Isolation, hardship leave more time for translation
Doug Schermerhorn is used to isolation. He lived for many years without communication to the outside world in Panama.
Now, he's experiencing limited contact again as he works with a final revision committee among the Embera people. Doug lives alone most of the time, only seeing Wycliffe Bible Translators missionary Chaz Mortensen every other week.
"Where I presently stay does not allow for me to set up a kitchen so I am eating with an Embera family nearby," Doug wrote."I had not planned this, but it has actually been very helpful since my days are completely full when I am there, leaving no time for cooking."
Currently, a full day for Doug consists of working on the final revision for the translation of Genesis in the Emberas' language.
"We faced numerous problems in the Creation story, not so much that the Genesis draft was incorrect, but rather that it went against what the people thought it said," Doug wrote.
Doug and the committee were able to complete the revisions for James and Galatians in four-and-a-half days. They plan to commit the rest of January to completing Genesis before they start working through Ephesians in February.
Doug asks for prayer for the Embera church to grow and mature.
"They have recently gone through a very difficult period in which spiritual healing is still taking place," Doug wrote. "Praise the Lord that several people have responded to the Spirit and are encouraged and looking to the Lord for guidance in their lives."
Doug is also preparing to teach a series of lessons on the Holy Spirit to the Emberas.
"There has been much false doctrine concerning this subject being propagated among the Embera people and many have been led away from the truth of the Gospel," Doug wrote.
When Doug finishes that series, he plans to start another on prophecy, using the book of Revelation. Doug said this is another area where false doctrine is being spread among the Emberas.
"I work on these studies in the evenings, so pray my mind will remain clear after a day of work on the translation."
Find out how you can give toward the Embera translation >>
Now, he's experiencing limited contact again as he works with a final revision committee among the Embera people. Doug lives alone most of the time, only seeing Wycliffe Bible Translators missionary Chaz Mortensen every other week.
"Where I presently stay does not allow for me to set up a kitchen so I am eating with an Embera family nearby," Doug wrote."I had not planned this, but it has actually been very helpful since my days are completely full when I am there, leaving no time for cooking."
Currently, a full day for Doug consists of working on the final revision for the translation of Genesis in the Emberas' language.
"We faced numerous problems in the Creation story, not so much that the Genesis draft was incorrect, but rather that it went against what the people thought it said," Doug wrote.
Doug and the committee were able to complete the revisions for James and Galatians in four-and-a-half days. They plan to commit the rest of January to completing Genesis before they start working through Ephesians in February.
Doug asks for prayer for the Embera church to grow and mature.
"They have recently gone through a very difficult period in which spiritual healing is still taking place," Doug wrote. "Praise the Lord that several people have responded to the Spirit and are encouraged and looking to the Lord for guidance in their lives."
Doug is also preparing to teach a series of lessons on the Holy Spirit to the Emberas.
"There has been much false doctrine concerning this subject being propagated among the Embera people and many have been led away from the truth of the Gospel," Doug wrote.
When Doug finishes that series, he plans to start another on prophecy, using the book of Revelation. Doug said this is another area where false doctrine is being spread among the Emberas.
"I work on these studies in the evenings, so pray my mind will remain clear after a day of work on the translation."
Find out how you can give toward the Embera translation >>