Teaching Sessions
I spent almost all of February at our International Center in Dallas, working with GIAL (The Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics). I will be back during April, teaching the seminar 'Enhancing Instruction' for GIAL faculty. In this seminar, we look at the various theories of teaching and learning, and discuss what model is appropriate to use with graduate students. Then participants work through 'The Measuring Rod,' a booklet that I have written that examines eight principles of good teaching. After discussing the various learning styles that they will likely encounter in the classroom, each faculty member writes (or revises) materials for one of the current courses he or she is teaching.

In addition to the 'Enhancing Instruction' seminar, I will be teaching a group from our International Academic Affairs area how to use the "Planning for Institutional Development" materials with our partner institutions. This was one of the areas of concentration when I worked with the Indian Institute of Cross-Cultural Communication in 2002.

Focus on Prayer
In previous correspondence, I have shared the Wycliffe Vision: that by the year 2025, every people group needing a Bible translation will have one started in their language. This is an overwhelming task to accomplish, and without the Lord's help and intervention it will not be realized. Our organization is making prayer a primary emphasis, asking God to provide the resources of people and finances to make this goal possible.

As part of our prayer focus, there was an Intercessors' Retreat March 24-28 at our JAARS Center. I was privileged to attend. There were 90 persons who came from 24 locations.

A particular prayer need is our work in Africa. Colleagues serving in Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, and the Congo have recently had to leave those areas due to civil and political unrest, and have relocated elsewhere for the time being. These folks are hurting and need our prayers. Some left in the midst of very tense circumstances. Their lives have been disrupted, and the work of Bible translation in some situations has been interrupted and/or severely curtailed. And an additional focus "global one" is to pray for solutions to the many challenges of providing education for the children of personnel who are working in our various countries of service.

The JAARS Center
JAARS (formerly Jungle Aviation and Radio Service), where the Intercessors' Retreat was held, is the technical support center for our organization, providing services in aviation, computer training and support, construction and maintenance, purchasing and shipping, vernacular media training, and more. If you live within driving distance of their location near Waxhaw, NC, let me encourage you to arrange a trip there. Tours are given Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m., and one Saturday each month they not only offer complete tours, but missionary presentations and airplane rides. Of special interest is the Museum of the Alphabet, twelve years in preparation. Visit and see how God is using people with diverse skills and backgrounds to serve Bible translators. Make reservations by calling 704-843-6130. Groups should try to call at least four weeks in advance.

Many Thanks for Help with the Newsletter!
You are receiving this NL because of the persons who assist in helping get it out. Five Star Printing does a great job in the preparation; various individuals and/or groups pay the printing costs; Charles Walkup (First UM) picks up the NLs and sorts those that go to churches and groups; Debbie Melvin (Forest Hill) labels the paper mail-outs; Grace and John Hrisak (Covenant UM) sort by zip code and pay the postage; Susan Creech (Ascension Lutheran) updates the snail and electronic lists, prepares the mailing labels, and sends out the electronic NL and the electronic Prayer and Praise Updates. Then the other members of my Advisory Board assist with the delivery of the paper copies to churches and groups.

Retreats and Days of Reflection and Prayer
In my winter newsletter, I mentioned the emphasis that I am giving to short retreats and days of reflection and prayer. From May 9-11, I will be facilitating a time of R & P for fourteen persons connected with my Advisory Board. We will be spending that weekend at The Snail's Pace, a lovely retreat location in Saluda, NC (near Asheville). Then from May 16-24 I will be training a group in how to be facilitators of these kinds of sessions. We have opened the training to persons selected from my supporting churches as well as to individuals working for Wycliffe. The training will be held at the White Oak Conference Center in SC, approximately an hour's drive from Charlotte.

Another training session will be held October 10-18. If you, or someone you know, would be interested in attending the October session, please get in touch with me. We are also in great need for scholarship assistance for the missionaries who would like to attend, and would be most grateful if you, a group you are connected with, or your church, would be willing to help.

Personal Prayer and Praise
The past couple of months have been busy with my usual travel, teaching, and speaking engagements. There have been some additional challenges as well. Toward the end of January, the engine in my car died. Then when I was in Dallas in February, the hard drive on my computer crashed (while persons in our computer center were working on it). PTL that I had copies of most of the content of my manuals and of the PowerPoint visuals in Charlotte. However, I lost a lot of current course content, all of my digital pictures, and all of my many email folders that were filled with documents sent from various places around the world. All of this has been unrecoverable. With such a mammoth disaster, I was discouraged (to say the least).

I would like to share with you something the Lord showed me in one of my devotional books the day after the computer crash. Sometimes God uses trials to rip away the flimsy fabric of our self-sufficiency. How true that is! We typically are so busy with all of our (we think) demanding tasks and many responsibilities that sometimes we rely on our own resources instead of the Lord. He also reminded me that a car and computer were small problems compared to those who are experiencing family problems, and to our current world situation.

This story has a praise ending, however. Thanks to the generosity and hard work of persons from several of my supporting churches, my car is now running again (with a used engine installed), and I am using a loaner computer from a friend until the new one that has been ordered arrives. (The new computer was possible because of several gifts.)

Are You Electronic?
If so, please send your email address to Susan Creech and we'll add them to our list to receive the newsletter that way. They will also be on the list to receive the electronic Prayer and Praise Updates that come out a bit more frequently.

In Joy I Serve Him,

Click here for photos from the newsletter