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I have a particular calling to lead and teach women, and before coming to West Asia, God had always provided someone to be my ‘right-hand woman’ - someone who was mature in the faith with whom I could work. However, here in West Asia I have not had it so easy. Over the past three and a half years I have been running a women’s group that has fluctuated considerably in size.
On a hot summer morning in June 2016, a group of J girls welcomed an entourage of guests to their village to the sound of beating drums and dancing. It was a day for the Christians of that village to celebrate the dedication of the New Testament now available in their mother tongue. The J language was surveyed to identify the need for Bible translation and language development almost 20 years ago, in 1996.
During a mission trip 27 years ago, Matthew was first introduced to the need of Bible translation in his own country. At that time, there were an estimated 250 languages needing translation in this strategic South Asian country. Confronted with this enormous need, Matthew wondered, ‘If I committed my life to Bible translation, what difference would this make? It’s like a drop in the ocean.’
The Bible is full of rhetorical questions, but rhetorical questions simply don’t exist in some languages. This can present some unique challenges for Bible translation.
Stanthorpe has lost one of its finest sons. On Sunday morning of the 9th of October 2016, Andrew Sav, aged 54, completed his journey home. Andrew was born in Stanthorpe in 1962 and attended the local high school. After an apprenticeship as a sign writer Andrew joined a Christian Mission organisation called Operation Mobilisation. O.M. is an interdenominational organisation which brings aid and Christian ministry and care to developing world countries via ocean going ships equipped to bring help and hope to all.
Our family has been living in a village in Vanuatu since 2003, supporting local translators to translate the Scriptures into one of the many local languages. Prayer and patience have gone hand-in-hand both with our family and the project. Our four children have all grown up here, but as they get older they need to return to their passport country for schooling.
In 2015 one of our two mother-tongue translators had to step down from the team due to a moral issue. This sent shock waves through our team and significantly slowed down our progress in translation as we supported this family. Many hours were spent listening to outpourings of pain, seeking good counsel and praying with and for our friends.
Witnessing the dedication of the Bantoanon/Asi New Testament with Genesis and Exodus on 6 April 2017, was the best farewell present Heather Kilgour Crossley could have received, as her 35 years in the field came to a close. The Bantoanon/Asi language is spoken by about 80,000 people, spread across four small islands in the Central Philippines.
Join us in thanking and praising God for the completion of a New Testament translation for our neighbours in Vanuatu. This 35-year project has faced many setbacks, but now is the time to celebrate!
Have you ever been overwhelmed by the enormity of the task of sharing God’s Word and wondered what difference you could possibly make?
Thanks for your patience...Waiting is hard, isn't it. But imagine waiting 2000 years for Scripture in your language! Thanks for your patience. And thanks for your generous support which will help bring the long wait to an end...
