Postscript

Watch Jenny share her story about working at Wycliffe’s WordSpring Discovery Center, reading God’s word in her heart language and God’s plan for the nations.

Jenny mentions how she prays for people that don’t yet have a Bible in their language. You can do that, too. One way is by participating in Wycliffe’s Bibleless Peoples Prayer Project. Through this program, you will be connected with a language group that doesn’t have any scripture and given information on how to pray for them.

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(This video provides some details of the violence in DRC, and is not appropriate for every age group.)

Many countries in Africa have experienced devastating conflict. The Democratic Republic is one of those countries. But, despite the conflict, translations of God’s Word in local languages are bring healing to those who have experienced trauma. Using translated scripture and counseling principles within a biblical framework, Trauma Healing Workshops have been developed to help people recovering from traumatic events. Watch the video to learn more. A book called, Healing the Wounds of Trama, is also available.

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As we’ve traveled to various churches, we’ve had some pastors ask us about opportunities for short-term workers in our organization. Short-term workers are generally defined as people going overseas to help with a specific missions project(s) for one week to one and sometimes two years (depending on the nature of the work). Sometimes workers come in a group, but it can also be individuals.

Our organization has several options for these types of workers:

• 1-8 weeks
• 2-12 months
• 1-2 years

Some of you may know that our first period of time overseas (also called our first “term”) will be two years. If we were short-term workers, our commitment and assignments would be complete after those two years. However, we are not considered short-term workers because our commitment and membership to our organization is indefinite. After serving our initial two years, we’ll return home for short period of time to raise support before returning overseas again.

In any case, I found an article of interest on the topic of short-term missions that you may want to check out: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/04/AR2008070402233.html

One thing not mentioned in this article is that nearly all foreign missionaries have had previous experience on an overseas short term missions trip/experience. That initial exposure can be a critical first step towards long-term service. Also, when short-term missions is done effectively, in cooperation with long-term missionaries on site and with appropriate preparations, its benefits can out-weigh the risks. But, as this article points out, some (maybe too many?) jump into expensive overseas “missions” experiences without the proper preparations.

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The Bible has so much to say about suffering. Here are just a couple of the many passages on this topic:

James 2:2-4: Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18: Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

An eternal perspective. How often have I approached my problems through this lens. I’d like to say that I do it all the time–but, I don’t. The Lord has been reminding me in these last few days that no matter what happens to my dad, not only will He be with us, He will be glorified. God is always working towards His eternal purposes. He desires that none would leave this life with the gift of eternal life that Jesus gives us when we give our lives to Him. I know God will use what we are going through to mold us and to point people towards Christ.

I just finished reading They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky. It’s the story of how three Sudanese boys survived attacks to their villages, separation from their families at four and five years old, traveling for months at the time in the dessert often with very little food and water, and life in several refugee camps. It’s heavy, and it reminds me of how little I’ve suffered. What they went through is beyond my imagination. It’s a miracle that they survived. My heart ached for them and their people because their suffering has been so great, and yet I still believe that God can still use even something this tragic for good.

A point of interest for me in this story was that these boys came from the Dinka people. Wycliffe just finished the New Testament in Dinka Rek.

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Check out this video from the Seed Company, a subsidiary of Wycliffe USA.

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“The Africa Area administration is keen to see Jeff and Heather take up their assignments in Nairobi as soon as possible. There are a number of interested individuals ready to contribute to the communications task in Africa, and Heather is needed to provide leadership to form a communications team that will increase church support for the ministry of Bible translation in Africa. Jeff is also urgently needed to support the essential IT services for the operational center in Nairobi, which serves the region.” –Joel Trudell, Africa Area Director

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I’ve told you about some of the fun stuff I’ve been doing in my extra time, but you may be wondering what I’m doing on a day to day basis. I’m working on the conference media team. This international conference takes place every few years. Delegates from all the different locations where our organization works meet to elect a new board, conduct organizational business, renew their vision and plan for the future.

The media team is supporting the conference by writing articles for a post conference publication, taking photographs, overseeing the capture of audio and video of the meetings, and gathering and making conference materials (like powerpoints, audio files and papers) available to delegates on an intranet site and a CD we will distribute at the end of conference. I’ve been involved in most of these activities with the exception of writing articles…plenty of other things to keep me busy . During breaks and meals, I’ve tried to spend time with some of the people who work in Africa. These will be good connections for when we begin working there. My days usually go from 7:30am until about 6pm. Some evenings I have another hour or two of work to do after dinner. The meetings run Monday-Saturday with a time of corporate worship on Sunday mornings.

Everyone at the conference usually eats breakfast and lunch together. In the evening, most everyone goes to a local restaurant. A complete dinner for one person costs about $3-$5 US, and there are lots of great restaurants! So, evenings give us all a chance to explore the town and eat some good local food.

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What an amazing experience it is to worship with people from all over the world–together in one room! The apostle John writes in Revelation about a day in the future when there will be people from every tribe, nation and language worshipping God.

This morning, there were about 500 people from our organization and organizations with which we work gathered together from all different parts of the world. We worshipped the Lord together–we sang, prayed, listened to teaching, read the Word and took communion together. It felt like a little bit of heaven was right in our midst. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced anything quite like it; it was wonderful.

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“We are looking forward to Jeff and Heather’s arrival in Kenya. Their skills in IT and Communications were needed yesterday! We are eager to see them fill the roles that God has prepared for them. Please help them come soon!” –Pauline Mwanzia, Director of Personnel, Africa Area

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The meetings I’m attending include people from all different parts of our organization. As we are preparing to go into field assignments (Jeff in IT and me in Communications), I’ve been asking some to share about why the roles Jeff and I are fullfilling are important and why we need to get to our allocation as soon as possible.

“Computers are critical to Bible translation, but keeping them running in challenging environments is hard. Lightning, dust, insects and heat all cause computers to fail. Having help close at hand means translation teams and support staff can be up and running much more quickly than sending equipment off for repair. Training national staff equips them with the skills to carry on. Jeff’s role in IT is critical for the east Africa area.” –Woody McLendon, Director of IT Technical Services, JAARS

“‘Contents Under Pressure’ are the words that come to mind when I consider the urgency of the need for Jeff and Heather Pubols service in Africa. The needs they are going there to meet, in both IT and Communications are huge! The potential for their impact in the Bible translation movement in Africa (and beyond) is also huge. On my last trip to Africa, numerous people asked, ‘When will the Pubols arrive?’ Computer service and communications strategy needs are going unmet. Stories of what God is doing in Africa are untold because we don’t have the capacity to get the word out. Jeff and Heather will be able to help move this work forward. We trust God’s timing to release His blessing and enable the Pubols to serve Him in Africa.” –Susan Van Wynen, Director of Communications, WBTI

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