Day 14 - Orality 

خپله ژبه هم قلا ده هم بلا ده (The tongue is a fortress and a calamity.)  Shameem smiled at Tanya’s appropriate reply.  The beauty of Pashtun proverbs reflects the beauty of the people—poetic and cutting to the quick.  Shameem confided in her neighbor, Tanya, that she had made a slip of the tongue and said something she deeply regretted.  Tanya sensed an opening and used another proverb, په خُلۀ ﻻ اﻻ په زړۀ بلا. (In the mouth is the creed, but in the heart is wickedness.)  Tanya shared with Shameem how we need God’s help in order to have kind thoughts in our hearts, and not just nice words.  

Most Pashtuns are oral communicators.  Oral communicators may be able to read but they can’t really comprehend or use the information they read.  They need to hear important information in appropriate oral forms such as a story, song or proverb in order to remember and use the information.

 The challenge for workers among the Pashtuns is to package and deliver important truths in forms that people can appreciate and remember, so that millions of Pashtuns may not only hear, but also assimilate the good news about fellowship with God through transformational grace.

 

Pray that: 

• Long term workers would be encouraged in the task of language and culture learning. There are at least 25 million Pashtuns but less than 25 expatriate workers who can function well enough to share from the heart.
• Workers would be empowered to use various oral methods of communication.
• Quality, creative resources would be produced, geared to the oral communicator.

 

Mark 4:33-34 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand.  He did not say anything to them without using a parable.