On a high Angolan plateau, a goatherd watches his small flock. He pulls his rough-woven garment more tightly around him against the breeze, noticing the beginning of a chill in the air. The mild summer is almost over in the Nyaneka-Mwila region, and he knows a cold winter will soon descend on the land. From his vantage point, he can see a neighbor's house, and he wonders if the man has lost any more cattle since outsiders recently raided. Without fences, the community shares the land, grazing their animals and raising small gardens. But how long can this continue with others moving in and staking "claims"? He ponders the disturbing situation as he watches the contented goats munch.

A few restless youth have moved to the city, but the goatherd doubts that is the answer. Maybe the church can help, but who can understand what it teaches? Who can understand a God who speaks another language? The Mwila are one subgroup of the Nyaneka people. The whole of Nyaneka consists of Myila and three other distinct languages, Handa, Cilenge and Nkumbi.

Scripture Prayers for the Nyaneka in Angola.