Monday 20th October

After a good nights sleep, we set off for some of the local translation departments. A short walk brought us to the SWP Production Office, where we joined Morning Prayer, and met some of the team who support the translation groups around Khartoum. We were also introduced to the library, where all the published works are kept. We saw simple reading books, arithmetic books and story books in a number of languages. There were also a growing number of translations of certain books of the Bible.

Elizabeth explained to us that the first books translated are often Ruth and Jonah, as they have strong links to Sudanese life. When the New Testament is published in a new language, they also try to include the whole of Genesis and the first 25 chapters of Exodus.

We moved on to the offices where the Catholic translations are taking place, where we sat in on two sessions where translations were being checked - one of 1 Corrinthians and the other of Genesis. The translation is "back translated" into English, which is then sent to a Language Consultant, who spends about six weeks reviewing it. He or she makes a lot of comments and suggestions, and sends this back to the original team. A while later, the consultant visits and spends a few weeks going through the translation verse by verse, to ensure a correct translation is achieved.

A short walk later brought us to the Bible Society. We spent a few minutes here, but the electricity was off, and the heat was oppressive. By this time, Fiona was suffering the very hot temperatures and high humidity, and so went back to Elizabeth's house for a rest. Stan and Phil set off with Elizabeth for the ECS offices in Omdurman.

We then met many people. The most memorable of these was Fajak, who is from the Tira group in Sudan. Fajak had a wonderful story, having been converted from the local traditional African religion to Christianity in a dream, and later had a vision that told him he would become involved in Bible translation. He became a real irritant to foreign Bible translators, and eventually they offered him an afternoon session each week. The first Thursday, Fajak attended. The following week he brought a friend. Some time later, this group was being attended by 60 different language groups!

We now met Samir who invited us to breakfast. There is a ritual here. First we went and washed our hands, being sure to leave the washroom with our right hand wet. At this point Elizabeth introduced us to Is Hag, but since our hands were now clean, we could not shake hands. We offered our wrists, and these were "shaken". During our meal of ful beans, cheese and spices, we were only supposed to use our right hands. We had to break the bread, and then dip into the communal pot. Breakfast is usually eaten at about 10-11:00 am, with lunch around 4:00pm and dinner at 9:00pm.

After breakfast we sat with Samir for a while, before distributing St Mary's Church diaries to the pastors working at ECS. We then walked across the yard to deliver a letter to Bishop Bulus, who was in his office, and welcomed us in. Bishop Bulus has just retired, but is still working until a new Bishop is enthroned next month. As yet, the new Bishop has not been chosen (Update: Bishop Ezekial Kondo was consecrated as Bishop on the 30th of November). There is a small team of three lay people and three ordained pastors who have to draw up a short list. An emergency meeting of Synod will then choose the new Bishop.

We caught the bus back to Mogran, where we went to the ECS provincial offices, at the ECS Guest House. Here we met a number of people, including Amoko, a local pastor, and briefly met the Revd Enoch Tombe (former General Secrectary of SCC) to whom we passed on many letters and a pair of shoes from Macolm Grundy for delivery.

We then walked back to Elizabeth's house for a welcome shower and a rest. We were due to visit a literacy project on the edge of Khartoum, and Abdu arrived to take us there. While we were preparing to leave, Richard arrived with Phil and Stan's passports - we are now legally allowed to stay in Sudan, and he also had our photography permits.

The journey to the literacy project was an experience in its own right. First we took a bus into the centre of the capital. Then Abdu chose a small hafla, or towner - a car that can hold about six passengers. Unfortunately the engine would not start. There followed some repairs, accompanied by a strong smell of petrol. When these did not work, we were pushed - straight towards a lady stall holder. Just before we hit her, the car started, and we were able to manoeuvre around her. We then were driven for about thirty minutes towards the edge of the city. I am not sure exactly where we ended up, but this is probably just as well. At any rate, we then transferred to a donkey cart, which took us over rutted tracks among mud brick buildings, to a compound where the literacy project took place.

We now saw several classes take place - some teaching English, others teaching the local language of the people. We stayed for one and a half periods, but they run three such periods each evening, and must teach several hundred pupils of all ages during this time. These classes are also a good opportunity to teach about basic healthcare, and it is hoped that local folk stories will be written up for use as reading materials in the future.

While we were there, we were taken next door to see a latrine pit, that had just been dug. This is dug by hand, yet is about 2 metres by 1, with a depth of 15 metres. It will be covered with concrete, and will support an extended family of about thirty.

Walking back through the dark to the main road to catch the bus back to the city, we came across an open area that we asked about. Apparently this was occupied by lepers, but had been cleared out some time ago. Abdu did not know what had happened to these people.

Tomorrow we plan to travel to Wad Medani, which is about 100kms from Khartoum, up the Blue Nile.