May was wonderful!

Thanks so much for your prayers for the events that took place in May. Below is a photo of the bunch I work with in Orlando. We had a great time learning and growing together as an OATS (Orientation and Training Services) team. It was such a privilege for us to have time to get away and retool and think deeply and be refreshed ...together. I am grateful to be a part of this team. Pray that we continue to grow in our ability to serve well together.

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It was such a joy to see so many of you during my Indy visit. I am only sorry our time was so short, but I am thankful for the number of very meaningful conversations that took place. You all encouraged my heart with the stories of how God has been working in and through you. Thank you for your prayers for safety as I drove. I do not take His protection for granted.

We are now gearing up for the next season of programs. Equip (new member orientation) begins on June 13 for 45 adults and 16 MKs (missionary kids). Pray for wisdom, health, and stamina for participants and "crew" alike.

When this group finishes, I will have opportunity to continuing connecting as a coach with two single gals and a family of five: providing encouragement, resources, and accountability for each of them as they ask God to build teams of prayer and financial partners for their Wycliffe ministries. Pray we get to know each other well at Equip so we might work effectively together in the months to come.

Once again, with your prayers and gifts toward my Wycliffe ministry, your partnership will now extend to impact these new colleagues and everyone they will one day serve. Thank you for your faithfulness!

The Bible is my Life

Photo: Adam Jeske | Words: Marc Ewell

“The Bible is my life,” says Dereje Tilahun of Wycliffe Africa as he lifts his Bible in his language, Amharic, and presses it against his chest. “I cannot live without it.” Dereje feels strongly about bringing the Bible to all 80 plus languages of his home country of Ethiopia. He believes that his own life was “built by the word of God,” and now he wants the same for others. Read more about Dereje.

We are finishing up a second week of connecting with colleagues who have amazing stories of what God has been accomplishing around the world through the translated Word. Some of our new friends have faced very challenging situations with health or with family concerns, but all have persevered because of God's call to work just like Dereje. They desire to see the Bible translated into the heart languages of the 180 million people around the world who still do not have access. Thank you for your prayers - God was with us as we celebrated His goodness and sought His face for the difficult situations. Your partnership now extends to the ministries they have around the world!

This next week, the Orientation and Training Services (OATS) team will be doing our own "Connection" - remote staff will fly in to join the Orlando folks for a biannual gathering for team & relationship building, vision casting, and long-range planning. Please pray for safety as we travel to a center about 90 minutes north of the campus and for our team to maximize our time together. When we finish on May 22, I will begin the drive north with a goal of arriving in Indiana early afternoon on Saturday, May 23. Thanks in advance for your prayers for that trip, too. I look forward to seeing many of you at Faith Church on May 24 or May 31.

This breaks my heart...

During her final presentation at Equip, N* allowed the pages of the tumbler to fall to the floor as she read to us some of the names of the nearly 1900 people groups that are still without a single verse of Scripture in the language they best understand. “This breaks my heart,” she said. She was unable to continue for a moment as the reality of her words struck her deeply.

I was once again reminded why I am here - why God has called me to be a part of Wycliffe Bible Translators. There are people dying every day without access to God’s Word in the language they first learned to speak as a child… the one in which they think and dream and pray. You are an essential part of God’s solution to the injustice of Bible poverty. Your prayers and your gifts toward my Wycliffe ministry make it possible for me to also be a part of the solution. Thank you!

*Story used with permission; withholding her name

Here’s look at my calendar for the next few weeks:

May 4-8 -- The Wycliffe Connection (for those who have served overseas)
May 11-15 -- Wycliffe Stateside Connection (for those who serve stateside)
May 19-22 -- Orientation and Training Services (OATS) Connection (team meeting for one of the departments in which I serve)
May 22-23 -- Drive to Indiana
May 23 -- Meharry/Deplanty family gathering
May 29 -- My niece graduates from high school
June 1-2 -- Drive to Florida

Equip and Endeavor

I can't wait to share about what God has done these past two weeks - more about that in the next update - but I wanted to make sure to thank you now for your prayers for health and grace. I am well now and was able to fully participate during Equip. I am very grateful. It was such an encouraging time, working with new colleagues who have followed God's call into the Bible translation team.

I do have one time-sensitive request - this coming Monday and Tuesday, I will be working with a team to provide orientation for some of the paid staff members at the Wycliffe USA Mobilization Center where I serve. This is the third such orientation called "Endeavor"... and I became ill both of the previous times and was not able to fulfill my responsibilities. The team rallied to cover for me each time and things went well overall, but I would love to be able to fully contribute this time. Would you pray for these two days? Thank you! You are a crucial part of this team that God is using to take His Word to those who still need it in the language of their heart.

It's Friday!

I am humbled by the outpouring of prayers on my behalf. Thank you to the scores of you who replied - many with just the word "praying!" My prayer is that each of you have that same kind of encouragement as you encounter the challenges of life. The fellowship of praying together and seeing God work -- either by resolving things or by giving grace in the midst of the struggles -- is such a blessing.

God is answering. I am thankful to be making good progress. I appreciate your continued prayers for health and grace for me and the entire Equip team as we begin tomorrow. Looking ahead, here's a list of programs coming up. We are completely dependent on your prayers and God's strength.

Looking back, Mom and I had a great visit in March. We were able to see and do some fun things around the state and just enjoyed spending time together. Remember, you're always welcome here, too. :-)

Today, one of the gals in my department will be very busy. She is heading up a logistical support group following along in a van as her husband and another cyclist take off at 10:15am EDT for a 24-hour, 363-mile ride to raise awareness for Bible translation. Would you pray for Doug & Dan and their crew? Follow their ride and get more information at Spoke 'n Word.