Customizing Bible Maps
Thank you for your prayers and support for the translation of God’s Word. We are excited to be done with most of the PDF proofing of the Simbari Bible. Our eyes have gotten fuzzy at times from long days of looking at our computer screens as we have identified thousands of small adjustments needed. Things like hyphenation, punctuation, spelling, indentations of OT quotes and even minor textual adjustments. Now we are working on the front and back matter. That includes things like the table of contents in the front and the map section in the back. We needed to customize all the maps to feature the Simbari way of spelling all the places that are in the translation.
We are thankful for our mission’s software programming team who created a program called, Map Creator, to simplify this process. We have used it in the past for making poster size teaching aids for the village. And now the software has really streamlined the creation of maps for the back of the Simbari Bible. The software team is working on a new project to help speed along the work of learning new languages – you can check out their current project here: https://ethnos360.org/projects/cla-software
Once the formatters have made all the adjustments from our notes, they will order us a hard-copy sample book to look over the formatting. It is important for us to be able to see it on paper and make sure everything looks good before ordering large quantities. Even though the sample will not be printed on the special thinner Bible paper it will still help us to see how the formatting is going to look in print.
Remembering a Beloved Co-Worker
On Nov. 6th our former co-worker Dennis Best went home to be with the Lord after a battle with cancer. When we moved into the Simbari tribe in 1991 we joined Dennis and Jeanne Best who had already been serving there for many years. We had the privilege of working together until 1997. Dennis was a huge help to us as we were first learning the Simbari language and we may not have made it past those early difficult days if it wasn’t for him. Dennis and his family have continued to be extended members of our ministry team and of our family and we will miss him. A couple of weeks ago we travelled out to Florida to attend his memorial. It was a blessing to see Jeanne and many family and friends again. Please pray for Jeanne and her family in the days to come.
Current Status
As of December 1st we have “retired” from 30 years of living in PNG, but we will continue as members of Ethnos360. This status change gives us the freedom to work on the Simbari ministry from our home area in California where we can be around to help David’s elderly parents. That is what we have already been doing for several years so it is not much of a change for us. We will continue working on more Bible translation, media, and lessons while making annual trips to PNG to work with the Simbari church leadership. Our heart for serving the Simbari people remains the same and we realize the weight of responsibility resting on us as the only ones able to develop new heart-language resources for the Simbari church.
Christmas Message
Reading through the first chapter of John in the Simbari Bible last week we couldn’t help but marvel again at the wonderful message we celebrate this time of year. In Simbari in begins like this: “Aiyoga muuduꞌnodo toga Yogalo tool amjomwekelabiyajukekono,” John 1:1,14 says: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” The Word of God that created the world came to save that world and His name is Jesus.
Blessings to you all as you celebrate Him this year.
Love, David and Shari