From Student to Teacher
Life continues to be filled with lots of learning opportunities and fun projects. Philip has both participated in and led various trainings. One exciting area of training was welding. He sat with one of JAARS lead welders who taught him on a variety of metals, machines, and techniques. (For our one dear reader who knows welding, he learned MIG, TIG, and stick welding on steel, stainless, and aluminum.) He also attended an Accident Recovery and Investigation class led by JAARS leading accident investigator. On top of receiving training, Philip has also led some training for his coworkers. As a part of his training he was asked to pick a topic, then create and lead a half-day class on that topic. Philip chose to lead a course on some basic survival skills. It also came to our attention that a number of our missionary friends who were about to move to their overseas assignment wanted training in photography and videography. Philip, along with two other coworkers who had photography experience, created a training for 10 of their fellow missionaries. Because of how well the training wen,t they were asked by JAARS’ new Partnership Development department to make an online video-making class for new JAARS missionaries beginning their fundraising process.
Philip has not been the only busy one though. Anna prepared for several weeks for the national certification exam for speech therapy. She has been working to get her license approved in the state of North Carolina over the past several months. This month Anna was able to take the national exam, and we are excited to say that she passed! Now we are waiting for the North Carolina board to process the paperwork. Then she will finally be able to start providing speech therapy to missionary kids who need these services! She also had the fun opportunity to participate in a JAARS talent show with some friends.
As we continue with trainings, we try not to lose sight of our ultimate plan of going overseas. We are beginning to have conversations about what is most needed in the various JAARS bases and how we can prepare to step into those roles, as well as how we can prepare our family for life in an overseas context. These conversations leave us with lots to ponder as certain decisions must be made sooner rather than later. We covet your prayers as we seek wisdom and the Lord’s direction.
The Global Church at Work
When we think about Bible translation efforts happening around the world, the picture that comes to mind is usually of an educated linguist moving to a remote community to work for ten or twenty years on a translation for that people group. While this is the way translations have been accomplished in the past, more and more those communities are taking the initiative to make translations happen themselves. Wycliffe has a special role to play as language groups and communities begin their translations. Wycliffe is able to provide our technological resources, decades of experience, and sometimes even funding to help accelerate the work.
Rev. Hillary Bero, a Tuou translator and leader in the United Church of the Solomon Islands, said: “I can see that one of the strengths of [church-based Bible translation] is bringing the translation work to the church to be part of their ministry. It’s not just an idea or suggestion from a Western missions group; it’s a locally owned process with inherent benefits to them.”
As the local church takes the reins of translation work more and more, the health of the church increases. The churches will be both greatly invested and well equipped to not only carry the scriptures and relay the gospel to those around them, but to continue assisting other communities in their translation work as well. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness to all peoples!
Prayer and Praise
Praise God for the world-wide cooperation of the global church to translate Scripture into every language!
Pray for God’s mercy on those waiting to hear the gospel for the first time, and for His favor on those carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth.
Praise God that Anna passed her national certification exam! Please pray the paperwork with the state will be completed soon.
Pray for us as we seek wisdom for big upcoming directional decisions.