by Donna Marie Todd

Thanks to the generosity of NOBS members, two storytellers from The Republic of The Gambia in West Africa will be attending The Network of Biblical Storytellers' 2008 Festival Gathering at Simpsonwood Conference Center.

The Reverend Father Pius, a religious missionary priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Banjul, The Gambia and Matilda Johnson, Vice President of The Gambia Christian Council are excited about their visit to the United States for their first Festival Gathering.

Rev. Fr. Pius was posted by Rome to the diocese of Banjul for a six year appointment. A native of Ghana, he belongs to the Congregation of the Holy Spirit commonly called Spiritans in West Africa.

Gambian tellers practice skills learned at a NOBS workshop during a March 2008 mission. Photo by Tracy Radosevic

Mrs. Johnson is very active in the Methodist Church and many charitable and professional organizations. She is the mother of four children and has been very active in child advocacy organizations, currently serving as Vice President of the YMCA of The Gambia. Maltilda is a Chartered Librarian and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Library and Information professionals, (CILIP), UK. She is a gender and peace activist and poet. She co-authored a book of poems entitled The Repeal. Both of these West African storytellers will attend educational workshops on storytelling during the Festival Gathering to acquire new skills in biblical storytelling for their Christian work in The Gambia. In March 2008, 12 NOBS members trraveled to The Gambia for an 11-day mission to share biblical stories in the predominantly Muslim African nation.

 
see also: nobs mission diaries | gambia mission photos