ONE… TWO… READ!
We’ve been working on the recording of the audio version of the Palawano New Testament for about two and a half weeks, now. Whew! Praise the Lord for good progress and for health and stamina. This job requires a lot of concentration, day after day.
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| Bill and Terry on the rooftop of the hotel (yes, the view is amazing) |
This past week, we also hosted a video team from California who are documenting what is involved in getting the Word of God into another language and published in printed and audio formats.
We were even able to film the steps of the printing process, from stacks of 700-pound rolls of Bible paper to printing plates, to printing machines, assembly, sewing, binding, trimming… quite a interesting field trip. We felt a lot of emotion to think that our translation will soon undergo this process and be available for the Palawanos.
RECORDING: EACH ONE DOES THEIR PART
We are working with several Palawanos, Luke and Kristen Rider of Cross Connection Outreach, and a volunteer from one of our churches in San Diego.
Susing is our reader and reads the Palawano New Testament into the mic hour after hour.
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| Luke and Kristen |
Luke monitors the computer which is recording the audio, and Bill follows the text on another computer to make sure each word of each verse is read correctly.
After that, Donna and Giyang listen to each section, checking for any errors which might have slipped through. Susing, Luke and Bill then have to rerecord each of those.
Terry edits to audio to strip out background noise and unwanted silent spaces, etc., and he splices the rerecorded parts into the main audio file. Kristen will help with rerecording and editing when Terry flies home to return to his job in San Diego.
SAY IT AGAIN… AND AGAIN
Susing is very patient. If he stumbles over a word, we have to ask him to repeat the verse (or sentence). If someone hits a hammer upstairs… repeat. If an airline flight goes over the hotel (the whole city is in the flight path)… repeat. If Susing gets too far from the mic, or too close… repeat.
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| A recording studio not unlike Abbey Road |
Susing remains cheerful throughout it all. In his interview for the video he explained, “It’s hard, yes. But it’s worth it to see God’s Word completed and done well, so that people can listen to it and come to know Christ.”
TECHNOLOGICAL MASHUP
Our equipment is a combination of high tech (Macs, sound mixers, top-of-the-line microphone, cables and software) and a jerry-rigged “sound studio” made of mattresses and duct tape. Please note, however, that these mattresses are not just any old cloth-covered cushion. Some of them are the world-renowned, sound-enhancing, echo-diminishing Hello Kitty mattresses (available in pink).
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| The Uniquely-Acoustic Hello Kitty Mattresses |
KEEP PRAYING
Although we have to do retakes because of intermittent noise, we are making good progress. We’re over halfway through the NT. The hotel staff remain friendly and helpful. We thank the Lord for this, and realize that your prayers are a big part of this effort.
Please pray that:
- the relationship with the hotel owners and staff will continue to be smooth
- we will be able to have a relatively soundproof recording situation
- stamina, health and clear thinking for each member of the team
Thank you for your part in this ministry!
Reaching Palawanos together with you,
-Bill and Donna
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