A woman thanks Grace Birnie for her work

On Saturday, April 28, a crowd of nearly 800 people gathered to celebrate the dedication of the Monkollé New Testament. The celebration took place in the village of Pédé in Northern Benin. Guests included representatives of the UEEB Church, SIM, local government, and village leaders.

The program, in typical West African style, featured many speeches, testimonies and singing. The local king of the Monkollé shared that he was now sure that his language would endure because it was in writing!

Grace Birnie, the missionary translation team leader, arrived from home assignment just in time for this important event. Grace, not being a lover of "big events", especially ones centered on her, conceded after the celebrations were over that "it wasn't so bad after all!"

The Monkollé New Testament translation project was completed over 30 years and has been printed in Parakou by Monsieur Pierre, a member of the local French speaking SIM related UEEB Church.

Having this New Testament printed "in country" was only the second time this has been done, and SIM missionaries Grace Birnie (translator) and Lillian Cairns (typesetter) were pleased with Pierre's collaboration.

	People lined up to buy a copy of the New Testament

Two thousand copies of the Monkollé New Testament were printed on this first run, being a good test case for future translations that are coming to completion in Benin. Over 50 copies were sold on the day of the Dedication.

The ceremony was a special time for the small UEEB church community in northern Benin. Please pray that this ceremony and the completed New Testament translation of the God's Word will bring renewed vigor and vision to the Monkollé church.