Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Email Update: 16 June 2009
Dear Family and Friends,
We have waited a bit before putting out this month's email update because our plans have been too unsure. But now we have the plan for this month! :)
Tomorrow we will drive to Madang and help out as center managers for two weeks! As well as the day-to-day managing of the center, Dave would also like to talk with leaders of several large church denominations and a university, to find out ways we can partner together to help interested Madang language groups receive training in translation and literacy. Also he will investigate infrastructure in the province (roads, airstrips, and so on). All of this research will go into planning for how SIL can be most effective and productive in initiating and supporting Bible translation and literacy in the province.
One big praise we wanted to share with you is that we were really glad the five Sam translators learned so much from the Translator's Training Course held from May to June! All of the team really pulled together well and were really excited to find out what verses they were going to start translating in their villages! We also saw the team working together better. We saw a miracle happen too, when one of the main translators, who had an infection in his gum and jaw (the dentist here said he would need an operation costing more than $800 US dollars!), decided to fast and pray that God would heal his jaw. The next time I could take him to the dentist to look at what other options we could take, the Sam translator looked at me and slowly said, "I don't need to go now." I asked why not! I was really not wanting to postpone this because of the pain he must be feeling. And he said, "I'm better. It doesn't hurt anymore!" He said it matter-of-factly, like he wasn't feeling as amazed as I was! And when I asked him more about it, he said the jaw was healing well, his teeth weren't loose anymore, and he was able to chew crackers on that side now! Praise the Lord for his care for us, and how he answers our prayers! Praise the Lord too for his people being willing to step out in faith.
Isn't it great to be children of our great God!
Blessings,
Dave and Sarah
