Email Offline

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Email Down
Our email has been offline for a month now. Bill is in town for some other business and while there, he’s trying to get the problem fixed, but he has just one day now before he returns to the village. It’s hard to be without email now after having gotten used to it!

So if you don’t hear from us via email, and there are no current updates and blogs here on the site, that is the reason.

Write us via snail mail! We’d love to hear from you

Work on the House Almost Complete
We are thankful that the repairs and “anti-termite warfare” is almost finished. Donna is in full-time culture/language study and Bill is on the brink of resuming work on the translation.

We appreciate your partnership in Reaching Palawanos for Christ!

Encouraging Events

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The Church’s Vision is Growing
We been blessed to see the believers meeting on their own, and the men sharing good teaching. But recently it has been thrilling to hear Abil and others discuss on their own about plans to reach several areas (both near and far) with the gospel. There are also some isolated groups where someone preached the gospel then left and people are either confused, or else new Christians wanting to be taught… the church here is looking at how to shepherd these groups, as well.

Bill’s Asthma Takes a Dive
Bill remains is what is termed “moderate attack level,” and his numbers have actually slipped a bit toward “sever attack.” Pray with us that he will take a turn for the better and that we can remain in here and progress with the work without unwanted delay.

We appreciate your partnership in Reaching Palawanos for Christ!

Back to the Tribe

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Going Home… Again

Well time flies and soon, so do we. But first, to catch you up a bit.

Donna arrived back in the Philippines on Mother’s Day. We had a little time away together and then headed down to Palawan. Since then we’ve been shopping like mad, getting ready to move (at last?) into the tribe again, gathering months of supplies and any additional building supplies we will need to finish off the work on the house.

Somewhere in there Donna has been working on recovery from jet lag, the loss of her mom and the whirlwind of her frenetically busy last days in the USA.

Now we will be flying back into the village next week. We’re excited… anxious to get “home” again… and bracing ourselves at the same time for all the work that faces us.

We are also realizing that being back in the jungle will make us a little more cut off from our kids, and a little less easily in communication with everyone. That is never an easy transition. Thankfully we will have email this time… that’s a new blessing we never had in the past.

Bill’s Asthma Continues to Improve
Thanks to all who have shared concern and empathy. His improvement has slowed and leveled off a bit… not quite a “normal” levels, but a huge gain over where he was in mid-April. We head back to the tribe armed with new medicines and knowledge, with plans for some lifestyle changes that we hope will allow him to function better in the village.

Let’s keep working together to be Reaching Palawanos with God’s Word!

It’s All About Air

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Air…

We all need air, don’t we? We fly in it, and we breath it (well, granted, we don’t have much pure “air” here in Manila!) Here’s some of our recent interaction with this important substance:

Donna Home in the Philippines!
Many prayers (especially Bill’s!) were answered and Donna flew through the air and arrived here in Manila early this morning. She was able to get so many details taken care off, both in Iowa in San Diego, although it meant a frantically busy couple of weeks. She had to deal with her mother’s estate (even when everyday people pass away, the paperwork and arrangements boggle the mind!!), and she had many of our own affairs to do in San Diego.

Now she’s here, napping off her jet lag and enjoying letting Bill take care of everything!

Bill is Breathing Easier
He is… and not just because Donna’s back here. But also, thank the Lord, the new asthma medicines he has been taking are having a very positive effect in just how much air he breathes. He has improved over 40% on the breathing measurement scale in just over 3 weeks. He has moved from an all-day rating of “severe attack,” through the “moderate attack” range and is almost out of that into the lower ranges of “normal.” We’re thankful for this… breathing is pretty basic, for one thing, and he was feeling pretty yucky; but mostly we’re glad that this is a good sign for moving ahead with getting settled back into the tribe, and getting back into translation.

Thanks to all who prayed, and continue to pray. Together we’re seeing God work. We appreciate your partnership in Reaching Palawanos with God’s Word!

Thanks for Praying

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DONNA IN IOWA
The funeral for Donna’s mom was on Tuesday. Now, after a few exhausting and emotionally draining days, Donna is finishing up details in Iowa and will be heading to San Diego soon, on her way back to the Philippines. She really felt everyone’s prayers and support during this time of loss. The amazing network of friends, neighbors and family in her mom’s little community was a real blessing, too.

BILL’S ASTHMA
Bill has been back in Manila since April 7th, attending the “Team Translation Workshop.” This went well (see below.) But his asthma jumped to a critical level. A new doctor, some new medicines, and better coordination between medicines has put him on a slow road to recovery. So far, the change in his condition has been slight, but at least there is improvement! Because of this, based on his doctor’s advice and upon some other factors on Palawan, he has decided to remain in Manila until Donna returns, focusing on getting his breathing under control. He will be working on Palawano discourse analysis and other projects related to the translation while in Manila.

TRANSLATION WORKSHOP
The translation workshop went very well. Many of the desired goals were accomplished; translators/potential translators further trained; teammates gained new insight into the challenges their translator faces; others saw how they could play more of apart in speeding the process.

We all caught a glimpse of how much more there is to learn. A number of workshop participants commented on how they were challenged to go back and push ahead in their language learning, to try and learn deeper and more natural ways to communicate God’s truth.
We appreciate your partnership in this ministry of getting God’s Word translated and into the hands (and hearts) of the Palawano people!

Donna’s Mom Passed Away

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PEACEFULLY IN HER SLEEP
Donna’s mom passed away Wednesday afternoon, passing peacefully in her sleep after two nights in the hospital hospice suite.
We are sad, and will miss her– mom, grandmother and mother-in-law. But we are thankful to the Lord for taking her home after a rapid and relatively painless decline. And we praise God that while we do grieve, we do not grieve “as those who have no hope.” Comforted by her obvious faith in the Lord Jesus, we know we will see her again.
The funeral is tentatively set for Tuesday April 25. Donna will remain in Iowa for another week or so before heading to San Diego, getting back to the Philippines about a week later.
Pray for Donna, her sister, our girls and the rest of the family during this time, and for Donna and I during these final weeks of separation.
BILL IN MANILA
Meanwhile, Bill is in the final days of the Bible Translation Workshop in Manila. This has been an enjoyable and profitable time… thanks for praying! He plans to return to Palawan at the end of the month, getting into our village in early May to finish repairs on our house before Donna’s return.
However, his asthma has been very severe while being in Manila. He saw a doctor who has resolved some issues (including medications canceling each other out!) has put him on a new, more aggressive treatment regimen, and is monitoring his condition.
Pray for Bill’s breathing to improve, and for wisdom in adjusting or following through with plans for returning to Palawan. The doctor has advised against his going to remote areas until the asthma is showing signs of improving.