It's A Miracle! I CAN READ!

 A story from my colleague, pilot Rob Peterson:

We climbed up through the clouds and set course for Libreville.  As we flew, Ron (one of the Bible Translators) shared the following story with me.  

Taking off from Mouila

In 2017 we started work on the Gisir Bible translation with 4 Gisir translators.  Two of those have gone to be with the Lord since this project started. Théo is the only one of the original four.  Some months ago he told the regional coordinator that they should find a replacement for him as he was ready to resign.

Théo had cataracts and they had progressed to the point that he could no longer read.  When I (Ron)  heard that he wanted to resign, I asked the regional coordinator to encourage him to stay with us until we finish the book of Acts. If he couldn’t read, he could still bring his ears and evaluate the translation that way. So he came to this workshop.

As soon as we projected the Gisir text onto the wall with a projector, he looked at it and said, “C’est un miracle! Je peux lire.”  (It is a miracle! I can read!)   While waiting for the second cataract surgery, and then glasses, he could not yet read very well close up.  However with the text projected on the wall, he discovered he could read and fully participate. 

As a result, and with optimism that his vision will be even better following the second surgery and glasses, he expressed that he is ready to keep working as part of the team!

As the only original team member still with us, and as a good translator, I’m very glad about that. I appreciate the Bongolo Eye Clinic and what they are doing.

Ron, a 35-year Bible Translation Veteran

Now, what Rob and Ron did not know, is through an interesting work of circumstances, Dr. Bintou, Rob's wife, was the one who did 90% of Theo’s cataract surgery! Isn’t it wonderful? Bintou says, "I might be biased but I believe that aviation is the perfect intersection of ophthalmology and Bible translation."

Please continue to pray for Bible translation work in Gabon. 

Theo

Not long ago, Rob led the annual inspection on the airplane. We are thankful for an aviation-specific visitor, an airline pilot from the US that helped Rob and a local Gabonese apprentice. Please pray for diligence and that they finish the inspection so the airplane can be operational on schedule for all the upcoming flights. 

Rob & our local apprentice

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