Introduction
Johann Ludwig Krapf and his wife were involved in fundraising for the St. Chrischona Pilgermission (“pilgrim mission”). At the end of each year, Krapf published a Jahresbericht für die Theilnehmer an der Zwei-Centimes-Collekte zum Besten der Pilger-Mission auf St. Chrischona bei Basel (“Annual report for the participants in the two-centime collection for the benefit of the Pilgrims Mission on St. Chrischona near Basel”).
These reports often provide more personal insights than the mission’s official annual reports. The following are Krapf’s statements about his coworker at the Oromo Bible translation, Ruufoo.
- Where the now pejorative word G. appears in the original, it was replaced by [Oromo].
English translation
No. 6 (December 1, 1866), p. 4-5
Furthermore, it is a remarkable providence of the Lord that, while a door seems to be opening for the spread of the Gospel in the southeast and northwest of the great [Oromo] nation, the translation of the Bible into the language of this nation is also being undertaken. This had been my wish for many years. Still, it remained unfulfilled until last year, when my dear Brother [Johannes] Eipperle, at the Matamma station on the northwestern border of Abyssinia, became acquainted with a young [Oromo] who had been exhibited at the slave market for several days without anyone wanting to buy him. Eipperle—long aware of my desire for a genuine [Oromo] who could assist me in translating the Bible—purchased the young man for 80 convention thalers and sent him to Europe through Brother [Wilhelm] Bühler during the summer of 1866.
Since, in addition to his native language, he also spoke fluent Amharic and understood some Arabic, he was all the more useful. I have already translated the four Gospels into [Oromo] with him. It is remarkable [p. 5] that this young [Oromo], whose name is Ruufoo, belonged to the Kingdom of Gumma [Qubee: Guummaa], to which Pauline Fatme, who passed away blessedly in 1854, also belonged. Even on her deathbed, she begged with tears that teachers of the Gospel be sent to her people, a request which, as is well known, contributed significantly to the plan to build the Apostles’ Road.
Ruufoo’s birthplace is Gombotaa, where his father Gemalo, his mother Sakure, his two brothers, and two sisters are said to live still. The boy was confiscated by his prince (Ondscho [i.e., Ǧaawe Ončo] is his name) as tribute and sold to a slave trader for 200 pieces of salt (25 pieces of salt are equal to 1 conventionsthaler [Maria Theresa Thaler] or 2 Gulden 24 Kreuzer) and taken by him to the Abyssinian province of Godscham [Gojjam], 10 days’ journey away, where he was bought by a Muslim for 16 thalers. From him, he fled to an Abyssinian Christian, with whom he stayed for two years. He considered returning to his homeland, but before he could carry out his plan, he was discovered by the first pagan buyer and sold by him a second time for 30 thalers. From there, he finally came to Metemma, where, as already mentioned, he was bought by Eipperle and sent to me for the sum of 160 Gulden, which was the cost of the long journey and which I have to pay for at my own expense (apart from the purchase price).
May the young man not only help to translate the Word of God into his language, but may he above all open his own heart, which unfortunately is still quite pagan, to the influence of the Word and Spirit of God, so that he may one day become a blessing for his fatherland, which is admittedly challenging to reach, as it lies in the middle of the great [Oromo] region, where no European has yet penetrated. Ruufoo knows the country names Limu [Limmu], Dschima [Jimma], Enarea, Gobo, Kaffa, Sendschiro [“Janjero” = Yem], Wolamo [= Wolaytta], Kullo, and other regions that are still awaiting European explorers. If the well-known adventurer Baron [Karl Klaus] von der Decken had not been killed on the Jubba River near Bardira [Bardera] by the wild Somalis (who are said to be still holding two Europeans in captivity), the interior of the [Oromo] country would probably have been discovered and the quickest route to Ruufoo’s homeland would have been found, as that great river called Godschob [Gojeb] is said to flow past only a few days’ journey from the southern border of Gumma.
No. 10 (November 21, 1870), p. 4-5
We are pleased to report that in the [Oromo] youth Christian Paul Ruufoo, already mentioned above, the work of God’s grace is strengthening, and that his formerly strong [Oromo] nature is increasingly giving way to the love of God, which impelled him to return to his country of Gumma, ten days’ journey south of Abyssinia, and to spread the Gospel. On October 20, 1870, he wrote the following from Cairo (where he was waiting with Brother Stamm for Brother [Johannes] Mayer‘s arrival from Abyssinia to go with him to the [Oromo] in the south of Shewa):
“If men of faith like you are to begin something for the Kingdom of God, they must stand on the firm foundation of faith and hold fast to that faith. Look across to [Oromo] land, which is in darkness without the light of the Gospel. I would very much like to travel to Gumma, where King [Ǧaawe] Ončo is still alive and is the greatest king among the [Oromo], that is, if the Committee [i.e., Mission Board] approves it. I can travel easily through Abyssinia because I know the language. There is a caravan route from Godscham [Gojjam] to Gumma. But not as I will, but as Jesus wills; his will be done.
An Abyssinian who was in [Oromo] land recently told me that the Catholics in [Oromo] land are making significant progress. They have already built seven churches in Kaffa and three in Guderu [Guduru]. The Abyssinian monks are helping them. In Cairo, they also have many [Oromo] boys and girls in their schools. Soon our hour will come when we can preach the Gospel. God grant it.
I have translated the Biblische Geschichte (“biblical story”) by the Inspector of the deaf-mute institution in Riehen, [Wilhelm] Arnold, into the [Oromo] language using Latin characters, and I will also create an [Oromo] dictionary.”
[p. 5] Fortunately, the printing of the Gospel of Luke in the [Oromo] language has just been completed on the press in St. Chrischona, so that Mayer and Ruufoo can take at least a small part of the Word of God with them in print. It is of great importance that evangelical missionaries come right away with the Word of God.
No. 11 (November 9, 1871), p. 2
In our report of 1870, we expressed our joy at the work of God in the [Oromo] youth Paul Ruufoo and noted that the love of God was driving him to return to the State of Gumma, ten days’ journey south of Abyssinia, and spread the gospel there. We had scarcely shared this news with our dear friends back home when the Lord saw fit to call this promising youth to eternity through a blessed death. Our plans were suddenly dashed, and only the thought that the Lord, in all his doings, has thoughts of peace and, by withdrawing, wishes to give us more than to take away—only this thought could console us in the face of this sad news. And indeed, soon afterwards we learned that three new young men from Abyssinia and the [Oromo] country wanted to come to St. Chrischona for training, and these young men actually came, so that now seven Abyssinians are in the institution to prepare themselves for the service of the Lord in their homeland.
German original
Further study
There are only a few copies of Krapf’s annual reports for donors available in public libraries. The scans published above are from originals in the library of the Theological Seminary St. Chrischona.
Cross-references
Krapf, Reference for Ruufoo