MEHANNA ROAD

Jeff W and myself (Mark K) recently returned from the Mehanna Road after working to implement a new teaching/training method for discipleship and evangelism to believers and seekers alike.

The temperatures were in the 120's while we were there with only a slight drop below 90 at night.  Jeff and I were able to spend additional time in KK and T while we slept in tents.  Laoualy and our new friend (and Mehanna Road discipler) Abdraman were our translators and guides during the week.  Both are great and we are excited that Abdraman will be partnering with Laoualy along the road.

The Songhai have an oral culture for learning, teaching and storying.  Many of the Songhai are not literate so oral teaching is the easiest and best way to pass along history and learning.  We were privileged to story to about New Testament passages of Jesus birth, the feeding of the 5000, Jesus walking on water and calming the sea, healing the Gesarene demoniac and the story of the master's banquet invitation.  Believers and  non-believers alike welcomed us graciously with their time and resources.  We were able to meet with believers in all three villages we visited, and if we were unable to locate the believer(s) in the village, we simply approached a group of people and asked if we could story to them.  Each time we were welcomed as honored guests.

We were able to teach the Songhai some songs and found that singing is a great way to draw a crowd (as it putting up or taking down sleeping tents).  We attempted to get everyone to enter into a discussion about the teaching segments and ask questions about the storying and teaching time in an effort to generate discussion for a few reasons: 

1. We want to make sure the teaching is fully understood by everyone.  Asking questions to and from the teacher ensures that everyone comprehends the meaning of the lesson.
2. Additional discussion helps the believers gain confidence in their knowledge of the Bible and will hopefully cause them to generate discussions with friends and family around them about their faith.  We want the believers to be more vocal in their beliefs to share Jesus with others.

Historically, teaching involves listening and then leaving.  No discussion time is included after the teaching to ensure comprehension.  By making interactive storying our new teaching method, we hope to strenghten the believers to share what they've learned with others where they live.