Since our last update I (John) made 2 trips and we had 3 sets of visitors, not including extended family we saw at Thanksgiving.

My first trip (November 8-18) was to the Solomon Islands for a consultant check. Thank you for praying! When I left on the trip, I was not feeling well but as I traveled west, I felt better and better. By the time I arrived in Solomons, I was fine! The check of 2^nd Corinthians in the Zabana language went really well. It was especially encouraging to see that the quality of the translation had improved dramatically from previous checks I had done. It was nice to hear the co-translator Bruce, after reading the sections, often exclaim with pleasure because the translation was clear and natural. There were two Zabana women there to answer my questions and afterwards they both said they understood much better the teaching in 2 Corinthians. They (and the rest of us too) were especially encouraged by the teaching about generosity and giving in chapters 8 and 9.

L to R: Isaac (main translator), Alison, Alista, Bruce (co-translator)

Bruce reading the Zabana translation

My second trip (December 2-7) was to Dallas for the Seed Company staff meetings. Meetings are not something I typically enjoy, but I guess these were not “typical”. I was encouraged through the stories I heard of the impact of translated Scriptures on people’s lives and it was a reminder that it is a privilege to be able to be involved in this work. While I was there rooming with Pat Andrews (my boss and husband of my sister-in-law), his wife, Beth, flew to Charleston to spend the week with Brena. They had a great time catching up and doing fun things.

Brena and Beth enjoyed afternoon tea, talking, walking, movies, coffee, a musical, sightseeing…

During this last month we also enjoyed seeing our good friends from Papua New Guinea, Paul and Laura Dokken, who are home on furlough. We also saw Daniel Curry, a high school classmate of Joey’s, and a lot of extended Bruner family at Thanksgiving.

It was fun catching up with the Dokkens and showing them around Charleston

Daniel Curry and Joey

Thanksgiving afternoon football with some of the Bruners

those of us Bruners (and a couple extra) who were together for Thanksgiving

Brena enjoyed shopping and eating with some of the Bruner ladies

UPCOMING/PRAYER:

• Kairu, who lived with us in PNG, is going to spend his Christmas break with us (he goes to school in Michigan), so we’re looking forward to being together again.

• Brena is still searching for answers for her leg numbness. After going to a regular doctor, a neurologist, and getting x-rays, it was recommended that she get physical therapy to strengthen her lower back. She’ll begin that this week.

• In the midst of Christmas activities, I will be preparing for my upcoming trip to the Solomon Islands in mid-January. This will be my fourth year of teaching translators there how to use specialized software for translation.

TO BE IN TOUCH:

john_bruner@sil.org – 4 Fenwick Drive, Charleston, SC 29407

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)