carolynford

February 2016

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better,
and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

As long as I can remember, I have struggled with anxiety. I took the last day of 2015 to seek the LORD regarding:

1. Anxiety: I asked Him to show me steps I can take to grow in trust instead of being anxious.
2. Priorities: I want to live according to His priorities for me. I listed eleven things I thought important.

The first words the LORD brought to me are quoted at the top of the letter. Only one thing is needed, not eleven! My priority must always be sitting at Jesus’ feet, learning from Him, communing with Him, receiving His heart for nations and individuals. That takes off a lot of pressure! After studying and praying through several other passages, I came to Psalm 139:23-24: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”   I prayed, “Being tested always makes me anxious, LORD. I want You to search me and know my heart. It’s hard for me to ask You to test me, but You’ve promised that I won’t be tested beyond what I can bear. And I have seen that.” Then I listed so many “tests” that He had carried me through, granting help and deliverance before my strength gave out. So I prayed, “Okay, LORD, test me and know my anxious thoughts. Work through them with me, removing any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Of course, tests have come. The very next day, my second “smart phone” in a little over a year quit working. I struggled with it for several more weeks but the biggest problem was a consistently poor connection. I finally gave up and bought a flip phone. The LORD did work through it all with me, providing for my needs, and I praise Him.

Then on January 11^th, the statement for the Kafa Linguistics Project that covers Matt and Teka’s wages, Matt’s expenses for his Master’s studies, and all that is required to complete the translation and publication of the Bible in the Kafa language came, showing a deficit of $500. I sought the LORD for His solution. On January 18^th, the December Donor Report came for the project. On it was an unexpected gift that will cover the deficit and December’s expenses. The LORD is our Provider, and I praise Him. This project will bring eternal dividends!

Praise God with me:

• Kafa Linguistics Project Manager Matt’s friend Getachew & wife have twins (a boy & a girl), now doing well.
• Matt and Teka met with church leaders in the Kafa area in January to share their vision for promotion of Kafa Scripture use. They were very encouraged by the response.
• Matt and Getachew were able to go to Nairobi in late January to do research for their Master’s theses.

Please pray with me for:

• Matt’s wife’s health. Medication for intra-cranial pressure helped for a short time, but then she experienced every side-effect associated with the medication and had to stop taking it.
• Matt and Getachew as they do their research and write their theses; Matt’s thesis concerns the best approach to promotion of Scripture use among the Kafa in view of their historical and cultural background;
• Teka as he edits the Kafa Bible, putting text into the dialect used in the Kafa schools; develops and shares his vision for promoting the use of Scripture; and grows in his commitment to Bible translation;
• Gus’ widow Abby as she continues to work full time and care for her 2 small daughters;
• God’s provision of funds to complete the Kafa Bible, including publication, promotion and distribution.

Thank you so much to all who support us by prayer and to all who partner with us financially.

Growing in trust,

Carolyn Ford
For Stewards Only:  To invest in God’s Word for the Kafa people in their heart language, make checks payable to SIM USA and designate: for Kafa Linguistics Project #092402 (Ethiopia)

SIM USA, PO Box 7900, Charlotte NC 28241-7900

Read my February 2016 Prayer Letter in PDF format.

Here is my December update with thoughts about peace, righteousness, justice, and the coming of the Prince of Peace.

December Prayer Letter

God blessed the Dedication of the Banna New Testament. I am excited to share with you about that and the Kafa Bible Translation Project. See the link below for the latest update and my itinerary.

October 2015 Prayer Letter

Praise God for enabling us to complete the consultant check of Kafa Jeremiah. I returned safely to my home in the USA on September 12th. I am making plans to visit in California and Washington State in October and early November. Please ask God to direct in all of this (Prov. 3:5-6).

Kafa Team

My first visa extension expired August 27th. We applied for a second extension, and that has been granted until September 15th. Praise God! Please pray for the Kafa Translation Team as we work to complete the consultant check of the book of Jeremiah. The photo shows the team (left to right): Matt (Project Manager), Carolyn, Fekadu, Teka

My extended visa will expire on Thursday, August 27^th. We plan to apply for another extension. I expect to return to the USA sometime in September though. Please pray for God’s perfect timing.

I learned last week that about 100 Banna New Testaments were sold on the day of the Dedication. Please pray with me that each of these will be read daily and be used by the Holy Spirit to produce lasting fruit in many lives.

Yesterday I had the joy of visiting Kafa Translation Project Manager Matt and his family in their new home. Here are a few pictures from the visit: 2015-08-22 Visit with Matt & family

I was asked to give a brief history of the Banna New Testament Literacy and Translation Project. At first I was overwhelmed with emotion and could not speak, but the Lord helped me. The yellow shirt I am wearing and the orange one Muga is wearing were made in honor of the dedication. They came in sizes XL and XXL.

People singing at the dedication (inside the covered area)

The covered area was not large enough to accommodate all who came to help celebrate the Banna New Testament. This is a view of the crowd from outside.

Banna translator Getu reading from the Banna New Testament

Translator Ayke reading from the Banna New Testament

Praise God for blessing
the dedication of the
Banna New Testament
with His presence
and great joy!
Pictures are said to be
worth a thousand words,
so I’ll add
some pictures here.

Getu asked his wife and Ayke’s wife to join us on the platform. He shared how difficult and tedious the translation work had been for him and said, “Once when I was very discouraged and spoke of quitting, my wife rebuked me and told me that I must finish what I had started.” He gave praise to God for enabling us to complete the task and for blessing him and his family in the process.

Worshiping God at the Dedication

Donna said in the Banna language, “The Banna New Testament has come. Praise God!”

Ayke thanked God for Getu’s father, the first Banna believer, who served as pastor, evangelist, song leader,  and whatever else was required. He used to ask, “Who will carry on the work?” The sons of the first 3 believers have been involved in the translation of the New Testament.

I’ll be heading south with fellow-retirees Sharon Smith and Donna Clawson, plus Donna’s sister and sister-in-law, on Wednesday, August 5th – a 2-day drive to reach Alduba where the Dedication of the Banna New Testament will take place. Please pray for safe travel and good fellowship. A conference is planned for the weekend. Praise God for providing the Banna people with His Word in their heart language. Special thanks to all who have prayed and given to make it happen. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will work in hearts during the conference, motivating church leaders to use and promote the Banna New Testaments and putting a strong desire in the hearts of the Banna believers to read and hear God’s Word in their heart language. Pray that their lives will be changed as a result.

I’ll be without internet access from August 5th to August 12th but hope to post news and photos of the conference and dedication after I get back to Addis Ababa.

Praise God for a 30-day extension to my visa. The extension expires August 27th. We plan to apply for another extension at that time. It looks like I can stay until at least early September. God is faithful!

I arrived safely in Addis Ababa the evening of July 8th. My 30-day visa expires July 25th, so we will be applying for an extension tomorrow. We are trusting God that another 30 days will be granted.

We have completed the consultant check of Kafa Song of Solomon – praise the Lord! We are working on checking Kafa Jeremiah now. Please pray for wisdom, health, and perseverance for the whole team: Matt, Teka, Fekadu, and Carolyn.

I plan to attend the conference and dedication of the Banna New Testaments the weekend of August 7-9. Please pray for God’s blessing and that the Banna believers will be eager to read God’s Word in their heart language.

My access to the Internet is quite limited, so please forgive me if I don’t communicate very much on an individual level.

Thank you for your partnership by prayer. God is faithful!

Because God has exalted His name and His word above all things, He brought the Banna New Testaments safely to Djibouti March 31st. SIM Support Services informed me in April that they were in the process of paying the customs (about $1800 US). Since then, there has been no response to my inquiries. I infer that the New Testaments are still at the dry port inside Ethiopia. We will doubtless be charged for storage. Please pray with me that the process will be completed soon. Pray that the New Testaments will reach the Banna people in excellent condition and be received and read with eagerness. The dedication is still planned for August 8th…read more.