Remembering Mrs. G

We recently received the sad news that Kitty Anna Griffiths, known around the world as “Mrs. G”, went to be with her Lord on the 7th of November 2014.

My parents and I were acquainted with Mrs. Griffiths and her husband, Dr. Gerald Griffiths, when we lived in Ontario. But more-so my family has known Mrs. G through her Bible stories, which have been translated into Farsi, Portuguese, Japanese, Mandarin, Rumanian, Norwegian, Khmer, Nepali, Amharic, Spanish, and Russian.

The Griffiths spent years ministering in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Canada. In 1973, Mrs. G began recording Bible stories, the “nice” ones as well as the “nasty” ones. In all she recorded nearly 500 stories.

The stories came alive because of her deep study of the Scriptures, as well as her knowledge of history and geography. Many times she visited Israel to research her stories, and from her travels come the flowers and critters that likely surrounded the Bible characters we know and love.

You can read more about the ministry in the post I wrote a few years ago – A Visit with Mrs. G.

In October Mrs. G was still working in the ministry, at the age of 95. She had a fall, and was hospitalized until her death in November. It was soon before her 71st wedding anniversary.

As I write, the website has not yet been updated with the news. We received the update via newsletter from her husband.

In the midst of grieving, the ministry continues. Dr. Griffiths asked for prayer, and I thought I’d share those prayer requests with you:

• Translations need to be done and put online. The current focus will be Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese, though other languages are in the works as well.
• Translating is not just a matter of changing words. The stories need to be edited and evaluated by native speakers. Lively native voices need to be found to bring the stories to life. Funding will be needed. At this time, the Trans World Radio China team is working on the project in Chinese.

When we drove last year to Canada, I made it a goal that we would listen to all of Mrs. G’s stories from the New Testament – and we succeeded! Once or twice I have called or emailed Dr. and Mrs. Griffiths and their team to discuss Spanish translation – of course we would especially appreciate your prayers that quality Spanish translation could be done.

Meanwhile, I suspect Mrs. G is checking out some of the details she’s wondered about with Moses and David and Paul – and, of course, worshiping the Lord she loved. When we see her next, will she still be telling stories? I wouldn’t be surprised!