Martins' Memos |
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| Duncanville | Texas, USA |
September 2018 |
Texas has an abundance of bugs that can make vegetable gardening here a challenge. Some bugs gravitate to certain vegetables like the caterpillar below that can quickly strip the delicate leaves off parsley plants.
Software too can get “bugs”. For several months I’ve been tracking down and dispensing with a few “bugs” that interfere with the proper functioning of the Adapt It translation software. We released one bug-fix update in August, and just released another one already in September.
No snake bites to report in this letter! Jason, however, did recently catch and kill a young rattlesnake just inches away from where he and the grandkids were playing in their back yard. It was about the same size, and was possibly a cousin of the one that bit Jason about 3 years ago (see picture below).
Such events can be unnerving to say the least. Since that event, 2-year-old Caellum, has been pointing out every small bug he sees, calling them a “snake!” Incidents like these remind us that our safety and well-being are truly in the hands of the Lord who loves us!
Charles Kowak reports that his trip to Brisbane, Australia April 16-23rd went well. We haven’t heard the details yet, but we understand that Rotary International shipped a container of goods to help furnish a training center classroom on Manus Island. Charles is currently busy with meetings at the PNG Bible Translation Association (BTA) headquarters in Port Moresby – where he functions as the Language Program Coordinator for the Manus region. Continue to pray for him and his associates that they will have good health and safety during their travels and that the Lord would give them wisdom as they plan to help meet the Bible translation needs of the 29 Manus people groups.
Last month (on August 11, 2018), the Keliko people group in South Sudan dedicated the translation of the New Testament in the Keliko language. The Keliko homeland is in South Sudan, but due to unrest many community members now live as refugees in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The translators, including Bishop Seme, the Episcopal bishop of the diocese where the Keliko live, had labored through 20 years of civil war and unrest. SIL Sudan provided technical and advisory support throughout that period, but the project clearly belonged to the Keliko church, born of a vision by Bishop Seme’s grandfather in 1983.
Church leaders, local government dignitaries and international visitors had a common theme running through their speeches: peace. Just the week before the dedication, the warring parties in South Sudan had signed a peace agreement. Now the Keliko, who have lived in conflict zones for so many decades, are trusting that the peace of God and the God of peace will go before them and open the way to return to their homeland.
Joel, Rebecca, Mari (right), Sam (left), Lily (center)
Jason, Anne, Torin
(top), Kaya (bottom),
Jachin (right), Caellum (left)
On trip celebrating Bill’s 71st birthday
Since 2012, Lenore has been going twice per week to Fit Steps For Life – a free exercise program for those who have had cancer. Participants are encouraged to bring a spouse or friend. Our exercise specialist is Ryan Orme (center front in photo above).
Fit Steps For Life exercise group
One of our Adapt It development team members, Graeme Costin, recently made a video about Adapt It for Mission Gift Day at his church – St. Stephens - located in the Sydney, Australia area. Here is a link to that video:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/yn14p4b0wf5ep6w/St%20Stephens%202018-4-2.mp4?dl=0
We thank you for your prayers, partnership and encouragement!
| Your servants in His grace, |
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“And God is able to give you more than you need, so that you will always have all you need for yourselves and more than enough for every good cause. (2 Corinthians 9:8).
“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3)
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