What are your christmas plans?

To my Dear Young friends:
Well, Christmas kind of snuck up on me this year. People have been asking: "What are your Christmas plans?" But I was just living day to day, in the midst of a move and a serious conflict with threats to my life. In my new little temporary apartment I put up a Christmas tree and a little nativity scene. The lights on the little tree did their best to cheer me up, but I knew it would be a hard holiday season. In fact, those lights just seemed to be a mockery, reminding me of much more joyful Christmases, long ago and far away. So here it is today, Christmas Eve, and it finds me the only one the 100 missionaries who work in this compound, coming in to work in my office. Strange feeling, to see it empty like this, and all of my coworkers and friends celebrating, but I'm here, working, or trying to. In fact today's job is to organize my storage area (a little cubicle I rent on the compound), and to put many things which I need to store there, things from my move which have been piled in the office. A task I've been putting off for several days now. Somehow it seems so daunting to face the accumulated clutter, which seems like debris from a shipwreck: old equipment no longer functioning (why I am keeping it?), obsolete things, old broken car parts, and the like. Broken, tired, worn out . . . like me? As I came in this morning, I noticed at the gate of the compound a Cameroonian guy named Patrick. He washes the cars for the missionaries, and gets a little money that way for his family and four kids. He doesn't do all that good of a job, but I often have him wash my car anyway, and have for years. You see, Patrick is blind, and he is as poor as they come, with a wife and four kids in a little rented room somewhere nearby. There aren't enough missionaries who have cars to give him a good living by washing cars, but that is all he has. Now I was surprised to see Patrick, because there are no missionaries coming in to work today, and there are no cars in the parking lot, other than my own now that I had arrived. And I asked him why he came. He said that it was Christmas Eve, and he needed to get some gifts for his children. "Every year they see the other kids in the neighborhood with little toys, and they've never gotten any, and so they've really been upset this year." Now the toys Patrick was talking about were the very inexpensive Chinese toys, the kind sold in dollar stores perhaps. And most kids in the city get one or two, with maybe a soft drink or candy. No much, but I'm sure it seems important if all the other kids have something, and you don't. So I offered to let Patrick wash my car, and when he was done, I paid him extra. But then, as I was cleaning out my storage, I found a whole box of little toys which had been sent me over a year ago. We gave out many of these toys last Christmas, but we kept some to use as prizes for the kids' club in the village. But they weren't all used up, here was a box of them, used toys of all kinds from America! With a lot of love, the people in a small country church had gathered all the toys they could and sent them to me for me to give out as I do children's evangelism. I had forgotten about this box, so I called Patrick over and gave him the box. It was a big box, and heavy, with gifts for perhaps two or three Christmases to come for his four kids. How surprised Patrick was, and he said: "This will be a Christmas for the kids to remember, and we'll save some for next year and beyond! The kids won't be ashamed this time when the see the other kids in the neighborhood!" So, I guess this is not such a bad Christmas after all. So many, like myself sometimes, think that we have nothing to give that could be appreciated. But, we forget that God is still at work, and in that pile of broken and obsolete things there may still be a box of toys for kids who have never had a toy on Christmas. Well, I've got to go, but Merry Christmas everyone! My thoughts and love go out to you today and on the new year! Emmanuel means "God is with us." and so we really have something to celebrate, whatever our situation. Merry Christmas, and God bless you, --Dan

In the village, feeling better.

J short note as I head back to the village, after a few days' visit to the capital city of Yaounde. I'm doing well, although my illness came back, with an even worse kidney infection than before. Now, I've been on a better treatment, and I am mostly cured, thank God. However, I have to keep coming in to the clinic for regular evaluation for a while, so I'll only be back in the village for a week.

God is doing a lot of great things here. Two weeks ago, some of the local volunteers for the Kwasio language work discovered two different collections of hand-written hymn texts. We have been hoping to find old hymns in Kwasio which could really express some of the lost zeal which the first Kwasio Christians experienced back in the 1910's to the 1930's. We have been working to find these old hymns for the last two years, and He had collected about a dozen of them. Now we have found about 5,000 of them! So that is a great blessing.

Thanks for your prayers. I hope to write more soon. God bless you, --Dan

Kid's Club in Kwasio

To my dear young friends:
I guess many of you are home for your summer break. It is great to have a change, isn't it? I hope you are having fun with your summer. I've been having a great time out in the village of Lolodorf. I even went fishing two weeks ago and caught a small catfish!
I've been here in Cameroon since early spring, and now it is summer. It sure was good to be back in my village house after almost 11 months away. We had two months of meetings (March and April), and then I was able to be in the village for the last few weeks. These weeks have been the best weeks I've had so far out in Lolodorf.

It seems like, suddenly, I woke up and could understand and speak Kwasio! After over two years of trying to learn it, and feeling like a failure, these last few weeks I've just been speaking. It all changed when I started teaching Bible stories once a week to the kids in my neighborhood. I decided I would teach, using my flannelgraph, and only speaking Kwasio. The first time I tried, I really muddled through it. I told the kids (about 30 of them):
"I'm just trying to learn Kwasio, will you help me?" And then I held up the first flannel image, and asked "gi gi na?" ("what's this?").
They volunteered finally "bial" (a boat) and we got off the ground. About 20 adult passers-by gathered to help with their comments and suggestions. After the story, two different kids came up and retold the story with the flannelgraph, in much better Kwasio. It was the story of Jesus walking on the water, and Peter going out to him but starting to sink. I certainly felt like I was stepping out of my comfort zone.
Now I've taught four times, and I find that I can understand much of what people say to me, and I can say most of what I want to say, as long as it is very simple. So, it has gotten a lot funner.

I'll be in Europe for a summer school from June 19 to July 19. This is part of my studies in African linguistics with Leiden University in the Netherlands, although the class will be in Lyon, France. Thanks so much for your prayers and support. Have a great summer!
God bless you all, both young and young at heart! --Dan

I arrived here safely (March 13)

To my dear young friends:

Greetings from Cameroon! I arrived here safely a week ago (March 13). I’ve been busy getting set up and adjusted. Tomorrow (March 21), I hope to head out for the village.

Things are calm here in Cameroon. Thanks for your prayers. The unrest which I had heard about was serious, but it only lasted a week. It seems like everything is back to normal here, thank God.



I had 10 days in Europe on the way over. I spent a week in Leiden, Netherlands, and worked on my research plan with my supervisor, Dr. Maarten Mous. My dissertation is now planned out, chapter by chapter, and the time-table is set for when things should be done. This is a big step forward, and I feel really relieved. If all goes well, in three years I’ll have the thesis written. The two languages which I’m working with—Kwasio and Bagyeli—will be documented and described. This is important not only for my doctoral research, but for the translation project as well.



I was able to visit some friends in Switzerland for two nights, and to spend a couple of nights in Paris. I was in Paris on a Sunday, so I was able to worship at the Notre Dame Cathedral. That was an uplift that I really needed. It seems that I have worries and concerns on three continents, and so I need to look to the Lord more than ever.



Please pray for Daniel Sitamon. He is the son of my co-worker among the Bayaka Pygmies, Jerome Sitamon. He has been having some discouraging problems at school.

Keeping in touch: now you can call me anytime on my Cameroonian cell phone: 011-237-7793-6200

Check out the new blogsite: http://danchroniclesonline.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much for your prayers. Let’s keep in touch! In Christ, --Dan

My Return to Cameroon

To my dear young friends:

Praise God with me, since the way has been opened for me to return to Cameroon, and I'm heading out in less than two weeks (Monday, March 3, 2008). I know that many of you expressed your concern and held me up before the Lord when you learned that my return to Cameroon might be delayed due to increased support needs. I myself was very discouraged back in December, wondering how everything could come together in time for my planned March departure. God has really been gracious in response to the prayers of many, and my support has increased to nearly 100%, and I was able to send funds back to Cameroon to cover earlier shortfalls. This is all a great encouragement to me. I want to thank each one of you who have stood with me over the years and during these recent concerns.

On my way to Cameroon I will stop by in Europe for several days. I will meet with my supervisor to work out a plan for my PhD research at Leiden University in the Netherlands. There is also a conference on the grammar of Bantu languages (such as Kwasio which I am studying), and I will be able to attend that while I'm there in Leiden. I'll also see some friends in Switzerland before continuing on to Cameroon. I really praise God that for all of my stay in Europe I'll have either friends putting me up, or be able to stay in missionary guesthouses.

I should be in Cameroon for the next three years or so, Lord willing.

God bless you all,

--Dan Duke

P.S. Starting a week ago (last Saturday), Cameroon has been embroiled in civil unrest. I am hoping that things will calm down over the ten days that I will be in Europe. I don't actually arrive in Europe until March 13, so hopefully I'll be able to get back to Cameroon and get back to work. Pray the country and the people. Thanks, --Dan

Back Home in Indiana

Back Home Again in Indiana

“Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast….”
— 1 Chronicles 4:10

What a blessing it is to be home for the holidays! I came home in May this year for a summer visit. I came back to spend time with family and find the strength that I need, and now the time has been extended and become the “Brothers, pray for us” tour. The tour has been good: thousands of miles of travel, with dozens of meetings and presentations in homes and churches. The focus has been to bring the needs of the Kwasio people up for prayer, and the response has been good. Now I’m ready to go back to Africa, and I’m asking for prayer for God to open the door of my return.

These last two years in Cameroon have been some of the most productive and trying times that I’ve ever had. I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire over there, and I’m thankful for all of them. But I’ve been so busy that I lost track of many of you, family, friends, and partners in this ministry. I hope that during the time I have left, I can get back that connection with as many people as possible who have this ministry in their hearts

Kwasio Congress: A good start and continuing

Kwasio speakers include 4 different tribes spread out in 3 different countries: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Separated for over 100 years, the Kwasio of different countries have lost almost all contact with each other, although they still do speak the same language! Last December, we made history by calling these diverse groups together for the first time. The Kwasio congress united 300 delegates from three out of the four scattered Kwasio dialects. They met together for 4 days and formed translation and language committees. These committees have blossomed into over 20 sub-committees who are currently at work gathering words for a future dictionary. They have also been gathering up hand-written attempts at Bible translation.
Due to their work, we now have a photocopy of the best rough draft of the entire Bible in Kwasio. This manuscript was in danger of being eaten by mice, but now it is ready for us to use.

These are exciting times for the Kwasio community, and I love the privilege of being there to be part of what God is doing. God has brought young and old together for Bible translation! Even while I am still learning the language, men are discussing complex theological issues with each other. They realize their need for the Bible and the urgency is growing. Today, there is a renewed interest in old hymns translated and sung in Kwasio. The people are rediscovering the theology of hymns such as “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” Also, they are getting excited about their own language again. One young man is researching the meanings of old Kwasio place names. A mature leader is working on genealogies.

We now have over 20 local groups who meet regularly to gather words for a future dictionary in Kwasio. Even the mayor of Lolodorf meets with one of these groups. That’s why we are hoping to create a village computer center. The people need some place they can come and enter the language data which they have collected. We need to strike while the iron is hot!

Exciting New Ministry Possibilities

•--Peter and Sharon Langeveld have begun work on the Batanga language, which is in the same cluster as Kwasio (Coastal Bantu Cluster).
Prayer:
•--Need for additional financial partners so that Dan may return to the field by March 4, 2008.
•--Need for prayer partners and advocates to help in the process of partnership development.
•--Dr. Mbambo and the Kwasio congress as they try to mobilize the people for Bible translation work.
•--That the Christmas message may reach the Kwasio people.
•--Refugees throughout the world, especially the 25,000 Fulani refugees who recently crossed over into Cameroon from Central African Republic.
Praises:
•--Greatly increased ministry field among the Kwasio and beyond!
•--Open doors to minister in top levels of the academic world.
•--Encouragement I’ve received this summer and fall, especially from my home church and denomination.
•--Wonderful time at home reconnecting with family and partners.
•--Complete Bible rough draft in Kwasio ready for data-entry!
•--20 local Kwasio volunteer committees collecting words for a dictionary!
•--Kwasio volunteer Severin Nouangama has enrolled in a 4-year degree program to learn to be a Bible translator.

Proposed Village Computer Center for Data Entry

Can you have too much of a good thing? We have thousands of pages of hand written scripture and note books of words collected for the new Kwasio dictionary, but all of it is waiting to be entered into computers for analysis and editing. With today’s powerful computer software, we can take a text which is full of errors and very quickly correct most of them. We currently have the entire Bible in Kwasio. It is a hand-written document, the life time’s work of one elderly priest, Father Nicodemus Bouh. He says,

“I just did it because I loved the Kwasio people and always wished they had a Bible. I know it needs a lot more work. I didn’t have the training or resources that I needed to do it right. I thank God that the Kwasio Congress has picked it up.”

The special project will provide monthly rent for a computer center with a small operating budget and resources for transporting Kwasio volunteers. Along with that, we are looking for donation of used computers. Special gifts to that should be labeled “For the Daniel Duke Kwasio project.”

American Contact: Dan Duke 3616 Minger Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46222 (317) 293-2553

African Contact: Dan Duke, SIL B.P. 1299 Yaounde, Cameroon Africa 011-237-7793-6200

Financial Contact: Wycliffe Bible Translators P.O. Box 628200 Orlando, FL 32862-8200 1-800-WYCLIFFE http://www.wycliffe.org/

E-mail Contact: Daniel_Duke@sil.org (sign up to receive the e-mail newsletter)