Linda Haabak is an AFLC member and graduate of AFLBS. She serves as support staff for Wycliffe and is based in the US.
Here’s an idea of what my days are like here in my home workspace. The telephone and computer are my main tools.
I’ve been limping along a little bit with slight anemia, but have managed to record over 100 contacts in our database this quarter. Most of them were contacts with recruits although some were internal correspondence with other recruiters, etc. And some were attempts to contact folks who are (apparently) no longer interested in Wycliffe. I’ve closed more than a few records either by their request, for lack of response, or because we no longer had valid address info for the person.
We have five new recruiters in the Southwest. One of them is a Chinese woman who inherited our outgoing Chinese recruiter’s records. I have been passing records to the two couples who are newly on board. I am happy to be over the main training and certification process for these five. They are all doing well and need just a little tutoring once in a while now.
It has been just over two years since we began using our current database. There was a huge learning curve for all of us, but things are going pretty well for us all now here in the Southwest. I’ve been told more than once that we have the cleanest data in the nation. Part of that is the result of deliberate attempts to fix messes that came over from the old database or from errors while getting used to the new database. I think a lot of the rest happened because I tried to make sure the recruiters understood why they had to do things in a certain way in the database. Memorizing key strokes without understanding is just too difficult!
Another part of my job is to distribute new contacts to our recruiters, especially those contacts who have filled out the first-step-toward-membership form on our website. We haven’t been getting very many of those lately. It has picked up a little now that the summer is over, but we need many more people to join us if we are going to reach our Vision 2025 goal—to see a Bible translation program in progress in every language still needing one by 2025. Would you join me in praying that each of us recruiters in the Southwest would process at least 10 people to the Applicant stage within the next year?
The first (and so far only) couple I helped along the way to membership is now preparing to leave for their assignment as translators for the K people (in a sensitive area). Their training is over and they are visiting partners and potential partners as they are trying to complete their prayer and financial support team so they can move overseas in the next month or two. Please pray for Mac and Erika and their two children as they complete their preparations physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually, and as they proceed to their new home and ministry. And pray that there will be an openness to the Gospel among the K people so that many will turn from other religions to know the true God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
How many languages still need the Word? The number currently stands at less than 2,251 language groups that have no Bible translation program started yet. Thanks for your prayers and for your partnership in Bible translation!
Love,
Linda
