Below are recent photos of our books being used [...]]]> Now that Africa is in the safe hands of Rev Ignatius and Overseer Aaron, i still keep involved to support them; BUT for the rest of May my main energies will be directed towards Asia and the Hong Kong Conference in March (11 – 17 th) 2013.

Below are recent photos of our books being used in Burma/Myanmar.

Jenny and i thank God.

At home Jenny and i wait for the birth of our second grandchild – a brother for Lily – now aged two.

It’s been good to meet Lucy from Lesotho and [...]]]> As Africa moves into its 4th month of independent management of easyBibles i have less to do but rejoice that the central team is holding firm.

At home Jenny and i wait for the birth of our second grandchild – a brother for Lily – now aged two.

It’s been good to meet Lucy from Lesotho and encourage her and relatives back home to contact Rev Ignatius Chumwe about their easySesotho.

I also enjoyed attending the Wycliffe Associates UK Annual Conference where Joseph from Zimbabwe and his wife from the Caribbean expressed interest in helping with the African and South American teams.

NOW THAT ‘EASYBIBLES FOR AFRICA’ HAS BEEN GIVEN INDEPENDENCE – and has its own conference (without me) in Kabwe, Zambia in October 2012; WE ARE MOVING AHEAD IN THE SAME WAY WITH ASIA (Hong Kong conference for March 11-17 2013) AND SOUTH AMERICA (October 2013 in Lima, Peru).

So for the next few months my energies will be focussed on friends in Asia – not neglecting to encourage Rev Ignatius Chumwe in Zambia and new contacts world-wide. After S America will come Europe and lastly N America. (Luke 13 v 29,30)

Now why Easy Bibles in Africa? This question is still raised and i was led to make enquiries using an opinion poll through the internet and locally.

The result is :

Many of our brothers and sisters are really thirsty to get Easy [...]]]> From a leader of easyBibles and veryeasyBibles in the Democratic Republic of the Congo :

Now why Easy Bibles in Africa? This question is still raised and i was led to make enquiries using an opinion poll through the internet and locally.

The result is :

Many of our brothers and sisters are really thirsty to get Easy and Veryeasy Bibles. It is worth asserting that the Holy Scriptures that were translated into African or local languages long ago have been in a sewn-up literary style – difficult to read and be understood by most of our population, whose education level is very low.

After Africa (Kabwe, Zambia) on Feb 7th 2012, next [...]]]> Luke 13 v 29,30 “People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” says Jesus.

After Africa (Kabwe, Zambia) on Feb 7th 2012, next is Asia (Hong Kong) on March 11-17th 2013, then South America (Lima) in October 2013.

Perhaps Oceania (and Australasia) will be helped by the Asian team. That leaves Europe and then North America……i don’t talk to penguins!!

From my friend Pastor JOSÉ NAVARRO   - we met in London and Lima, Peru in 2005 :

HI DEAREST BROTHER MARTIN:

IT IS ALWAYS A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO RECEIVE YOUR UPDATES ON WHAT GOD IS DOING THROUGH YOUR WONDERFUL MINISTRY.
A CONFERENCE ABOUT EASY BIBLES FOR SOUTH AMERICA?, IN LIMA?, THAT WOULD WONDERFUL AND I WILL BE HONORED TO HELP YOU GUYS. LET ME SHARE WITH YOU THAT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I HAVE BEEN ELECTED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE PASTORAL FELLOWSHIP IN OUR CITY. DO YOU REMEMBER PS. DAVID? I WAS PROMOTED TO TAKE HIS POSITION NOW. AND HE HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO BE THE PRESIDENT NATIONWIDE, SO WE CAN DO A CONFERENCE EVEN WITH PASTORS FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF PERU. I THINK OCT, 2013 IS GOOD TIME, BECAUSE THAT WILL GIVE US ENOUGH TIME TO SET UP EVERYTHING IN ADVANCE.

MAY OUR LORD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY AND YOUR MINISTRY IN A TREMENDOUS WAY AS NEVER BEFORE.

YOUR IN CHRIST, FROM LIMA PERU.

PS. JOSÉ NAVARRO

———————————————————————–

May i please mention again the starting text for easyBibles – Matthew 25 v 40

“Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.“

Yesterday, April 10th, i sent the first monthly instalment of a small amount of money for Pastor Ignatius, helped by Overseer Aaron and retired schoolteacher Mary to use to encourage teams from the poorest African [...]]]> On Feb 7th in Kabwe, Zambia an African team led by Pastor Ignatius Chumwe took over leadership for ‘easyBibles’ in Africa.

Yesterday, April 10th, i sent the first monthly instalment of a small amount of money for Pastor Ignatius, helped by Overseer Aaron and retired schoolteacher Mary to use to encourage teams from the poorest African nations in their work of producing ‘easyBibles’ documents.

Soon, Africa will have its own easyBibles website.

I shall still pray for many wonderful friends in Africa – and for the time being seek to raise money for PRINTING IN AFRICA.

But this year i shall concentrate on Asia and the Hong Kong Conference – March 11 -17th 2013.

STOP PRESS - Cleto Mhuru of Zimbabwe has already replied – ‘Greetings,

1. ”Dear Rev. Martin,

Greetings! I am a Bible Translator and Bible Translation Consultant and Trainer. My wife and I finished the New Testament in a language called xxx spoken in yyyyy State in India. We published the NT with Psalms & Proverbs five times for the enormously growing [...]]]> This week we have had 2 exciting developments from North India :

1. ”Dear Rev. Martin,

Greetings! I am a Bible Translator and Bible Translation Consultant
and Trainer. My wife and I finished the New Testament in a language
called xxx spoken in yyyyy State in India. We published the NT with
Psalms & Proverbs five times for the enormously growing xxx church and
about 90% of the OT has been translated.

After we met with you here in Chennai some years back, we were
encouraged and motivated by your sharing and hence we prepared some
easy reading Bible portions in xxx language which were well received
with good feedback. We are also planning to go for translating some
more easyBibles portions in the years ahead. We are also teaching
about the significance of easyBibles wherever we go for teaching.
It is our desire and prayer that we can gain some more expertise from
any Seminar or workshop such as the ensuing HK Conference. As and when
we receive reports and e.mail with prayer concerns from you, we pray
for them. We are sure that you are doing a very important task on this
earth and be assured of our continued prayers. Do remember us in your
prayers.’

2. ‘veryeasy’ Marathi and Hindi arrived today from a different team in North India.

Both leaders wish to attend Hong Kong in March 2013.

AFRICA – THE NEW KABWE TEAM IS SETTLING DOWN WELL – after a few teething problems and soon we hope to have main languages French (DRC), Chichewa (Malawi) and Bemba (Zambia) at the ‘over-half NT’ stage being checked before printing in Africa. The four gospels + Acts together make up over half a New Testament.

Central leaders in Kabwe, Revs Ignatius and Aaron (helped by retired schoolteacher Mary) are already meeting to monitor funds and progress. Praise God.

In Passion Week might i mention a dream i had for 2 nights recently. My African friends found it helpful :

‘Dear friends,
For two nights i’ve had a bad dream or nightmare.

It was about a new friend who owned a shop and somehow ( i cannot
remember the details) i found myself in possession of an object of
high value – that i hadn’t paid for and couldn’t explain to my friend.
I was not guilty – but no-one would believe me. A terrible situation!

When i woke up – i thought about all the poor people in the world who
cannot read about the good news of ’sins forgiven through the death
and resurrection of Jesus’

We are about SERIOUS BUSINESS’

For HK we already have 11 possible delegates from 7 countries and this number is growing steadily. Of course, generally speaking, Asians have more money for [...]]]> The HK Conference for March 11th- 17th 2013 has already attracted more interest and people than Kabwe (where the new leaders of easyBibles – Africa have made a wonderful start).

For HK we already have 11 possible delegates from 7 countries and this number is growing steadily. Of course, generally speaking, Asians have more money for travelling than Africans.

My basic aims for the HK Conference are similar to those for Kabwe, Zambia :

1 Assessing need for ‘easy’ and ‘veryeasy’ Bible portions

2.Mutual encouragement for writers/translators and checkers, field-testers….

3. My handing over leadership of ‘easyBibles – Asia’ to an international Asian Committee – i’ll be 72 at this conference!

An exciting spin-off of announcing this HK Conference for 1 year’s time has been enthusiastic emails from old friends – especially from India – one of whom is sending some veryeasy Marathi soon.

And this timing fits in well with Paul Marsh’s brave travels in Orissa and the Punjab at the moment. I’m already in contact about easyBibles with his friendly pastor from Orissa.

Here below is today’s email :

‘Arrived safely in Delhi & attended the Ezra conference.  Was with Pastor Joshua in Karnal. Was in a car, which fell into a ditch, but we managed to get out of it. Monday I travelled on a bus to Ludihana and at present I am with Dr. Alex Abraham of Operation Agape, going onto Jallander tomorrow.’

Please keep praying for Paul and India and Kabwe and HK and THANK YOU

A quick response from Rev Ignatius Chumwe – leader of the Kabwe team :

Martin will NOT, of course, be attending this October Kabwe Conference – just praying and rejoicing.

That’s more countries than came to Kabwe 2012 in Africa.

The new African team are settling down well – but please, let’s keep praying.

Of course, i shall NOT be there. I’ll be saving up for similar event in Hong Kong (for Asia easyBibles) in early 2013.

Pastor Ignatius [...]]]> Great progress – Pastor Ignatius Chumwe – my new ‘boss’ in Africa tells me that another Kabwe Conference is planned for October 2012. November is rainy season in Zambia and less comfortable.

Of course, i shall NOT be there. I’ll be saving up for similar event in Hong Kong (for Asia easyBibles) in early 2013.

Pastor Ignatius has asked our friend Rev Aaron Mulenga to be Treasurer for ‘easyBibles Africa’ BUT any money i send for Africa will be notified to Ignatius, Aaron and Mary – a retired teacher.

I was first advised of this triangular accountancy in Kenya.

As i’ve suggested before, Pastor Cleto Mhuru of Zimbabwe has been invited by the ‘boss’ to set up a website for ‘easyBibles Africa’ to hold all new translated materials flowing fron the Kabwe fellowship – which incldes email members in far away places such as Ethiopia.

This site will be linked to, soon, from my site – especially the quality. easyBibles.com part.

Already we have new easySwahili and easyLingala coming from Pastor Elie in DRC.

Samuel & Sarah Mpanilehi from Musoma, Tanzania are also sending some ‘easy’ and ‘veryeasy’ Swahili and have encouraged a friend to start easyZinza.

By God’s strength this new African team is holding fast and now ADVANCING.

I’ve been listening again to Handel’s Messiah and reading Sir Malcom Sargent’s cover notes – all such an inspiration to our work. Isn’t enthusiasm contagious!

I’ll suggest to Rev Ignatius that he makes it compulsory listening for his African team. I sadly jest – music centres are too expensive for many of them.