·         New funding for a new full-time translator for the Japanese Sign Language Bible!

·         Preparation for an Asia Comprehensive Sign Language Bible translation Plan meeting September 10-12.

·         Pastor Minamida’s arm/shoulder/neck condition improving.

·         Check it out!  Wheelchair cleaning lessons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvWx_6AInlU

Praise God!! We just received word last week of long-term funding that will enable us to hire one new full-time worker. This is a huge answer to prayer, and we thank you for being a part. Pray for wisdom now as we make decisions soon as to who we should hire, and re-adjust our budget. Also, do keep praying. We still have one more request out that will be decided soon. It could, in the best case, enable us to hire a full team of six and finish translating the whole Bible in 10-12 years.

September 9, Sign Language translation leaders from across Asia will arrive in Japan. Our task is clear, to move as far as we can toward a comprehensive Sign Language translation plan for Asia, and then appoint a smaller group to finish the task and report back to the larger group. By March, we need to determine all the Sign Language translation needs in Asia and come up with a comprehensive plan for meeting those needs, including a budget to present to major donor organizations.  ViBi is partnering with SIL International Asia area, who is providing funding, know-how, and logistical support for these meetings. This is a major strategic opportunity that could provide a breakthrough in funding not just for Japan, but for Deaf people all across Asia, but it comes at a very busy time. Pray for us as we plan and prepare.

Praise God!  When pastor Minamida went overseas, it was to minister, but while there, he was ministered to in return. One of the workers there has used podiatry and massage to reach out to others, and was able to provide relief to Pastor Minamida for the arm/shoulder/neck condition that has been hampering him for so long. Pray for his continued healing. Maybe it’s not what Jesus had in mind when he said “it is more blessed to give than to receive”, but our outreach to Sign Language Bible translation in other countries seems consistently to benefit our own project.

This morning we finally received a positive response from an overseas partner organization saying they have found a way to get an import permit for the container of wheelchairs from Japan.  Please pray the process will go smoothly and we can send the container of wheelchairs soon.  Even with the amount of storage space we do have, keeping 150 chairs until they can be shipped takes up valuable space.

We are now both back in Japan. Mark returned August 7 and left on the 8th for a wheelchair event and other activities in Northern Japan. Mary Esther returned on Monday the 17th.  She stayed on in Kansas City after her father's funeral for a while to care for things there.[MP]  People who knew dad from Germany, Japan and the US joined us for dad's service and we are grateful.  To all who sent cards and messages,  thank you. We learned so much about dad, and are humbled to have had such a father.

While Mark was in the U.S. for the funeral, and Pastor Minamida, our translator, was in China, work continued unabated at ViBi. Ms. Yano, our new translation helper was on the webcam almost daily with Pastor Hori. He would explain what the passage meant, and she would sign it. Working together, they recorded Matthew 11-25, and edited all the best takes of chapters 11-20 together into a seamless first draft. Praise God for these wonderful additions to our team, and pray the we fill find the funding to continue working with them.

While you're praying for funding, here's another prayer opportunity. September 9-12 we're partnering together with SIL to host a meeting of representatives from the various Sign Language Bible Translation groups and donor groups operating in Asia. Our aim is to come up with a comprehensive plan for the region that will include funding for the various projects, including ours. The window of opportunity is a small one, and we need to work fast. Pray that the many details and schedules of the people we hope will attend will come together.