Dear Praying Friends,

This last month has been eventful on several other levels, and probably indicative of what lies ahead this summer. One month ago Aubrey graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Colorado here in Colorado Springs. She is working for the El Paso County Department of Human Services, as with her previous job, in the foster care division. We`re all happy the days of term papers, research projects and early mornings/late nights are now over for her. She`s adjusting well to the `real world` and still planning to begin grad school in the Spring of 2013.

Steph and Ryan were able to fly out for Aubrey`s grad, and opened `tourist season` as we used to call summers in the bush. Missionary friends just spent a week with us, we expect another couple this weekend, and still others in July and August. We are also planning our annual California church trip around an invitation to teach in Cuba and my return to PNG. And like objects in the side view mirror, all these events are much closer than we think!

In the midst of all this activity I would be lying if I didn`t admit that I finally descended from the translation summit reached by the Waxe team in April. The translation has continued to go forward, but in regards to momentum of a book, the two peaks are the elicitation and the checking stages. As we checked Luke and Hebrews, comp checked John and elicited 2 Corinthians, well, let?s just say we were rolling better than the Yankees on their current win streak. Guys were thinking through passages, working through tough issues, and coming up with all kinds of answers while sharing the neat understandings the Lord gave them in the process. The elicitation and checking stage each produces a channeled spontaneity and, yes, an excitement all its own.

In between those peaks are several super-detailed, painstaking and less-exciting stages, exactly where we are today, searching and replacing updated terms and spelling, checking content against the original text, cross-referencing parallel passages, making important adjustments and producing an accurate back translation. After combing through John we sent the pre-check draft of John to the team in PNG today. Tomorrow we begin the same process with 2 Corinthians, hoping to finish that by the end of June. Then it`s back to Matthew, the final NT book, which we`ll prepare for elicitation during my next trip, tentatively planned for October. No wonder I awake at night thinking in Waxe!

All that to say, we need prayer during these days to convey meaning through the many details, and to remove any and all static from the message. Thankfully, all changes have been made to Luke and Hebrews and those two books have been printed and delivered to the villa and are being taught today! These are direct answers to your prayers over the past few months. Thank you for them, and for your prayer support always. We never underestimate their part in our lives or this ministry. The Waxe churches know you are praying for them, and they are praying for you as well.

May your summer be filled joy, safety and His peace.

Love in Him,

Greg for the 3 of us!