Newsletter

I was asked to write a bit about my experiences this summer for my church newsletter. I thought I might post it here as well:

This summer I have been working in research and development at a missions organization called JAARS in North Carolina. My projects have been designing, building, and testing cargo pods for a Pilatus PC-6 and designing a fire detection system for the Quest Kodiak. Along with these main projects I have been working on numerous other projects as well. I designed and built a ferry tank for the Kodiak so that it can hold enough fuel to fly to Papua New Guinea this September. One of my most fun projects was building a paper airplane model of the Kodiak for the kids at Oshkosh to make (and it actually flies!) I have enjoyed receiving so many different projects and learning new skills. Each day is different and I never know what will come up. I have gotten so experience in machining and fabricating parts in the machine shop as well as creating code for computer controlled routers and Electric Discharge Machining. To see some more of the projects I have been involved or if you are interested in more information check out www.jaars.org .

That is just some of what I have done this summer but more importantly I want to emphasis what I have "learned" this summer. JAARS is a branch of Wycliffe and aids in bible translation. I have had the awesome privilege of rubbing shoulders with overseas missionaries home on furlough or retired that have dedicated their lives to bringing the word of God to ALL people of EVERY language. I love to hear their stories as much as they love to tell them and listen to how God is at work. One thing that has impacted me was how much I take the bible for granted. In the United States we can walk into a book store and choose from so many different bibles. We have big ones and little ones, NIV, King James, New Living and so many other translations, there are study bibles, picture bibles, bibles with concordances and glossaries. We can even read the bible on the computer or on our Blackberries and PDAs. I feel I have become spoiled when it comes to Gods word. I can have it anytime I want it and in whatever way I want it. The bible wasn't special anymore. It was just a book that I have already read that I have about 6 copies of. Now think about the fact that for 2,200 language groups a translation of the bible doesn't exist. That is enough to make my bible seem special. The very core of what I have been working on this summer is bringing God's word to those who don't have it. Another realization I have come to this summer is that while many people, whose native tongue still doesn't have bible translation, can speak another language that does have a bible translation. Going into this summer I felt that "well they can understand the bible, that's what's important, even if it's not in their first language." I have realized that if we are trying to lead people to Christ we need to speak the language of their heart. Peoples hearts speak their native tongue, that language they have spoken since infancy. This is the language of emotion and of love. How can a person believe and understand God's love for them when He doesn't speak their language? JAARS is partnering with Wycliffe and SIL in the Last Languages Campaign. The goal is to have a translation project started in every language by 2025. Surprisingly, this is not an impossible task. For more information visit www.lastlanguagescampaign.org . In the mean time please pray for JAARS, Wycliffe, and the people all over the world that are being reached everyday. Also, thank God for your bible today.