Only You Remain

Patience of Hope

by Christina Rossetti

The flowers that bloom in sun and shade 

and glitter in the dew, 

the flowers must fade. 

The birds that build their nest and sing

when lovely Spring is new,

must soon take wing. 

The sun that rises in his strength 

to wake and warm the world,

must set at length. 

The sea that overflows the shore 

with billows frothed and curled, 

must ebb once more. 

All come and go, all wax and wane,

O Lord, save only Thou 

who dost remain. 

The Same to all eternity.

All things which fail us now

we trust to Thee. 

Praying for the Pangkhua People

There are still 1,800 language groups-about 180 million people-who don't possess Scripture in their own language.

One of these groups is the Pangkhua language in Bangladesh, which has several names, including Pangkhu, Pankho, Panko, and Pankhu. Say all those ten times fast! This language is part of the Sino-Tibetan, Tibeto-Burman language family.

Speakers of Pangkua live in the Rangamati district of Bangladesh and also in parts of India. The people use Bengali in education and use the Devangari script and Latin script when they write.

The main religion for these people is Christian, but how can they grow in their knowledge of the Lord without His word? There is a possible need for Bible translation in this language group.

*Please pray that language surveyors can sufficiently research and assess the needs of for Bible translation in this group of people.

To find more information about the Bibleless people about the world and how to pray for them, visit https://www.wycliffe.org/prayer.

Letting the Fire Burn

Mack and Doris Graham were dispirited. In 1983, their family had settled among the Kandawo people in Papua New Guinea and began to learn their language. Optimistic about the future for this new translation project, the Grahams were blissfully unaware of the trials and difficulties they were about the encounter.

Soon they experienced fierce opposition. While away from the village for a season, thieves broke in and vandalized their home.
Discouraged but determined to continue their work for God's glory, the Grahams decided to build again. But this time, the entire home was dismantled and stolen, piece by piece.

What should they do? The Grahams knew that hardships often happened to those who were working to bring God's Word to people, but to have their home destroyed twice? Maybe God was trying to say something to them.

They stopped to pray and ask God a simple question: should they try again, or was God closing the door? Could this be God's way of leading them in a new direction?

As they prayed, a colleague had a vision of small fires burning across the landscape. Maybe God was saying there was going to be a revival among the people, and that fires were going to be lit in the hearts of those hungry for Him.

Mack and Doris decided to ask God to confirm that He wanted them to return by providing other confirmation before a certain date .If the people asked them to return by that date, they would. But if not, it was over. They would leave their village home in Kandawo and go wherever God led.

The day finally arrived. Afternoon passed, and then evening, but still no word. Mack and Doris began to think that God was showing them that He was shutting the door, and maybe they weren't supposed to return to their village home.

Then, six hours before midnight, a letter was red over a two-way radio: "Would you please come back?" it read.

Mack and Doris knew that God had answered their prayers and confirmed their call to the village. So they returned and built yet another house. Later they watched in shock as the third house burned to the ground.

But instead of losing hope, the Graham family built a fourth house. Believing that God had clearly spoken to them about continuing their work among the Kandawo people, they continued to trust the Lord by placing this new house in his hands.

They gave many more years translating and ministering to the Kandawo people. And more than two decades ago, Mark's Gospel-the first book to be translated-reached the final stages of the translation process and was checked by a consultant. At the beginning of 2013, the same consultant checked the final book of the New Testament-Revelation.

In 2014, just over twenty years after they first moved to the Kandawo village, Mack and Doris hope to typeset the entire New Testament and finally see the Bible in the hands of the Kandawo people.

*This story was taken from the 2014 The Finish Line brochure, which teaches people how to pray for Bible Translation projects that are about to be finished.

Wycliffe World Day of Prayer

Cameron Townsend, the man who originally formed Wycliffe Bible Translators, and L.L. Legters attempted to cross the border into Mexico on Nov. 11, 1933. Townsend had already translated the Scriptures in Guatemala into the Cakchiquel language and longed for people to read the Bible for themselves.

Townsend shared this vision with an educator in Mexico, Dr. Moises Saenz, who, impressed, wrote a letter inviting Townsend to work in Mexico. At this time in history, Mexico did not allow new overseas missionaries in the country and those already stationed there struggled with many restrictions. After praying long and deeply, a group of believers in New Jersey decided Townsend and his friend Legters should attempt to receive permission for Bible Translation work in Mexico.

Mexico City

At the border, guards refused to let the men enter. So, they prayed. Then Townsend remembered the letter Dr. Moises Saenz had given him and handed it to the guards. They knew the author of the letter, an admired leader, and called for orders.

While they waited for an answer, Townsend and Legters prayed and sang. And when the answer came, it was a yes. The men could enter Mexico. They could translate the Word of God for the those considered the least of these.

So, Wycliffe pauses on November 11th each year to remind themselves of the importance of prayer and to pray on behalf of those how don't know his name yet.

How to Pray for the Bibleless:

Papua New Guinea Children 

1. Pray for the message, that the last languages of the world would receive God's Word in whatever form they need it. Pray for quality translations that stick to the target of the true meaning of the Bible.

2. Pray for the people, that they would hunger and thirst for the eternal words that bring life. Pray that the Lord would transform their lives through the gospel.

3. Pray for the personnel, that the Lord would call, train, and send them. Pray for the safety and strength of the workers.

4. Pray that God would be glorified in all that Wycliffe does, plans, and dreams.

*On a separate note, Christmas is just around the leaf-choked, autumn corner! (I know, it's not even Thanksgiving, but this holiday is sneaking closer every day...) If you don't know what to give someone, or would like your gift to be more meaningful this year, please consider giving to my Wycliffe ministry at the link in Wycliffe's Christmas catalog: https://www.wycliffe.org/giftcatalog/partner/521-1.

Please also consider sending this link to your network to further God's work of Bible translation all over the world. May the ripples we make in this life spread out into eternity for God's glory and our joy!