Yesterday I spent a few hours out in a village we know very well selling the Scripture portions we have labored over for the past several years. I headed out after having lunch in Kaffrine and picked up a few people on the way to the village who were waiting on rides–one of the people waiting was a friend from our village who was going to sell in the louma herself, so I was able to ask her a bit about how selling works. 

Louma time

When we arrived in the village, with the help of some other friends selling in the market, I set up my table in a place in the shade of a tree. 

Just after setting up

I had for sale our four books plus our 20 booklets. 

Four complete books (l-r Luke-Acts, Psalms, Exodus, Genesis) plus the 18 story books and the 2 primers

Of course immediately I had 20 kids looking at the table–at first they thought I was selling the rulers I had brought to weigh down the booklets so the wind didn’t carry them away! 

I had a good time seeing some old friends and catching up, and also meeting some new folks who go around day by day and sell at different markets. In fact some of those are good connections, because if I go to a village where I am not known but am known to other market sellers, that helps me find my way a bit. 

A friend selling rice, onions, and other food near my table

Selling batteries in the louma

Many people came over wanting to know what I was selling, so I got to explain to a number of folks what the books are, what is in them, how much they are, etc. There were really only a couple of moments that I didn’t have a crowd of adults around the table. During those couple of times I walked around and talked to other folks in the market.

A page from the primer. Clockwise from top left, the Roman script letter, corresponding Arabic script letter, the Arabic script word and the Roman script word with a picture of the word in the center. 

People were very interested in the primers–I sold four of those quickly. They are books that show each Roman script letter, its corresponding Arabic script letter, an example word in both scripts, and an image of the word. As I told people in the market, it won’t teach you either script, but it will help you remember what you’ve learned if you are a bit rusty. Other than that I only sold one booklet, the Creation story. Although I would have loved to sell more, this is not unexpected for the first time out. In coming weeks as I return, I hope to sell more. The highlights were two times that we got into looking into the stories. One time there was a crowd of 10-13 year old boys around the table and I asked who was the best at reading Arabic script. None of the boys wanted to say they could read it well, but one boy volunteered another. He read the first page of the story of the Fall from Genesis 3, and I read the rest of it.

Then shortly after that I was standing in front of the table with a group of about six men and explaining to some new folks what the booklets and the books were. The title of the one I was holding was “God Evicts Adam and Eve from Eden,” and I was showing how the title was the same on both sides, just in different scripts. One of the men asked, “So why did God kick Adam and Eve out of Eden?” I started reading the story out loud dramatically from the Arabic script side. The guys all listened intently, and when I finished reading I started with the questions from Discipleship Bible Study; What did we learn about God? What did we learn about human beings? and If this is from God, how should we change our lives?  We had a good long conversation about the story! This is what we’re after: scripture engagement. I would have loved to sell more books, but really getting into the Scripture stories and what they mean is our goal. 

Looking at a book with a friend (this shot was set up by a village friend!)

At this point I plan on going back to the louma in this village a few more times, and then going to loumas in some other villages and seeing how things go. Keep praying for the books to get into peoples’ hands and hearts! 

Watermelons for sale

Radio repair

Ready-to-wear clothes, underwear, backpacks, lotion, perfume…what else can you see here?