Thank You for Your Loving Care!

Once again today the Lord demonstrated His loving care for me. We're having an unusually mild winter/spring in Grand Rapids as is much of the Midwest. I decided that it would be good for my little 3 1/3 pound puppy and me to get out in the air. Due to arthritic joints, I walk with a cane, but walking with a cane with a puppy that has not been trained to walk on a leash is like asking for a broken bone, so I decided I would use a walker today. Thank you, Lord, for directing me in this way!

I had walked a few minutes when I came upon a huge German shepherd that did not like my little dog at all! Perhaps he wasn't any fonder of me than of my puppy. In any case, he was loudly expressing his dissatisfaction. And did I say that he was huge? I started to back up, but the owner was in the yard and assured me that I could continue with my walk. I started approaching again, but when he became even more menacing, I once again backed up. The owner again assured me that it was all right to continue so I did so. Suddenly, after I had passed where he was supposedly restrained, I sensed that he was on my heals! He lunged against me, which would definitely have knocked me down if I hadn't been using a walker. Then he went for my puppy.

I cried audibly, "God, help me!" I didn't realize the owner was right beside me and probably heard me say it. I hope he didn't think I was using the Lord's name in vain. I trust he knew I was praying.

The owner grabbed the dog and jerked him forcefully back into their yard. I didn't see him hit the dog, but the dog was crying in pain, so I know he hurt him in some way. But I was trying to take care of my baby while shaking like a leaf. I decided to turn around and return home. But that meant traversing the sidewalk in front of the yard where the dog was. I asked the owner if he would hold the dog while I passed. He was still hurting the dog in some way, since the dog was still crying in pain, and he held him firmly as I passed on my way back home.

It took awhile for the adrenaline to stop flowing through me, or for its effects to cease, even after I got home. I would have allowed the dog to bite me before I would have allowed him to get Snookums away from me, if it had been in my power to protect her. I think the dog did get her in his mouth, but he must not have bitten her because she didn't cry. She was as afraid as I was afterwards however.

I thanked the Lord for His protection, and for giving me the foresight to use the walker rather than a cane. I would definitely have been down if I had only been using a cane. Once again, the Lord demonstrated His goodness to me. So, Father, thank You for Your loving care again today.

Thank You, Father

By now you've all heard of the tornadoes and damaging winds that tore through southern Indiana, among other places, yesterday afternoon. Most of my readers know I still have family living in that area. I'm praising the Lord that all of them are safe. One niece and her husband had minor property damage outside their home. While it is disappointing that they experienced that, in light of what many others endured, it is negligible. My younger sister is a substitute teacher. As they were taking cover at the school in which she was teaching, the principal informed them that a tornado had just gone over the school. Thankfully, it did not touchdown there. She was unable to take the highway home yesterday evening. There is much strip mining in the area where they live, and she was forced to drive through those strip mines in order to get home. Still, hearing that all are safe is wonderful news.

The most poignant story to me is that of the toddler who was found in a field about 10 miles from her home. She was evacuated to the Kosair Children's Hospital in Louisville, KY, without anyone knowing her identity. It turns out that her entire immediate family was killed and she is in critical condition. If she lives, what will her emotional condition be after such trauma?

Last week was a busy week for me at Bibles International--nothing spectacular, just busy. Praise the Lord that our members who are overseas are safe and one returned safely from a southeastern Asian country. Please continue to pray with us as we look forward to printing 10 more Scriptures this year, as the Lord wills.

Around the World with Bibles International

We have an unusual number of people out of our office and on the go around the world now. We have four young ladies in a southeastern Asian country right now, with a married couple on the way to that same country. The Caucasian working above is either in that same country or in India. One couple is working in the Philippines. One man is on his way back from Africa via Europe. One man leaves tomorrow for two African countries. And one of our young ladies is in France, studying French in preparation for work in Chad, Africa, where the national language is French. In addition to these I've mentioned, we have the usual number overseas - those who live there.

In a world that is pretty topsy-turvy, where right is often seen as wrong, and wrong as right, I ask you to pray with us for the safety of these people. Some of them leave a spouse behind as they travel. Pray for peace for the spouse who must stay behind.

And ask the Lord to help as our representatives work in a culture that is different from the American culture. Ask Him to give grace and love in their interactions with people in these far-away places.

*Thanks to Dr. Troy Manning for the above photo.

Favorite Pictures

I know you've seen the second of these pictures before, but I continue to think about these people who only recently received their New Testaments. Can you imagine what it would be like to hold God's Word in your language in your hand for the first time? Tim Whatley, Baptist Mid-Missions missionary who oversaw the Quechua translation project said at the dedication, "Did you know, beloved brethren, that God speaks in Quechua? Today, with the reading of His Word, you will hear Him."

How exciting to be a part of a mission that helps nationals translate the Word of God into their heart language! And to be able to do it in many places in the world, is even more exciting. I'm so grateful He has allowed me to be a part of this ministry since 1998. Rejoice with us that the Quechua people in Peru, now have a reliable New Testament from which to read, as do the Kabiye-speaking people in Togo, West Africa.

*First photo taken by BI Appointee, Carla Bieber

Another New Testament is Dedicated!

We are rejoicing at Bibles International as yet another New Testament was dedicated last week. Praise the Lord with us for all the hard work that went into this New Testament. The work began 12 years ago and came to fruition last week in Togo, West Africa, where the Kabiye New Testament was presented to those people who have long awaited this finished product. Thank you for your part in this work. Let's remember to thank the Lord for bringing this about.

*I have no idea whom to thank for this picture. I was not there, so am dependent on those who were for pictures.

The Week in Review

 

Many of my colleagues have been traveling this week. But I think the most important trip was the one made by Director Hantz Bernard as he went to the dedication of the Cuzco Quechua New Testament in Peru. The dedication ceremony was on Monday afternoon. Of all the high points we ever experience at Bibles International, the dedication of a completed Scripture is the highest. While most of us can only imagine what a wonderful occasion that must be, there is always an administrator from BI who represents us at the dedication. The stories they tell of the joy national believers experience at such a time bring tears to my eyes. 

From Peru, our director is going on to Togo, where another New Testament will be dedicated, and another group of believers will rejoice to know that "God has finally learned my language." While we at BI know that God knows each of the more than 7,000 languages in the world, many people believe He doesn't know their language, since He has never spoken to them in their heart language.

There is still so much work to do. Pray with us as we continue to work toward the goal of having reliable Scriptures in the hands of all who seek them.

*Thanks to one of my colleagues, Debbie King, for this picture of an actual Quechua New Testament.

My Baby

At the age of almost 18 months, my baby, Snookums, is becoming a bit more sedate which allowed me to take this picture of her. A friend gave her the little Teddy bear lying on the floor beside her, which she dearly loves. That poor bear has been attacked and mauled mercilessly so many times. It is in danger of loosing one or more limbs soon, but it remains one of Snookums' favorite toys.

My little Snookums has provided hours of fun and companionship for me, and I'm thankful to have her. And at only 3 1/3 pounds, she is just the right size for me - not so big that I have trouble carrying her up and down stairs, and not so small that I'm likely to trip over her.