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But What If They Can’t Read?

31 May

Have you ever jolted by a simple question? A question that makes you sit up and rethink what you’ve been doing for the last 22 years?

Anne and I have been serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators for 22 years now and are committed to getting God’s Word in the hands of the Bibleless people of the world so they could read it in their mother tongue, the language that speaks to their heart. Changed lives are the result. But, then the question suddenly jolted us …

What if they can’t read?

How does the estimated 20 plus percent of the world’s population learn about Jesus if they cannot read and understand the Bible? Thankfully, Faith Comes By Hearing, another Wycliffe partner organization, is committed to reaching the nations with the Word of God in audio, offering the Bible in a format that will connect with the world’s illiterate population.

What if he couldn't read?

What if he couldn’t read?

Click on the link to read more and understand the potential impact Faith Comes By Hearing can have. And then, similar to someone living in an oral only culture, pass it on to others.

More thought provoking literacy facts:

Read the rest of this entry »

 
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Posted by on May 31, 2012 in SIL, Website

 

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Accelerating Bible translation with BTAKs and solar panels

16 May

Wycliffe USA just released an article entitled, “Wycliffe Associates Connects Bible Translators in Isolated, Dangerous Regions with Satellite Communication” describing what the TechAdvance team I serve with does. Take a peek. I think they’ve communicated far better than I ever have regarding of some of the exciting activities our has team has recently been involved in.

My colleague, Phil Harms, recently released a solar panel installation video of the kits our team has created and are deploying in areas lacking sufficient electrical power. The video explains what the kit consists of and how easy it is to install.

Go ahead, take a look. It gives a good idea of how and where our team is accelerating the process of getting God’s Word into the hands of the Bibleless people of the world. It’s not easy and frankly, it’s not always safe. But mother tongue Bible translators, and ultimately the Bibleless people of the world, are waiting.

Are you interested in helping us deploy these BTAKs around the world? If you can’t go yourself, maybe you could join our prayer and/or financial team and keep us keeping on. You can find additional information here.

 
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Posted by on May 16, 2012 in Ken, News Article, Wycliffe Associates

 

Bible Translation Game! Win Prizes!

09 May

Do you like games? Would you like to win great prizes while learning more about Bible Translation? Wycliffe is launching an interactive online game called “In Other Words” on May 14, 2012.

Each day over a four-week period , a new Bible knowledge or Bible translation trivia question will be posted and participants will have the opportunity to earn points by answering the question correctly. Players will earn points faster by recruiting others to join their team.

Players with the most points and those who recruit the most players will enjoy a friendly competition for weekly prizes and a grand prize at the conclusion of the game—a trip for four to Orlando to visit the Wycliffe Discovery Center and a selection of Orlando’s finest tourist attractions.

While Wycliffe staff and their immediate family are not eligible to win the grand prize, the top recruiting member or employee will win an iPad. So if you play….we could win too!

Sign up and enjoy the game! Promote it at your church too!

www.wycliffewords.org

 

 
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Posted by on May 9, 2012 in Website, Wycliffe

 

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India slideshow

27 Apr

At 1.1 BILLION people, I found India to be land of contrast. Here is just a small sample of India life and culture.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 
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Posted by on April 27, 2012 in India, NLCI, Wycliffe Associates

 

Follow the plane!

19 Apr

Bruce makes some purchases for his long trip.

Due to the high cost and scarce availability of Avgas (Aviation Gas) in Cameroon, Africa, some of the airplanes that missionaries use are being upgraded to a jet fuel burning turbine aircraft. This type of gas is more available in this country. Yesterday, JAARS pilots Bruce Powell and Tom Beekman began the 4 day ferry flight of a Cessna 207 across the Atlantic to Cameroon. Bruce is the father of some of Christine’s high school friends and Tom served as a pilot with us in Indonesia for many years.

You can track this flight as it goes across the world!  Will you please pray for these two men and their families? It is a long trip!  You can follow them on their journey by going to www.jaars.org, or to the following link:

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0Bt7W6rZD2ZYQ00Bvf8IjFjhUzJH2PFZv

 
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Posted by on April 19, 2012 in JAARS, Uncategorized

 

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Training–Challenges and Blessings

14 Apr

This past week, our Indian colleagues here in Bangalore walked us through the steps of Bible translation,  and together we identified which Paratext functions are used by the mother tongue translators at each specific point in the process. Then we created sample web-based video and paper training materials. These were translated into Malayalam and Hindi, two of the major languages of India.

Later in the week, we met with a group of about a dozen mother tongue translators for them to put the training materials to the test. We used this time to observe and evaluate. Some issues were identified that need fixing, but the translators, translation project facilitators and coordinators were enthusiastic about what has been done so far. Please pray for everyone involved in developing these materials so the end result will be effective in training the translators.

Larry_recording_audio

Larry, from the training department at Wycliffe Associates, captures an audio recording of a training module script. This audio in the Malayalam language was combined with the video to create a training module.

Ken_Russ_preparing_printed_materials

While Larry worked on video training modules, Russ and I prepared printed materials that cover the same topics as the videos.

Young girls on video training

These girls learn Bible translation software via video using audio translated in their mother tongue. Next, they will compare the video training with paper training. It didn't take long to see their enthusiasm after hearing the audio in their own language!

Training via paper lesson

The young girls now take the same lesson via paper (including many screen shots). The results of the training and their feedback will help us adapt the training process to better serve their specific needs.

Evaluating learning process

I stood over top of the girls' shoulders and observed their learning via both the video and the paper lessons and reported back to Larry. The feedback proved to be valuable in adapting future lessons.

evaluating_training_video

Mother tongue translators test a video training module that teaches how to use special software for Bible translation.

This afternoon (Sunday, April 15th) we fly to New Delhi to spend four days with another Indian organization also involved in Bible translation. Larry will be testing a different set of training materials with their translation teams, while Russ and I focus on training two of their new computer support staff so they will be prepared to support Bible translators. We plan to fly back to Bangalore on Thursday evening, wrap up here on Friday, and head home that night after midnight.

Traveling to a foreign culture has its’ own set of challenges. But, working with our Indian colleagues and watching the excitement of having Bible translation training materials in their mother tongue, knowing that it will help them become more efficient translators, easily overcomes them all.

Thank you for praying. And, thank you as well for being a part of the Bible translation team. We are an encouragement to our brothers and sisters all around the world and surely are accelerating Bible translation, the process of putting God’s Word in the Bibleless people of the world.

 
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Posted by on April 14, 2012 in India, NLCI

 

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Bible Translation–Mission Impossible Style

10 Apr

“Your task, Mother Tongue Translator, is to translate each book of the New Testament into your language, that which speaks to your heart. If you choose to accept it, the work will be difficult and time-consuming, but the completed task has the potential to save many, many lives. The message, unlike Ethan Hunt’s, will not NOT self-destruct in 10 seconds, but instead, may leave a legacy for years to come. Good luck.”

If you took the challenge where would you begin to translate the New Testament?

12 Steps of Translation

12 Steps of Bible Translation

The Bible translation task has many challenging steps to it and one needs to be thorough in each. But, although you may not be versed (no pun intended) in the Bible translation process itself, the chances are you bring some prerequisite skills to the table.  At the very least, you know how to turn a computer on, use a mouse, and open and close programs. But, what if you had never touched a computer or, better yet, even seen one? Where do we begin training mother tongue translators, committed to bringing God’s Word to their people group, that are just like this? Where do we begin?

We begin with small steps, first teaching very basic computer utilization skills. Using Solitaire or computer games to teach mouse skills, and then progressing to how to use Bible translation programs like Paratext, specifically designed for that purpose.

Today, we walked through the steps of the translation process and identified which Paratext functions are used by the Mother Tongue Translators at each specific point in the process. The next step will be to create web-based or paper training material for them. Benjamin, our Indian colleague,  did a great job leading the discussions.

Benjamin

Benjamin

Our Indian colleagues are working under some very challenging conditions. Jayakumar (shown below displaying a Paratext feature) and Benjamin (above) are the only two computer support staff providing technical support to 22 language projects. That means that these two servants provide language and computer technical support to a total of 45 translators and 12 to 15 Language Project Facilitators & Language Project Coordinators. Additionally, they provide technical support to office staff who use multiple office computers.

Jayakumar

Jayakumar

This is why we’re here. Lending a hand, coming along side, and supporting. Just like you do for us. Thanks for praying.

 
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Posted by on April 10, 2012 in India, Tech Support, Wycliffe Associates

 

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India – Day 2

09 Apr

Woke up this morning at 4:30 AM and couldn’t get back to sleep. I’m still jet-lagged so I could have used the sleep. On the other hand, the hour in the morning allowed me some uninterrupted time alone with God and in my Bible. An hour of reading God’s Word and prayer is so refreshing that it makes me wonder why I don’t MAKE time for it more often. Wish I had an answer.

My colleagues and I starting our meetings today with our Indian counterparts. Each day starts out with a 20 minute devotion, today’s being from Luke 20:19-20, which follows the parable of wicked tenants. We were broken into four groups thereafter, each group given a series of thought-provoking questions to answer. My group was given the following ones, worthy of repeating here…

  1. What makes a church or an individual Christian throw away the capstone of their faith?
  2. What did Jesus want to say to the leaders of the Christian church through this parable?
  3. What does Jesus want to say to you and I personally through this parable?
Devotions

One of our colleagues sharing a parable from Luke 20:19-20 using pictures to represent the major points of the story

I won’t share some of the answers they came up with but challenge you to think them through on your own. I can say with all integrity though, that some of the comments from my Indian colleagues really got me to thinking and challenged my socks off.

How does one write a thrilling blog entry about a meeting? Doesn’t seem too exciting today from my perspective. Writing about a meeting never is. This is until you realize who’s across the table from you and the long-term impact of what we’re trying to accomplish for God’s Kingdom. Then, what can compare?

Language Project Facilitators

Larry Sallee, a WA trainer, discusses training techniques with our counterparts that are responsible for one or more mother tongue translators.

Ken overlooking Larry's shoulder

I am looking over Larry's shoulder as he demonstrates web-based training modules designed to teach Bible translation software utilization to mother tongue translators and their coordinators.

 
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Posted by on April 9, 2012 in India, Tech Support, Wycliffe Associates

 

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India – Day 1

08 Apr

My colleague and I departed home for the Charlotte airport on Good Friday, April 6, around 10:15 AM for our 1:45 flight. First stop – Cincinnati where I have the privilege of sharing a meal with my daughter and son-in-law, Christine and Dan. What a blessing to spend even a precious hour with them. Next stop – Paris.

We depart for Paris, arriving there around 8:30 AM, sleepy and stiff, after an 8.5 hour flight. As short and stocky as I am, I find it difficult to difficult to sleep on the plane. I can’t imagine how tall people have to bend their bodies to adjust to the limited space!

The third leg of the journey is the Paris to Bangalore flight, another 9.5 hours. Already somewhat tired, we arrive at 11:35 PM. We are dead last to proceed through immigration, and pick up our luggage. By the time we  drive from the airport to the hotel, it’s 1:30 AM. I take a quick, cool, shower and place this weary body in the bed some time around 2:00 AM Bangalore time. Total flight time is estimated to be 19.5 hours; total travel time approximately to 24 or more. One looses count after a while as time and space start blending together.

Breakfast is delivered to the door at 8:30 AM. Although not much to look at, a fried egg, toast, and coffee never tasted so good!

Breakfast

Breakfast

Although I’ve experienced this in other locations I’ve lived so one would think that I am used to it but I find that a quick walk down the street easily assaults the senses. Traffic jams, honking horns, broken sidewalks, temples, food vendors, and you name it line the streets. I have to be keenly aware of my surroundings. Indians drive on the left side of the road so being especially careful to cross the street is a must.

Hindu temple

Hindu temple

Roadside Chicken coop

Roadside Chicken coop

Road outside hotel

Road outside hotel

Tonight I’ll experience another first – riding in the three wheeled green and yellow cart seen in the picture above – as we travel to the local Kentucky Fried Chicken. Can’t wait.

 
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Posted by on April 8, 2012 in India, Wycliffe Associates

 

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Ken is on his way to India

06 Apr

I just dropped Ken and his colleague, Russ Perry, off at the Charlotte airport. They are on their way to India! This is a first trip to that large country for Ken. They plan on visiting two Indian organizations. We are partnering with them to provide IT technical support for 50 new Bible translation projects that are starting there.  Those 50 new projects represent 45% of the remaining translation needs in India!

Russ wrote on his blog: “One organization has asked us to help them develop training methods and materials that will be used to teach mother tongue translators how to use a computer program that was created specifically for translating the Bible. The other organization has asked us to help train their technicians who will provide computer support for mother tongue translators. Please pray that solid relationships will be formed, that we will communicate well, and that God will guide our partnership team to the most effective ways to provide the training to those who need it.”

They return home in two weeks. We’ll try to keep you updated as I hear from Ken. Thanks for praying!

 
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Posted by on April 6, 2012 in Ken, Tech Support, Wycliffe Associates

 

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