Meet...Nick and Lynne

Nick and Lynne Swanepoel are an amazing couple who have been working with the Rendille tribe in Korr for over 30 years. They first arrived here from South Africa with their young family at the time of the big East African famine of the 1980s. They came to do Bible translation but soon became involved in the distribution of food aid and animal restocking programmes. Doing this valuable work cemented in Nick and Lynne a deep love for the Rendille people and enabled them to win their trust (at first local people used to throw stones at them because many had never seen white people!).

Since then they have learned the language and developed it in written form for the first time. Nick works alongside two Rendille men in translating the Bible. So far they have translated most all of the New Testament books of the Bible and much of the Old. The Bible is the word of God, vital for showing all people what they are like, who God is and how he loves all people so much that he sent his son, Jesus, to earth to die, so that everyone who believes in him shall have eternal life. Having the Bible in their own language enables people to discover this for themselves and learn more about God’s character, his purposes and how we are to live in light of his great love and mercy.

But of course, to use the Bible folks need to read. And that is why Nick and Lynne also set up adult education progrmmes. A team of local people run adult classes in literacy, basic health, numeracy and animal care in the go’obs (villages). There are also go’ob nursery classes.

The translation, literacy, nurseries, primary schools and the secondary school where I teach are all part of the local church’s ‘Tirrim Project’. Tirrim is the Rendille word for the centre post in a min (traditional Rendille hut) that holds the house up and keeps it from blowing away. In the Bible Jesus is described as being the Tirrim, or cornerstone. The Project is so called because Jesus is at the centre of the work in Korr.

God has used Nick and Lynne wonderfully in Korr. They have witnessed many lives changed, both materially and spiritually. They no longer have stones thrown at them. Now they are honoured by the community. Though still poor, the Rendille Christians are rich in faith and love for the Lord. On Sundays the growing church is full and is led by local men. Many of the church leaders, translators and school teachers went to Tirrim schools or had school fees paid by the Project and it is great to see them seeking to serve God by helping others in their community.

It is a privilege to have got to know the Swanepoels, serve alongside them and be a small part of the work that God is doing through them in Korr. They have looked after me and welcomed me into their family. I spent Christmas with them, their son and daughter-in-law and four grandchildren (who are also missionaries in northern Kenya) and I have loved hearing their own (often humorous) stories of God’s love, sustenance and guidance.