Global Log: June 2024

Greetings,

Walking and Rooted

In past letters, I’ve shared some of my nautical musings. We are grateful to live near the water and be inspired by God’s glorious creation. Tom dreams of fishing and sailboats. I mostly enjoy the lore of the sea and tall ships…and watching waves. These are our fanciful moments and thoughts. But in day-to-day life, my thoughts have been much more related to journeying and to trees and how a person can be on a journey, yet firmly rooted. It is possible! We are on a journey with God, yet we also desire to be firmly rooted in Him.

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it in thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:6-7

Walking and Rooted. So, as I mentioned, it is possible and it’s certainly not just my idea! These two brief verses offer much to contemplate. I hope you take time to reflect on them further. I plan to.

So what’s new? So much!

The Bible translation movements are surging forward. Check out the stories on Wycliffe.net and wycliffe.org for examples of how we see God working around the world. One example I was thinking of recently regards the Romani people of Europe. When I started writing articles for Wycliffe US publications, we were focused on prayer for even a small crack in the wall. There were almost no Christians among any of the Romani people. Traditionally itinerant but now often settled, they were highly suspicious of outsiders and did not want anyone from outside to learn their language. The idea of Roma Bible translations was just a prayer. Today, there are thriving Romani churches across Europe. Roma led worship and spoke at our recent Europe Area meetings. They brought up the idea that perhaps God has chosen them for such a time as this to reinvigorate the European church! With God, all things are possible!

In our own work-related news…Tom officially retired on April 30th. We both turn 70 this year. And his job as IT consultant for Americas Area was naturally phasing out as our colleagues have begun using a myriad of apps, etc, that don’t require the level of expertise once needed. He finished well. His last meeting was in Brazil, where we began serving Wycliffe together more than 35 years ago (we’ve been in Wycliffe for 38 years, counting the first years of training, partnership development, etc.). They gave him a plaque and a specially engraved flute! And they said lots of nice things about him.

Tom has no shortage of projects as he serves friends and family with his house maintenance skills and continues work on our never-ending house projects. And he hopes to fix up his little boat. Feel free to ask if you have questions about Tom’s retirement, our status with Wycliffe, our finances, etc.. Nothing has changed regarding our support or support needs at this point. I am still working fulltime. We were always sort of a two-for-the-price-of-one package 😊 with both of us working all these years when it was only required for one of a couple to work full-time or for the couple to divide the time. And our support has always been on the low end, so it is already in the range of what one person’s support needs to be (though it is taking care of both of us!).

I am continuing to work full-time for at least another year at the request of our Executive Director. I want to finish well, too. There are a number of projects I’m involved in, which I’ll save for another letter. Our leadership team meetings this year are in Colombia, and spouses are invited, so Tom and I will have one more work trip together in July! Life is full and blessed, with work, church, family, and a seemingly constant stream of short-term guests in our upstairs mini-apartment (not the attached apartment where my parents used to live and where we now have renters).

Your prayers are appreciated. Tom had an unexpected health issue come up just this last week. They did a ton of tests and came up with nothing…which is good, but we are hoping and praying it was just a “glitch” and that there are no reoccurrences.

On a brighter note, our best family news is that Luke Joseph Roberts was born to Kate and Jordan on April 13th. That’s the 5th of 8 grandchildren born on the 13th day of a month! Kate’s weariness was (and is) accounted for as Luke was a hearty 9 pounds, 15 ounces! We were up there in NY in April. Tom just missed Luke’s birth as he had to go to Brazil. I was there for two weeks, helping with the family. Josh’s family is doing well, too, and it is such a joy to have them close at hand! My parents continue to do amazingly well. My mom is now teaching two Bible studies and, at 93, has moved up to a more advanced exercise class! Daddy still enjoys gardening when weather allows. Thank you, as always, for your support and prayers. As you can tell, we are in a somewhat new season of our journey and we desire to stay rooted as we keep walking. We pray the same for you,