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Monthly Archives: August 2011

From Their Perspective

You often read about the excitement we feel when we deploy technology to accelerate Bible translation. But, have you ever wondered about the mother tongue translator’s reaction?

Recently, Mark Hancock, a member of our team, went to a South American country and installed a BGAN satellite for someone living in a remote region. Check out this video as he describes his reaction to this new tool. And, while you’re at it, check out the scenery, the house, surrounding this couple. We have so much, don’t we? Our colleagues have so little. It really is amazing.

 
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Posted by on August 23, 2011 in BGAN, Satellite, Video

 

Just can’t pass it up!

Some things are just too good to let go by!

I was in Orlando last week for team meetings and enjoyed a dinner with Dwight and Margaret Hartzler, a couple of my former Indonesia colleagues. Dwight and Margaret completed a New Testament translation and now both serve as translation consultants. And as old friend do, we began to reminisce about our Irian Jaya (now called West Papua) days.The topic soon turned to how much Sentani, where we lived in Papua, had changed. It was then that Margaret pulled out the picture below. I simply had to share it with you. Talk about culture clash!

What’s amazing is Anne and I and our daughters frequently visited and walked the paths of jungle villages like these. What’s even more amazing is that these are the people currently receiving God’s Word, not in Indonesia which they understand little of, but in their mother tongue.

The president of the ministry Anne and I served in for five years said that although people may be physically and/or mentally limited, the Holy Spirit is not. Likewise, although the world may consider these people of the stone age and backwards, God doesn’t. He loves them just like He loves us. And, Jesus died for them just like he died for you and I. And, just like us, they need His Word to grow in Christ.

But it sure does look funny getting there.

Dani with a computerClash of cultures – Dani with a computer

 
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Posted by on August 18, 2011 in Laptops

 

Growth in Hungary!

Our colleague Erna (back, far right) with some seekers in Hungary.

Working for Wycliffe Europe Area allows me to share in the varied work of others in my office. Wolfgang and Erna Binder carry dual roles as the Wycliffe Austria director as well as the Central and Eastern Europe Area director. They are a huge help with some of our newer offices which opened after the fall of communism.

Our Wycliffe Hungary office opened about 10 years ago. Every two years or so they put on a week-long event called, “Camp Wycliffe”. Those interested in Wycliffe Bible Translators can come and listen to not only information about our organization but vital lectures on knowing God’s Will.

This years Wycliffe Camp took place July 4 – 8 in Hungary. Wolfgang told us, “The group was smaller than in past years but there were a number of potential applicants. One of the participants, Lilla, who already speaks four languages, even told us on the last evening that she wants to become a Bible translator. So as a result of this camp at least one additional people group could be receiving the Word of God some day!

It was especially encouraging to meet three colleagues who had attended a camp like this two and four years ago, respectively, and have become members of Wycliffe in the meantime. So, after years of sowing,a time of harvest has come (Matthew 9:38).”

Praise God with us as new workers are being raised in countries we never dreamed would be open to the gospel just a few short years ago! It should remind me to continue to pray for other nations that seem “closed” right now.

 
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Posted by on August 12, 2011 in Europe, Wycliffe Europe

 

Accelerating Bible Translation

I love technology, not for technology’s sake, but for some of the ways it enhances our lives and makes it more productive. Yes, I’m also aware that technology sometimes complicates life, like when your computer won’t work like is should, when your email is hacked and your system starts sending out embarrassing messages, or in my case, when I carry the phone but can never seem to get it out of my pocket in time to answer a call.

Here is a link to a video where technology DOES work. And, it not only enhances a life but it accelerates Bible translation too.Take a look at it and simply think of the context —

  • someone living deep in the jungle using a BGAN satellite terminal
  • sends an email with attached translation data
  • via a communications satellite located (I’ve heard) 22,000 above the earth
  • to a translation consultant located thousands of miles away!

What’s even more amazing is that the consultant can send the corrected translation data back the NEXT day as one would do with any email.

Formerly, sending and receiving translation data via the post, hand carry, or other methods would take days, if not weeks or months. One translation consultant said that sometimes he would not hear from one of his mother tongue translators for a year! And now the process can take as little as a day. It’s amazing.

I praise God for this new technology. Take a few minutes to watch these video and I suspect you will too.

Take a moment and watch Accelerating Bible Translation for the Jiru and Levering Technology

 
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Posted by on August 5, 2011 in BGAN, Satellite, The Seed Company, Video