Sign Language Bible

Thanks for praying!  The Jonah translation is finished. It was recorded in the morning, checked during the lunch break, and we only had to re-do one short segment to correct a slight “pronunciation” mistake. Also, Mark’s time with the Japanese Sign Language (JSL) researcher was a good re-connection, and opened the door for further contact in the future. We’re hoping that the research center he works at will collaborate with us on making some software available to linguists in Japan, and also help with work we need to do on JSL to improve our translation.

Praise God! Sure wish you each could have been there for the celebration of what God has done with Wheelchairs of Hope. There was a lot happening in the various communities connected with Wheelchairs of Hope, but even so, 51 people joined the party, put on by a donor to celebrate our NPO incorporation. For some key people, it was their first exposure to the project, and God opened many doors in the short time there.

Some highlights:

l  The pastor of the church where we met attended, and was so touched by the work he heard about that he offered us a large area for storage and cleaning of wheelchairs. Many of you have been praying a long time for a solution to our storage problem!

l  Two wheelchair users came, an OMF missionary, and a Japanese man who was recently baptized. The Japanese man owns his own wheelchair business and wants to come and help at cleaning days, and the missionary, too is interested in getting involved.  Their insights and perspective as wheelchair users will be invaluable.

l  A lady who travels to Bangkok several times each year said her husband met our Thailand partner in Bangkok last week.  (God's timing is amazing!)  She wants to take wheelchairs with her when she goes next month.

l  Six Deaf people came, including a man who has been in Tokyo 4 years and has no deaf friends.  He was delighted to be at the table with other Deaf and was smiling the entire time. The Deaf church members stayed to the very end of clean up and that was meaningful to me.

A question from our last update:

Q: What is NPO?? (nothing per os??)

A: Great question from a nurse!  That's exactly what I thought the first time I heard it too!  It's a Non Profit Organization and the application/authorization process here in Japan is rather involved.  It's what is often called an NGO (Non-Government Organization) and in Japan the application process and laws are the same for NPOs and NGOs. 

PS. Today we received 10 pediatric wheelchairs.  We go back tomorrow to get another 5.  Pray for the volunteers necessary to get the cleaning done.

9/1/08

We’re home!  It wasn’t exactly a working vacation, but we stopped by Yamagata to teach a Galatians overview on the way to our vacation spot, had some leaders over in the middle, and stopped by Mito for a cleaning day on the way back.

9/7/08

Well, that’s how far we got on last week’s prayer update!  It was another crazy week, but the re-make of Jonah is almost done, and six more wheelchairs are ready to go to earthquake victims. .

Today we will be at Denen Grace Chapel teaching a Sunday School class on disability, and later on cleaning wheelchairs. Pray for a fruitful time of learning, action, and fellowship, and that God would use this to bring new people to the church as well.

Next week has a lot of extra activity as well, so do keep praying for us.

Thanks so much,

Mark and Mary Esther