Our Dear Partners,
During our last visit to the New Oji-Cree Translation team at Kingfisher Lake, Ontario around Easter time, they asked us if we could accompany them to “General Synod” this summer.
You will recall that this translation program was initiated by Bishop Lydia Mamakwa, the first bishop of a completely indigenous Anglican diocese in Canada, the “Indigenous Spiritual Ministry of Mishamikoweesh”.
Just a few days after the establishment of this ministry in June 2014, she attended the First Nations Bible Translation Capacity-Building Gathering in Prince Albert. At that gathering, she heard testimony from Naskapi and Cree speakers who were translating the Bible into their own languages, and the impact that this was having in their own lives and communities. 
Before the gathering was over, she requested guidance and assistance toward starting a translation project in her own language, Oji-Cree.
As you can read in other posts, (click <here> and <here>) over the past two years the New Oji-Cree Translation team has developed and has begun bring scriptures to the Kingfisher Lake community that the community is engaging with.
The diocese, the Kingfisher Lake Translation Committee and the translation team wanted to tell the story of how God has been at work in their community and in this translation program to the other delegates from Anglican churches all over Canada at this year’s General Synod, so they have made arrangements to set up a display booth, show pictures and examples, and distribute brochures about their translation program. They invited us to attend the synod to accompany them in the booth, and to help prepare the display and the handouts.
So we will be attending General Synod with them from Thursday to Saturday this week, and helping them to make connections between their translation program and other Anglican parishes and congregations across Canada.
Pray with us that we will serve our friends the Oji-Cree delegates well, that we make God-ordained connections, and that other churches and individuals will be moved to participate in First Nations Bible Translation in Canada.
Serving with you,
Bill and Norma Jean
Thank you for participating yourself and supporting this work by visiting these websites:
In the USA: https://www.wycliffe.org/partner/Jancewicz
In Canada: http://www.wycliffe.ca/m?Jancewicz
It’s always good to hear from you Bill and Norma Jean and learn of your continued ministry among the 1st Nations people. Now the Oji- Cree people are excited to have the Scriptures in their mother tongue! May this same desire be birthed in other communities. Our love and prayers go up to our Father for you especially at this special time.
Thanks, Don and Mary Lou, and thanks for your prayers and encouragement.