... well, she's willing ...

"I wasn’t God’s first choice for what I’ve done for China. I don’t know who it was. It must have been a man—a well–educated man. I don’t know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn’t willing. And God looked down… and saw Gladys Aylward. And God said, ‘Well, she’s willing.’" – Gladys Aylward

እወድሻለሁ

Yesterday, I wrote to my sponsored child in Ethiopia. My college roomie and I started sponsoring precious, little Karot in 2003. She's now a beautiful young woman who's just entering her teens. In closing the letter, I googled how to say "I love you" in her language, Amharic: እወድሻለሁ

This has really made me stop and think about Bible Translation in a new way. Imagine never hearing your sweetheart say "I love you" in your language. He/She might say "Ik hou van jou" or "te iubesc" or "j'taime" or hold up the "ILY" handshape. But imagine never, ever, having him/her say "I love you" in the language of your heart. Not once.

The Bible is one of the primary means by which God communicates His love to us, from His heart to our hearts. But today, 350 million people, representing 2,252 minority languages, have never heard God say "I love you" in their language because they have never read a Bible in the language that speaks to their soul.

"In my country, the English language is widely known and used. But when a young man wants to say 'I love you,' he says it in the local dialect, not in English, because it is his soul speaking to her soul." -Nokano Speaker (Philippines)

God can use any skill

(Mute my music player for best viewing.)

"The greatest missionary...

...is the Bible in the mother tongue. It needs no furlough and is never considered a foreigner." 

- William Cameron Townsend

Dedication Celebrations!!!

Praise Jesus!

This month, 32 Sign Language Bible Stories will be dedicated in...
... Kenyan Sign Language. January 16-17, 2010.
... Kerala (India) Sign Language. January 30-31, 2010.

The spiritual battle is underway. Please pray for protection over all those gathering for these celebrations, and for His Word and Truth to penetrate hearts of those who will be "hearing" it in their heart language for the first time!!

"So the Word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing." (Acts. 19:20)

TIU 2010 in pictures

Roadtrip!!









 Language & Linguistics = Scrabble ;)

A beautiful view in Kent, WA

Linguistics Classes!

 Monolingual Demonstration

 Simulations

Learning Tok Pisin (the national trade language of Papua New Guinea)

Hearing stories

Ethnic Food!

Bonding time

Being inspired...

... blessed and encouraged by dear friends

And with that we say: "CHEESE!" ;)






Driving home to Keith Green, this chorus stood out among the rest and is my prayer for the week:

"I want to take Your Word and shine it all around
       But first help me just live it, Lord.
And if I'm doing well, help me to never make a sound,
      Except to give all the glory to You."

                                  ~Keith Green ("O Lord, You're Beautiful")