Honestly, I have been struggling with how to write an update since my latest life-change. I used to have all of these stories about Bible translation things going on in and around our office in Madang. They were new (from a distant country), exotic (breathtaking photographs), exciting (Bible dedications in jungles and such), and babies (oh the babies!)… I am so blessed to have shared those stories with you. I am sixty years old and I am in a new place – starting over – again… it’s weird. I actually started this update a couple of (few!) months ago, but it sat – until now.

I will start with the fact that I am in my last class for my Bachelor’s degree in Intercultural Studies and Bible Theology!! Woo-hoo!!! My current class ends mid-October. I.can.not.wait!! I plan, Lord willing, to walk across the stage at Johnson University in Tennessee a mere 10 days before my 61st birthday (in December). I am going to get my degree while I am still sixty (Lord willing)! This has been quite a landmark to look forward to! There have been many distractions over the years!

When I learned that the Lord wanted me to serve here instead of going back to PNG, it was kind of a hard pill to swallow. I had left my team and village family with only a, “see you in one year” comment. I was totally unprepared to stay in America. I felt like a foreigner here, I still do on some levels.

When I accepted that the Lord was asking me to stay in America, I contacted our HQ in Dallas and talked to our Personnel Director. There were several options for me to pray about – all of which are beautiful! The one the Lord moved me toward is the Development Department.

The way I served in PNG, I only touched a portion of the world’s people. With what I am involved with for the world of Bible translation now, the number of people potentially reaches hundreds of thousands! My focus has been enlarged to include the entire world!

I contact our new PBT donors to help them to understand what their donation has done around the world, and how imperative it is that this work be completed. I highlight the blessing that they get by their contribution to the Great Commission. Since I am a missionary who has served overseas, I share intimate stories of what it is like to attend a New Testament Bible dedication and see the people in their excitement at having the Word of God in their heart language. (Video links below!) 

When I started in this department, I began with only three states to monitor and contact. Since the August PBT Annual General Meeting in Dallas, I have gained the entire country as my responsibility. I am very excited! There were five people doing what I do, now it is all mine! My new position stretches across the entire globe, because people donate to various Pioneer Bible Translators projects all over the world. Most recently a focus has been getting deeply involved with the Deaf communities around us, and helping them to get the Bible in their language.

I understand from a recent study, that getting new donors is not nearly as difficult as retaining them. What I do for PBT will help retain our new donors. I believe that I have already made a difference. I look forward to what the Lord has for me in this next chapter!

Realizing that your contribution to the Great Commission will not go unnoticed, I have an opportunity for you to be more involved with Bible translation than before. I am still a full-time missionary living on donations, and things have changed quite a bit since God changed my address. I am short about $1,000/month, mainly due to the fact that my rent here is three times what my rent was in PNG. Around the beginning of Covid, I lost some donors. One passed away, and two more had life-changes that caused them to need to stop giving. I get it. That happens. I wonder if you would consider increasing what you are currently giving, begin giving again, or consider contributing for the first time. Simply follow this link to my PBT donation page.

By contributing, you are supporting the awesome work of Bible translation for Bible-less people groups all over the world through the work of Pioneer Bible Translators

It is my hope to go back to, “finish” in PNG (maybe) in January. If that does not work out, another idea is that I can schedule it when my dear friend Martha dedicates her New Testament. I would absolutely love to attend her dedication!! I wanted several times to go help her with medical courses, but it never worked out. Maybe this will be the time it will work? The Lord only knows! Whenever it happens, I will need to go back and formally tell my village family and friends that I will try to visit them, but that they need to, as they told me, “release me” to go back to my country.

“You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.”  ~ 2 Corinthians 9:11-12

VIDEO LINKS:  I was able to attend these New Testament dedications because of your contribution!
What an incredible blessing!

• I cannot tell you just how special this sneak peek video is to my heart! View Sneak Peak.
• Watch and enjoy this one too! View Waran Celebration.
• This video is a really wonderful extra blessing I want to share with you. View Sacred Reminder.  All of you **WWII history buffs** will be interested!
  
• And this one is specifically explaining the bamboo band – I love it! Waran Bamboo Band 

You might remember that it was the Waran people who were instrumental in my moving to PNG in 2014 … we have come full circle. They have received the New Testament in Waran.

So this is my new life! I love being so close to my family and still being able to serve full-time with PBT! I hope that you will consider contributing to what the Lord is doing.

Thank you for all you do! I appreciate you very much!