Computers–gotta love ‘em! Probably 95% of the work I do in Bible translation is dependent on some type of technology: laptops, tablets, Skype, Facebook or Internet access. When things go smoothly, I don’t think much about it. But when things go less than smoothly…

Case in point: After a great day of checking the Chergash Bible translation with Biljana in Vukovar, Croatia, I drove to the other side of Croatia to meet with Natasha, Renata and Nedeljko in Zagreb to work on the Bayash translation. Everything seemed fine that Friday night when I went to bed. But when I woke up Saturday morning, my laptop wouldn’t boot up. The laptop on which I had the programs which I use to check the translation work (translationStudio and translationCore). Hmm. This will present a problem, I thought. Well, as it turns out we were only able to get about a half day of Bible translation checking work done, the rest of the time spent in futile efforts to resurrect my laptop or use Natasha’s (which we are using here in the picture above). So, I drove back home to Hungary, discouraged and disappointed.

Well, that was 3 ½ weeks ago. Now, after help from a friend and someone hand-carrying over a new SSD for me, I am back up and running again with the laptop and programs restored. I did lose a small amount of data, but thankfully it can be recreated. And I really have very little to complain about: 200 years ago, Bible translator William Carey did everything by hand, and one day, all his translation work literally went up in smoke when his office burned down.

So whether we get lots done on Bible translation in a day, or if we spend a week wrestling with a stubborn computer, thank you for standing with us in prayer, and being partners with us in this ministry for His glory!

Gratefully,
Todd & Pamala