Friday, June 21, 2019

Equip Update

Hello from the participants and Crew of Equip #43! I told the participants you are praying for them -- they asked me to thank you!!

We have all been healthy through the first week and are doing well. This is a very focused group and has been working hard... but they also are a very personable group and have come to know and enjoy each other on meaningful levels in this short time together. Please continue to pray. Each of the adults will be presenting a "Five-Minute Talk" on Saturday morning and then a "10-Minute Talk" (or a "16-Minute Talk" for couples) next Thursday as part of the process of learning to share their story and Wycliffe's story.

Reviewing Wycliffe history with Equip #43, Photo by Mark Borland

I received much news this week regarding my stride and stance. The hard news was confirming that I do have an unusual and significant "functional leg-length discrepancy." My right leg behaves as if it is longer than my left leg now. But I also received some very hopeful news and am on a new plan for physical therapy. In the meantime, I have some accomodations so that my stride and stance are better as we still work toward reducing or possibly even eliminating the discrepancy. I would appreciate it if you'd ask the Lord not only for continued improvement, but also that He would guard my heart as I go through the ups and downs of this process. I know this is no surprise to God and I need to trust that He has gone ahead of me every step of this path.

The many blessings the Lord has provided through your encouragements especially these past six months have been overwhelming. Your faithful prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry make it possible for me to continue to serve. Thank you!

Friday, June 7, 2019

Equip #43 is coming!

Next Saturday, June 15, we will welcome 26 new colleagues and 14 of their MKs (missionary kids) for the two-week Equip onsite orientation to Wycliffe. These folks will serve all over the world helping accelerate Bible translation as translators, pilots, human resource professionals, project managers, media specialists, maintenance technicians and teachers.

Our goal is to give them the tools they need to have a good start in understanding Wycliffe as an organization and to help them as they ask the Lord to build teams of prayer and financial partners for their own Wycliffe ministries. After Equip, I’ll continue to coach one of the couples who is preparing to help translate in French-speaking Africa. A fun thing - they are Cedarville grads, so we have some common experiences in our backgrounds!

Because of your prayers and gifts for my Wycliffe ministry, your partnership will now extend to all those who will one day have access to the translated Scriptures because of their service. Thank you! Isn’t God’s plan to involve us all a wonderful plan?!

Personal Update

Once again, after my surgery, the Lord provided in amazing ways during my recovery. My yard work was done, meals were brought and someone took me to appointments before I was able to drive again. There were cards and emails and texts and calls and more prayers than I could ever know. I am so grateful. God used it all!

My healing has gone well and my stamina is returning. I was able to go back to the office full-time this past week. The expectation is for my stamina to be “back to normal” by the end of July.

Because of some differences in my right hip, it wasn’t possible to use the same type of prosthesis as was used in my left hip in November. The two prostheses function in very slightly different ways, so I am still working (and getting help!) on stabilizing my stride and finding ways to stand for long periods without fatigue. Thanks in advance for your prayers for a good resolution.