WE CAUGHT OUR BREATH…
The consultant check of Mark went well. We’re thankful for that. Since then we’ve been busy. We took a deep breath, and then starting preparing for…
THE MOTHER OF ALL CONSULTANT CHECKS…
Next week we will start a two-week marathon consultant check of 8 books:Â
- 1 Corinthians
- Philemon
- Hebrews
- 2 Peter
- 2 John
- 3 John
- Jude
- Revelation
Some of those books are small. Some are fairly long. Some are simple (Philemon), while others have very complex truths to communicate (e.g. Hebrews).
Many people think that Revelation would be the most difficult book. Surprisingly, it’s not! Since most of the book is narrative and symbolic, it’s much easier to translate than a complicated doctrinal book such as 2 Corinthians which contains sarcasm, etc. Or, don’t forget Hebrews, which was a challenge because the original recipients had such a deep understanding of the Mosaic Covenant, which the Palawanos lack.
Many of these books have been “in the pipe” for a few years. This is the final, permission-to-print check. So it’s a major milestone, and very important. We’re praying that everything goes well and the books check out as being comprehended very well. At the same time, we’re praying that anything that needs to be changed to make them more clearly understood will be discovered so we can change it!
5… 4… 3… 2…
We’re also excited because this is our next to last check! One more check like this in July, and that’s it. Rejoice with us about this!
As we’re said before, these checks are important, and can be mentally tiring for all involved. And there are logistical needs.
See our specific requests below.
PLEASE PRAY WITH US
- Clear thinking and STAMINA for the check (for us, and for the Palawanos helping)
- NO ELECTRIC POWER OUTAGES during the two weeks of checking
- That all the books would check out well
- That any needed revisions will be discovered
And continue to pray for God’s protection from…
- Break-ins, theft or failure of our computers, etc.
- Distracting family or financial problems for our TAs
God’s Word is getting closer to being in Palawano hands. Thanks again for your part in this ministry!
Reaching Palawanos together with you,
-Bill and Donna
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Davis Update Mark 20 – Consultant Check of Mark
AS THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES…
Today we begin the final consultant check of the Gospel of Mark. Please pray with us that will will go well and be a profitable time.
Our consultant, JJ Rasmussen, will ask Bill to read the book of Mark, one portion at a time, to several Palawano women. Then we will see how well they understand it by asking them to retell it and to answer questions about the meaning.
It’s fun… and mentally tiring for all involved.
See our specific requests below.
PLEASE PRAY WITH US
- Clear thinking and STAMINA for the check
- NO ELECTRIC POWER OUTAGES this week during the check
- That Mark would check out well
- That any needed revisions will be discovered
And continue to pray for God’s protection from…
- Break-ins, theft or failure of our computers, etc.
- Distracting family or financial problems for our TAs
- Moral or sin issues in the Palawanos’ lives
- Problems that might affect Bingbing and Mylene
These are exciting days for us. Thanks again for your part in this ministry!
Reaching Palawanos together with you,
-Bill and Donna
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Final Check of Mark
AS THE COUNTDOWN CONTINUES…
Today we begin the final consultant check of the Gospel of Mark. Please pray with us that will will go well and be a profitable time.
Our consultant, JJ Rasmussen, will ask Bill to read the book of Mark, one portion at a time, to several Palawano women. Then we will see how well they understand it by asking them to retell it and to answer questions about the meaning.
It’s fun… and mentally tiring for all involved.
See our specific requests below.
PLEASE PRAY WITH US
- Clear thinking and STAMINA for the check
- NO ELECTRIC POWER OUTAGES this week during the check
- That Mark would check out well
- That any needed revisions will be discovered
And continue to pray for God’s protection from…
- Break-ins, theft or failure of our computers, etc.
- Distracting family or financial problems for our TAs
- Moral or sin issues in the Palawanos’ lives
- Problems that might affect Bingbing and Mylene
These are exciting days for us. Thanks again for your part in this ministry!
Reaching Palawanos together with you,
-Bill and Donna
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Breaking News
BREAKING NEWS… PALAWANO TRANSLATION
God is working in exciting ways as we move into 2012. Lord willing, this is the year the Palawano New Testament will be published.
Three times recently we have seen “a daunting challenge” followed by “But God…”
Since our last update, we realized that printing the Palawano NT would cost more than we had estimated. A daunting challenge. But God has amazed us with many gifts pouring in this past month, and we reached the goal! We now have what we need to print 2,000 copies of the New Testament and to purchase 50 Talking Bible audio players.
Now, we are praying to be able to print an additional 500 copies, and to buy an additional 150 more Talking Bible audio players, and begin a comprehensive distribution strategy immediately after publication, rather than stretching distribution out over several years. This would total about $10,000. Any gifts toward this project should go to NTM, designated for the “S.W. Palawano Translation Fund, Philippines.”
We saw that it would be difficult to get everything ready by July. But God enabled us to change our typesetting schedule to September, so now there is plenty of time to get everything done.
And NTM did not have consultants available to check all of our last portions before July. But God took care of that. Once we changed the schedule, another consultant was available in July.
Problems solved, 1, 2, 3!
We’ll keep you posted on progress as we press toward the finish line.
BREAKING NEWS… GRANDCHILDREN
Our hearts broke (a little) when our two grandchildren returned to California after their visit. But we are so so thankful that our daughter Elisa and Chris were able to come to the Philippines with Max and Myri. We had an amazing and rich time with them. Elisa and Chris were even able to visit the village where she grew up in the tribe.
BREAKING NEWS… WELL, NOT REALLY
While the kids were here, Bill twisted his ankle and injured himself. We thought there might be a bone (or two) broken in his foot, but after an x-ray, we learned it was just a sprain. We’re so thankful for that!
Other health news… we have been helping several of our Palawano Translation Assistants (TAs) deal with sickness. One of our main translation check helpers was recently sick, then her daughter had tuberculosis, and now they are in town because her husband is very sick. Please pray for all the TAs to be healthy, especially in the coming months.
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE COMING MONTHS
- That we stay focused and close to the Lord each day
- Wisdom in finishing the last few books of the NT
- Remaining funds for additional Bibles and distribution, etc.
- A room for recording the audio version
- A good final consultant check of Mark (now in March)
- Health and safety for us, our pets, and the TAs
And pray for God’s protection from…
- Break-ins, theft or failure of our computers, etc.
- Distracting family or financial problems for our TAs
- Moral or sin issues in the Palawanos’ lives
- Problems that might affect Bingbing and Mylene
We appreciate your part in this ministry now more than ever. Thanks for standing with us.
Reaching Palawanos together with you,
-Bill and Donna
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Christmas and Translation
TRANSLATION UPDATE
Thanks to all who prayed. We have seen a real answer to prayer about the noise and interruptions all around us since our last update. God is good… and powerful. Keep us in prayer, please!
As the end of the year 2011 approaches, we are particularly thankful for two “gifts,” which are:
1) We are nearing the point where the last verse will be beyond the first draft stage. Bill has been working on the first draft of Matthew (with the Christmas story – very appropriate!) He hopes to be done with that step for Matthew before the end of this month.
and…
2) Elisa, Chris and our grandchildren Max and Myri are coming to visit in January! Looking forward to this has boosted our spirits like nothing else could!
WHAT’S COMING UP?
We turned in our “typesetting form” to the office of SIL in Manila. So that’s officially in process. Our deadline to take the Palawano New Testament to digital typesetting is July 2012, with a view to having it printed in August. We can start recording the audio for the Talking Bible version then. So all this means steady work until we meet the deadline.
2012 will be a huge year for the Palawano translation project, as we see it to completion and production. Pray with us about all these important details…
Funds For Printing, Recording and Distribution.
We need in the neighborhood of $25,000, in addition to the $6,000 already in the Translation Fund, to finish the translation, print the New Testaments, record the audio version and get distribution up and running. Through the years, many churches and individuals have expressed interest in being a part “when we reach that point.” Well, we’ve reached that point! These are exciting days. Any gifts toward this project should go to NTM, designated for the “S.W. Palawano Translation Fund, Philippines.”
An Affordable Soundproof Room
We need a suitable place for approximately 5 weeks to record the audio for the Talking Bible version of the Palawano New Testament (time frame: August-September 2012). There are some possibilities, but nothing certain. It has to be here in Puerto. A recording studio would work, but other possibilities would include a building that is isolated enough to have no traffic noise or crowing roosters, etc., in its vicinity.
Checking
The consultant check of the book of Mark has been rescheduled for early February because some of our Palawano TAs (Translation Assistants) were sick. We still need to schedule two additional checks for the final books of the New Testament and are working to coordinate that with the consultants now.
Continued Progress
We need a never-ending supply of health, energy and wisdom to keep the push going so we reach the goal and meet the deadline.
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE COMING MONTHS
- That we stay focused and close to the Lord each day
- Wisdom in translating the last few books of the NT
- Funds for printing, recording and distribution
- A room for recording the audio version
- A good final consultant check of Mark (now early February)
- Scheduling of the two remaining consultant checks
- Health and safety for us, our pets, and the TAs
And pray for God’s protection from…
- Break-ins, theft or failure of our computers, etc.
- Distracting family or financial problems for our TAs
- Moral or sin issues in the Palawanos’ lives
- Problems that might affect Bingbing and Mylene
We appreciate your part in this ministry now more than ever. Thanks for standing with us!
Reaching Palawanos together with you,
-Bill and Donna
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Time to Really Pray
TRANSLATION IS A BATTLE
We have been told by other translators that the final months of a translation project can be, well… daunting. In addition to the work and the pressure of a looming deadline, there is increased opposition by our enemy.
You can imagine. After holding the Palawanos in his grasp for millennia, Satan is not exactly thrilled for them to have God’s Word printed and available in their language.
Of course God is supreme (he wins in the end) and sovereign (nothing happens to us that our Father does not allow). So what the Lord wants us to do is to maintain our close connection with him more than ever. and to commit each step into his powerful, loving care.
So what this means is that for you and us both, now, more than ever is the…
TIME TO PRAY!
Please stand shoulder to shoulder in with us in prayer.
We are not paranoid, but we do realize the need for an greater level of taking initiative to commit everything to the Lord daily. There are so many things that can “go wrong” at this point in the work. We’ve seen it happen to others. And for ourselves recently, we have actually sensed an increased level of stress and opposition.
Here’s a partial list of what we’ve experienced so far:
- Horrendous noise from construction next to our house almost 24/7
- Our driveway/road frequently blocked
- The landlord wanted to raise our rent by 33%
- A number of loud all night parties (no sleep = little work the next day)
- Minor accidents and injuries
- Construction workers flirting and yelling crude comments at the Palawano girls
- Spiritual problems in some of our translation assistants
God has been faithful, and we’ve seen him provide solutions to each of these. But only after a time of trial and some fervent prayer. And when we feel it wearing us down, we go to the Lord and he gives renewed strength.
Because of the construction outside our gate for over a year now, our presence and routine are more well-known now to the construction workers. This means an increased risk of petty burglary. So we’re conscious of a sense of needing to be more careful.
We also realize that we’re not the only ones who might potentially be a target. There might be temptations or other situations to discourage or sideline our translation assistants (TAs). And this would be the worst possible time for either of the two girls, Bingbing and Mylene (who cook and care for the constant stream of TAs) to have a “romantic interest” here in town, which in this culture, would necessitate our sending them home to their parents. They are vulnerable to verbal or even physical assault here in town.
The list of prayer request below will be a little more extensive and specific than most. We’d like to ask you to bring all these before the Lord starting now and right up until the New Testament goes to the printers next year.
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE COMING MONTHS
- That we stay focused and close to the Lord each day
- Wisdom in translating the last few books of the NT
- A good final consultant check of Mark in late November
- Health and safety for us, our pets, and the TAs
And pray for God’s protection from…
- Break-ins, theft or failure of our computers, etc.
- Distracting family or financial problems for our TAs
- Moral or sin issues in the Palawanos’ lives
- Problems that might affect Bingbing and Mylene
We’re in this together… us, the Palawanos, you and of course our almighty Lord. He doesn’t ask us to go it alone, but he calls us to prayer. Thanks for your part!
Reaching Palawanos together with you,
-Bill and Donna
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