through the T'ara people as they study his word and begin to worship him.