That's a little how Rachel and I felt this week - left behind. Brian actually went on a trip without us! Even though that has been the norm for the past 14 years, it seems strange not to accompany him after traveling together for the past six months.
He is spending the week in Georgetown, Guyana. Many people are not familiar with this country. It's in South America and borders Venezuela, Suriname and Brazil.
The official language of Guyana is English, having been a British colony until 1966. It's very unusual for Brian to work with translation teams in English. On previous trips to Guyana, he has actually started training in Spanish, and then quickly realized the translators didn't understand what he was saying!
Brian is working with two different New Testament translation projects in the languages of Wapishana and Patamuna. There are approximately 10,000 speakers of Wapishana and 5,000 speakers of Patamuna. Both projects will be completed by 2011. It's always exciting to see projects coming so close to completion.
After Guyana, he will be home for one week and then he's off to Paraguay - again without us! This time he will be traveling with our home church's pastor, Rev. Mark Heijerman. Brian is very excited to show Pastor Mark first-hand the work of translation and his role in that exciting ministry.
If he gets his visa approved, in April Brian will be spending almost two weeks in Lahore, Pakistan, assisting with a translation workshop. He began work on the visa in February, but was told it could take 3-4 months. So please pray that the process goes more quickly than that, and he is able to participate in this very worthwhile training event.
As always, thanks so much for your continued interest in and support of our ministry! Donna
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Well, unfortunately, most people's familiarity with Guyana probably begins and ends with the Jonestown massacre.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it is weird to be away from Brian after so many months of intense togetherness. A whole new adjustment again. Good thing you're so adaptable!
I am so glad that Pastor Mark gets to see Brian's work up close and personal. I can see him just absolutely eating it up. What an opportunity for Pastor Mark and blessing for Brian to have him with him.
ReplyDeleteWe are praying in our group for the visa situation. It gets prayed for most every day and often more times.