Why does your language matter to you?

Someone recently asked me, What do you most appreciate about your language? Now, “my language” is English, currently the most powerful language in the world and the medium of science, higher education, and travel. But I immediately said, “I love the wealth of great children’s literature in English, because I can read bedtime stories to my kids!” Our current bedtime reading is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, for the “I-don’t-know-how-many-th” time—because it’s a story well told, and because it re-tells the Best Story in the World.

Why does your language matter to you?

Even though Fraser hasn’t officially started his new role in SIL LEAD, we want to introduce you to two of SIL LEAD’s exciting projects.

Over the last 2 years, SIL LEAD worked with the Ghana Ministry of Education and eight other agencies to create linguistically fine-tuned, early-grade reading curricula for eleven languages of northern Ghana, reaching nearly 3 million children.

“In 6–8 weeks, most of the children in my school could identify letters and sound them out because of the new approach we learned. Reading has become meaningful, and therefore children enjoy reading.”
—Raphael Ayeriba, Bambaya Presbyterian Primary School

Bloom is our free software that makes it easy to create simple books. The bloomlibrary.org website currently has 3,100 books in 162 langauges, including nearly 300 Bible story books. 

But what if you are Deaf, or have trouble seeing? We don’t want such physical limitations to limit access for anyone, so we are adding audio and video capabilities to Bloom. After the new version has been well tested in the Philippines, electronic books created with Bloom will also be able to have audio tracks and Sign Language video.

Ruth is thriving in her first year at University of Dallas.

Samuel was sick the entire month of February, but that didn’t stop him from buying a 1978 motorbike to restore.

Isaac bought himself a fancy camera, and is now the unofficial photographer of the Duncanville High School soccer team.

Ann has joined Sarah in ballet.

Liz has been battling painful foot problems, but last month she saw a podiatrist who has a different approach. Recovery will be a long process of realignment and strengthening, but Liz is seeing improvement. We’re so thankful.

What we are suffering now is nothing compared with our future glory. Everything God created looks forward to the future. That will be the time when his children appear in their full and final glory. (Romans 8:18–19, NIRV)

Every day we realize that we cannot serve this way without your partnership.
Thank you.