Amazingly unbelievable...

Dear friends and family,

first of all, I apologize for not putting the directions on bcc. It's my duty, but I was in a hurry and forgot. I'll try not to do that again. I really value your privacy.

Now for the news!!

I am so excited! I've got very good news. Well, as some of you know, the EG visa didn't work out, so we had to look for a plan B. These last days Scott and I have been talking to several people, and it seems there is a couple who were in contact with a pastor from a people group called sò [sɔ]. A few years ago he came to SIL and told them the need of his people group (about 20 villages, many thousands of speakers) for the Bible in their language. So far there has only been a small word list written by his uncle, a learned man, but in French orthography (not IPA), and very limited. So today we talked to this couple of SIL who know the pastor, and the man (Dave) called the pastor, who lives in Yaundé, the capital. The pastor's name is Ossimba (easy to remember), and he was at CTC in a shot!! So we all sat down on some chairs and talked: Ossimba, Dave (the contact), Scott and myself. Ossimba told us his story. He's a very learned man, a teacher of profession, and he told us (in French) "I would look at the Bible in French and read to them in So." This and other things he said were so touching.

The methodology is to start with a 1800-word list. My job would be a bit what we did with the Fa d'Ambu in the subject of "Learning a second language": with no grammar, I'd be writing down nouns, verbs, etc., in the So language in IPA, so I thank Andrew (second language) and Scott (phonetics) for giving me the needed elements to do this. :)

There is one final step before going to the village, which is about two hours away from Yaundé: about 1 hour and a half on an acceptable paved road to another city, and then about 40 minutes to the village, no guarantee about the road. Oh, the final step: To get the final approval of the Linguistics Director (something like this), but it's a formality, and it's pretty sure.

Praise the Lord!!! He has found me a way. He has provided for Ossimba, who has been praying for something like this for years. I'd tell you more (much more), but I've been invited for supper to the Smiths. I may be leaving on Friday noon to the village! Pray that things may work out. :)

God bless!
Love in Christ,

Ricard