TRANSLATION and MINISTRY UPDATE
We’ve seen an encouraging increase in church attendance here in the last several weeks. This morning we have 50 in church, which is nearly double what we had a couple weeks ago. We pray this trend continues! Numbers aren’t the main thing, but the more people who come and sit under the teaching of God’s Word, the better! Plus, we’re hoping that some of the inter-family problems we’ve seen here are slowly being resolved.
Translation continues… Ephesians is now pretty much done and ready to be sent to the translation consultant so she can prepare to check it. We’ll have her come and check several books at once in early 2009. Meanwhile, we’re drafting, revising and checking Luke and 1 Peter. We’re anxious to see these books completed and in the hands of the believers here!
We just had copies printed of the recently-completed book of Acts. The people here are excited to have this book in their possession, and in their language, for the first time ever! On Saturday mornings, Bill is teaching a Bible study, going through Acts verse-by-verse. This is mostly the for men who want to teach, and he’s handing out study notes for them. But others are welcome to sit in and so we’ve had older women, kids, teens and some men who are not teachers attending. Pray for much fruit from this study.
Pray with us as to work to see as much translation completed as possible by mid-October.
UPCOMING PLANS
Pray with us as in mid-October we will be taking a break and heading to San Diego for a short home assignment. We’ll be visiting many supporters and churches, and spending the holidays with our kids before returning the Philippines in mid January.
We’re looking forward to seeing everyone!
Praise the Lord we have a place to stay (our church’s missionary apartment) for a reasonable price. But we’d appreciate prayer for the other logistics and needs… a car to use while we’re home, provision for airfare and the other expenses of such a trip, including things we need to buy and bring back to the Philippines.
Thanks again for partnering with us in Reaching the Palawanos!