Coveting Your Prayers

Many of you would be familiar with SIL International (formerly known as the Summer Institute of Linguistics) and their unique work of translating the Bible into lesser known languages by directly living among people that speak these languages and understanding the culture in which these are rooted. Ethnologue has listed over 6,800 languages in its fourteenth edition published in 2000.

A missionary couple working with SIL in the Philippines as Bible translators e-mailed me asking for prayer support. SIL has been hit hard this past couple of weeks both around the world and in the Philippines. May I please invite you to share with me in lifting them and their colleagues up to the LORD.

These friends of mine have previously asked that I be very careful about posting their communications in websites so I will not be mentioning their names here. If I may, though, here are the items they requested to be taken up in prayer:

1. On March 30, SIL translators Rich and Charlene Hicks were found dead outside their burned home in Guyana where they work with the Wapisiana people. Rich is the brother of a teacher at Faith Academy in Manila. Charlene is the cousin of a member in SIL Philippines. They have been well known by many members in the Philippines and around the SIL world. Shock and grief are being felt by all who have known this dear couple. Please pray especially for the families affected and for the police and government authorities, including SIL administrators investigating this tragedy.

2. Virgilio Tiongson is one of the long time, most respected and helpful Advisory Council members for SIL Philippines. Last week Virgilio's wife, Mary, was diagnosed with lymphoma cancer. Please pray for Virgilio and Mary as she begins chemotherapy and radiation treatments for this disease.

3. My friends also have a prayer partner who suffered a miscarriage last week. They have been very involved in the life of this family who are grieving the loss of this baby. Please pray for the LORD's peace, comfort and healing as they deal with this experience.

4. Finally, the young wife of their Korean translator, Hong Yul (Esther) Lee, underwent brain surgery last Sunday morning due to a life threatening aneurysm. Hun and Esther have three young children. Please pray for her and her husband that the difficult surgery will result in Esther's full restoration in good health.

How my friends closed their e-mail really brought a message home to my heart. I am privileged to share it here with you:

"We all face times when we cry out to the LORD for justice, mercy or simply understanding. In the midst of pain, we know our loving heavenly Father wants us to lean on Him for wisdom, strength, and comfort. Also the faith to believe He is working 'in every circumstance for our best good' (Romans 8:28). Prayer is the key in that faith building process. Thank YOU for interceding...for us, for our family, and for those involved in the work of Bible translation. God bless.."

LORD, you are the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. Thank you for the privilege of freely entering your throne room to intercede in behalf of our brothers and sisters that right now are so needful of you. Thank you for providing the means so that even if they may not be personally known to some of us and they are clear across this world away, we may care for them.

We do pray for this couple, and these items listed here. Indeed, we ask for wisdom, strength and comfort, especially for those in the midst of grief, pain and difficulties. Shower them, LORD, with your sustaining grace. Take them quickly to that place of understanding that we know will make all these worthwhile and beneficial. For all concerned, for your kingdom, and for your glory.

In Jesus' Mighty Name, we pray. Amen.