Martins' Memos |
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| Duncanville | Texas, USA |
April 2020 |
It is amazing how quickly our lives can be impacted by changes in the world around us! We are thankful for our leaders and health care experts and are abiding by their wise counsel.
From the beginning of the current COVID-19 health crisis, however, I (Bill) have felt that the term “social distancing” was a very unfortunate use of words, fraught with unintended meanings. I was glad to see that in late March the World Health Organization is “changing the phrase social distancing to physical distancing”. We hope that change makes sense to you too, and that your family, your social, and spiritual relationships will grow ever deeper in Christ who promises to be with us through it all!
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Practicing physical distancing in our back yard
with Joel, Rebecca (behind camera), and grandchildren Sam, Lily, and Mari
Every Spring in Texas we are blessed by the beauty that God provides all around us. With more than double the amount of rain we usually receive by this time of the year, the trees are all awakening from their winter slumber with glorious blossoms and different shades of green leaves. A highlight of the season is when the bluebonnets are out in full force.
Enjoying the bluebonnets are Jason and Anne’s kids, Jachin, Saoirse, Kaya, Caellum and Torin.
Here is Wycliffe USA’s Response to COVID-19 (March 25 2020):
“As partners in the work of Bible translation, we know you care deeply about the health and safety of our staff, partners and those we serve. Wycliffe leaders have been carefully monitoring information and guidelines regarding coronavirus (COVID 19).
“In order to do our part to “flatten the curve” and reduce the impact of this virus, Wycliffe USA’s Orlando headquarters has closed for most staff through April 17. However, we continue to maintain all operations at this time. The rest of our Orlando-based staff will be working remotely. All work-related travel for our staff is suspended indefinitely. The Wycliffe Discovery Center and Wycliffe Cafe at our headquarters will also be closed during this time. These closures and restrictions may be extended.
“Our Wycliffe team is cooperating closely with our partners around the world to determine how to best care for our globally-distributed staff. Additionally, we will not be sending Wycliffe missionaries who are currently in their home country back to their countries of assignment at this time.
“While we know that this global pandemic has likely disrupted your daily routine and may be stirring up fear and concern in your heart, as believers we also know that we can always rest in the truth of God’s redemptive, eternal love for us. As we face challenges, we’re grateful for technology that allows us to keep our work moving forward and keeps us connected to one another.
“We invite you to pray with us during this tumultuous time. Ask that God would continue to move the work of Bible translation forward through our staff so that those still waiting can experience God’s comfort through Scripture in a language that speaks to their heart.”
The first case of COVID-19 in Papua New Guinea (PNG) was confirmed on March 20th. A foreigner of Italian origin tested positive for the virus on March 20th after arriving in PNG from Spain. The victim has since been air evacuated to Australia and 10 people known to have had contact with the victim are in isolation in the city of Lae. Life in PNG is being impacted much like it is here in the USA. Unfortunately, the health care system in PNG has been in a state of decline for many years, and they are ill prepared to handle any health crisis on the scale of the current pandemic. On March 19th the Prime Minister (PM) of PNG addressed the Nation via Facebook about the crisis, and ended with these words:
...Lastly and not the least my greatest thank you to Yahweh God Almighty of Papua New Guinea Who has protected us for thousands of years we have been here up till today.
As PM, I can’t claim credit for the absence of corona in PNG thus far but give credit , honor, glory and thanks to God Almighty. I thank all Christians who have been praying and I ask you all to dedicate the worship hours this weekend to fasting and praying.
Firstly thank God for His mercy and watch over us thus far, and secondly for His continual care for us and also for all human hands and minds to prepare for the season of calamity we are in.
Some of you may think otherwise but I am nothing, you and me are nothing without God that created us, only He sustains us.
If you are fearful, go back to God who made you and gave you life in the first instance. ( please forgive me , I am no saint to tell you all this but I will not be doing my job too if I don’t tell you what I know).
Having said this may I assure all, whilst God will protect us, humanly speaking your government that I lead will do everything to STOP entry, STOP spread and STOP death.
God bless Papua New Guinea.
James Marape MP
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
The Prime Minister has since that time asked the PNG Government to shut down the
transportation system nation-wide and all schools in the country. Most
businesses are also closed. Unlike much of the rest of the world, PNG has almost
no ability to “work from home”, nor to access resources via electronic means.
Pray for the people of PNG, and our SIL colleagues working there who are under
lock-down. Many Bible translation programs are not likely able to make progress
under such conditions.
In an email from Charles Kowak on March 31st he says Manus people are fearful
but safe for now.
All members of the Adapt It software development team are accustomed to working remotely from home, so our work continues on both the mobile and desktop versions of the Adapt It program. Bruce Waters and I are currently working on a major update that we hope to release within the next few weeks.
Lenore had her annual lab tests and checkup with her oncologist last month. We all are rejoicing that she received a good report and remains cancer free.
On February 12th I was shaving at the mirror in our bathroom when I suddenly felt dizzy and felt like the room was spinning violently back and forth. I managed to get to the bed and lie down, and asked Lenore to call the paramedics. By the time the paramedics arrived I felt much better. The paramedics checked my blood pressure, blood sugar, and conducted other tests to detect any signs of a heart problem or stroke. The tests did not show any obvious signs of a serious condition, so we declined to be transported to the local hospital that day. The next day, after experiencing a couple milder dizzy spells and consulting with our family doctors, we decided I should go to the ER at the local hospital. There they did more extensive testing including blood work, chest x-ray, electro-cardiogram and a CT scan of my head. All tests turned out to be “un-remarkable.” We all got a chuckle that my brain turns out to be “un-remarkable”. The ER doctor concluded that I had likely experienced some spells of vertigo due to some debris getting into the wrong part of my inner ear, and suggested I get more tests done if the condition ever returns. The experience was quite a shock as I had never experienced anything like that before. My neurologist is arranging a more detailed MRI scan of my head and inner ears that is planned for later in April.
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| Decorating the traditional gingerbread house on Christmas day 2019 | Joel with PhD in hand at his graduation from the University of Texas at Arlington on December 14th |
We are claiming the Lord’s promise:
For the mountains may depart,
and the hills be removed;
but my loving kindness will not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace will not be removed,”
says Yahweh who has mercy on you.
Isaiah 54:10 (WEB)
May the Lord grant you peace, safety and good health as you trust in Him and His promises. We thank you for your prayers and encouragement!
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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