The first time we met was when she volunteered to help with the Wycliffe stand at an event at the end of August 2012. She was not long home after having spent her language year abroad with a Wycliffe family in Mozambique. Soon after she returned for her final year at university.
Unlocking the secrets of an unwritten language
Then we began to correspond by Facebook message…
9 October 2012
Hi John! Hope you’re well. Thank you for prayers. Let me tell you how the Lord’s been working, and how he has answered my prayers. I’ve been thinking and praying so much about the MA course [MA in Field Linguistics with Wycliffe]. And talking to a lot of mature Christians, who I look up to and whose words I take seriously. The Lord has been doing wonders in my life in the last month, since being back in Oxford. So much to praise him for.
Most of all for the revelation of something of the size of his love, that my heart cannot even hold the weight of it… he has filled me up to the absolute brim with the knowledge of his love, and how unfailing, never-ending, completely satisfying it is. And the reality of that is something I haven’t known before – to that intensity anyway.
I have been loving what I’m studying too, which is awesome. My research project is so exciting, and I don’t struggle to find motivation. I know it’s only the start of term but things are so busy, and could get overwhelming, but I’m helped to keep focus.
That’s a bit of where I’m at. Wanted to let you know I’ve not forgotten about next year. I’m more and more excited about it.
God bless…
10 October 2012
Lovely to hear from you and even more to hear how God is speaking to you. So we are here ready and waiting for your decision!
God bless, John
16 October
I’d like to start the application process, John!
I don’t know what the first steps are for that… I imagine paper work?!
God bless…
16 October 201
Praise the Lord! OK, where to start…
Have you officially talked to your church? Who should we contact? Guess you should send us a name and contact details.
Looking forward to hearing back from you.
John
PS Wycliffe enquirer form attached
17 October 2012
I’m going to ‘officially’ chat with [my minister] on Saturday, although I already talked a bit about it with him over the summer. So yeah, after that I guess you can go ahead and get in touch with him.
20 October 2012
Hi John,
Just spoke to [my minister]. He said he is very happy for you to get in touch, and to meet up and talk!
Talk soon,
p/s Let me know what I need to do next after you’ve had a good chat with [my minister].
22 October
I’ve arranged to talk to [your minister]on Thursday morning.
John
25 October
“Excited: today a minister agreed to commend one of his members to apply to Wycliffe Bible Translators as a linguist – the first from N. Ireland for a looooong time!”
Just couldn’t resist posting this on Facebook!
Had a great chat with [your minister]. We’re now working towards you getting online access to the application papers. But enough of admin! I’m happy that we’ve got this far
God bless, John
25 October 2012
Hi John!
Very much looking forward to starting the application papers. Let me know about that.
Today I’ve been working on the Introduction section of my research paper! These are the opening two sentences:-
“This linguistic study came about because of a passion for Bible translation, a curiosity about how texts hold together and the opportunity to do practical field work observing the Makonde language in use, over a period of 10 months in Mueda, Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique. The research for the study was carried out in the context of an SIL language development programme involving the translation of the New Testament, started in 1992, and works closely with two portions of their translated scripture, namely the Healing of the Paralytic (Mark 2:1-12) and the Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32).”
How cool is that? To be able to write a paper which will contribute to my final mark and for this to be what is is about!
Be in touch.
Love in Christ,
28 October 2012
And so it begins!
I see that [my colleague] has e-mailed you the link for accessing the application papers.
God bless you as you get into the process.
John
Wycliffe Bible Translators UK is keen to talk to people like this girl in the blog – and not just linguists – see here
Interested in finding out more about studying linguistics with Wycliffe Bible Translators? Take a look at this.
[All above written with permission from the applicant]
John 20:21 
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