What a joy it is to be able to communicate with you via my newsletter. I'm so grateful for your involvement with my ministry as I travel and teach in various places overseas, and in the United States, for Wycliffe International.

Sharing About India

Since returning from India in March, I have had many opportunities to share about that country's needs, and how God is at work there in a mighty way. If you haven't seen the May issue of Christianity Today, you should try to obtain a copy. The cover photo is of two Indian women, and the lead article is 'India Undaunted: Escalating Repression Can't Stop the Church's Growth.' Please keep India in your prayers, especially the current Indian environment. With a new prime minister, who is a Sikh instead of a Hindu, will India move toward more openness and tolerance? Or will it continue to narrow its identity and try to oppress minorities?

I can't resist sharing one additional picture from India (on the web site): at the closing ceremony at the training center of the India Evangelical Mission, they presented me with a small gold bell. To call participants back to our sessions after breaks and lunch, I had been ringing a little 'cow bell' that I was given when I first went to Indonesia sixteen years ago. They announced that I needed to start ringing a 'real bell'-a gold one from India!

An Unexpected Happening

On March 31st, as I was traveling from Charlotte to our JAARS Center near Waxhaw, I was involved in a car accident which totaled my car. I have been teased because for two months I was in one of the world's worst countries re driving-cars, trucks, pushcarts, pedestrians, scooters, motorcycles, bicycles, bicycle-rickshaws, and bullock-carts jostle for a place-and I had no problems. And then I experienced a wreck on an (almost) country road!

My sternum bone was fractured (even though I was wearing both a shoulder belt and a lap belt), largely due to the fact that my bones have been softer since I went through the chemo five years ago. I experienced several painful weeks, and really appreciated the prayers, calls, notes, and emails that I received from many of you. Also, thanks to the generous gifts of a number of individuals, groups, and churches, I am now driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla. I've also been teased a bit because the car is red-everyone says that I will have to behave since everyone will know that I am coming!

Three Weeks in Canada

During the month of May I spent three weeks in Canada. Wycliffe and SIL have a master's level program of study in linguistics and literacy at Trinity Western University in Vancouver (one of the few Christian universities in that country). As most of you know, I have had the opportunity to work with faculty and staff at many of the institutions where we serve. I don't teach 'course content' to the faculty; instead, I help them revise and update their materials. The topics I facilitated for the CanIL faculty were 'Enhancing Instruction' and 'Implementing Active Strategies.' I also did teambuilding sessions for the entire staff, and leadership and management sessions for the administrators.

CanIL has just built a beautiful new building on the Trinity Western campus. It was completed, and they moved in, shortly after I left. They will be having the dedication of their building in July. Please pray for them as they prepare many persons to do Bible translation and literacy around the world.

I was delighted that my sister Alice from Alameda, CA was able to come to Canada for a few days of vacation after I finished my time with CanIL. I rode the ferry over to Victoria to meet her, and we enjoyed some of the beautiful sights (and delicious seafood) there.

An Opportunity To Help

You will remember that in 2003 I twice trained leaders for reflection and prayer days, and short retreats-a week in May at a Baptist retreat center in SC, and a week in October at an Episcopal retreat center in NC. In October of 2004 I will doing that training again: this time it will be held at an interdenominational retreat center near our headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

As before, most of the participants will be coming from overseas and have need of a scholarship. A full scholarship is $500 (this includes a week of accommodations and meals, and all of the resource books and materials-a great price because the retreat center is giving us a discounted rate since we are a mission organization).

If you can help with a scholarship (any amount would be appreciated), make out your check to 'Wycliffe International' and on the 'for' line put 'R & P scholarship.' Then mail it to me at my Charlotte address (listed at the end of the NL). If you are not able to send the funds until later, that will be no problem; however, if you could get in touch with me and make a commitment concerning the amount you will give, that would be great. Then I can get in touch with the participant(s) to let them know that a scholarship is possible, and they can begin trying to work out their travel. Thanks for your consideration of this!

Summer Plans

During the summer months I will be traveling and speaking to many churches and groups (please let me know if your group needs a program!). I will also be revising and updating several of my seminars and workshops in The ALERT Series materials.

Possible Partnerships

Wycliffe is seeking to assist churches and groups in making disciples of all nations by initiating partnerships between American churches and Bibleless people groups. Your church can live out its missions strategy by duplicating itself overseas. Your congregation or group can offer hope to unreached peoples by facilitating Bible translation, planting new churches and/or training church leaders.

The Bibleless people group can offer your church community a renewed sense of purpose, a more focused vision and fresh enthusiasm for obeying the Great Commission. Let Wycliffe connect you with a Bibleless people group and let God bless your church or organization through the partnership. For more information, call Wycliffe at 1-800-WYCLIFFE (1-800-992-5433) or email biblelesspeopleslink@wycliffe.org.

The Web Site

Do check out the pictures on our Web Site: http://communities.msn.com/DrEvelynDavis/shoebox.msnw.

In Joy I Serve Him,

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