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BI’s Resident Consultant in Chad Called Home  Ouya last year with his six children and a nephew.
God brought Ouya to Bibles International in 2003. His love for the Lord and His Word, his level of education and his linguistic abilities made him a very special answer to our prayers for a Chadian resident consultant. Ouya made an incredible sacrifice in 2005 when he came to the States to receive further education at Bob Jones University. He missed his home and family terribly; yet, he worked very hard to achieve his goal. Since returning home to Chad, he had been providing the on-site attention that our Chadian Scripture projects needed. In spite of all this, God chose to call Ouya home on January 9, 2009.
Ouya’s brother, Mando, who lived in Helibongo (on the other side of the Chari river from Sarh) passed away last week. Evidently he had become mentally disturbed, and the pastor there had sent him by truck to Ouya’s house. Upon arrival there, Mando wandered away and apparently tried to make his way back home. Somehow he drowned crossing the river. It was at least two or three days before Ouya and his family discovered what had happened. In the meantime, someone had found Mando’s body and buried it.
Ouya’s family, including his brothers from around the country of Chad, came to Ouya’s for a time of mourning. On Friday, January 9th, Ouya, one of his brothers, and we believe two other family members attempted to cross the Chari river in a dugout canoe to see where Mando had been buried. The canoe capsized, and the current carried the travelers about 150 meters downstream. All but Ouya managed to struggle to shore. A search was immediately begun but was not successful until late Saturday morning when Ouya’s body was found in the river along with his possessions.
A funeral service was held on Saturday afternoon outside of Ouya’s church in Begou under a makeshift tent and the trees. There were many more in attendance than the building could have accommodated. Many people spoke, including representatives from each ministry in which Ouya had a part. Many expressed concern about where this will leave the translation ministry. After a pastor from the association of churches gave a message, people went to the cemetery. Family members traveled in a large dump truck that carried the casket. Hundreds of others rode bicycles or motorcycles the two or three kilometers to the cemetery. The director of the Bible institute gave an excellent evangelistic message at the graveside, and Ouya’s body was buried Saturday evening. Since then, visitors from all over Chad continue to arrive at the church and at Ouya’s house to express their condolences.
Please continue to pray for Ouya’s family. His wife Cecile has many weighty decisions to make for herself and her six children. We can pray that the family will make wise and prayerful choices.
If you would like to offer your condolences to Cecile, please send them to: Bibles International, 609 36th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546.
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