Collins Family July 2020 Update

Nancy and I joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1977, two years into our 45-years-and-counting marriage. We studied linguistics and cross-cultural ministry, and then traveled to Guatemala in 1979 when Nancy was 7 months pregnant with Elisa, our firstborn. Eventually Amalia and Isaac joined the family, all three kids born in Guatemala. We lived in a Maya-Mam Indian village for most of the next 19 years, concentrating on learning the Mam language and translating the New Testament into Mam, which was dedicated in 1999.

During our time in Guatemala, Nancy home-schooled the kids, and also established a rural clinic. In 2000 I entered the ivied walls of the Linguistics Department at the Ohio State University. I received my PhD in 2005, and several months later, Nancy and I traveled to Ricardo Palma University in Lima, Peru, where I taught linguistics and “culture engagement” courses for the next 13 years. During this time, I had over 300 students, mostly Latino, but also Indigenous. The majority of these former students are now involved in cross-cultural ministry, especially Bible translation and literacy, around the world.

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Collins Family July 2020 Prayer Requests

*Pray for the Old Testament and literacy projects taking place now among the Mam of Guatemala. May the local church and all readers delight in Christ for the availability of the entire Bible done digitally —later this year. The virus has paid no attention to our plans and goals, but God rules over all and we pray for receptive hearts for the coming Scriptures.

*Wes continues to work on his book about the history of Mam writing. May this document encourage the people to respect and delve into the meaning and fluidity and comfort of reading the Scriptures in their native language.

Collins Family June 2020 Prayer Requests

*Pray for Nancy’s mom. She has broken both hips over the last four months. She’s 91. Pray for godly fellowship in the nursing home in Michigan.

*Pray also for Wes’ sister-in-law, Regina, who has bladder cancer. She lives in Chardon and is looking toward June 11 surgery.

Collins Family May 2020 Prayer Requests

Pray for the Mam people and the world’s minorities who often are not qualified to contend with pandemics like the Coronavirus. May God have mercy on His people on the frontlines.

Collins Family April 2020 Prayer Requests

*Nancy and I have cancelled a trip to North Greenville University to talk about linguistics and Bible translation. I really enjoy that, but all “non essential” travel is being carefully scrutinized by Wycliffe.

*The Collinses are delighted that Parkside has agreed to partner with LAMP, a literacy and Scripture-promotion organization among the Mam of Guatemala. It is a one-year project aimed at preparing the local churches and the broader community for the publication of the whole Bible in Maya-Mam. Pray for good progress and open hearts.

Collins Family March 2020 Prayer Requests

Pray for Wes and Nancy in mid-March as they visit language and linguistic classes at North Greenville University to talk to students about considering cross-cultural ministry once they graduate. A lot has changed in missions over time, but much stays the same.

Collins Family February 2020 Prayer Requests

Pray for Wes as he works on a book on the history of writing Maya-Mam. It is an intriguing topic and we pray that the book would help build the prestige of that minority language, which we trust will encourage reading and writing.

Collins Family: 2019 in Retrospect

Friends,

Here is our retrospect for 2019.

Blessings to all and May God bless your year 2020.

Wes and Nancy Collins

Collins Family May 2019 Prayer Requests

Ministry in Venezuela is very difficult for foreigners due to restrictions on travel and currency exchange. Pray for faithful Christian leaders who love the Lord and their country as they continue to move forward with Bible translation, Christian ministry and relief. Students as we are having challenges traveling abroad for training and exchanging local currency.

Thanks.

Wes

Collins Family April 2019 Prayer Requests

Pray for indigenous leadership in Christian movements around the world. Whereas “nationals” have long been helpers and interpreters for their Western colleagues, more and more ministry leadership and vision casting falls to them. Pray for God’s Spirit to move and teach them and that relationships would be solid and God-honoring.

Best,

Wes