of translation work and a new road

1 Peter 2:2 says that we are to “…desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” And Colossians 1:10 says, “That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

Thank you for praying for us as we work on the translation, we are on schedule to accomplish all the goals we set for ourselves during this trip.

Translation isn’t all about sitting here and pouring over the text. There are times of conversation from things that come up during the checking session. We were recently doing the initial check of the book of Amos and the passage about the plumb line caused our translation assistant to start thinking. He later said, “If someone else had come to teach us using the trade language Bible, we might have gotten saved but as for me, I wouldn’t have grown. I see that just like that plumb line how much exacting detail goes into the work on this translation. I realize all that we would not have understood if we hadn’t been taught in our own language.” Please pray for the translation process. We need wisdom to translate accurately.

There’s a road being built a few miles from us. The opportunity for employment to work on the road has drawn people to live near the road. Some have left our village for a new settlement on the road and no longer have as much interest in listening to the teaching of God’s word. Others have left areas where God’s Word doesn’t exist. They have moved to a village where there is a strong church and they have started listening to the teaching of God’s Word. When we heard this news it brought to mind that we’re all on a road of one kind or another. The question is, are we living our lives in search of worldly comfort? Or are we “walking worthy of the Lord… increasing in the knowledge of God?” Please pray for the Higaunon as they minister to their people. Pray for wisdom in dealing with members of their church who seem to have lost interest in God’s Word. Praise the Lord for the opportunity for people to hear God’s Word for the first time.

Thank you for praying for us and the ministry of the Higaunon church.

Secure in Christ’s love,

Lance & Laura