Before I left for the Solomon Islands on September 3rd, I was feeling like there were quite a few things that could go wrong on the trip. I didn’t really think about it again until after I got back (September 19th) and then I realized that none of those things did go wrong. I am thankful to God for that and appreciate so much your prayers!
When I left Texas, I wasn’t sure that the Seqa translation team was going to make it to the capital, Honiara, in time for the consultant check. Thankfully two of the three translators (the two on the left below) did manage to catch the ship and arrived in Honiara late at night the day before we started checking! Also, Scott Baillie (pictured with me below), the consultant trainee who works in Papua New Guinea, arrived on time and it was a pleasure for me to supervise him for three days checking the first 8 chapters of Joshua. After Scott left to go back to PNG, I worked with the team and we were able to finish checking the second half of Numbers (we had checked the first half a year ago). So it was a very productive time!
At every consultant check there is at least one speaker of the language who is not part of the translation team. After we read the translation, I ask them questions to make sure it is accurate and clear. This time we had a young man, Levis (above, 3rd from left), and he was a joy to work with! He wasn’t hesitant to say when he didn’t understand something and he often had good suggestions for improvement. He also had a great sense of humor and kept us all laughing. He was the cousin of both the Seqa translators and he seemed to enjoy letting them know when something wasn’t right. And they both took it well! It was encouraging to hear Levis say that he enjoyed being part of the checking because it really helped him understand the Scriptures much better.
There were a couple of other things that happened on the trip that made it encouraging and/or fun.
I was able to visit with Isaac Matezama (left) while I was in Honiara and it was very encouraging to see him getting around on his own. He still is not able to see well enough to read, but he will be going back to Fiji in March next year and will have the oil that was injected into his eye removed. The doctor said his vision should improve some after that. The doctor also told him that he might be able to replace the lens in his right eye (which was poked by a stick when he was young) so that was encouraging to hear.
What a surprise it was to find out I was on the same flight to the U.S as the current Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands, Matthew Wale (above left)! Brena and I got to know him years ago because he attended the same church as us in Honiara. He also translated the New Testament into his own language (Langalanga) working with my brother-in-law, Pat Andrews.
James Ashley (right), who we worked with in Solomon Islands many years ago was in Honiara doing a consultant check. He has always enjoyed tricks with fire and I decided to join in the fun!
Family News
Our oldest son, Grant and his wife Sara, are expecting their third child (a boy!) in March 2027. We are very happy to have another grandchild on the way (big sisters, Eleanor and Lillian in left photo). Kairu and Charlotte welcomed their little girl, Virginia, into the world on September 18th (middle photo). Thankfully the delivery went well and they seem to be doing fine. At the end of October Brena and I will be going to the Middle East to visit our middle son, Joey, and his wife, Moriah (right photo). They have been there for a year now and are focusing on language learning. We are really excited to see where they live and experience a bit of their life with them.
PRAISE AND PRAYER:
- We’re grateful for the safe delivery of Virginia Tuma’e and upcoming arrival of another child for Grant and Sara. Pray for these two families as they navigate the challenges of parenthood.
- We are thankful we can go visit Joey and Moriah. Please pray for a safe and encouraging trip.
- We’re thankful my trip to the Solomons went so well. Please be praying for the Seqa team as they continue to translate and that God’s word would impact the lives of the Seqa people.
- While I was in the Solomons, I found out the Bughotu translators have still not organized a meeting with the community. Pray they will be able to make that happen soon.
- Pray that Isaac Matezama’s vision will continue to improve in the coming months.
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Brena: brena_bruner@wycliffe.org
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Send gifts to: Wycliffe Bible Translators, PO Box 628200, Orlando, FL 32862-8200 (The check should be made payable to Wycliffe Bible Translators and include a note that says “preference for the ministry of John and Brena Bruner”.)
