What's been going on in February?

Thank you for your prayers for all that has taken place in February.  The first Connection program went smoothly and the weekend with the Brothers and Sisters at Solid Word Bible Church was a blessing and encouragement to me.  Solid Word, you worship well and have such a heart for the world and a commitment to action - to be the hands and feet ready to be used of God!  It is a joy to partner with you.  You challenge me to pursue holiness.

 

This week, I received valentines from Faith Church folks and Village Life Church folks.  You all come alongside so effectively - I never feel alone as I am away from you.  Thank you for allowing me to be here - to extend your ministry to impact those who are yet without Scripture in the language that speaks to their heart. 

 

This coming week, we will host 19 colleagues and their 12 children for another Connection program.  Pray that we serve them well and that God will renew and re-energize them as they prepare to return to the task.  God will multiply your prayers and gifts - your partnership - to transform lives through the translated Word as these co-workers go out.  Thank you! 

 

I am praying for you, too.  Please let me know if there are specifics I may remember on your behalf.

 

For partnership opportunities: wycliffe.org/partner/ljm

The Life-Transforming Word!

Paulo is a Bible translator in Tanzania who is working on a translation of the Bible in his own language, Rangi. Recently he attended a chronological Bible storying conference. These conferences teach people how to tell stories from the Bible in a chronological way, so they can share the Gospel in oral cultures where storytelling comes more naturally than reading and writing.

During this workshop, the Holy Spirit opened Paulo’s eyes to see that he was depending on his works for salvation. He discovered that salvation only comes through the grace of God by the sacrifice Christ made on the cross.

Today, Paulo can’t stop talking about God’s grace and sharing it with everyone. A Wycliffe colleague who works with Paulo recently shared, “I have often glanced over at him (Paulo) while we are working and his eyes are filled with tears. He just shakes his head and says, ‘Grace, God’s grace.’ It overwhelms him.”

Story Source: http://blog.wycliffe.org/2014/03/05/meet-paulo/

February Agenda

In the two sessions of week-long Connection programs this month, we will host about 40 colleagues and their families from all around the U.S.A and the world. Your partnership with my Wycliffe ministry allows me to serve these co-workers on your behalf. Thank you for that privilege. It is always a blessing to hear stories about the faithfulness of God and about lives that are being transformed as people have access to the Bible in the language of their hearts – the language in which they think and dream and pray.

I also look forward to a very quick visit to Indianapolis, worshiping with the Solid Word Bible Church Brothers and Sisters on Sunday, February 15, as a part of their Missions Month.

Equip Update

God has answered your prayers by providing a good first week at Equip, Wycliffe's new-member orientation. Everyone has been healthy enough to be at all the sessions and we are nearing the weekend when we may rest and catch up some. Please continue to pray for stamina and wisdom for us all. Thank you.

It is always exciting to hear the stories of how God has led folks into their new roles as colleagues in Bible translation. Your partnership with my Wycliffe ministry through your prayers and finances is helping send these new workers out. They have daunting tasks ahead of them as they ask God to provide for their needs through the gracious gifts of His people to Wycliffe. A portion of our job as trainers is to present tools that will be helpful to "the newbies" in sharing their story and inviting others to be a part of taking the Scriptures to those who do not yet have them in their heart language.

The joy is that we can share with them that God is faithful! In October, I asked you to pray about the monthly minimum budget increase for the coming year. In answer to your prayers, God is providing through new monthly financial partners, through others who have increased their contributions, and through some generous year-end gifts. I am grateful.

My prayer for you is that God would continue to grow your love for Him and for His Word. If there are other more specific things I can pray on your behalf, please let me know. It is an honor to partner with you as you have so faithfully partnered with my Wycliffe ministry.

Nkukoli

http://www.verbix.com/maps/language/Nkukoli.html

Rosemary has been a part of the Bible translation team much longer than I have. As I began with Wycliffe, she told me she had been praying for the Nkukoli people in Nigeria… for eighteen years.

I saw Rosemary during my recent time in Indy. She is still praying for the Nkukoli to have access to the Word of God in the language that best speaks to their hearts.

This month, Amy (one of the recent Equippers) begins her role as a field coordinator, managing translation projects in Nigeria. What a joy it will be to report someday that Rosemary’s prayers have been answered – that Amy or one of her colleagues has had opportunity to help facilitate a translation project for the Nkukoli people!

Since November 2009, I have been praying for the Jakati people of Ukraine. Learning of their need was a part of God’s call to Wycliffe for me. The Nkukoli and Jakati are only two of the more than 1,800 people groups who are still without a single verse of Scripture in their heart language: the language spoken amongst family members… the language in which we pray and dream. Please consider signing up to pray for one of the Bibleless Peoples of the world by going to:

wycliffe.org/prayer

January is an Equip month, when new colleagues come to Orlando for their two-week onsite orientation to Wycliffe USA. Our goal is to fully equip these “newbies” so they may begin their field assignments as quickly as possible, so Bible translation may be accelerated. As always, the staff and participants depend on your prayers for wisdom, strength, health, and much productivity during our time together. Your influence on God’s Kingdom will now extend to this new group of folks and to all of those whom they will one day impact. Praise God!

December Update

​Photo and story source: https://www.wycliffe.ca/wycliffe/blog/post.jsp?wycliffe_canada&euid=d175a2ef-a35d-4853-b

With the help of his teacher, a young boy points to letters on an alphabet-symbol chart of the Kom language during a literacy class in Cameroon. Mother-tongue literacy is vital to the foundation of further education and other life skills, and is key to strengthening cultural identity and heritage, as well as opening up the pages of Scripture.  Your partnership in Bible translation through your prayers and gifts impacts lives just like his, all around the world.  Thank you!

There may be sometimes when we pray that we aren't sure exactly how God uses those prayers.  Yesterday, because of your prayers, the Lord helped me make it through the day with a mild case of vertigo.  I had enough strength and grace to do the things I needed to do, and the Orlando team with which I serve came alongside to help ease the load.  Today, I am thankful to say that the vertigo seems to have gone.

I am also thankful for another tangible lesson on how much I need to depend on God for every moment of every day. When my head is spinning just a little, my heart more consciously seeks His help.  I also need to depend on His people.  I was more quick to post a small Facebook note to ask for prayer, and many of you came alongside to help "steady me" - it reminded me of Aaron and Hur holding up Moses' arms. (Exodus 17:12)  I could not be here without you.

God has also answered your prayers - these past two weeks have been refilling and renewing.  There has been good time to continue planning and preparing for future programs.

Prayer Requests:

 - for literacy programs so the Bible can be read and understood when it has been translated

 - for another productive week of planning for the future, focusing on January programs

 - for preparations for my visit to Indianapolis, December 16 - January 4
 - for safety as I drive, December 14-15

I am praying for you, too.  Please let me know if there are specifics I may remember on your behalf.