Linden Warburton: Jo Maybury - Working in Africa

At last Thursday's meeting, President Scott Elliot welcomed Linden Warburton's speaker, Jo Maybury, now a self-employed remedial masseuse living in Hawick with her husband Andy and two sons Sam and Aidan, but whose earlier work along with Andy was as a Wyclife Bible Translator in the Sudan and North Uganda.

Jo's first experience of working in Africa was centred in Khartoum in the Sudan, the climate of which varied between hot, very hot, and very, very hot, with everything covered in a layer of fine dust from the desert! Their work there entailed learning, teaching and writing down five languages and dialects of the Nuba mountain area, where the local population had never seen their language written before. However, with war threatening the Sudan, Jo and family moved to Arua in northern Uganda where they set up a base for the people of northern Uganda, the Congo and south Sudan, translating the New Testament into the local language.  Jo described in fascinating detail the country, its people, including their wonderful staff, and life in general. Members were horrified to learn that a local delicacy comprised fried termites. She also spoke of wild life in the National Park they visited, and the many methods of communication and travel, all well documented with photographs.

After a number of questions, Ron Smith proposed a vote of thanks to Jo for a most interesting, well presented talk.