Friday, July 17, 2009

Translation Helpers... update on Cancer Patient

WORKING WITH TRANSLATION HELPERS...
We just finished our week with the 4 translation helpers. We are still trying to find our rhythm for working with the men in a longer, more concentrated block of time like this, but all considered, it was a productive time. Bill make a lot of progress on revision the draft of the middle chapters of Luke and was able to get the men's input on the fine-tuning of some earlier chapters which are further along in the procedure. Donna got some chapters recorded, so now Bill can review then. Now it's back to drafting ahead, reworking previous material and listening to those recordings, all to get ready for the next time the men come up.

Even more exciting is the fact that Bill worked through the final stages of Ephesians and 1 Peter with the men. He has written up a summary of last few changes and will send that back to the consultant. Once that's approved, we can print and distribute copies of these books!

AND HELPING A PATIENT...
Pidi had the biopsy of the growth on his foot. The doctor is pretty sure it's melanoma, but the results won't be back form Manila for a week, or more likely, two weeks. So we sent Pidi on home to the tribe. Once we have the results, he will come back to town for surgery, if he is willing to go through the ordeal. Even the travel itself was difficult for him. He's not at all used to "city life" and he has severe motion sickness. in fact, even just driving to the appointments here in town, he would get sick. Poor guy.

PLEASE PRAY...
Please continue to pray for us as we push ahead in the translation. For part of this week, Bill will also be taking part in a linguistic research project, figuring our some aspects of the grammar of Central Tagbanwa, a language where some of our missionaries are ministering. Then we're heading to Manila for leadership meetings and for Bill to oversee several missionaries' final evaluations in Tagalog language proficiency.

And keep praying for Pidi, that he would put his faith in Christ.

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Reaching Palawanos together with you,

-Bill and Donna

Monday, July 13, 2009

Revising Luke... and Cancer Patient

WORKING ON LUKE...
This week we have 4 of our Palawano translation helpers in town for intensive sessions of working on Luke. The guys will be working with Bill, drafting, revising and reworking passages from many chapters. The men will also help Bill to finalize the last few pending revisions on Ephesians and 1 Peter so those two books can be printed and distributed!

Donna will be working with one of the men (Susing) for a few hours each day, recording his oral retelling of the passages, a technique which helps us to get smooth natural flow in the written translation.

AND HELPING A PATIENT...
We also have another Palawano man and his companion in town to see the doctor. Donna will be running them to and from doctor's appointment and, eventually, the hospital. Pidi will most likely need major surgery as the painful, horrible growth on his foot is almost certainly melanoma, and even seems to have spread to lymph nodes in his thighs. A biopsy tomorrow will confirm that.

PLEASE PRAY...
So please pray for us this week as we need lots of energy, wisdom, patience and compassion. Pray for good progress on the translation and for Pidi's medical condition and even more, that he would put his faith in Christ.

CHECK OUT OUR OTHER BLOGS
Read ministry updates, personal perspectives, prayer requests and links to photos

JOIN US ON FACEBOOK
See updates, photos and be notified of new blog postings

Reaching Palawanos together with you,

-Bill and Donna