Bible translation experience

Hey guys. I want to share with you some of my experience with the Bible translation process. In fact, Bible Translation is the primary reason that I came to Honduras. You see, before coming to Honduras, I talked with the director of DOOR (Deaf Opportunity Outreach), and the he told me that there was a Bible Translation process already started in Honduras. He encouraged me to contact them to see if they would be interested in partnering with DOOR. I agreed to be a part of this endeavor.

Then, I moved to Honduras and made contact with the ministry here called "New Life Deaf Ministries" (NLDM).

NLDM has 3 different aspects to their ministry. They have an elementary school for Deaf children. They have a high school, which opened this year. Also, they have a church that is lead by 2 Deaf pastors. It's really a cool. I'll explain more about them, but first I want to talk about the Bible translation team.

When I first met the group of translators, they gave me a little background into how the process started, and how they've gotten to where they are now. Wow. It's so great! I felt so welcomed by this group of people. They were very friendly and inviting from the moment I showed up. They have allowed me to join their translation meetings, and I've been learning tons about the process. It's been super cool. I'm so thankful for this team, and the way they've welcomed me here in Tegucigalpa. They are sharing LESHO with me, and information about their culture. Their friendship has been an overwhelming blessing.

They have also been great about welcoming me into their discussion concerning a partnership with DOOR. We've talked much about this opportunity. We came to the agreement that Aura, who is the leader of the translation group and was born in Honduras (but raised in the states then moved back to Honduras) and I will travel to Africa in early April. We'll be going to Kenya to see how their translation process works and see if it will be a good fit for what has already been started in Honduras.We will also be meeting with the director to ask questions like: if we are to partner with DOOR what would that look like? what - if anything - would change in the process we have now? How are we going to benefit from their involvement, and how will they benefit from ours? We will be there for about 9 days.

After we check out the facility and spent time with the people there, we'll come back to Honduras and discuss the things we observed with the Bible translation team. Aura and I will give a report about how we felt while over there, and how we think we should proceed. And then we'll see how the Lord leads. ^.^

I'm really excited to go to Africa - it's really soon! I'll be leaving in just under 3 weeks.

Oh, about NLDM and their 3 ministries: the elementary school, high school and church. The elementary school has been running for some time now, but they are only in the first year of the high school. They just added a 7th grade class this year because last year they had their first 6th grade graduation. Some of the individuals on the Bible translation team are also teachers at this school. It's cool to see how they work together.

The third part of the ministry, the church, has 2 Deaf pastors. Manuel and Melvin do a wonderful job teaching those who come to the church. They take turns preaching. This Church has been a wonderful place for me - I already feel like I'm a part of the church family. I have such a good time chatting with the other members. They are willing to help me out when I make cultural mistakes and they are gracious as I'm still awkward at times and learning what norms are expected here in Honduras. I really can't say it enough, as they have been so welcoming and friendly in accepting me.They have been a God-send, for sure.

It has been really cool to see how God planned out all that's happened. God knew that I would be coming to Honduras to work at Amor en Accion, and to be a part of the Bible translation process, but He also knew who shall help me feel welcomed by the local Deaf community. He provided Christian friends as a support system for me here, and I'm so grateful that He did. I want to thank the Lord for all His perfect provision.

So, that's about it. I think that's all I have to say.. I will vlog again soon, next week hopefully. See ya!

In His Grip,

Azael

¡Qué loco! That's crazy!

Ya veremos si les gusta este blog que tiene tres lenguages - signo americano, inglés, y español

We shall see if we will like this blog that consists of three languages - American Sign Language, English, and Spanish

• waiting...espera...anxious...preocupación...

• finally!    ¡por fin!    Mike Buus the director of DOOR replied!        ¡Mike Buss que el directivo de la organización DOOR contestó!

• dumfounded...nos embebecemos...yes, Beth, Alissa, and I were dumbfounded...ya Beth, Alissa, y yo estabamos sin habla...

• ¿por qué?    why?    Pues, quiso Mike que yo trajera el equipo de 4 hondureños sordos a África para la formación        Mike wanted me to bring a team of 4 deaf Hondurans to Africa for the training...

• also, Mike wanted us to stay there for 5 years        también, Mike quiso que nos quedáramos en África por 5 años

• O.O         ¿5 años?        0.o    5 years?   o.O

• God has dream, only bigger than I could ever imagine!    ¡Qué sueño más grande tenga Dios!

• por eso, estaré de 7 meses en Honduras para buscar cuatro hondureños cristianos sordos lideres, que podrían viajar conmigo en El Sueño Grande    I will be in Honduras for 7 months looking for four Deaf Honduran Christian leaders who may join me on the journey of the Big Dream

• in July, I will be going to Africa for 6-month training to be equipped facilitator of my team    luego, cuando el julio viene, salgo para una formación de 6 meses en África para que este yo listo para llevar mi equipo

• quiso Mike que regresara a Honduras con los lideres de DOOR para seleccionar los lideres hondureños y llevarlos a África    Mike wanted me to return to Honduras with DOOR leaders to select the leaders among Hondurans and bring them to Africa

• it's likely that we will start the offical training in January 2013     ^.^    es posible que comencemos la formación oficial el enero de 2013     ^.^

• ya necesito vendar lo que no necesito y quiero llevar conmigo a Honduras    I'm going to sell whatever I no longer need or do not want to bring it with me to Honduras

• to-do list    las tareas
• vender el carro        sell my car
• sell my books        vender los libros
• la ropa se regalado    clothes will be given away
• furniture giving away as well    también los muebles se regalados
• iPhone 4 se vende    iPhone 4 for sale
• y más...so on...

• no creo que sea tan difícil dejar lo que me gusta mucho como la ropa y la tecnología    I couldn't believe how it is difficult to let things go...especially clothes and technology

• I had considered about buying iPod, iPad, or a new computer...había pensado en comprar iPod, iPad, o computador portátil

• Dios me recordó que el dinero no es mío...God reminded me that money is not even mine...es Suyo...it is His

• please pray for me that I will be able to let go of things of the world to be able to serve the Lord    favor de orarme que deja las cosas del mundo para servir el Señor mejor...

• también, necesito el oración para la sabiduría porque hay muchas decisiones debo tomar antes de que salga de EE.UU.    also, a prayer is needed because I will need wisdom in the decision-making process related to moving out
• Thank you for reading and keep watching for the new post!     ¡Gracias por leer y hasta luego!

Azael

DOOR

                                                         ^^ ASL blog ^^

Hey...

It's about time that I post something on this blog =P

I wanted to share something...you know, you might think that last blog (internship) was the last post

I actually have something of which you may not be aware...

You see, this whole thing started this past spring

At that time, I decided to give up my dream to God...

My dream was to start a ministry in Honduras for Deaf people...

I had three goals in this ministry:

1) Gospel...that is, they will understand the Gospel thoroughly and clearly...

2) Education...they will be taught how to read and write, so that they can function independently through written methods with hearing people...even read the Bible on their own...

3) Basic needs...to provide whatever they need such as food, clothing, shelter...

Those goals in my dream ministry...and I laid it before God...it was difficult for me...in fact, I cried...

After giving my dream to Him, I moved on with my life...I almost forgot about it because I was preoccupied with RIT courses, graduation, getting ready to go to Wildwood Summer Project, planning to live in Florida, visiting Honduras to see my family and to go on a mission trip, and starting the internship...

All of a sudden, soon after returning to Florida from Honduras, I discovered that God has given me the bigger dream...

The Big Dream has six goals, which consists of the same goals I mentioned above in addition to the following:

1) Raising leaders in the Deaf community...to equip Honduran leaders to lead deaf Hondurans

2) Residence...that is, deaf Honduran may learn academic subjects and stay overnight...to eliminate the transportation...

3) Employment opportunities for Deaf Hondurans...to enable them to earn steady salary to support themselves

...so, this is even bigger than my original dream...I now realized the importance of surrendering your dream to God...and that you will be given the Big Dream

You may recall from previous blog regarding the ministry called Links of Hope (LoH)...I joined LoH on the trip to Honduras last July...

Anyway...it happened that LoH has a personal contact with the directors of D.O.O.R.

Are you familiar with DOOR?

If not, then go ahead and check out the following link:

http://www.doorinternational.com/

DOOR stands for Deaf Opportunity Outreach...

You see, the mission of this organization (you could say it's a ministry) is to establish
a center that focus on Bible translation in each of the continent. The center will train Deaf people to translate the Bible into their own sign language rather than teaching them American Sign Language in order to understand the Bible.

For example, there are centers in India and Kenya, Africa. So, DOOR's mission is actually awesome.

Now, Beth, who is the founder and leader of LoH, has personal contact with DOOR directors...

DOOR directors looked for someone who was familiar with making bracelets...and LoH's mission is to train women who live in the third-world countries in making bracelets...in order to make an income to support their families by selling the bracelets...

It was totally the plan of God...you see, the DOOR directors came to Beth's church to give a talk about their organization, and Beth came to listen...

There, Beth and the directors made a connection...

Beth did teach one of the directors how to make a bracelets, and the directors returned to Africa to teach Deaf African women...

These Deaf women were supposed to make 50 bracelets, which would be sent to Beth...that way, Beth will signal to them whether or not they did it correctly...before these women make 500 bracelets BY CHRISTMAS!

I think that's neat that these women are able to provide themselves some financial support

However, I don't know what's the status of this process...

Furthermore, DOOR is now looking to Latin America to launch a satellite of Bible translation...Beth was informed of this...

Beth thought of me since I am relatively fluent in ASL, English, Honduran Sign Language (Lesho), and Spanish...

I have the ability to teach and leadership skill...

Oh, and I have linguistic skill as well...

It seemed that I'm qualified enough to be trained over there in Africa...to acquire of their philosophy and system of the centers...

When I become familiar with how DOOR may run, I might be able to go back to Honduras...even to a different country in Latin America...to launch the center there...

So...this is really awesome...

Yo use, only a week ago or so...I turned in my biography and resume to Beth and then Beth completed the cover letter...

She submitted these materials in addition to a Honduran video she created and another video about me through Campus Crusade for Christ

She submitted them to the directors on the day they left for their vacation!

Fortunately, they did respond and indicated that they are quite interested in discussing this...but they need vacation...so they will resume this upon arrival from the vacation

The directors even forwarded the materials, which Beth sent, to some Deaf people in Africa...and a particular Deaf person responded that she or he had goose bumps when seeing one of the videos...

That is cool!

Going to Africa wasn't part of my original dream, but is part of God's will.

In fact, I used to dream to go to Africa just to see what it was like there and to bring my influence on Deaf people over there...you know Africa has many needs...

For me, going to Africa has twofold purpose...first, to travel and, second, to make an impact on Africans...

At this moment, I'm currently waiting to hear from the directors...it is really up to the directors regards with the length of being trained over there and date of departure...

I am really anxious to know what might happen...

God is always wonderful...I encourage you to keep pursuing Him...to seek His face...God will bless you for earnestly seeking Him...

Also, you will discover His will that match your passions for something in the life...

So yahh...

Well, I will see you later!

Azael