Clapping and singing drew an Adventist World Radio (AWR) Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division (SID) media team to Tshakhuma Fruit Market in Thohoyandou, Venda, during a recent Bible and audio-Scripture distribution in South Africa’s Limpopo Province. The team, working with Tshaulu Seventh-day Adventist Church, carried 500 solar-powered “Godpods” and 60 printed Bibles (40 Tshivenda, 20 English) for distribution across the area.

“When business is slow, we gather and dance together to pass time,” one vendor said as the team introduced the devices, solar audio players with preloaded Scripture, and prayed with the group.

The following day in the village of Rambuda, the team met a woman who received a Godpod and a Tshivenda Bible. Holding the Bible, she said, “I have been searching for a Bible but could not afford one,” and added that she would play the recorded Scripture for her ill child.

At a nearby retail shop, two employees who could not leave their posts during distribution later approached the AWR SIDmedia car after their shift and asked for the Godpods. The last two Godpods designated for that area were provided to them.

On the return through Tshakhuma market, team members saw one of the vendors reading from a worn English Bible. The team supplied a new English copy.

“This lets us listen to God’s word while we sell our fruits and vegetables,” another vendor said of the audio players. “No data. No electricity bills. Just God’s voice, all day long. But we need more, there is such a deep hunger for God’s word here.”

As word spread of the Godpods through the market, AWR SIDmedia team members share that crowds pressed against the vehicle, reached through windows for radios of their own.

For safety, the team concluded the activity and departed after handing out the remaining devices allocated to that location.

According to AWR SIDmedia, the outreach highlighted strong demand for both printed Bibles and solar audio Scripture devices in Thohoyandou and surrounding communities.

This article was provided by the Southern Africa Union Conference.