Happy Easter

March 14, 2005

Dear Friends,

Greetings to you from Lima, which is on the Pacific coast and where the weather is presently just delightful. No rain, temperature perfect, low humidity---how much better can it get! We have been here for 5 1/2 weeks and plan to return by bus to Pucallpa on April 1, and then right on out to the Kashinawa village of Nueva Luz from there.

We are here with our three Kashinawa co-translators and are putting in full days. Dick and Tufí are finishing up the first draft of I Kings, and then will go on to II Kings. Roberto, Waldemar and I are working with our translation consultant Jim on the Old Testament books which we have completed. Genesis had been previously approved, for which we are very grateful, so we came with Exodus through II Samuel ready for consultant checking. We are going through these books verse by verse, with Roberto and Waldemar taking turns reading sections off the computer and the other one translating that section into Spanish. Their Spanish is not really too good but Jim seems to be able to understand their natural grammatical changes (reversals of what would be English or Spanish order) quite easily, and then asks questions, or for a specific verse that was not adequately remembered to be reread, so it can be translated for him by the Kashinawa man. Yes, this is a slow, stressful and tiring process for all. But it is a necessary step in being sure that our translation is clear, accurate and that the flow of the dialogue is such that it can be recalled with ease. Yes, that is asking a lot! Roberto and Waldemar really get tired, for they have not only to remember the story line but there are so many strange sounding names in the Old Testament! Not like the easy reading of the Gospels. Mornings we are working with Jim on the translation checking and in the afternoons we are translating Psalms.

We have had some fun times here in Lima, including seeing the Kashinawa men get into the ocean for the first time, and into a swimming pool for the first time. They weren't so sure about that wave stuff, but Roberto did dive right in and the other two at least got all wet. Can you imagine how waves must seem when you had never even seen them in a movie? The salt water was also a very unusual experience for them. I lived on the East coast for so many years that I have part salt water in my veins, and just can't wait to get out into the breakers, but these men have seen too many canoes overturn and people drown to have the same attitude as I do about venturing out deeper!

We will anticipate being in the Kashinawa village of Nueva Luz from the end of the first week in April until late May, when we will again return to Lima for a month of translation checking. We are staying at the Wycliffe Center and share a suite with the three men, and have two offices to use, a very comfortable arrangement for us. There are the "fixings" for a continental breakfast, then we go out for lunch at a restaurant called a "Menu", where there are 6-10 choices of a salad or soup, a main course, and sometimes a dessert like pudding, and all for $1.50 each, so that is really nice. Supper is as easy as we can get away with, for I don't find much time that I want to dedicate to cooking with the hours I spend working each day.

We want to thank you very much for your faithful prayers for us and your financial support. Each of you is helping us to stay here and we are very grateful for all of you who love us, pray for us and help us financially.

Some serious prayer needs are piling up and we would like to share these with you.

• The New Testament for the Brazilian Kaxinawás still has not gone to the press. We had understood that the funding was taken care of but this was not the case, so it has become our responsibility. By the Lord's great provision, we have money in our Scripture Project Fund that will be enough to pay the major part of the bill. PLEASE PRAY that the New Testament will be promptly sent off to Korea for printing and that the Lord will continue to prepare hungry hearts to receive it in Brazil. And pray that if our funds are not adequate, that the Lord will bring in what we lack.
• The New Testament for the Peruvian Kashinawas has been very well received, and we thank all of you who have helped with your prayers and gifts to get this to them. What a joy to see young and old alike reading their New Testaments, memorizing verses and writing new songs from Scripture verses!
• The Kashinawa Bible Institute has finished it first cycle at its now permanent site, with the students being most pleased at the nice classrooms, dining pavilion, housing, gardens for food, and the good teaching they received. About 45 students attended. PTL
• Please pray for our translation team to be protected from attacks from Satan. All three of the men have had some really difficult family situations that they have committed to the Lord. Some days they start work feeling like they are under attack and we have prayed much about this. We have entered with force into Satan's territory as we translate the Word, and need the full armor of the Lord to be upon us daily. Please uphold us.
• Plans regarding the publishing of the Old Testament portions in 2006 are in process and there are some decisions to be made. We are again going to be needing to begin seeking financial help for these two editions. Maybe by my next printed letter, we will have some more information to share with you. (If you do not get our printed letters, which are usually 4-5 times a year, and would like to, just let us know. I don't have all of your mailing addresses.)

I will close by sharing one of the portions of Psalms which we have recently translated and is especially meaningful to me:
        "Cleanse me from my hidden faults.
        Moreover, keep Your servant from willful sins;
        do not let them rule over me.
        Then I will be innocent,
        and cleansed from blatant rebellion.
        May the words of my mouth
        and the meditation of my heart,
        be acceptable to You,
        LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."
                Psalm 19: 12b-14 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

As we all look forward to the most special time of the year, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, may He be very close to you and lead you in His paths day by day, that you may honor and glorify Him in all you do.

Blessings on you,
Sue for Dick and Sue Montag

E-mail: RMontag@mtwsa.org or dick-sue_montag@sil.org
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If you want to check out our website, go to:
http://www.mtwla.org/people/rmontag.htm