From Marsha Relyea Miles--Pioneer Bible Translators

August 2008

Dear family and friends,

Five Aruamu men were intensely focused, working with me in Madang, Papua New Guinea on checking the book of Daniel. At one coffee break time as we neared the end of the book, the Aruamus were chatting about the book. One of them, named Petchie, said, “I really like this book.” I asked, “Why, Petchie? What do you like about the book of Daniel?”

He said, “I like a lot of things about the book of Daniel. I like the Lion Story. And I really like knowing about the times when God takes care of people and protects people, like when he protected the 3 Jewish men when the King threw them in the big fire.”

Then Siria said, “I like story about the King’s big feast when a hand just appeared and started writing up on the wall of the house with a message from God.”

Then Simon said, “I like reading about all of Daniel’s dreams and visions.”

Then Steven Dazim said, “When I read Daniel, I keep thinking like this: our God is the God who will truly do what he says he will do. This makes me want to shout and lift up his name!”

Praise the Lord with us that our team to complete the exegetical checking of the books of Daniel and Esther in July. How wonderful that these important Biblical books will be available to the Aruamus in the future!

I was part of a Pioneer Bible Translators team participating in the World Convention in Nashville earlier this month. I had the opportunity to present 2 workshops on Bible translation ministry. We praise the Lord for good times spent connecting with many other folks from around the world from Church of Christ, Christian Church, and Disciples of Christ backgrounds.

Thank you so much for your prayers and partnership this last month. At this point Nathan and I are back in Dallas. Nathan is preparing to lead a seminar for the United Bible Society in Stuttgart, Germany in September. Bobby is starting his senior year at Duncanville High School. Brigette is starting her senior year at Ozark Christian College. Heather and Philip are in their second year of Medical College.

I am working with my PBT teammates preparing for Fall missions events. One major event coming soon is PBT’s Fall Banquet and Rally, to be held at Valley View Christian Church on October 30, 2008. If you live in the Dallas area, I hope you will attend! If not, please cover this event in prayer. The theme for the evening will be “Loving the Least!” Speakers will be Greg Pruett and Max Lucado. It will be “an evening devoted to the Bible-less peoples of the world!”

Blessings,

Marsha Miles

(for Nathan and our whole clan)

(To donate to this ministry, checks may be made out to Pioneer Bible Translators, P.O. Box 420335, Atlanta, GA 30342-0335)

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The newsletter for Marsha Relyea Miles.
A communication from Pioneer Bible Translators, Inc. Phone: 972-708-7460

Mid-India update

MID-INDIA CHRISTIAN MISSION
August 6, 2008

Dear Friends,

Thank you very much for your prayers for the building situation. Many of you have responded by email and we want you all to know where we presently stand. The matter has gone before the High Court. equivalent to your State Supreme Court and they have issued a stay on the orders that local government officials have issued to seize the building. We will be pleading our case at the court. It may take weeks, months or even a few years before any decision is made. The process can be slow in civil matters in India. Local officials have altered most of the title records in their favor so we are doing our best to get some documentation to prove otherwise. I do not know how successful we will be in producing everything that the court may require since much of this will not be in our hands. I am reassured at least that things are no longer in the hands of local politicians and are now in court. This is an election year in India as well as for our state so we are hopeful that our government will change and the new one will be more tolerant towards Christianity. We have employed the best available attorneys and they are positive they will get us some favorable judgment.

Since the imminent threat has passed and we are waiting to be scheduled for hearing our case, we have taken the opportunity to come to the United States for a brief trip. We will be in Illinois for a few weeks and in Georgia for a limited time, to mainly meet with our Board of Directors. Thank you again for your prayers for the situation and for the Lord's work in India. He is faithful.

In His Service,

Vivert and Neelam Lall

Phil Smith is one of the missionaries that will be speaking to us at the conference. Phil forwarded to us today an email from the Director of the prison ministry in South Africa. Read and think about Matt. 25:36 "... I was in prison and y0u came to visit me".

From Phil:
I thought that you might appreciate receiving a recent report about the Prison Ministry in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Below is a monthly update that the Director, Richard Gallant, sent to me yesterday. It talks about the work of the prison ministry, growth, challenges, and prayer requests. THANK YOU for your continual and faithful support of the prison ministry in South Africa!


From: Richard Gallant
Sent: 06 August 2008 05:25 AM
To: Phil Smith
Subject: monthly report

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus. The prison ministry is still continuing in the region. We went through a very rough time losing people that played an anchor role in the Eastern Cape. To have lost the writer of the T.E.E material was a personal setback to me. We hope tat God will raise another Ron Butler to complete the task he performed. We also lost Chaplain Sixaba a person we hoped that he would play a major role in the Eastern Cape since he would have been stationed at East London

ACTIVITIES
The last two month have seen me trying to get more co - workers to the programme. Brother Beja promised to assist me as from September. We have just finished our book and will be writing the final exam on the 15 August at Mdantsane.

At East London we have started with Freedom in God’s faith Community. The women prison want also the programme but it will only started in 2009.

Stuterheim doing well under the faithful leadership of Mpayipheli. We have a total of 25 students. We will write our final exam on the 14 August. We will introduce the new book Christian Life.

The work in Grahamstown are doing fine and I hope to visit them the first week in September. St. Albans are still continuing under the capable hands of Norman Erasmus. They will start the last book of the year on the 28 August.

Kirkwood is doing fine under the leadership of Maxwell. He invited me to come with him as soon as I will have some time. Graaff Reinet has a group of 15 Students that will be there for at least two years. They will do the book Talking with God.

CHURCH INVOLVEMENT
The leadership of the Eastern Cape churches has promised their support to the programme but up to now no-one has done anything about it. Hope to speak to them at our workshop the 13 September.

OTHER MATTERS
The youth day activity of the Stutterheim Centre went well and to take the inmates out in the community is something that they really enjoy. Due to circumstances beyond my control their visit to the Mlungisi church was canceled, we are looking for a suitable date.

PRAYER REQUEST
Please be praying for our churches that they will support the ministry in the Eastern Cape
Pray for the supporting churches abroad for their continual support of the programme.
Pray for the volunteers brothers Mpayipheli and Nethi , their continued support is of importance to our programme in Grahamstown & Stutterheim
Pray for me and my family so that we can keep on doing the work that we do.

Thank you for your support

Yours in Christ Jesus

Richard M Gallant
EASTERN CAPE PRISON MINISTRY

Mission team prepares the food













Pam Trantham told us about the Ukraine as we prepared










Pam Trantham in front of her and Ray's display wearing a traditional Ukrainian outfit