Pioneer Bible Translators November 2015 Prayer Partner Letter

The Prayer Partner Letter is a publication of Pioneer Bible Translators

November 2015

In this year’s August Prayer Partner Letter, John in North Africa told about some very difficult experiences he was going through. He wrote that he had left for a neighboring country because fighting had broken out in the town where he lived. While in the other country he learned that his home had been looted and everything had been taken except a guitar case. He since has returned to his country of service but is staying in a different city where there is no fighting and where he can continue his Bible translation work.

In a more recent newsletter, John wrote about the process he and Isaiah, a national coworker, are following in revising an existing draft of the gospel of Luke in Ndende. (Note: for security purposes Isaiah and Ndende are pseudonyms). John writes:

Every day, Isaiah reads some of Luke and looks for any parts of the text that don’t sound “nice” or “clear” in Ndende. He then makes revisions according to his own opinion as a fluent speaker of the language.

I read behind him in Ndende, English, and Greek, with the primary goal of comparing the Ndende with the Greek. (Less that sound too “superhero-ish” let me assure you that I take advantage of lots of general translation helps available to me in English!) Whenever the meaning seems potentially “off” to me, I make a note for discussion.

Then Isaiah and I meet and go over my notes. We discuss and possibly revise that particular spot until both of us are convinced that the original thought, as expressed in Greek, has been successfully expressed in Ndende.

John then added the following prayer request:

Please pray for wisdom and stamina for Isaiah and me. This kind of work drains a lot of energy from me in particular, since I am plowing through two foreign languages with the knowledge that this is no less than God’s Word that I’m helping to translate. There is also a significant educational gap between Isaiah and myself. Therefore it takes a lot of time and creativity for me to explain the rationale behind some of my notes.

Thank you for your prayers,
Gerald & Ruth Denny
Coordinators of Prayer Ministries
Pioneer Bible Translators

Please continue praying the following for this situation:

Pray that the fighting in the town where John normally lives will stop. Another outbreak of violence occurred just a few weeks ago and a dear national friend was caught in the middle and killed.

Thank God that the translation work continues in spite of the uncertainty brought on by the periodic outbreaks of violence.

Pray for peace so that those nationals displaced by the fighting can go back to their homes and gardens. Also pray that the supplies sent in will be given to those who most need them.