Nabay cannot be described as a village, but is a little encampment in scrubland along the migratory path of the nomadic Morosi people. The word Nabay is the name of a little river course, which is dry for most of the year, but where the Morosi can find some pasture for their animals as they traverse the land each year on their traditional migratory route. On the 4th of March, Somu, the Central African missionary to the Morosi guided us to Nabay. He wanted us to meet the Morosi people and to see the well, which had been dug for them. Finding water had not been easy and the drilling company had been forced to drill to a depth of 65 metres to find a good permanent water table. There had not been a drop of rain at Nabay since the end of October.
Nabay lies some 12 km off the main road and we followed a little dusty track through the scrubby trees until we came to the well. The well had been surrounded by a stockade made of branches to protect it from being trampled by the animals and in front of this stockade Somu had constructed a crude cross of two branches. He wanted everyone to know the people of Isa (Jesus) had provided the well for the glory of God.
There were a number of Morosi people there including a clan chief and many of his clan members. We sensed the excitement of the Morosi as they welcomed us and posed for pictures pumping the crystal clear water. Men stopped to have a drink and waited while their ladies filled their calabashes or plastic jerry cans. The animals were carefully controlled and allowed to the trough to quench their thirst. A prize horse was given special treatment — a large bowl of refreshing water all of his own. We too drank, enjoying the clear, cool water in this hot, arid land.
It was very clear that Somu is held in enormous respect by these nomadic people and he treats each of them with dignity and honour. Though he is of a different tribe, he has learnt their language, walked hundreds of miles with them as they migrate through the parched land, and shared their hardship as they have looked for water. He has seen them face sickness and felt their sense of hurt as they have seen their animals stolen. He has known the stigma of being identified with these nomadic pastoralists who are often despised and maltreated as they traverse the territories of other people groups along their migratory path. He has sensed their frustration at always having to ask for water from the wells of other tribes and communities.
Christians in several countries have provided the considerable sum of money needed to drill the well — a Korean church in the USA, friends in Northern Ireland as well as other individual Christians who have taken to heart to pray for the Morosi people. I wish that each one of them were able to share the moving experience of seeing the Morosi with their own well. The clan elders told us this was the first well that has ever been given to the Morosi — it was a significant moment in their history. In fact when the word spread along the nomadic grapevine, a man from Nigeria came to see with his own eyes ‘our Morosi well’.
Somu and his wife were members of the second class of students at the Missionary Training Centre in 1995. Somu himself is a member of the Kneng people and as a young boy was enrolled in a Koranic school, but in 1979 he heard the Gospel and opened his heart to the Saviour. Almost immediately he sensed the call of God on his life after a period of training, he was appointed to the Kneng Bible Translation committee working on providing the scriptures for his own people., Valued as he was, it was soon recognised that Somu had a burden for evangelism and was especially drawn to nomadic people. He was released from the Translation committee and even before his studies were completed had established a meaningful contact and ministry with the Morosi. The thrilling account of the conversion of the first Somu and the baptism of one of their clan leaders has been well documented. Somu and his wife have made enormous and generous sacrifices in continuing this work and today Somu believes that about 150 Morosi are seeking to follow the Lord. 5 have so far have been baptised and one young believer is studying in a small Bible school in a neighbouring central African country, which uses a related language. This young man’s brother has been taught to read by Somu and recently attended a church leaders’ seminar. The cross that Somu erected by the first Morosi well is a great symbol. and visual aid. Somu explained, “I point to the cross and tell them that the people of Isa (Jesus) provided this well for the Morosi people but no person of whatever tribe who is thirsty will ever be denied life giving water.” With joy the Morosi are drawing water from the well at Nabay. Join with us in praising God and pray that this well may be protected and provide water for a very long time. Pray too for the ministry of Somu and he and his wife speak of the living water that is a spring welling up to eternal life among the Morosi of Central Africa.
- Source: AIM – Peter Maclure
- Present on this visit were Dr Jean Marcus (AIM),
- Pastor Paul Gakere (President of SMEET – the Chadian Missionary Society)
- Steve Banks working with (Entente – Chadian Fellowship of Churches)
- All names and places have been changed.