Dear friends,
On this Holy Saturday, I am reminded that the Word became flesh and after completing his work of re-creating the world through His suffering and death, he rested in the tomb on the seventh day. May we too find our Sabbath rest in him (Hebrews 4:9-11).
I hope that these emails do not sound redundant - I do admit that prior to typing this one I did not go back and read the last one. It was a very busy month with a two week workshop on advanced communication and translation principles sandwiched between two meetings of the newly formed Shekgalagari Language Project Board.
The workshops went very well, they helped me understand the importance of both theology and a clear understanding of language structure and features to be used as tools in service to the translation of the word of God. TJ Molemele, the MTT candidate who accompanied me did very well and we both learned a lot.
The Project Board meetings went very well - seven people from various Bakgalagari villages and communities accepted invitations to serve on the board and are anxious to understand their roles better and to do the important work of connecting with the communities and churches to build a foundation for a sustainable effort that will last even after we have gone. Praise God for them. The board is pictured on the homepage of our website www.rudowskes.com if you have not had a chance to see them yet. Please pray for the Board and for the Bakgalagari community that their hearts will be made open by the Holy Spirit to receive the gospel anew and afresh in their own language. Pray also for our family's hearts to be turned toward the Bakgalagari and to more strongly desire to help and serve them.
On the home front we have had some exciting developments. First and foremost, our volunteer teaching assistant, Ranae Holdeman, received her full funding amount and departs for Botswana to be with us for six months starting April 12th. Please pray for Ranae as she makes final preparations to depart and for her safe travel and arrival here. Please also pray for us as we begin the process of her volunteer visa paperwork that it would be approved without difficulty. Next, we have had good progress on the renovation of the building on our property that will house her, a classroom and some offices. I am sitting in my office in that building right now, in spite of the fact that it is not quite finished. We ask you to praise God with us for the work that has been done, and pray that the workers doing the work would work diligently and provide high quality work, working not as for man but for the Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 3:24).
On a more somber note, we tragically lost one of our puppies, Rontu, about a week ago, he was run over. This has been hard on the family, especially Christopher and we ask you to pray for him especially. This is a hard time in life for him anyways, being 14 years old and all that comes with that. Also for your prayers, Christopher is due to take an entrance exam at the end of June for the high school that we would like to 'send' him to. The last couple years of moving around and juggling life have had their effect on Chris, he is struggling academically, particularly with math. We are in a good routine now, but pray for us to continue to work well, for him to be more comfortable with life in general, and for wisdom regarding the timing for beginning his high school coursework.
We recognize that all these things we have on our minds pale in comparison to the difficulties and challenges many in this world face in their lives, yet we are thankful that we are children of the Heavenly Father who loves to hear our prayers and to grant according to His good pleasure. We also thank God for you and your continued partnership - to those of you who pray - we thank you; to those of you who encourage - we thank you; to those of you who give - we thank you; thank you for allowing us to serve as your missionaries to God's precious Bakgalagari people.
Christ is Risen!
Rich, Maya & The Rudowske Crew