Today we had our first chance to practice learning a foreign language through a real language helper. Our helper, David, is from Bangladesh, so the language we are using for this practice is Bangla (Bengali). For now, we are focusing on analyzing the sounds of the language (we'll get into the grammar later on), so we asked David to give us various Bangla words, and then we transcribed them in phonetic symbols, as we had learned to do during our Phonetics class last month. It was so exciting to transcribe words from a real language with real meanings, instead of the made-up words we had used in class! All those hours of painstaking transcription work in Phonetics class is finally bearing fruit!
Along with this work in the Bangla language, we are also getting an overview of literacy methods. I am not a literacy specialist, but literacy is a vital part of Bible translation ministry, so it is important for me to understand what is involved.
We have much to learn in the next two weeks, so I appreciate your prayers!
Outfit and Passage
If you read my recent prayer letter, you noticed the prayer request regarding my outfit and passage need. For those who may be interested in more details, here is a full breakdown of these expenses:
Housing: $4,000Obviously, the vehicle expense takes the lion's share of these costs. However, experienced missionaries have assured me it is a reasonable amount. This is because a sturdy vehicle is needed to survive the rough African roads - a regular car like the '91 Buick that I'm using now just won't make it! Anyway, all these figures will be reexamined and revised over the next few months, so please pray for wisdom, and that I will be a good steward while trusting the Lord for my needs.
Language study: $5,000
Outfit and Passage (plane tickets, etc.): $2,200
Shipping customs: $1,500
Vehicle: $30,000
Isaiah 49:13-16
I've really enjoyed my classes here at BJU, but it is definitely different from Faith and Iowa, and of course, very different from Australia! So I have again been adjusting to a different culture and living situation, far away from anything familiar. I'd like to share a few verses that have been an encouragement to me as I've been getting used to life here:
Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.That passage has my favorite rhetorical question in the Bible! As most of you probably know, rhetorical questions they aren't really seeking for information, because the answer is supposed to be obvious (which, by the way, can cause some interesting difficulties when translating them into other languages). The question, "Can a woman forget her sucking child?" seems to have the obvious answer no, yet the answer is maybe! Mothers are sinners too, and some mothers do abuse or abandon their children. So even the most loving of humans might forget me (though my mother certainly hasn't!). But the Lord promised Israel that there was never any chance that He would forget them - and He will never forget me either, no matter which corner of the world He sends me!
(Isa 49:13-16)
More linguistics
Well, I'm now almost 4 weeks into my linguistics courses. So far in Grammar In Use, we have studied morphology (how words are formed), semantics (meanings of words and statements), and have just begun studying syntax (structure of phrases and sentences).
I was particularly nervous about Phonetics/Phonology, because I'd done some reading on the subject in the past and had found it difficult. But it is easier to learn it in class instead of from a book, because we practice the sounds and technical terms together. Praise the Lord that I have been able to learn the material well so far, but we are starting to get into more complex sounds and more difficult material, so please keep praying!
Praise the Lord also for how well our class of girls is bonding together. We are all headed for different corners of the world: two are planning to go to Asia, one to South America, one to Cameroon, I'm going to Chad, and one is staying in the USA. But for these few weeks, the Lord has put us together, and we can enjoy the fellowship!
I was particularly nervous about Phonetics/Phonology, because I'd done some reading on the subject in the past and had found it difficult. But it is easier to learn it in class instead of from a book, because we practice the sounds and technical terms together. Praise the Lord that I have been able to learn the material well so far, but we are starting to get into more complex sounds and more difficult material, so please keep praying!
Praise the Lord also for how well our class of girls is bonding together. We are all headed for different corners of the world: two are planning to go to Asia, one to South America, one to Cameroon, I'm going to Chad, and one is staying in the USA. But for these few weeks, the Lord has put us together, and we can enjoy the fellowship!
Into the forest of linguistics
In my first two weeks at BJU, I was introduced to the "forest" of linguistics through Language Learning, as we studied some of the basics of languages and how people learn languages. So, now that we've seen the forest, we are examining the trees! Phonetics/Phonology studies how humans use speech sounds to make words. Grammar-In-Use studies almost every other aspect of language - how words are formed, how they are put together to make sentences, how and why words have different meanings, and so on. It can get very technical, but it is very interesting to study how languages work!
There are only six of us in the class now. The only guy, Jon, just took Language Learning in order to prepare for a missions trip to Asia, so that leaves six women in the current linguistics classes. We've been getting to know each other pretty well! Maybe it has something to do with spending several hours together in class and in the language lab every day, making (or trying to make) the same strange sounds. Anyway, we have a fun group of students, and fun teachers, and (in my opinion) some fun topics to study! So it should be a very fun summer!
In all seriousness, the classes are indeed helping to prepare me for a full-time ministry of studying languages in Bible translation. I had read about linguistics and tried to understand and remember the linguistic terms, but I'd never had much chance to study it in depth and put it into practice in a classroom situation. Before I leave BJU, I'll have even more opportunities to apply what I'm learning, through Field Methods/Literacy, where we get to work with a foreign native speaker, and Bible Translation, where linguistic studies will be applied to the ministry of missionary Bible translation. Please keep praying that I will be able to get the most out of my studies here!
There are only six of us in the class now. The only guy, Jon, just took Language Learning in order to prepare for a missions trip to Asia, so that leaves six women in the current linguistics classes. We've been getting to know each other pretty well! Maybe it has something to do with spending several hours together in class and in the language lab every day, making (or trying to make) the same strange sounds. Anyway, we have a fun group of students, and fun teachers, and (in my opinion) some fun topics to study! So it should be a very fun summer!
In all seriousness, the classes are indeed helping to prepare me for a full-time ministry of studying languages in Bible translation. I had read about linguistics and tried to understand and remember the linguistic terms, but I'd never had much chance to study it in depth and put it into practice in a classroom situation. Before I leave BJU, I'll have even more opportunities to apply what I'm learning, through Field Methods/Literacy, where we get to work with a foreign native speaker, and Bible Translation, where linguistic studies will be applied to the ministry of missionary Bible translation. Please keep praying that I will be able to get the most out of my studies here!
Cleared for Lauch Seminar!
After reading my latest prayer letter, a prayer supporter felt led of the Lord to commit to the remaining $50 monthly support needed for me to be able to attend Launch Seminar in September! So, praise the Lord that I have now hit the 60% milestone! Please continue to pray for the last 40% of my support to come in. I'm still praying for a late 2010/early 2011 conclusion to deputation.
This morning I began my next two classes at BJU: Phonetics & Phonology and Grammar In Use. The former is about how humans use speech sounds to make words. The latter is essentially a basic linguistics course, covering many other aspects of linguistics: how words are formed, and how people put them together to make meaningful thoughts. I think I'll enjoy them, but the material is definitely more technical than my last class.
This morning I began my next two classes at BJU: Phonetics & Phonology and Grammar In Use. The former is about how humans use speech sounds to make words. The latter is essentially a basic linguistics course, covering many other aspects of linguistics: how words are formed, and how people put them together to make meaningful thoughts. I think I'll enjoy them, but the material is definitely more technical than my last class.
May Prayer Letter
Dear Prayer Supporters,
For once, this prayer letter is not about a month full of deputation meetings! Since my last prayer letter, I have been focusing on two other aspects of my preparation for ministry with Bibles International: practical experience and necessary academic training.
In Christ's Service,
Anna Beth Wivell
For once, this prayer letter is not about a month full of deputation meetings! Since my last prayer letter, I have been focusing on two other aspects of my preparation for ministry with Bibles International: practical experience and necessary academic training.
TENEK WORKSHOP
In the middle of May, I was able to participate in a translation workshop for the Tenek New Testament. The Tenek are an ancient Mayan people who live in Mexico. Bibles International has been working on a translation of the New Testament into their language for several years, and they already have one of the Gospels published, but they are eager to receive the whole New Testament. Sometimes the workshops for this translation are held in Mexico, and sometimes in the USA. This time, they were held in Maine. During the workshop, we finished checking the whole book of James and got started on Acts. We conducted three days of the workshop in area churches. People from the churches were able to come and observe live Bible translation in action. It was neat to see how everyone got excited about the translation ministry. I had the opportunity of leading the workshop through one full chapter of Acts. This was only the second time I had ever led a workshop, and Bible translation is very challenging work! But everyone was very gracious, and it actually went very well. Praise the Lord for His help and strength during this workshop, and please pray for me as I continue to prepare for this ministry. Pray also for the Tenek translation team as they continue translation of the Bible into their own language.
LINGUISTICS CLASS
A few days after I returned from the workshop in Maine, I drove down to Greenville, South Carolina. I’ll be here studying linguistics all summer at Bob Jones University. Yesterday, I finished (and passed) my first class: Language Learning. This class is about how to learn foreign languages effectively, with or without the help of dictionaries and formal classrooms. We studied various language teaching methods, techniques from successful language learners, how to study languages through a language helper, how children acquire their mother tongue, how adults acquire a second language, and some basic linguistics. I’m looking forward to putting it all into practice someday! This month, my classes will focus on some of the more technical aspects of linguistics. Please pray that I will learn all the material that is presented, and that I will be able to apply it effectively in my future ministry with Bibles International.SUPPORT INCREASE
Praise the Lord for another significant increase in support this month: I am now at 58%! I only need about $50 per month more support to reach the 60% required to attend Launch Seminar in September (an important step that I must take before being cleared for the field). Thanks for your continued prayers! In Christ's Service,
Anna Beth Wivell
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