What’s the word?
Since finishing up the back-translation of the book of Ruth a few weeks ago, David has been updating the Simbari lexicon and related docs. There always seems to be something more urgent that needs done but it was time to revisit the grammar and linguistics writeups for much needed updating to modern linguistic standards. We want to leave a useful record of what we have learned about the Simbari language over 30+ years. This is no small task, but it is a little easier now thanks to the many available materials on the internet. Back in the days before the internet when we were originally analyzing the language, our references were limited to books on hand or on compact disc. Simbari has a lot of morphological complexity. Verb root compounding is common, and the verbs have both lexical and epistemic modality clitics, as well as subject and object affixes and they host a full paradigm of person-gender-number pronominal anaphoric clitics. There are over 1000 entries for articles (specific, non-specific, emphatic) in the lexicon due to all the inflection that can occur such as anaphora, cases, diminutives and augmentatives etc. Cases like: possessive, accusative, ablative, comitative, illative, prolative, locative, vocative, contrastive, comparative and more. Anyway, there are labels for grammar/linguistic features that occur in many different places that all need checked and updated if necessary. Pray for wisdom.
Interface
We had the opportunity to help the Ethnos360 Interface program with transfers at LAX airport. Interface is a five- to six-week college-level missions course in Papua New Guinea or Brazil. Participants discover what cross-cultural church planting is all about by learning from experienced missionaries and interacting with indigenous people. One young man we helped a few years ago recently wrote us to let us know that hearing our story was part of what challenged him to enter training to become a full-time church planter. It is so encouraging to see the next generation picking up the torch to reach the nations with the Gospel. (Follow Interface social media: Instagram).
Shari’s Travels
Shari spent a couple of weeks with her family in Florida so she could be with her mom for Mother’s Day. She was very thankful for a blessed time with family and friends there. After a week or so at home she is ready for her ministry trip to Greece. Here is an update from her about the trip:
“It’s hard to believe that in just a couple of days I will be heading to Athens, Greece with a team from our church. We would really appreciate your prayers as there have been some last-minute changes concerning where we will be staying and how we will be serving among the refugees. Please pray for good health and safety as we travel by plane, train, and car, and that we would be flexible and used by the Lord to refresh and encourage our brothers and sisters who serve the Lord there. Pray also that God would be preparing the hearts of the refugees we will be serving, that they would see the love of Christ through our team and be drawn to Him. Thank you so much for your prayers!”
David and Shari
ps. Interested in global missions? Consider a conference called “The Lord Who Sends” to be held in Oct 2026. Check out this link to learn more: 2026 National Conference / MISSIONARY