Excerpts from the Martins' Memos News Briefs - November, 2003

Martins' Memos News Briefs

Dallas, Texas

USA

November 2003


Lenore at Dallas Baptist University

Martin study programs proceeding well

Lenore reports that she is now engaged full time with her studies at Dallas Baptist University (DBU). She says, “Since DBU accepted all my previous college work, I am enjoying being able to focus on courses that relate directly to Special Education in general and to Reading Specialist in particular.”

Bill reports that he is continuing with his formal coursework and individual study. He adds, “I’ve now gotten experience working with four different programming languages. Like the benefits of learning several real human languages, each new computer programming language that I learn helps me gain insights and experience that will help in the future development of the Adapt It computer program” (see What is Adapt It? below).

Jason looking for employment

After graduation, Jason traveled to England and Canada to attend weddings of friends he knows from his school years in PNG. Now, he is looking at job options in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. He says, “It’s quite a challenge acquiring that first job in my field. Most of my prospects want 2-4 years experience. I’ve heard it said that ‘Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes’, and if that’s the case, then I’ve got ample experience. However, I probably can’t put that on my resume J. Needless to say, I’m fully trusting that God will bless my efforts in His time.”

What is Adapt It?

Adapt It is a new idea in software that makes it relatively easy for a person, or team of people who know two or more languages, to “adapt” or “translate” between those languages. Adapt It works best when the languages are related. The main objective of Bill’s study program has been to better equip him to fulfill his new role as co-developer of the Adapt It software. Bill has already been contributing to Adapt It’s development via email with Bruce Waters, who developed the original concept, and who resides at Kangaroo Ground, Australia. This coming year Bruce and Bill will be focusing on streamlining Adapt It, and designing versions that will work on low-power computers that use the Palm Operating System, and possibly Linux. Low-power computers can run for extended periods on battery power and so are much more suited for translation work in remote village locations. Adapt It is already being used in several dozen translation programs in various parts of the world

Thanksgiving season has special meaning for Martins

As the Thanksgiving Holiday approaches, Bill and Lenore wish to say a special thank you to their supporting partners. They say, “It never ceases to amaze us how the Lord takes care of our needs, which He does through our faithful partners! Although we have extra expenses related to our study programs, we are seeing them being met through the prayers and supporting gifts of our partners.”

Praise Items:

Prayer Items:

þ  Jason had wonderful times of reunion with friends on his trips to England and Canada. He also marveled at God’s creation, especially as he traveled and camped in Banff, Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

o  Pray for Jason as he seeks the Lord’s choice of employment for him. He is now facing the need to start paying off the student loans he accrued over the past 5 years at LeTourneau.

þ  Praise the Lord for His provision of strength and health.

o  Pray for Lenore and her doctor as she has minor surgery on November 7th to remove a couple suspicious spots from her skin. Late Note: One spot was benign. While the other was a basal cell cancer, the doctor was able to remove it completely. Praise the Lord!

þ  Praise the Lord that Bill was able to get a new laptop computer for Charles to replace his old one which died a couple months ago.

o  Pray for Charles and other Nyindrou people as they plan to attend a Scripture-Use Workshop at Ukarumpa in February. Pray also that Bill will be able to find someone to hand carry Charles’ new computer to PNG in the next few weeks.

In his grace,

Bill and Lenore Martin
Top of Page
Back to Newsletter Archives
Home Page