The curator for Onandjokwe Medical Museum was delighted to receive the book detailing the history of Oniipa ELCIN Parish over a period of 130 years.
“I was amazed this morning to receive a copy of Oniipa parish history book, a copy for the Onandjokwe Medical Museum, from Rev. E. Heinghumbi,” Mr Kleopas Nghikefelwa said.
The book, titled “Oniipa Momimvo 130 Dhiilonga Yevaangeli”, was published by Rev. Seblon Ekandjo, a retired pastor of ELCIN, who once served as a pastor at Oniipa ELCIN Parish and also served as editor of Omukwetu, the ELCIN church newspaper, for decades at ELOC Printing Press, now called “Pioneers Printers”.
Nghikefelwa pointed out that the idea to print this book came as a dream some four years ago.
“The idea became alive when Dr. Martti Eirola visited Oniipa and started to raise funding to support Rev. Heinghumbi and his parish in their quest to republish some church publications into the local Oshiwambo language,” he said.
“Rev. Ekandjo had kept his book unpublished for about 11 years, looking for funding to publish this book. Today his dream came true at the age of 90+ years.”
According to Rev. Heighumbi, his parish will continue raising extra funding to publish more second editions for this book in the future, and sell them to raise more funding for other local publications.
“The book is available for sale at Oniipa Parish pastor office, at N$320, and one can order it at Tel: +264 65 248 177, or by email: epafrash3@gmail.com,” he said.
“This book is a wake-up call, to raise funding also for translating some books written by early Finnish missionaries, such as Sister Linda Helenius, Dr. Selma Rainio and many others, who wrote only in the Finnish language about the history of mission work in Owambo, but local people cannot read them,” Nghikefelwa stated.
“Today, we thank Dr. Martti Eirola’s Family and Friends for helping Oniipa Parish pastor, Rev. Heighumbi, to raise funding for publishing ‘Oniipa Parish’s 130 Years of Evangelical Work’ book in a local language.
“We thank also retired ELCIN Bishop Dr. SVV Nambala and pioneers like Dr. Abisai Sejavali, Lahja Lehtonen and many others, who wrote books about local history in local languages.
“This is very much helpful for our local people to read their own history in their mother tongues.
“This will help to preserve our history and our language at the same time.”
In the photo: Mr Kleopas Nghikefelwa with a copy of the book, an important addition to the historical items in the Onandjokwe Medical Museum.
