Serving Bible Translators through the Library and Serving Bible Translators through the Library and Archives in Davao, PhilippinesArchives in Davao, Philippines

Chad Larsen

Great is Your Faithfulness, O Lord! (Lamentations 3:23)

  

In February of 2011 one of our In February of 2011 one of our linguists emailed our library and linguists emailed our library and

archives in Davao, Philippines. That archives in Davao, Philippines. That linguist(Mr. M) was requesting all the linguist(Mr. M) was requesting all the

research that was done by previous research that was done by previous linguists who worked with the people linguists who worked with the people who speak the P language.  I promptly who speak the P language.  I promptly transferred all this research material, on transferred all this research material, on

the P language, to Mr. M through an the P language, to Mr. M through an FTP file server. Mr. M emailed back, FTP file server. Mr. M emailed back, "Thanks again so much for all your "Thanks again so much for all your

help with this - as we get started help with this - as we get started working with the P people, this is working with the P people, this is

invaluable!" Glory to God! Please pray invaluable!" Glory to God! Please pray for this work, Mr. M, his family, and for this work, Mr. M, his family, and

the people who speak the P language!the people who speak the P language!   

Among the archives I am Among the archives I am scanning into computer scanning into computer

files, to preserve them, is files, to preserve them, is Psalm 1:1-6 and Psalm Psalm 1:1-6 and Psalm

100: 1-5 in the language 100: 1-5 in the language of a people in a of a people in a

Southeast Asian country.Southeast Asian country.  

Among the archives I am scanning into computer files is a primer used to teach a

people, who will soon have God’s word in their

language, how to read their language.

All Praises to God! He has enabled me to All Praises to God! He has enabled me to preserve all the unpublished language preserve all the unpublished language research material from 30 different languages research material from 30 different languages in a Southeast Asian country.in a Southeast Asian country. Please pray, with Please pray, with me, to the Lord of the harvest that He would send me, to the Lord of the harvest that He would send more laborers into this country that millions of more laborers into this country that millions of people, who are now living in darkness, may have people, who are now living in darkness, may have the light of Jesus in their lives. We must also ask God the light of Jesus in their lives. We must also ask God to move the hearts of this Southeast Asian country’s to move the hearts of this Southeast Asian country’s leaders that these laborers may have visas. When leaders that these laborers may have visas. When these language workers go to work among any of these language workers go to work among any of 400+ languages (in this country) they will want to 400+ languages (in this country) they will want to know all of what workers before them have found know all of what workers before them have found out about their language. This is part of why out about their language. This is part of why international leaders of Bible translation want both international leaders of Bible translation want both published and unpublished language material to be published and unpublished language material to be preserved through archiving. This preservation of preserved through archiving. This preservation of language material is done in paper and digital language material is done in paper and digital formats.formats.

Scanning academic journal articles for a future Bible Scanning academic journal articles for a future Bible translator or linguist studying at University of North translator or linguist studying at University of North

Dakota (March 2009)Dakota (March 2009)

I had the privilege of scanning some books on fishing and I had the privilege of scanning some books on fishing and phrase books, preserving these materials in pdf electronic phrase books, preserving these materials in pdf electronic

format, for the Kagayanen, a language group who now has the format, for the Kagayanen, a language group who now has the New Testament and Genesis in their language. Jackie Huggins, New Testament and Genesis in their language. Jackie Huggins,

one of the Bible translators for the Kagayanen people, one of the Bible translators for the Kagayanen people, encouraged me to serve Bible translators and linguists in encouraged me to serve Bible translators and linguists in

archiving. archiving.

Placing language and date labels on all the Placing language and date labels on all the computer backups of Bible translators, as well as computer backups of Bible translators, as well as

keeping a record of them in an Excel spreadsheet. keeping a record of them in an Excel spreadsheet. (June, July, August 2008 and continuing)(June, July, August 2008 and continuing)

This exact CD of dictionaries and translated Scriptures was requested by a Bible translator in a Southeast Asian country (February, 2010). He had

placed these language files in our archives ten years earlier and now needed to access these copies, which were probably the only copies in

existence. Our Archives served a Bible translator and probably enabled years of translation work, for a Bibleless people, not to be lost! Glory to God! He requested files for the W people and the Y people. Please pray for these precious Bibleless people.

Transferred all the data from Bible translators that Transferred all the data from Bible translators that was on 3.5” floppy disks to a 250GB hard drive was on 3.5” floppy disks to a 250GB hard drive (August 2008) so as to preserve this valuable (August 2008) so as to preserve this valuable

informationinformation

Thank you for taking the time to look at what the Thank you for taking the time to look at what the Lord has been doing through my service.Lord has been doing through my service.

Chad Larsen

Great is Your Faithfulness, O Lord! (Lamentations 3:23)