Esimbi Dictionary Worker-Cameroon
The mission of this role is to empower the Esimbi people to read and understand the Scriptures in their own language, fostering spiritual growth and gospel engagement. By developing the Esimbi dictionary, the worker will equip the Esimbi community to build relationships, share the gospel, and participate actively in their own churches.
The dictionary worker will serve as part of the Esimbi missionary team. They will work with the Esimbi people, learning the basics of their language and culture. The worker will compile lexical data into the computer and prepare the Esimbi-English dictionary for publication. The ultimate goal of Esimbi literacy is to enable individuals to read the Scriptures and to engage with and share the gospel.
Ministry Setting
The Esimbi traditionally have an animistic religion, though many have become believers in Jesus. Their homeland is in the Northwest region, where they live in small villages, but the area is currently not safe for foreigners. Many Esimbi have moved to other parts of the country, especially in southern Cameroon.
Ministry will be based in the capital city of Yaoundé, where there are many Esimbi people and a strong missionary community. The Esimbi New Testament was dedicated in 2024. Four literacy books have already been developed. Ministry among the Esimbi is challenging and requires cooperation and a resilient and persevering spirit.
The Esimbi dictionary worker must have a vibrant spiritual life, characterized by consistent practice of the spiritual disciplines. They should possess strong interpersonal skills for working with others, yet be willing to work alone most of the time. Flexibility to incorporate God’s principles effectively in unfamiliar cultural ways is critical.
- Mother-tongue fluency in English is required.
- Language learning ability will greatly enhance communication with the Esimbi.
- A basic understanding of French is helpful for living in Cameroon.
- Patience and perseverance are essential, as work in a previously unwritten language requires time and dedication.
The ideal candidate has
- Completed linguistic courses in phonetics, phonology, and grammar
- Strong computer skills
The Esimbi dictionary worker’s role will be to produce the Esimbi-English dictionary.
They will:
- Input lexical data into the computer, gather more data, and standardize the format of the data
- Work with Esimbi speakers to clarify language data
- Prepare the Esimbi dictionary for publication in print and phone app formats
- Participate in the ministry of World Team’s Esimbi team
- Build relationships and share the gospel, discipling believers as they work among them