Higby Herald December 2014

Submitted by doug on Sun, 2014-12-14 22:16

Dear Friends,

At an international worship service in the Philippines, newcomers were asked to stand and say where they were from. When my (Doug’s) turn came, I said that I was living in France. I was in country for a week to bring technology training to translation support staff from a number of locations in Asia. It was a stimulating service with an amazing choir. Later, the couple behind me asked why I was serving with Wycliffe in France. “Doesn’t the Bible already exist in French?” A fair question, because that is how the name “Wycliffe Bible Translators” identifies us. Bible translators go to a new language and translate the Bible, right? Actually, the majority of Wycliffe’s efforts are about enabling Bible translation by those who speak the language best. We’ve put some pictures and a narrative together in the link below to share our current ministry in a way that mere words can’t.

Watch the Video

The fall season was a busy one for us. Although we are empty nesters now, we haven’t had a lot of time together due to my heavy travel schedule this fall. Fortunately, we were able to travel together on a trip to visit our boys in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Henry and Kevin are working and Roger attends Calvin College. At the same time, we were able to speak at several churches and visit with supporters, packing a lot into two short weeks. We have always enjoyed kicking off the Christmas season at a Handel’s Messiah concert because it focuses on the true meaning of Christmas. This year we were privileged to hear both Henry and Roger sing in the Calvin Oratorio Society performance of the Messiah! It was a real and unexpected privilege to spend an early Christmas with our family. Now we wish the same joy to you as we celebrate together the gift of Emmanuel, God with us. May you have a blessed Christmas!

We praise God for sustaining us through your generous financial giving over the past year. Please consider a year-end donation to our ministry to accelerate Bible translation through technology and training. These same gifts also enable Priscilla’s ministry at the Black Forest Academy. We received two generous gifts recently that will help us finish out the year in the face of a decline in monthly giving. Would you prayerfully consider making this ministry a part of your regular giving?

Partners in the Gospel, (Phil 1:5)

Doug & Priscilla

Prayer & Praise

  • The French visas for the our relocation to France are now stamped in our passports! There is more paperwork to do as these provisional three-month visas need to be extended to a year. Pray that this process goes smoothly.
  • Pray for our working sons, as they pay off college debt and navigate living together in a new apartment. Pray for Roger in his first year of college and praise that he found an off-campus job beginning the end of December!
  • Pray for Doug's travels. His work trips will restart in February. Wisdom is needed for the upcoming West African conferences.
  • At the Black Forest Academy, Human Resources, where Priscilla serves, has already been preparing for the 2015-2016 academic year. Pray for the needed staff.