Aug 2012 newsletter (pg 1)

Teacher Orientation                by Lynee

Twenty-two enthusiastic people gathered Sunday evening, June 24, to start a week of orientation. They included teachers, aids, dorm parents, and a youth leader. All were eager to learn what missionary kids are like and how to best help them in the diverse roles they are taking. They also learned about cross-cultural living.

Jordan (L) figuring out what to do
since their wasn't a boarding pass for
him in the airport simulation

I stayed busy by leading a couple of simulations and a small group, making clinic appointments for vaccinations, helping with food, collecting and sharing info...the list goes on. Here are some of my highlights: having lunch with Laura, a teacher I taught in Cameroon when she was in the third grade; giving rides to Jordan, a teacher who grew up in Africa and who was returning to Cameroon in less than a week with his family; hearing stories of God’s work in people’s lives; and making the airport simulation as “memorable” as possible.

Praying for Laura (front right) and the
rest of the group headed to PNG

On the final afternoon, we always have a commissioning service, praying for each individual as most near the completion of their journey — helping provide God’s Word by freeing parents to serve knowing their children are cared for. Through your prayers, gifts, and encouragement to us, you have helped prepare this group too.

In other news...
The font technology (Graphite) that Alan’s group developed has been added to the Firefox web browser! Unfortunately, it was done in a way that doesn’t work with the most advanced features in their fonts, so Alan’s team has been changing the fonts. This will enable the publication of Scripture in complex alphabets on the web.

God continues to show His grace as He meets our needs through all of you, both through faithful giving every month and through occasional giving as people are able. Thank you for your prayers, gifts, and encouragement.

We plan to visit the Atlanta area September 2-16 and hope to see as many people as possible. You can contact us at 972-283-4532 or wards@pobox.com. We also would welcome the opportunity to speak to Sunday school classes, home groups, and churches about Bible translation or our work. Our committed giving is about $270/month short, and we are aware that two large supporters are close to retiring. Please pray for more partners to be involved in this work.

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Aug 2012 newsletter (pg 2)

Taken 42 years ago in 3rd grade

On the Road

Taken at the reunion - who is that
middle-aged women anyway?

After teacher orientation, I spent the weekend in Crossville, TN, at a “high school” class reunion. Since I graduated in Lomalinda, Colombia, reunions look a little different. We can’t go back to the school — it doesn’t exist anymore. Also, due to small classes and the special bonding of missionary kids, we count anyone who attended school there for a year or more as part of the class. Out of the 15 I’ve located (almost everyone who qualifies), five of us made it to the reunion. It was good to catch up a bit with each other.

Don Paul's family

While I’ve been remembering the distant past, my oldest niece, Olivia, began a new stage of life as a recent high school graduate. In May, we traveled to Nashville for this special event. I also celebrated a special birthday (ask if you can’t guess) with my family on that trip. Afterwards, we had a relaxing week of vacation at a cabin in the woods of Kentucky.

Used with permission,
Wycliffe Bible Translators

"You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel."
Hebrews 12:24 (NLT)

Learning to Love Your Enemies
Recently some thieves broke into a church belonging to the Tennet people and took most of the chairs. In past years, before the Tennet became Christians, they had specific customs for dealing with thieves. They would publicly call down curses from the spirits on those who had stolen from them, and then they would take their revenge. For generations, the Tennet have lived in fear of spirits and revenge attacks, because revenge often led to ongoing feuds.

But this is beginning to change as a team of Tennet language workers have been translating the Scriptures. Passages like Hebrews 12:24 are having an impact. People are realizing that God has different plans for them, plans of love and a better way of life. So, when news of the stolen chairs reached the church members, they did not react in the old way. Instead, they met together and prayed for the thieves.

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