The Mortensens
Translating God's Word for the Northern Embera People of Panama and Colombia
August 2005

August 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

Click on image to view larger picture.

These have been a busy and difficult three months for us, but God has seen us through. We had to say good-bye to Kirsten as she graduated from high school on June 9 (second in her class!) and left to live in Michigan. We had a wonderful last week with Kirsten at home, complete with visits from Grandpa Mortensen and Oma and Opa Schroeter. In addition to the graduation ceremony, we had lots of good family visits, talking and seeing sights and soaking up Kirsten's presence for a few more days. She has spent the summer with her Mortensen grandparents, adjusting to life in the US, resting, and helping her grandparents. A regular job never materialized, as she arrived too late to get hired. But this summer has been a good transition for her, and she's excited to be moving into her college dorm August 29, with her dad's help. (Chaz will be making a 2-week trip up to Michigan to visit a few churches and friends and help Kirsten settle in.) She appreciates your thoughts and prayers for her as she moves into this new life. We look forward to watching it unfold for her and seeing how God will lead her and provide for her.

The happy graduate. Click for larger view.Receiving diploma.With her grandparents. Click for larger view.

After Kirsten left, we faced our move out of our beloved home to a new one. That went as smoothly as any move can, and we are finally settled in. We are enjoying a couple new conveniences in our new place, DSL internet access and air conditioning. This apartment is about half the size of the other house, but we have found a place for everything. New house. Click for larger image.Helga enjoys less housework. Chaz has his office set up in the apartment upstairs. We are sharing the office cost with a young man from our church, who lives there. It is a blessing and a relief to be settled, both at home and work, and to get organized and back on track in our lives. Thank you all for standing behind us in your prayers and your extra gifts during these last couple months of house-hunting and moving and turmoil.

Danny and Laura have started back to school, Danny in 10th grade and Laura in 3rd grade. For Laura the first day was a bit nerve-wracking as this is her first time in an American school. But she already knows a lot of the kids in her class. We expect she will especially enjoy art class and library time, and perhaps also an after-school dance class. Danny is the student council president this year, and looks forward to new responsibilities in that role, as well as new experiences in the newly-formed drama club and an after-school photography class.

The Embera alphabet debate goes on. The church won a very important battle in July because an unusable alphabet that had been imposed on them was soundly defeated -- in a poll the church took, in a congress convened by the chief the government recognizes, and in other meetings convened by the council of local leaders. However, the alphabet the church has used for over 30 years and that is recognized by nearly all of the 444 people who took the poll, has not been approved yet. Currently there are meetings being held to discuss the last few letters, since those who supported the unusable alphabet now want to support another alphabet that has garnered little support in the past and still differs somewhat from the church's alphabet. We do not know what it is that keeps them from supporting the church's successful alphabet. Pray for wisdom for the church representatives: they want the issue resolved, they are partial to their alphabet, and they will not support something the Embera people won't support, but those who have political control in the whole matter are opposed to them.

When not busy with all the alphabet meetings and activities, Chaz and Doug have been doing a "partner check" of Genesis. This consists of one person looking over the other's work, making notes and asking questions. Then the other goes back through the book, incorporating the first one's comments and suggestions. Genesis has been out in the communities in provisional form for awhile now, but it is important to keep working on this provisional form until it is right and can be published.

In November Chaz plans to go to Colombia to meet with Wycliffe colleagues working in languages related to Northern Embera. They will be discussing how they each have translated key Biblical terms. They hope to be able to help each other improve their translations in that way. Chaz's work partner, Doug, also plans to attend. The meetings will be followed by the dedication of the Epena Saija New Testament, completed by Phill and Judy Harms. This is very meaningful for Chaz, as his very first jungle trip was with Phill and Judy, way back in 1992. Judy was the friend who accompanied Helga at the hospital for Laura's birth when Chaz was sick in bed with dengue fever. We're very happy that Chaz has this chance to be with them and others for this special occasion. If you would like to contribute to the purchase of Chaz's plane ticket for this trip, please send the funds to the WBT address on this letter, designating the funds to "AMG 28000 - Northern Embera project" and specifying "Colombia trip". Thank you.

Thank you for your prayers and your financial support of our work. This has been a difficult few months for us as a family and with the translation work, due to all the time and energy dedicated to the alphabet issue. But God's strength has been sufficient, and we are pressing on. We are grateful to each of you for your interest and your many expressions of concern and support.


Your translators in Panama,

Chaz and Helga Mortensen, Danny and Laura