I, JOHN, RECENTLY RETURNED from a ten day trip to the Solomon Islands where I taught nine people from four different translation projects how to use Paratext, the software program developed especially for Bible translation. I taught the workshop at a Bible school called Islands Bible Ministries (IBM) which has recently partnered with Seed Co. to start three translation projects. I have known the founder of the school, Dr. Alphaeus Zobule, since 1995 when Brena and I were studying linguistics and translation with him and his wife, Sanny, in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Zobule and I in Honiara, Solomon Islands a couple of weeks ago

And us, back in 1995

Alphaeus and Sanny later returned to Solomons and Alphaeus completed the New Testament translation into his own language, Ranonga. They then went back to the U.S. and Alphaeus got his PhD in Old Testament studies. When he returned to Solomons he saw that there was a big need for Biblical training so he started IBM. And because he has seen the value of Bible translation he has incorporated that into his school. Since we have known each other for so long I was thrilled when Alphaeus asked if I would come teach Paratext. The participants had all taken a basic computing course so two week material I took, we managed to cover in just over four days! During the next year, the participants will begin using Paratext to do translation work and I plan to go back next January and teach them how to use the more advanced features of Paratext.

Fataleka N.T. Update

We just received an email letting us know that typesetting of the Fataleka New Testament has been completed and is ready for printing! 2000 copies will be printed in Korea and they should arrive in Solomon Islands sometime mid year. No date has yet been set for the dedication but Brena and I are both planning to attend. The audio recording of the New Testament is currently being finished up so it is looking like it will also be available at the time of the dedication. We are thankful for the good news. If you’d like to hear a bit of the audio recording, go to our Facebook page, Brena N John Bruner, and see a recent post.

Thank you for your prayers and financial report that allow us to continue helping with Bible translation!

TO BE IN TOUCH:

PO Box 1 (134), Ukarumpa EHP 444, Papua New Guinea – john_bruner@sil.org

Grant Bruner, PO Box 2159, John Brown University, Siloam Springs, AR 72761 – brunerg@jbu.edu

Joey Bruner, ETBU Box 6-331, One Marshall Drive, Marshall, TX 75670 – joseph_bruner@etbu.edu

TO GIVE ONLINE:

https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/Bruners

TO GIVE BY MAIL:

send gifts to:
Wycliffe Bible Translators
P.O. Box 628200
Orlando, FL 32862

(The check should be made payable to Wycliffe Bible Translators – include a note that says it is for the ministry of John and Brena Bruner)