Following the Treasure Map

A Bible teacher named Jane Johnson once said this to her class about the Bible: “I could simply share with you the treasures I’ve uncovered. But I’d rather give you the treasure map.”

For those of you who have been following our literacy program in Pakistan, you know that giving that map to the Bible's treasures is the goal of our teaching.

Zarish (on the left above) is our director of literacy in Islamabad. She has been faithful in teaching her own classes and in helping new teachers get started in other areas of that city as well. Presently she has 17 students in her basic literacy class.

At another location in Islamabad, Pastor Waris is teaching 20 students in his basic literacy class and anticipates being able to schedule a graduation for these first students to complete the course at his church.

First the students learn the basics of reading and writing in Urdu and they learn some foundational math skills. When they graduate with their literacy certificate - a proud day for them - they are given a large-print Urdu Bible.

They continue to develop their literacy skills by reading word-by-word and verse-by-verse through the New Testament, developing the skills they have until they can read the Bible independently and discover its treasures on their own. Zarish has 19 students in her Bible reading class at this time.

There is a third location in Islambad, taught by Sikendar. We don't have current pictures of his classes, but he is presently teaching 14 students in his basic literacy class and 16 in his Bible reading class.

It's hard work to learn to read and write as an adult. Please pray that our students will persist in their work and rejoice in their successes. And pray for our teachers: Zarish, Waris, and Sikendar.

“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." - Romans 15:4