Greetings from two sides of the world – I’m in Balangao and Amy is in Waxhaw. We so appreciate your prayers for us both during this time. Here are a few updates:
Balangao Translation Office Dedication
The dedication Sunday (July 10) was wonderful! Chairs were crammed into the office building and more chairs were outside—but the majority of people had to stand. Ignacio did a masterful job as MC, guiding the program; Pastor Nardo’s message from the translated book of Nehemiah was so fitting. He used the analogy of the opposition and celebration of building Jerusalem’s wall, comparing it to the building of the translation office. Both the Balangao and the Majukayong translation teams sang special songs. Joanne, Robyn and Grace wrote theirs for the dedication (see words attached). The mayor spoke. And Tony Dasalla representing TAP (Translators Association of the Philippines) gave an excellent talk: he encouraged the Balangao and Majukayong translation teams to accommodate the Mangali translation team, helping them and perhaps others of the Kalinga cluster group, with their translations. This office building may well serve a much wider spectrum of translation efforts than we had imagined! He also encouraged church leaders to be involved, helping to make the translation very readable. Certificates of Appreciation were presented to numerous officials; acknowledgments were made of all those who helped in butchering a cow and two huge pigs, the cooking of those along with several hundred pounds of rice. Along with thanks to all those committees, extreme thanks and appreciation were extended to the indefatigable teams who came from America, making it all happen. And with those teams, the thanks extended to those incredibly generous donors who provided the funds. We even had one of the builders and two donors at the celebration! Andrew spoke of the blessings the builders received in their working alongside Balangaos; George and his wife came from Atlanta area to help celebrate and he spoke on behalf of the other donors. It takes the WHOLE team to make such a project possible and that includes the prayer team. YOU were also thanked—read the words of the song! The Balangao team ended the program by having everyone sing “Natonin is for Christ” which was printed in the program so everyone could join in (see words attached).
We will work on uploading photos as soon as we can get adequate internet access! But for now we’ve copied two photos below. Check www.balangao.blogspot.com to see the completed building and eventually photos of the dedication celebration!
Nard instigated making a PPT for my 75th birthday which my first working partner Anne narrated. Thought you’d enjoy seeing it. Amy uploaded it to this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/AWestphotos/HappyBirthdayToJo?authkey=Gv1sRgCPeh2pjDy9TDPg. It’s almost 6 minutes long—5:41. Look under “My Photos” where it says Full screen…click on that to see the video “full screen” J
Helicopter Update for my Travel
Many of you have asked about the status of the helicopter for my leaving Balangao on Wednesday. With my precarious neck-fusion-that-didn’t-fuse, I’ve been classified as an “emergency” and can’t travel overland. The helicopter pilot plans to jump-start the battery for the flight into Balangao; he will not shut the engine down but I’ll board and fly out to the helicopter’s base in Tuguegarao. Pray that I’ll be able to get on an earlier flight out of Tuguegarao for a reasonable price as the flight I’m scheduled on arrives late in Manila making a taxi ride to the Center quite problematic.
Amy’s Activities
Amy enjoyed being with family in Texas (see photo below) while I was in the Philippines. Along with celebrating sister Julie’s special birthday, highlights included family time at a lake house where nephews fished and board games with nieces and nephews made it special. They all celebrated the 4th of July with ribs, roasted potatoes, corn salad, watermelon and homemade ice cream! Everyone has now returned to their normal routine except for her parents—this week is her Dad 3rd week of chemo infusion treatments. The good news is that the treatments are working—his white blood count has been lowered from the unacceptable 157 to 5! Yesterday’s treatment took 5 hours and he did begin to react to the medicine with chills and shaking, but two bags of steroids stopped that. We both appreciate your prayers for Amy’s family. Meanwhile she’s continuing her work here in Waxhaw. I return there on the 19th.
With deep gratitude to God for each of you and your prayer partnership,
Jo and for Amy
 |
| The prayer of dedication of the two translation teams to the Lord. George Jones did the prayer. |
 |
| Inside the office building; the rest of the chairs outside… and people “hanging in the windows!” |
 |
| With my folks, my siblings and 5 of my nieces and nephews |
NATONIN IS FOR CHRIST
The heavens declare your glory
The nations bow before thee
And in this place let your praise arise
NATONIN is for Christ
Reign, reign Lord Jesus
In our hearts and in our lives
Reign, reign oh Lord of the heavens
NATONIN is for Christ.
Forever your name be exalted
Oh Lord of all creation
And in this place we lift your name on high
NATONIN is for Christ
Reign, reign Lord Jesus
In our hearts and in our lives
Reign, reign oh Lord of the heavens
Natonin is for Christ
Song Written for Balangao Translation Office Dedication
July 10, 2011
Apudyus manyaman-ani’n Hea God, we bring our thanks to you
Te antoyan–ani amin ahto Because here we are, all in this place
Way manayaw hen ngachanno To worship your name.
Saramat hen antochay sosnodni Thank you, to these our siblings
Way ummale’y mèladladsak an chàni Who have come to celebrate with usHen narpasanto’y officeni This finishing of this our office
Chakar agé hen manyamananni Great also is our thanks
Sosnodni way tommorong an chàni To our siblings who have helped usTa wachay man-offisanni So that this our office can be/exist
Hen amin way tommorong way a-anàno On all who have helped [us] your children
Yag anat ma-amma-anto By making all this happen
Hen anchichay amin way ummidchat To all those who have been givers
Ya hen amin anchichay nantarafaho And all those who have workedUmat agén ninluwaru Likewise all who have prayed…
(Tune: KalabasaJ)
Saramat an uncle way Nard ya hea Auntie Juami THANK YOU Uncle Nard and Aunt JuamiYa an chàyuy SILers hen aminay torongyu And all you SILers for all your help
To you Mr. and Mrs. Jones thank you for giving to the Lord (In English!)
And were glad you’re here with us celebrating God’s goodness.Manyaman-anin chàyu amin way nansakrifisyu We all thank you-all for your sacrificing
Bindisyun Apo an chàyu an chàni imfingayyu The gifts of the Lord to you and giving us this share
Wat yato hen chawatni an chàyu way sosnodni So this is our request of you our brothers
Masapornin luwaruyu metoroyan tarafaho. You must pray for the continuing work hereHen chawatni agén chàyu sosnod way iFarangao Our request to you our Balangao brothers
Ta mantetennorongtaaw ta marpas hen Bibliataaw Let’s help each other so our Bible will
be done
Te antoy alen Apudyus yato hen mangintudtuchu ‘Cuz this Word of God, it teaches
Hen ustoy Kahara-an way ah Jesus yanggayn charan how to be saved, Jesus being the only trail/way
Anggaychih ifagani an chàyu way sosnodni That’s all we have to say to you our brothers
Saramat ummaliyanyu way mèladladsak an chain THANK you for coming to celebrate with us!
No comments:
Post a Comment