The Mortensens
Translating God's Word for the Northern Embera People of Panama and Colombia
Thanksgiving Memo, November 2005

Thanksgiving Memo, November 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

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Before the Christmas season begins, we want to take the time to share with you what we are thankful for this year.

¶ Work -- In August the Embera Evangelical Church agreed to use a consensus alphabet, in which two letters are different from their alphabet, if the bilingual education bill becomes law. In the meantime, though, the church and we continue to use the alphabet used since 1974. With that situation quieting down for now, we are finally getting back to translation work. Before Doug left to attend to his elderly parents (his Dad has since passed away) he and Abundio produced drafts of Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. While Doug is away he may have a chance to read some of my revised draft of Matthew. I am also checking Luke with Bienvenido, since he did the draft of that Gospel. Our consultant, Marion Miller, is checking 1&2 Thessalonians and Mark, which Bienvenido and Abundio helped me redraft. Marion is planning to visit in February so she can review those books with our checking committee. In October several copies of Scripture portions made their way down to Embera communities in Colombia, thanks to a Wycliffe colleague's help.

¶ Family -- Kirsten is surviving her first semester of college. It's been up and down, some rough stretches, but she is enjoying it and working hard. She's made lots of friends and likes dorm life. We're all looking forward to her visit home for Christmas! Danny is a sophomore in high school, enjoying a number of activities both in school and in youth group at church. These include student council presidency, weekly visits to an orphanage, a photography class and two upcoming Christmas programs. Laura has discovered gymnastics and loves it. She shows great perseverance and is progressing well. She's in third grade and does well with friends and schoolwork. She continues with Brownie Girl Scouts also. All three of our kids follow the Lord, are basically healthy and are happy in their current situations. We are thankful for them! We (Chaz and Helga) each are involved in Bible studies and participate in a Bible study group together. We also try to get regular exercise individually or in team sports. We mainly keep busy trying to keep up with Danny and Laura's activities!

¶ Finances -- All this year we have been receiving sufficient funds to live here and do our work, thanks to the Lord's provision through many of you. Our office expenditures are paid through a special fund within Wycliffe. Some months are tight, but we are always able to pay our bills and have only a small credit card debt at the moment. Occasionally we're asked to explain Wycliffe's financial policy and how the system of support donation works. We're including this information here for those who want to know more.

How we receive income

Wycliffe Bible Translators does not pay us a salary. We receive income which is sent in the form of donations to Wycliffe's U.S. headquarters in Orlando, Florida, and designated for our use. All donations are subject to a 10% assessment for defrayment of administrative costs and funding of major projects. Wycliffe also takes care of figuring tax withholding, charging our account for five types of insurance in addition to Social Security, workers' compensation, furlough funds, mandatory retirement savings and so forth. The remaining funds are deposited into our bank account for us to live on. We receive a statement from Wycliffe each month, with details of donors, amounts given, and all charges and deposits mentioned above.

The funds which end up in our account are used for rent and utilities, the kids' school tuition, car expenses, groceries, tithes and offerings and all the details of daily life.

Our office rent and translators' salaries are paid for by separate funds sent to us by Wycliffe Bible Translators, so we do not use our personal money for those expenses.

How to send financial support

1. Please do not send cash or send funds directly to us, not even for Christmas. We still have to report this to Wycliffe as income!

2. Make your check payable to "Wycliffe Bible Translators."

3. Include a note designating the funds to "Chaz & Helga Mortensen." Any more specific designations such as "Laura's birthday" should be included at this time.

4. Mail your check and note to the address for WBT listed in the box below.

5. Wycliffe will send you a receipt with a record of your donation which you may use for tax purposes and/or to send another donation. Regular electronic funds transfers can be arranged through Wycliffe.

Helping with special projects

Through Wycliffe's headquarters and our field office (Americas Group), we have a special fund to help with the Northern Embera translation project. If, for example, we need to hold a workshop on Bible translation or the alphabet issue in a remote area, we access this fund to help the church pay for boat gas and bus fares, so as many people as possible can come. We also use it to buy food for the participants and to pay for duplication and binding of course materials and Scripture portions.

One upcoming need is our translation consultant's visit in late January. While much of the consulting expense is covered by another fund, invariably things come up that are not. For example, each participant will need a copy of the revised Gospel of Mark. We also reimburse the participants for their travel costs and provide room and board.

Currently this fund is depleted. If you would like to help replenish it, please make your check out to "Wycliffe Bible Translators" and include a note designating the funds for "AMG 28000 - Northern Embera project." Send both to the address listed in the box below.

Thank you for your interest in our lives and work here in Panama for the Northern Embera Bible translation project. We wish each of you a joyful holiday season, with a fresh understanding of God's gift of Jesus.

Working with you,

Chaz and Helga Mortensen, Danny and Laura