A few people have made an amazing investment into the lives of the Koti people. Their contributions have been essential to the retention and development of Koti culture. One vital ingredient is language, and for about 12 years Chris and Ada Lyndon gave themselves to the task of putting the Koti language down on paper. Their anthropological and linguistic skills put alongside a tremendous love for the Koti people resulted in more than just the first ever Koti dictionary, written grammar, literacy manual and books of the Bible: lives were transformed, and a people group proudly proclaimed the arrival of their own literature. For the first time they could write to each other in Koti, make a list of things they needed to buy and read in their own language.

The Lyndon Family (click for fullsize image)

When we first arrived in Angoche last November the first Bible books had been published and were being dedicated at ceremonies in Angoche and on the islands. Chris was able to travel back to Angoche for these events with his children Stephen and Rebekah but unfortunately Ada was not able to come as she battled with cancer in England. It was with great sadness we received news last week that Ada had lost her particular battle with an aggressive cancer. We wish to record here our profound gratitude for the Lyndon family. I only met them once in Sutton Coldfield during July 2009 prior to the illness and wish we could have had the opportunity to know Ada better. Maybe you can determine a person’s character by their friends? If so then we can be assured that this was an amazing woman of love, integrity and academic accomplishment and she will be sorely missed. We are privileged to walk in her footsteps, along the same dusty streets, and take the same boats across to the beautiful islands. They generously helped us set up home here in Angoche, allowing us to take the benefit of some of the bare essentials like a water drum, gas ring and twin tub. Since April we have been using their Landrover to make our monthly 3 hour shopping runs to Nampula.

We are humbled by the investment that they made amongst the Koti people and know that it will be more profound then they can ever imagine.