Paul and Melissa Hefft are missionaries in Tanzania with Wycliffe Bible Translators.  They became one of our supported missionaries on January 1, 2011.　

Paul and Melissa have been in Tanzania since July, 2009. This is their first assignment. They have completed their branch orientation course and their language school.  They are getting more comfortable with the Swahili language and it is becoming easier for them to communicate.

They have gotten to:

• Take part in a Tanzania church service
• Eat a meal in the home of a Tanzanian family
• Visit two local hospitals
• Toured a nearby village
• Do a "scavenger hunt" at a local market (I can only imagine what this means.)
• Get stuck in the mud during their 4 wheel drive practice
• Build relationships with their new colleagues

Now with all the schooling and exams finished Paul is on his job with a Burunge translation team. Some of his time is spent with administrative tasks but his favorite part of his new role is reviewing translated materials. The team is currently translating Genesis. A Burunge literacy worker read Genesis 29 aloud to the translation team during an oral checking session. It was very exciting that this text was being read aloud in the Burunge language for the first time in history.

A large part of Paul’s role on the translation team is contributing expertise of  interpertation. While reviewing Genesis 25:12, he noticed that the Burunge translation read that Rebekah "had no children" instead of the idea that she was barren. Paul asked the translators if a word exists in the Burunge language to describe a young couple who tries and tries to have children but are still unable. They explained that a word does exist, but that is has negative connotations and is not commonly used in a public setting. Paul was then able to explain that this concept is exactly what "barren" means in the original text. After this discussion, the translators began to grasp the situation – that without God’s help, this barren couple was hopeless.

Melissa has taken over as editor of the prayer publication for the Burunge translation project. (If interested in receiving the publication, email her at melissa_hefft@sil.org   She is also helping out in the office one morning each week, taking on some administrative tasks. 

They thank each of you for your notes of encouragement and your many prayers.

They praise the Lord

• That both of their children have adjusted well and are making friends.
• They found a comfortable home and they are feeling settled in Dodoma
• For the Toyota Land Cruiser that God provided for their ministry

They are praying and ask that

• We pray that the Burunge team will stay on pace to finish Genesis on time.
• Pray for plans to launch the Alagwa project later this year.
• Pray for the Burunge team as they put the finishing touches on James, Acts and Revelation and prepare these books for typesetting and publication.