Lasts and Firsts     January - March 2010

The translator wrote his last word. The Read-and-Review Committee read their last verse. The consultant completed his last checklist. The text editor formatted his last page. The printer bound the last New Testament. The boxes of Falam Chin New Testaments traveled the last mile to their destination in Myanmar, and the people cheered as they arrived safely in Yangon 11 days before the scheduled dedication ceremony. The end of a long, labor-intensive era for the Falam Chin was cause for celebration, and celebrate they did. (Read more details on the dedication ceremony in the April issue of Briefings.) And then a new era began.

The first New Testament was presented to the translator. The first church services were held using the newly published New Testament. The first private and public readings of God’s Word in Falam Chin took place. The first unbeliever was presented with truths that he could read for himself and understand. The first believer was convicted and changed by the Holy Spirit’s teaching through the written Word.

These two short paragraphs provide a time-lapse-photography-type view of the big picture that represents Bible translation. The complete cycle has been accomplished for the Falam Chin, and your prayers have brought the project through every phase of its journey. Rejoice with us. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever. And because of that mercy, our labors continue. There are more people to assist, more Scriptures to print, more lives to be changed. 

May God bless you in 2010 as you continue to prayerfully support this eternal work.

1. Give thanks for the printing of the Falam Chin NT for Myanmar.
2. Give thanks for God’s blessing on the BI Harvest Dinner in October. Guests generously supplied the Creole OT project with needed funds to encourage and enable the translation team in Haiti.
3. Pray for the six OT projects and two NT projects in Chad. Loss of key people (two in death) has severely impacted the translation work.
4. Pray for Anna Beth Wivell, Troy Manning, Alex Wheeler, and Nate and Nancy Frost as they raise support for full-time BI ministry.
5. Give thanks that Kim Hibbard has almost completed her support-raising and was able to work with our Myanmar projects in November and December.
6. Pray for the men and their wives who represent BI in the U.S. Their zeal in their retirement years is a special blessing.
7. Give thanks for BI volunteers. Over 80 volunteers helped with the Harvest Dinner this year, in addition to those who assist BI regularly throughout the year. BI staff enjoyed honoring many of our volunteers at a special luncheon in November.
8. Pray for Text Editor Don Block as he continues to format Scriptures for printing.
9. Give thanks for God’s protection of Maxine Carlson (wife of former BI Director Fred Carlson) who had severe health problems and even surgery while in Bangkok in November.
10. Pray for God’s continued provision of funds for the BI ministry.
11. Give thanks for God’s provision of an adjunct national consultant for Asia.
12. Pray that God will use the Tenek translation of the Gospel of Mark that will be distributed in Mexico in January.
13. Pray for prospective consultants as they seek the Lord’s will concerning proper training. Pray that they will not be deterred from joining BI.
14. Give thanks for answered prayer for the Daai people. God allowed BI staff to resolve orthography issues that have seemed insurmountable for 30 years, and a primer is now in progress.
15. Give thanks and pray for dedication ceremonies to be conducted in Ghana (Waalii Bible) and India (Chiru NT) in early 2010. May God’s Word in these languages go forth with power.
16. Pray that God will provide funds for Translation Consultant Craig Throop and his family. They have incurred extra expenses while in Australia renewing their PNG visas.
17. Pray for the Tenek NT project in Mexico. Another translator will be trained in January.
18. Pray for BI staff conducting ongoing literacy workshops in Asia during January, February, and March.
19. Pray for Daniel Telfort, translator for the Creole OT in Haiti. He has had several difficult experiences recently, including the death of his father.
20. Pray that 2010 will be a productive year for the BI ministry.
21. Pray for an improved economy in the U.S. in general and Michigan in particular.
22. Pray that much progress will be made on the Pemón NT for Venezuela as the translation team works with a consultant in January.
23. Pray for translation workshops in India in January for both the Inner Seraji NT and Paite Bible.
24. Pray for a February workshop in Central African Republic as the team works on the Sango Bible revision.
25. Pray for the Darlong OT project for India. Workshops will be conducted in February and March.
26. Pray for translation teams and their consultants working on three India projects in March:  the Chakma NT, the Inner Seraji NT, and the Inpui Naga NT.
27. Pray for safe travels for all involved in the workshops mentioned above.
28. Give thanks for students’ lives that were impacted by BI staff who taught block courses at Northland International University in the fall. Pray for God’s clear leading in these students’ lives.
29. Pray for the administrative group at BI, as they seek the Lord for wisdom and guidance in this new year.
30. Pray for the startup of revising the Tagalog New Testament for the Philippines.
31. Give thanks for all that God has enabled BI to do in 2009. Even with a variety of hindrances, much progress has been made, so “Come, magnify the Lord with [us].”