wwwwwIn the time of Daniel the prophet, the ancestors of the Tenek people of central Mexico were founding the mighty Mayan empire. Their cities, dotted with great pyramids, are still being uncovered today. Throughout their nearly three millennia of history however only a handful of this great race has ever responded to the love of God. Now things are changing. A number of small churches have been planted by national believers and work has begun on a sound, readable translation of the Scriptures. Three times in the past year, BI consultants Ross and Cathy Hodsdon have worked with Pastor Fernando Angeles on the Gospel of Mark, completing its check the first of December. There were shouts of joy when that milestone was reached.

wwwwwThe final workshop, however, was not held in the Mexican village of Santa Marta that had hosted the first two. Instead, it was held in the state of Maine complete with subfreezing temperatures and a foot of new snow. Santa Marta is a lovely village, but the constant interruptions and hot, humid conditions had greatly limited the daily study time there. For those reasons, it was decided that Fernando and his wife Christy would travel north of the boarder to Maine instead of the Hodsdons returning to Santa Marta. This would not only allow for longer, uninterrupted work days, but would allow a number of consultants in training to attend the workshop at very little cost to them and present the first ever opportunity for pastors and other interested folk in the northeast to visit a real Bible translation session without the expense of foreign travel.
wwwwwThe two weeks were of great value. The check of Mark was completed and plans for further work were finalized. Three consultants in training studied with the team and learned a lot about the process of checking Scripture. A fourth candidate spent a week preparing to do computer projects with Birch Champeon. Counting children, there were 15 BI personal living and working at the workshop. Most days pastors, home schoolers, and other interested folk would spend hours observing the sessions and asking good questions. One special day dedicated to our supporters saw over eighty pastors and others from northern New England spend the entire day with the team. Not only did they take part in the workshop but they also were able to see demonstrations and hear reports of the work from the Champeons, Hodsdons, Bob Thompson, and all the consultant candidates. If their comments were a true indication of what happened then we know that the process of Bible translation is much better understood than previously.
wwwwwOn the lighter side we had the fun of seeing our southern coworkers react to snow sledding and the beauty of a northern winter. They were able to experience a Maine Thanksgiving and come to be loved and respected by many of God’s people in this part of the country. We want to thank everyone who helped make the workshop a success especially the members of Faith Baptist in Skowhegan, Clinton Baptist in Clinton, and West Hampden Baptist in Hampden, Maine who hosted the meetings and provided much food as well as lodging for some of the party.
wwwwwThe end of May, Lord willing, will see the next Tenek workshop which will also be held in the States. The site has not yet been finalized, but we are in hopes to hold it somewhere north of the boarder where another group of churches would have the opportunity to see the work of Bible translation.