This picture is just a small part of the translation team. I head up the project, but I would be helpless without the help of many Isnag speakers who help with various parts of the translation process. The five Isnag in this picture are only a few of the many who provide expertise in language and culture needed to make the translation clear and meaningful.
Then of course there are the other missionaries like Vicky (pictured above) and Heidi who also play important roles in the translation process. JJ Rasmussen, on the left, is the translation consultant assigned to guide me and check the translation.
Last week we put in many long days checking the book of Acts. JJ is from the Faroe Islands and is currently living in Italy, so we only get onsite visits once every year or two and were trying to get as much done as possible while he was here.
On Friday morning, it became evident that we were going to be about 6 hours short of being able to finish checking the book of Acts on site because JJ had a flight to catch in town the following day and the weather was unstable. But JJ had an idea. We could fly Heidi and I and the language helpers out to town and work into the night and early the next morning before his flight.
On short notice, Heidi packed for our trip and Zach, our pilot, made two flights and got the whole group out to town. We got in our final 6 hours and finished the consultant check of the book of Acts an hour and a half before JJ had to be at the airport.
Who’s on the translation team? The pilot of course. How could we have finished without him?
While we were considering requesting the flights Heidi said that our supporters have already given us funds sufficient to pay for these extra flights.
Who’s on the translation team? Our faithful supporters and those who pray for us.
Thank you extended translation team! We couldn’t do it without you.
• Please pray for JJ as he moves on to work with two other translators and their teams in the following weeks.
• Please pray for me as I incorporate the many helpful suggestions JJ gave into our translation.
• Praise: The children’s Bible story book in Isnag has been approved and should be sent to the printer this week.
God bless,
Jonathan & Heidi