| Mark's profileThe Penner PlacePhotosBlogLists |  Tools  Help |
The Penner PlaceA place to find out how to pray for Mark and Mary Esther |
||||||||||
|
July 04 The Short Version
ViBi/Japanese Bible Sign Language Translation (Mark) · Good meetings at United Bible Society in Bangkok with Pastor Matsumoto · Pastor Minamida has a first draft of Matthew 1-7, but his arm pain is re-occurring · Two requests for funding are being reviewed.
Wheelchairs of Hope (Mary Esther) · Pray re airline allowing wheelchairs for Mongolia on July 7 · Pray for an import permit to be granted
Personal · Mary Esther’s dad (age 94) is in congestive heart failure. Pray for decisions re his future care.
SnafusWe planned on sending several wheelchairs to Mongolia on July 7. Yesterday the airline said they would not be able to accommodate the wheelchairs. Pray that they will take at least two wheelchairs as gratis excess baggage. A local civic leader there approached the church asking for two wheelchairs for two people who very much need them. We continue to wait for our friends in the large country next door to receive an import permit so we can send a container of wheelchairs to them. 94th BirthdayMary Esther went to Kansas City to join her father for his 94th birthday. After what she saw there, she stopped by again on the way back to Japan to care for him and his affairs. About a week after she returned to Japan he was admitted to CCU with congestive heart failure. He is doing well now and we expect him to be discharged to rehab soon. Pray for those working with him there to assess well what his future care should be. Pray for us to be wise in making these decisions.
Back from Bangkok
Thank you for praying. In Bangkok, the final report of the Sign Language working track went very well. Christian Ramirez, a Deaf person from Costa Rica, made the presentation with interpretation, and Pastor Matsumoto presented the sign language examples. Most of the 100 or so people there had at least one PhD, and years of experience consulting in many languages and projects. For our part, this was the first time that people at our level had even attended these meetings, much less presented. Even the night before, none of us were sure how it would go. Christian’s interpreter was working in two second languages (Costa Rican Sign Language and English), which was a huge challenge. But when the time came, she was right there with him the whole time, and the presentation was very well received. Thanks again for praying.
It was an intense two weeks for Mark. He was interpreting lectures from English into JSL all morning, and then in the afternoon working track meetings, both English->JSL and JSL->English during discussions and presentations—all while trying to be a participant as well. On top of the official meetings, there were meals with translation consultants from all over the world, learning from them and sharing about Sign Language as well. Thanks for praying him through. Especially rewarding was our connection with the Japan Bible Society representatives who were attending. And the translation consultant for one Sign Language project said, “ I wish I had this information a year ago. I would have done things completely differently.”
Back in Japan, Pastor Minamida and Ms. Yano have been working hard on Matthew, and have seven chapters drafted and ready to be checked. But the pain in his arm is recurring, so pray for wisdom as to how to proceed. Pray that we’ll be able to find the funding and put a strong, full-time team together to take pressure off of him.
June 25 From BangkokJust a quick note to say, please pray for Mark and Pastor Matsumoto. Tomorrow they and others will present the results of the Sign Languages Working Track of the United Bible Societies Triennial Translation Workshop. Translation consultants and translation officers from all over the world are gathered, and for many, this could be their first exposure to Sign Language Bible translation. Meetings have been exhausting but very good. More later. June 12 Hang on for the ride!The Short Version · Mark is back from a trip to Oregon. He leaves Sunday for Bangkok. · Mary Esther is in Kansas City caring for her 94 year old father. She leaves Sunday for Japan. Praise: · Great time with family · Good connections with supporters · Safety in travel Pray: · Standby flight for the return trip to Japan · Good work in Bangkok
More Details The last few weeks have been a wild ride; thanks for praying. We took a trip to Oregon to follow up some support leads there. Much of our travel was standby, and God granted us favor with many people just to get us onto the various airplanes to get to where we were going. Coming over from Japan, it was one night in business class and the next on an airport bench sleeping on top of our carry-on bags. At one point, our checked luggage was in LA, our cell phone in San Jose, and we were in Atlanta airport, but thankfully all ended up in the same place.
In the middle of the trip, Mary Esther flew to Kansas City to take care of some things for her dad (turned 94 June 3!). Now, instead of returning to Japan with Mark, she’s there again for another couple of days tying up a few more loose end. Pray for her as she negotiates American traffic, not her favorite thing to do, and then flies back to Japan alone. The last leg is from Atlanta to Narita standby, so pray that the flight will stay open and she’ll get a good seat.
Mark had to get back to Japan on time to make the flight to Bangkok. He left Thursday and arrived Friday. Sunday he leaves for Bangkok, where the United Bible Societies are holding their Triennial Translation Workshop. Mark and Pastor Matsumoto will be participating in the Sign Languages Working Track. Pray that their work will help release interest in and resources for Sign Language Bible translation throughout the world.
PS. To follow up on our last post, the board meeting and Genesis celebration were a real boost. The reporter you prayed for was able to come to part of the celebration, and is looking forward to more interaction later. PSS. I Just realized we never sent a post telling you about our trip so you could pray. Please accept our apologies. United Bible Societies meeting in BangkokMark leaves on Sunday for Bangkok, where the United Bible Societies are holding their Triennial Translation Workshop. Mark and Pastor Matsumoto will be participating in the Sign Languages Working Track. Pray that their work will help release interest in and resources for Sign Language Bible translation throughout the world.
|
|
||||||||
Send a private message
Subscribe to RSS feed
Tell a friend
Add to My MSN
Add to your network
Sign up for alerts
|
|
