Pray for Americas

Wycliffe Transaltors working in Alaska, praise God that the Gwich'in Audio New Testament (Canada) is completed. They are in the process of getting it put onto MP3players (Mega voice). Pray that things go smoothly and that the distribution planned for the month of June will go well. People are waiting. Pray that the recordings will serve as an effective literacy tool for those who are unable or are learning to read their language. Ask God to make a way for these audio tapes to be played on the radio, as has happened in the past with former Scripture recordings. Pray God´s blessing on the Gwich'in Audio New Testament.

Praise God for the progress that has been made on the manual for preparing for a Participatory Methods for Engaging Communities (PMEC) workshop. Pray that over the next few days, through the end of May, the editor would get key parts added to it so she can use it in North Dakota when they teach the PMEC workshop as a nine-week course starting June 4. This workshop trains people to facilitate discussions which promote local ownership of literacy and translation projects by getting community involvement in the early stages.

Bill and Norma Jean Jancewicz are translators working on the Naskapi Bible translation in Quebec. They were invited by the Naskapi Development Corporation to choose persons for positions as "Naskapi Language Specialists-in-training" to help them with translation projects. Bill interviewed, then hired four, nicknamed the "Fabulous Four" because they have made tremendous progress during their probationary period of employment. They have received some grammar and literacy training, and are now each working on a book of the Old Testament. Pray for these new candidates as they continue to learn the skills and art of crafting a translation of the Bible into their own mother tongue.

Early in May, Marcus Pewudie and Andy Ring began a consultant check of the remaining Lelemi* Old Testament books. Marcus is located in Accra, Ghana, and Andy is in the USA. Pray that the technology will work well as they work via Skype. With God's help, the whole Lelemi Bible will be ready to typeset this year. Andy also needs to write up information he gathered about cluster projects**. Pray that he can finish an initial document before his next trip. From May 30 to June 29 he will do Bible translation consulting in Nigeria. Andy and wife Kate write: "Thank you for your love and prayers. We rely on God's answers."

*About 50,000 people speak Lelemi.

** A language cluster refers to languages that may be linguistically related, and/or from similar geographic regions or cultural backgrounds. 

The Panao Quechua people of Peru are learning more about praising God. Translation team leaders Terry and Karla Smith give thanks that as the Psalms are being translated and taking form, people are interacting with the message and learning to praise. They recently concluded one good Psalms workshop and another was held May 13-15. Pray that the translations and studies of the Psalms will touch the hearts of the Panao Quechua people, and that they will begin to experience the joy, safety and life found in God's closeness, as opposed to seeing Him as distant and disinterested.

Praise God for the Leaders Moving Forward event in early May for the Southern Cone.* An event leader writes: "Our expectations have been surpassed at this event! One participant said: 'God is using this time to renew me, speak to me and confirm my call to be a cross-cultural missionary. I can only say, thank you!'" There were 23 participants from five countries, representing 13 organizations. It was a vital time of interaction among leaders who influence the Bible translation and mission movements in this part of the world. Pray for continued encouragement as they work together. 

*a geographic region composed of the southernmost areas of South America

Sixty Wycliffe Global Alliance leaders are meeting in El Salvador, May 14-16. Give thanks to God for these strategic meetings where all can be together in one place. Pray, please that: the participants will appreciate the importance of promoting Bible translation; all will understand the necessity of working in an integrated, collaborative manner; and they will commit to embracing new goals and assume major responsibilities to support Vision 2025*. Pray for the special dinner on May 14 for a group of pastors and church leaders: they will be challenged to participate actively in Bible translation.

*Wycliffe's vision, together with partners worldwide, is to see a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by the year 2025.

In the Americas, 60 leaders in the Wycliffe Global Alliance will be meeting in El Salvador from May 14 to 16, 2013. Give thanks to God for these strategic meetings in which all these leaders can be together in one place to find the best manner in which they can work collectively in the promotion of Bible Translation. Pray that the participants will be impressed with the importance of this movement and that all will understand the necessity of working  in an integrated manner, colaborating with each other. May the leaders be committed to confront new goals and assume major responsibilities to support Vision 2025. Ask that God renew and strengthen this vision in the hearts of the participants. Pray for the special dinner meeting on May 14 for a group of pastors and church leaders, that they will be challenged to participate actively in Bible Translation.

Translators Bill and Norma Jean Jancewicz working on the Naskapi Bible translation in Quebec, Canada, were invited by the Naskapi Development Corporation to choose persons for 2 to 4 positions as  "Naskapi Language Specialists-in-training" to be paid by the corporation to help them with the translation of the Bible and other translation projects. God sent them four applicants. Bill interviewed the four of them and prayerfully decided to hire them all. Known as "The Fabulous Four", these trainees have made tremendous progress in their classes of instruction and applying themselves through daily practice. They are learning to work as a team and independently, and have improved on many levels during their current probationary period of employment. They have received some grammar and literacy training, and are now each working on a book of the Old Testament, truly a new adventure for them! Pray that these new candidates for translation will work through for the long-term, as they continue to learn the skills and art of crafting a translation of the Bible into their own mother tongue.

SIL International and the Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics are planning the 7^th biennial Bible translation conference, which will take place October 11-15 in Dallas, Texas. The theme is "Promoting Excellence in Bible Translation," with sub-themes on workforce and training, theory and practice, print and non-print media, and engagement and impact. Please pray for the steering, logistics, and abstracts committees. The Abstracts Deadline was May 3. Pray for wisdom for the Abstracts committee as they select abstracts for oral presentation. Pray for adequate funds for all who are planning to attend. Pray for international participants who need visas.