Catechism Distribution in Western Uganda

Runyankore Catechism (image courtesy Jacob Gillard)Much of western Uganda speaks the Runyankore (Runyankole) language. It's just one of the dozens and dozens of languages spoken across Uganda. Runyankore has a translation of the Bible, but little else in terms of Christian literature.  Commissioning a translation project isn't easy for the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda, although they have translated basic songbooks into several languages over the years.  There are, of course, organizations that focus on larger translation projects, like Lutheran Bible Translators, which is the organization Krista's parents worked with in Liberia translating the Bible into the Krahn language.  Another such organization is Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), which according to their mission statement, "translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven."  Runyankore Catechism (image courtesy Jacob Gillard)LHF took up a project to translate Martin Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation into this Runyankore language.  The translation project was sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran Church of Chicago Heights, IL.  The 1st edition of the translation was completed in November of 2008 and this month the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda was provided 500 catechisms to distribute through their Runyankore-speaking churches.  So on Sunday afternoon of this week, we traveled to the western part of Uganda to distribute these new catechisms into the eager and waiting hands of hundreds of Lutherans. 

With 500 catechisms to carry and many people wanting to be a part, we took both my truck and fellow missionary Rev. Jacob Gillard's truck.  Our expedition included:

• Ugandan Pastor Rev. Charles Bameka - Senior Pastor in the Lutheran Church Mission in Uganda
• Missionary Rev. Jacob Gillard - my fellow LCMS World Mission missionary here in Uganda
• Missionary Rev. Justin Kane - passing through Uganda on his way to teach at the Lutheran Seminary in Sudan
• Ugandan Vicar Samuel Ogwang - serving his vicarage in the Runyankore-speaking area
• Ugandan Vicar Jerome Wamala - Vicar to Kampala Lutheran Church, native Runyankore speaker
• Missionary Vicar Shauen Trump - myself, not a native Runyankore speaker
• Ugandan Seminarian Frank Kainerugaba - native Runyankore speaker
• Fred Magezi - SouthWest Region Representative on the LCMU Board of Directors
• Moses Ahimbisibwe- TEE student, native Runyankore speaker
• Robert Baingana - TEE student, native Runyankore speaker
• Missionary Alec Fisher - short-term missionary who had spent 2 weeks in the area last month

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, KemihokoThe main focus of the journey was to put catechisms into the hands of God's people.  At each location we had introductions, provided some information on this basic instruction book for the Christian faith, and had a dedication of the catechisms in the hands of the people. We challenged them to use the catechism as a devotional book, to use it to teach their children and themselves, to look to it for answers to questions of the faith, and to use it for Bible Study before worship.  At one congregation I asked how many members had a Bible in their own language.  Only the lay leader of that congregation owned a Bible.  So for that whole congregation, Luther's Small Catechism with Explanation (which contains a considerable amount of Scripture) puts into their hands for the first time at least some parts of Scripture in their own language.

Monday:

• Grace Lutheran Church, Mbarara, whose building was dedicated two months ago
• Trinity Lutheran Church in Ibanda, whose building was dedicated in March 2009
• Besania (Bethany) Lutheran Church in Kinyamugara, up a harrowing road to the high plateau
• Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Kemihoko
• Immanuel Lutheran Church in IshongororoKazo I Lutheran Church w/ Their New Catechisms

Tuesday:

• Kazo I Lutheran Church
• Kazo II Lutheran Church
• Buremba (Bulemba) Mushambya Lutheran Church

Wednesday:

• Mabale Lutheran Church
• Miyola Lutheran Church
• Returning to Kampala via the Fort Portal Road

Kazo II Lutheran Church w/ Their New CatechismsAnd we handed out all 500 catechisms.  There is a small reserve remaining in a couple of the larger congregations and our first two congregations in the cities of Mbarara and Ibanda did not have the worshiping community present so the catechisms were entrusted to their Boards and leaders for distribution that Sunday.  Most of the congregations prepared food for us so we ate a good 4 or 5 meals on Monday and Tuesday - yummy!  Shauen Blessing the Catechisms at Mabale Lutheran Church (image courtesy of Jacob Gillard)With the exceptions of the road to Mbarara and from there to Ibanda, we were on murram (packed dirt / laterite) roads or small tracks or no roads at all until we finished on Wednesday afternoon and returned to Kampala via the Fort Portal road.  All told, it was over 900km of journeying and I was completely exhausted by the time we got back.  But it was an exhaustion that was well worth it.  Praise the Lord for the good work he has done through Lutheran Heritage Foundation!  And if you feel that catechism translation - providing that basic instruction book of the Christian faith - is something you'd like to take on, Lutheran Heritage Foundation is looking for sponsors for their next two catechism translation projects in Uganda: Acholi and Alur.  If you print them, I would be honored to be able to share them with God's people - and you should come along for the ride too!  -Shauen