| God's Team at Work in Asia |
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by Ross Hodsdon w wwwwwOne of the most unique experiences I have had in the past 20 years with BI is watching the Lord put together the very diverse work team that we presently have here. The team is made up of two career missionary couples, the Hodsdons and the Champeons, and six incredible young women who are spending the four months with us in Asia. Sent out by their home churches, these six are allowing the team to accomplish several times the normal work load. wwwwwTwo of these young ladies are old hands, traveling with us for the third and fifth times. Both Kristy and Carla are now well skilled literacy workers, able to work on their own with tribal teams to produce top grade primers (first readers) and Old Testament Bible storybooks in those languages. Both played a key role aiding Dr. Champeon in the weeks of work which led to the ground breaking writers' manual in Falam. Such a handbook has never, to our knowledge, been produced for any undeveloped language and will make possible the production of Christian literature of all types by national church leaders.
wwwwwLeigha is on her second trip to Asia although much of her time during the months in between back home in the US was given to the Falam New Testament project. She has taken the editing of a mother-tongue Bible to a whole new level with her careful checking and multiple revisions of the text. At one point I had to put my foot down and insist that she take time to sleep at night as she was determined that the work be completed before the chief translator's departure for the States. Leigha's sister Bethany came to do the cooking but has found ways to work on a number of literacy projects with her new friends. Alyssa is the youngest of the ladies. Though only 16, Alyssa has faithfully taught our twin grandsons and kept them happy so that their mom, Dr. Connie, can concentrate on keeping all the various literacy projects going and solve the incredible riddles that the Falam grammar has presented us. When free, Alyssa has been our computer artist, adding color to the primer sketches. Sarah, an intern working with me on the translation project, is a recent graduate of Northland Baptist Bible College. She believes the Lord is leading her to a future ministry with BI. wwwwwWhat a group, and to add to their impact, their voices seem to blend perfectly. They have ministered in numerous churches and schools with their music highlighted by Bethany's flute. So appreciated is their music that a Tedim pastor arranged for them to record a CD at the little studio that a member has. Only the Lord knows the full value of the work that these young ladies are doing, but it is obvious to everyone that they have been gifted by the Lord Himself to do them. |
