It is important for us that you count yourself as part of "we". As we work on computers or run sound for services,teach children or host bible study or whatever it is we do, YOU are part of WE.
As I lift the volume on someone speaking, I'm supporting them communicating their message to the room.
As you pray and financially support us, as you write us, we are supported, you lift us up.
But as I press keys and turn knobs, I usually see an instant result. For many of the translators there is not an instant result. Their work is hard.
Today during our morning of prayer, where the community gets together for 3-4 hours of prayer, we heard a few stories.
I will highlight 2 shortly.
One translator couple early in their project, (which can be over 20 years) had a run in with bees. The wife got stung as a child and never had a reaction, but in the village 20 years ago, she stepped on a bee, and went into an allergic reaction. She watched as the poison spread up her leg and she swelled, went numb, and was told she couldn't stay.
Years after that occurrence they delivered the first translated book of the Gospel to their language group. The people were less than enthused, no one was interested. It was greatly discouraging to them (this is where support staff play an important part, in encouraging, and helping.. outside of their normal job). Years later, they returned with a finished translation of Luke. A church service began and the time for testimonies was called, all the nationals gave head nods to the husband as if to say "time to read from your new Bible!" Now normally this church didn't have youth in it, but this time the church was packed with young and old alike. So he stood up, and passed out the Luke in their language. As he read people began to laugh, women were shaking heads in agreement. There was such an overwhelming response because people were happy to be reading the world. There was laughter and joy and excitement.
In the same way the first bee sting she received didn't have an effect, neither did the first translation they did. However the second one, slowly built until it changed a community, infecting it with God's joy!
It's a ministry of endurance.
The second story is a 15 year before and after.
When this one couple got to their assignment (we'll call him Mark), the husband and his friend needed a guide to get to a village. NO one was interested in guiding them, not for pay, not for anything. No one was excited about the prospect of getting the Word, or a landing strip. It was utterly discouraging. SO.. the two men, left their wives to try and go into the jungle alone without a guide. Tom and Mark asked "at least, point us in the right direction?" And they went out into the bush. Two days of rain, getting totally lost, and dehydrated, they wandered around in the jungle. They finally found a stream and followed it to a river, which they had to hide from a crocodile, and arrived in bad condition, at the village they were aiming at. For two days these men were lost in the jungle.
Imagine the discouragement and sense of failure during this time. You've trained for years, raised partners and support, and stepped out.. and the people... aren't glad you came, to top it off, you nearly die out in the jungle, lost.
But God prevailed. 15 years later, the New Testament was delivered to a people who not only were excited for it, but could now read, had dictionaries, and it completely changed the entire village and surrounding areas. As discouraging as it was for Mark that first trip, was how encouraging it was for their final trip. The change in the heart of the people because of God's Word was overwhelming.
This is God's work, WE (you, me, and the translators and everyone involved) are honored to be involved in it.
Thanks for being we with us.
