Working & Waiting

Remember last year when the large cargo ship, the Ever Given, was stuck in the Suez Canal? That's what our work permit and visa application process has felt like. Did you see the image of the tiny-looking excavator trying to free the vessel? It looked like a toy next to the massive craft. That’s us with all of our emails and phone calls, circling around for answers.

The beginning of November, however, we received a flurry of communication, those tugboats and dredgers, that appear to be moving us forward. The bureaucratic red tape still exists, but it looks like we may finally be getting answers, and the process is moving along. Would you earnestly pray with us that we could move sometime in January?

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” Romans 8:28

Since Our Last Update

The fall began like a whirlwind as we settled into our temporary apartment, traveled, shared about Bible translation, and faced a number of unexpected difficulties. One of these was when Andrew experienced an asthma attack and was hospitalized. Though scary, we have seen God’s care for us in multiple ways. Andrew is doing well, and we have a treatment plan for living in PNG (Papua New Guinea). Through this and other trials—even when beyond our understanding—we know God is teaching us to trust.

Translation Work

For a few weeks in September, Harold’s day began at 3am EST so he could observe a remote translation checking session for a language in Southeast Asia. They were meeting online several hours each day to work verse by verse through the book of Proverbs checking the translation for accuracy. Harold was grateful for the opportunity to observe these discussions and learn from two experienced translation consultants as well as another consultant-in-training.

Family Life

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A’zalea (after bedtime devos): That prayer made my eyes fill with tears, Mommy. They’re happy tears though.

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Andrew (looking at the sunset): Mommy, God is the best painter, isn’t He? And He doesn’t even need a paintbrush!

Justine regularly brings home stacks of books from the library. We’ve moved from short readers to chapter books. A’zalea has recently learned to read for herself and even reads to Andrew. She does so with such expression!

Training in Italy

In October, Harold spent two weeks in Italy with his cohort attending sessions at the Nida School of Bible Translation. The first week they considered culture and worldview and how it affects Bible translations. The second week, they discussed translations that are published in a non-print format (video, audio, oral, sign language, etc.) as well as challenges that consultants face with each. This was especially useful for Harold, as many of the translations in Milne Bay are beginning as oral translations.

Send-off prayer at the Nida School of Bible Translation

Happening Now

After Harold returned from Italy, we were able to settle into more of a regular routine. Justine is part of a weekly Bible study and regularly meets with other ladies to pray. A'zalea and Andrew are continuing school here in Louisville.

The “Meadowlands” Project

Harold has spent much of his time working remotely with part of his cohort checking the book of Acts for a translation project in East Africa (the “Meadowlands” project). He compares the back translation to the Greek in his assigned verses creating notes to help the translators make their translation more accurate. This work is tedious and time consuming, yet Harold enjoys it. We are thankful to serve Christians in a restricted region while we wait to move to PNG.

How to Pray

• For the “Meadowlands” people's lives to be transformed by God's Word
• For Harold and his cohort as they work through the translation of Acts
• That our work permit will be approved by Christmas
• That we’ll receive our visas early January

It’s been difficult navigating a shifting timeline, but we are trusting that God is working in our waiting and is sanctifying us.

Thank you for your faithful partnership.

Because many are still waiting, Harold, Justine, A’zalea, & Andrew

“You are working in our waiting
You're sanctifying us
When beyond our understanding
You're teaching us to trust.

Your plans are still to prosper
You have not forgotten us
You're with us in the fire and the flood
You're faithful forever
Perfect in love
You are sovereign over us.”
Sovereign Over Us
by Michael W. Smith

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