Equip #50 is in the books!

Praise God for all that has taken place in the past three weeks. Fifteen new Wycliffe colleagues completed their Equip orientation on April 29. Once again, it was a virtual session and the Lord graciously gave us two wonderful weeks together. You can see below that we were spread all across the U.S. They are linguists and theologians and mechanics and administrators and sign language interpreters and IT specialists and will serve all over the world as soon as their initial teams of prayer and financial partners are complete. Your prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry have impacted these new co-workers. Thank you!

(Equip 50 - map by Marty Pelton)

Then on April 30, we hosted a virtual Connection gathering of 13 "established" colleagues who reside in the U.S. and work around the world. One couple is short-term in Ecuador and connected with us that day! Our prayer is that our time together provided encouragement and renewal to help them continue to serve well.

Today, we finish a two-day Endeavor orientation with eight new paid staff. It's been a full and good three weeks!

Thank you in advance for your prayers for this next week. May 12-14, we'll host another virtual Connection gathering of those who have served overseas. Some had intended to be stateside now, but others have been displaced in the past year. Pray that we are able to connect in a way that provides encouragement for them. I plan to leave for Indy after we finish and should arrive the evening of May 15, Lord willing. I am so looking forward to seeing a number of you during this visit!

Please let me know how I might be praying with you. It is a joy to join you and know that God answers prayer!

Celebrate!

There is cause for celebration! Near the end of 2020, the number of languages available on the YouVersion app increased to over 1,500! Wycliffe Bible Translators contributes to the Digital Bible Library which serves as the source for YouVersion texts. YouVersion estimates more than 450 million installations of the app from all over the world. The cumulative impact of Bible translation continues to grow so that more and more people are able to be transformed as they encounter God through the Scriptures. Thank you, dear partners. Through your gifts and prayers for my Wycliffe ministry, together we are a part of a great work of the Lord!

(Image Source: instagram/wycliffeuk)

Thanks for already praying about these things. Preparations have gone very well and we are ready to go!

• April 17-29, our next virtual Equip orientation, with 15 new co-workers and 11 new Missionary Kids (MKs).
• April 30, our first session of a virtual Connection program, celebrating and caring for colleagues who've been serving around the world but lived stateside for at least the past four years.
• May 12-14, our second virtual Connection, celebrating and caring for colleagues who've lived overseas, many of whom relocated suddenly and unexpectedly in the past year.
• Thankfully, I experienced only minimal side effects from my second vaccine. I'm working on plans for a trip to Indy when we finish these events!

Please let me know how I might be praying with you. It is a privilege to join you in prayer.

Reasons for Praise

There have been times in the past year when I have delayed sending updates. Sometimes I've not known what to say. We've been busy, but it's been lots of behind-the-scenes tasks with more limited "people time"... as I imagine nearly all of your worlds might have been, too. And there's not as much to say about tasks! But as we've journeyed together these past 11 years, God has used you and your prayers during every season. Here are some reasons for praise:

- We've held four virtual Equip orientations with a total of 71 new colleagues in the last year.
- I've been working in the office more than half of the time since July.
- Though my travels have been limited in the past year, I've been able to stay connected to some extent:
   - I've had opportunity to pray with Solid Word Bible Church on many Thursday mornings.
   - I was able to attend some Global Impact Conference meetings and stream services from Faith Church.
- I was able to make three uneventful drives to Indy and back since October.
- Mom is doing well.
- I'm doing well.
   - I've had a minor ankle injury that is healing well.
   - I've had my first dose of the vaccine without incident.

God is faithful. And he has heard the faithful prayers you've been praying. Thank you!

Would you pray with me about these things?

- April 17-29, our next virtual Equip orientation, with 15 new co-workers.
- April 30, our first session of a virtual Connection program, celebrating and caring for colleagues who've been serving around the world but living stateside for at least the past four years.

- May 12-14, our second virtual Connection, celebrating and caring for colleagues who've lived overseas, many who relocated suddenly and unexpectedly in the past year.

I'm planning to celebrate that Lord willing, I'll be "fully vaccinated" by April 27. I'm looking forward to some gatherings then!

Please let me know how I might be praying with you. It is such a pleasure to join you in prayer.

It All Started With a Phone Call

On an ordinary day in December 2017, Wendy Scott-Penson was busy ministering to Wycliffe partners and empowering them to connect their resources to Bible translation projects in communities around the world. She answered an incoming call and quickly realized that it was an unusual one.

The man on the phone, Stefano, was a Kunama speaker who was determined to bring the Bible to his people group who were now living in communities dispersed around the world; Stefano had been displaced to the United States. He was adamant and passionate about God’s Word and he was turning to Wycliffe for help. Stefano’s call led to a long string of phone calls and emails, fact-checking conversations, and contact between Wycliffe Ethiopia, Eritrean Bible Society, Wycliffe USA and the Jesus Film Project. The organizations networked and finally connected with teams and resources.

Ultimately two teams were formed — one in Ethiopia that is working on revising the Old Testament and one in Canada with nine men translating the New Testament. The diaspora team and the team in the refugee camps work together, sharing the goal of completing the Kunama Bible in three years.

And to think that it all started with one phone call!

Read more of the story at wycliffe.org/blog/posts/it-all-started-with-a-phone-call.

The “rest of the story” is that you’ve had a part in the Kunama Bible! Your prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry were a part of Wendy’s story as I coached her, 2016-2017. God is using you to impact many in ways we may not know this side of heaven!

Coming Virtual Programs

We are excited to be moving forward with some pilot programs for celebrating and caring for those Wycliffe colleagues who have been serving for a number of years. The challenge is that many are already weary of virtual meetings, so we’re working to design events that are brief and yet meaningful to encourage those who choose to participate. Pray for wisdom for us and for effective technology when the time comes.

Thank you for your faithful encouragements. I am honored to be on this journey with you!

Every Sign Points to God

The Lord is continuing to transform lives through the Scriptures. Sora shares her story about how ViBi is working to bring God's Word to the estimated 300,000 Japanese Deaf. Japanese Sign Language is one of nearly 400 sign languages in our world today. Through your prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry, you are a part of seeing God reach the Deaf through Bible translation. Thank you!

Every Sign Points to God

more information about the JSL Bible Project

God answered your prayers for my drive south. He provided safety and good energy for the trip. Mom is also doing well and is grateful for your prayers. I'm back in the office now and am reconnecting with the team here. We're continuing to process and implement virtual methods of serving both new colleagues and those who have been with Wycliffe for years. Pray that we are able to use the tools the Lord has provided to care for and encourage them well.

Please let me know how I might be praying with you. It is a privilege to join you in prayer.