Equip #39

Thirty-six new co-workers and 22 MKs (missionary kids) came for the June orientation to Wycliffe Bible Translators. Thanks for your prayers on their and our behalf. We are grateful for a healthy and productive time together. We spent two weeks sharing information and providing opportunities for the “newbies” to practice using tools designed to help as they ask God to develop their teams of prayer and financial partners. Wycliffe requires complete teams before they may continue to their assignments around the world. As I hear the stories of how God brought these new missionaries to Wycliffe and see their passion that Scripture is accessible to all people in the language they best understand, I am reminded of my own journey to Wycliffe. I’m so thankful, too, for the role each of you has on this journey.

Learning lessons

Thank you for those who regularly pray for my spiritual growth and renewal. I’ve heard stories of those who begin to reach more “mature” ages and then seem surprised to realize that there are still many areas where God is working to refine them. (Yes, I turned 60 this year.) You’d think I would have it figured out by now, right? The Lord has been gentle and yet firm to remind me even this week that there is still much room for growth in my heart and that my strength is not sufficient… but His grace is enough and His strength is sufficient. Praise God!

What’s next?

This month, we have two groups coming to be celebrated, cared for, and reconnected with Wycliffe—colleagues who have been serving stateside and overseas. Pray that the Lord will use us to minister to them.

For more of what's coming up, visit my google group!

HPAC

Thanks much for your prayers for this week’s meeting of the Health Plan Advisory Committee. God’s direction was obvious with us through the day as we listened and discussed and made decisions. Now I can turn my full attention to finishing preparations for next week’s Equip orientation for 38 new colleagues and their 22 MKs!

Physical therapy and exercises continue to help my hip/leg for my day-to-day activities. A recent MRI showed some issues involving my spine. I’d be grateful for your prayers for wisdom about next steps.

On another note, Mom has had a rough week. Thanks for your prayers for her medications to be appropriate and effective and for grace for each day.

So grateful for your faithful partnership, especially in prayer. Let me know how I might be praying for you, too.

Pure Joy

Pure joy lines these men's faces as they hold the Quechua Cusco Bibles given as gifts upon their graduation from literacy classes in their mother language. They learned to read and write in Quechua, as well as studying some basic Christian doctrine.

Portions of translated Scripture exist in 62 of the 84 languages spoken in Peru. Because of literacy and Bible translation, Quechua speakers throughout the Andes mountains can now understand God’s Word as easily as they can understand their neighbors!

Story Source: Elaine Bombay, wycliffe.net/inspiringimage?id=8973

Thank you for your prayers this month. My time with family was very rewarding. Back in the office, we were able to prepare for the Connection colleagues who will arrive on Monday. Your gifts and prayers make such a difference not only in my life, but in the lives of all those we serve.

Thanks for helping spread the joy to others!

PS: Check out the calendar listed to the right to see what is ahead!

May

Today, we will complete Endeavor orientation for 15 new paid and volunteer staff who serve at the Wycliffe Mobilization Center. It has been a joy to begin to get to know these colleagues and to share more of the vision of Bible translation with them. It's a pleasure to remind them that they each play a significant role in accelerating access to Scripture for people groups around the world. You, too, play a significant role. God continues to use your prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry and multiplies your impact through each of these who receive training from the Orlando programs. Thank you for your faithful partnership!

Saturday, I will fly to Indianapolis for some special family events. Then Mom will fly back with me for a brief Florida visit. We are grateful for continued good health for her and for the opportunity I have to spend these times with family. After that, we'll begin final preparations for the summer programs, each of which will bring in large numbers of colleagues. Thanks in advance for your prayers!

God is Talking to Me

These days, Wycliffe Bible Translators and our partners are involved using technology to produce Scripture in many different formats. For example, many cultures around the world are better suited to use audio Bibles. Once the Bible is recorded in a local language, the gospel spreads and its impact is multiplied through solar-powered digital players. Smartphones are becoming remarkably widespread in most developing countries, so Scripture can be easily shared from phone to phone in a village setting without the use of internet.

The Naro language is a "click" language spoken in Botswana, Namibia and South Africa by 12,000 people. The Naro Bible was first produced in printed form, but very few Naro speakers could read it. On listening to an audio Bible like the one in the picture, one Naro speaker said, "For the first time the Bible makes sense, and it feels as if God is talking to me."

To read more of the story: wycliffe.org.uk/blog/new-formats-for-age-old-cultures/

Thanks so much for your prayers for Equip. We had a great time with these new colleagues and are excited that they are ready now to go and do the work as they ask the Lord to build their teams of prayer and financial partners. I'm thankful also for good health and energy these two weeks. Next week, we'll continue preparations for a coming Connection program.