AL’S TRIP TO NORTH CAROLINA - Thank you once again for
your prayers as I drove to the JAARS Center in Waxhaw, North Carolina. I
was able to accomplish quite a few things on this trip even though the
JAARS Center was closed for a day and a half due to snow and ice. Some
days it was actually colder in North Carolina than it was at our home in
Pennsylvania. I had meetings with some of the Security and Crisis
Management staff that I usually relate to from a distance and also had
time to catch up with some (but, unfortunately, not all) of our friends
who live there.
One of the major reasons
for this trip was an invitation to attend the JAARS Board of Directors
meetings. This is the body that provides oversight and direction to the JAARS
President and is highly engaged in the focus and activities that JAARS will be involved
in for the future. Many of you will remember that when Mickey and I joined
Wycliffe Bible Translators, we were focused on serving the work of Bible
Translation in the Philippines – I, as a pilot and mechanic; Mickey as a nurse,
secretary, etc. JAARS is the organization that trains and supports the pilots and
mechanics that serve with SIL and has been a very significant part of our
lives. A few months ago I received a request to consider becoming one of the directors
on the JAARS Board. The meetings this week were an opportunity for me to get to
know the current Board members and to observe their process in this round of
meetings. It was also an opportunity for them to get to know me briefly as they
consider my gifts, abilities and skills as they consider the talents needed on
the Board in the future.
We will appreciate your prayers as Mickey
and I consider this opportunity, and for the JAARS Board as they consider
inviting me to become one of the directors in 2019. A decision on this position
will be made later in 2018.
IVATAN NEW TESTAMENT; RE-LAUNCHING – In
early 2016, as the Jesus Film was being dubbed into the Ivatan language of
the northern Philippines, many Ivatan asked how they could get a copy of
the New Testament in their language. Sadly, it had been out of print since
the 1990’s. But in November 2016, during the launching of the Ivatan Jesus Film, our colleagues were
able to make the Ivatan Scripture App available to those with mobile
phones. They also shared the exciting news that the Ivatan New Testament
was being reprinted and would be available within the next year! On December 9, 2017 that promise came true as the
Ivatan New Testament (including selected Psalms and the Book of Proverbs)
was made available to the people during a special re-launching celebration!
Praise the Lord! Pray that God’s Word will draw many Ivatan to a saving
knowledge of Jesus Christ.
JEREMY’S HOUSE - Thanks so much for your prayers
regarding someone to buy our son Jeremy’s house. On December 29, God
answered as the sale of the house was finalized! This is a huge relief for
all of us.
PRAYER ITEMS:
UPCOMING TRIPS - I (Al) am in the
process of planning an extended trip to Indonesia in March. This will be
an opportunity to provide security and crisis management training to some
of our teams and partners working there. I’ll also be attending our annual
leadership meeting. This is the round of meetings where we discuss
planning for the work ahead, not only in Indonesia but across Asia.
In addition to that upcoming trip, I’m
working to develop security and crisis management training that can be done via
video conferencing over the Internet. Travel expenses and time being in short
supply, my hope is that this means of training will allow me to reach more
people at less expense and time than seeking to be at each place in person.
There is no replacement for in-person training, but I hope this will be
valuable too. Please pray for wisdom and good success as I seek to grow in this
area.
JEREMY - “Thank you” is not a strong
enough term to express our appreciation to those of you who are praying
for our son Jeremy and his children as they continue to walk through the
divorce process. Although we are not at liberty to give you more details,
please know that your prayers are extremely important right now for all
involved!
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