MINISTRY
New Tribes Mission Asia-Pacific
In April and May I helped lead a workshop here in Florida that was attended by about a dozen Bible translators who work in nearly that many countries around the world. Each of us who were consultants worked closely with the translators as we worked through translation issues faced in the first six chapters of Romans. After the workshop I began planning my Fall trip to the Asia-Pacific region. During September and October I will be checking Scripture in the Dao, Wano, and Moi languages, followed by a different consultant coming to check our translation of Romans, 2 Corinthians and 1 Peter in the Tugutil language. So, I have begun evaluating the ‘back-to-English’ translation (BTE) of those Scripture portions. Also, I am preparing comprehension questions specific to each passage, which I will ask the native speakers after they have heard those passages read to them in their own language.
SCHOOLING
One Year to Go!
Debbie concluded her semester at Seminole State College, where she is in the Physical Therapist Assistant program. She continues to do well in the program, getting almost all A’s so far. After just a few days off she started her first internship, which involves her working 40 hours per week at a Rehabilitation Center under the instruction of a Physical Therapist. Her next semester of classes will begin August 26th. Her graduation from the program will be May 2014!
FAMILY
On May 11th our daughter Michelle graduated Magna Cum Laude from Grace College in Indiana with a Bachelor’s degree in Inter-Cultural Studies (and a minor in Counseling / Psychology). So Debbie and I made the trip up to Indiana for the very special occasion of her commencement. We also had a chance for a brief visit with our son Steve and his three daughters while we were in the area. Debbie’s dad, John McDole, drove over from Pennsylvania to attend the commencement as well. He is currently serving as the interim pastor of the little church that he pastored 45 years ago before coming into New Tribes Mission. After bringing Michelle back down to Florida from Indiana for a week, I helped her move to Birmingham AL, where she had landed a job as a Patient Care Technician at a treatment facility that helps women with eating disorders. This job was a real answer to prayer, since she didn’t have any clear direction or full-time job offers just two months before her graduation. Another blessing is that she shares an apartment with two friends and former fellow students from Grace College who also were hired by the same facility. Last but not least, Debbie and I celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary on May 31st!
