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| Marg in breathtaking Monument Valley |
The definition of determination according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult and also a fixing or finding of the position, magnitude, value, or character of something. This word came to my mind when I thought of Margaret Hartung with World Gospel Mission, for she does not deter from reaching the nations. In 1974, Marg's life as a teacher was changed when God spoke to her about being a messenger to a nation on the other side of the earth. She took a leave from teaching Spanish and German to study theology at California Lutheran University, went to Dallas for linguistics courses with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and embarked on trips with her home church to Mexico, Thailand, Burma, and Ecuador. She joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1996 and after training, studying, and raising support, found herself on a one-way flight to Tanzania in 1998. After studying Swahili for a time, she was assigned to the Rangi project as a Literacy Specialist. The Rangi are a people group in north central Tanzania who number over 350,000. Her challenge; to write primers and story books for the Rangi people. She dedicated her time to help them read and write their language which was previously only spoken. Her determination in East Africa for 7 1/2 years, gave the Rangi a gift that could now be passed on to generations to come.
While still working in Tanzania, she began having symptoms that were later diagnosed as Parkinson's Disease. After much deliberation, she took a furlough and worked in the US, inputting primers and books into the computer for Wycliffe's Mexico Branch. Not only did she receive restoration during this time, but she received her next nation.
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| Betsy Newman receives recognition |
The American Indian Field of World Gospel Mission needed Marg's expertise to finish a project that Carol Cochran had poured herself into but never completed. Carol had lost her battle with cancer in 2002, after just two student books of the primer were written, along with a partially completed teacher's manual. On the first of December in 2007, Marg arrived in Farmington, New Mexico, about 30 miles from the eastern border of the vast 27,000 square mile reservation. Since her move, she has been working diligently to complete the work Carol began years ago. It has not been an easy task. The original volumes had been corrupted in the computer and needed revision, but she has made some strong headway with the invaluable help of Navajo friends and fellow World Gospel Mission colleagues.
Marg began her journey into Navajo culture with the aid of Betsy and Alfred Newman. Betsy had worked extensively on the first two volumes with Carol. As a young man, Alfred was one of the 420 Navajo's who joined the marines to become a code talker in World War II. Over the course of a year's time, Marg and Betsy modified and corrected what they already had, completed the teacher's manual for Volume 1 and wrote another for Volume 2 using Carol's research. Betsy then translated both manuals into Navajo for those teacher's who would be teaching in the native language. After the books were edited, Marg began teaching from the materials in a pilot class at a local church. Benjamin Hogue, a 16 year former delegate of the Council of the Navajo Nation, co-taught the class. His wife, Lolita, assisted in book sales, attendance and student relations. The pilot class took a vital role in the completion of the books, as Marg spent the next six months fine-tuning the materials.
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| Navajo language instruction |
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| Ben & Lolita Hogue |
The Navajo have the largest and most sophisticated form of American Indian government. It includes 88 elected council delegates representing 110 chapters. Meetings take place at the local chapter house, usually conducted in the Navajo language. At chapter house meetings all across the Navajo Nation, Marg has had the privilege of introducing the primers to those who already read and write their language and instruct them how they can effectively teach using the books.
San Juan College is now teaching a Navajo Reading and Writing Class using the materials, as well as one at Summit Training Post in Window Rock, and another at Shonto Bible Church. Two more teachers have also expressed an interest in using the books and manuals for a future class.
It is Margaret Hartung's determination that forces the barrier to become the avenue. It is a quality that makes her continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult. She does not deter. She has allowed God to move through her to fix or find the position, magnitude, value, or character of something in His Nations all across this beautiful planet.
