Who's your "Plus-1"?
Everyone should have someone who "gets them" and with whom they can share life's joys and struggles. A spouse is most often that person if one is married, but through God's goodness, we also have brothers and sisters in Christ and dear friends with whom we share deep fellowship.
DeEtte is my "Plus One," my One-and-Only, my best friend, the LOML (love of my life), and after being an amazing mother to our three wonderful children, she's loving being "Nonna" to our four grandchildren! She's also my capable partner in life and ministry. I am very blessed by this woman!
Celebrating our Team Together with our Plus Ones!
At the end of April and the beginning of May, Wycliffe sent me to Cyprus with my plus 0ne, DeEtte - to learn about and celebrate the work that God has done through the work of Wycliffe's Global Partnerships and other organizations. My work as a Project Liaison in Francophone (French-speaking) Africa serving in both Congos is part of this work.
Most of my colleagues are men and so it was a blessing for us to bring our wives (our +1s) to this meeting. Together we met, celebrated, strategized and planned for continuing and future Bible translation work. It was wonderful to meet these men and their wives face-to-face and to introduce DeEtte to my colleagues.
My prayer warrior colleague, Ornea, who leads Bible translation efforts in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, has been a widow for many years but was able to bring her long-time friend and prayer partner as her plus one. There were about 275 of us at the meeting from many countries and regions of the world. We experienced part of the "great multitude...from [many] nations, from [many] tribes and peoples and languages" (Rev. 7:9). The variety, fellowship, reports, and worship were amazing!
We met as a French-speaking Africa Field Coordination Team and strategized for Bible translation work in the coming years. It was encouraging to be together and plan and pray. Thank you for praying for me and my work on this team. We also got to report to the larger group and lead them in celebrating in French and Benin sign language(!).
Watch this video for some of the flavor of our celebration (you can see DeEtte & me near the end at about 8:42 - not dancing nearly as well as our colleagues!).
Praying for our leaders
At the meeting, we also said goodbye to our retiring Senior Field Coordinator, Robert Hale. Robert and wife Debbie raised their sons in West Africa for many years before returning to the U.S., where Robert continued to lead and influence the work of Bible translation in French-speaking Africa.
He has been my supervisor for about eight years and has taught me so much - I've so appreciated his encouragement and help in doing my work. He joined me on my first trip to the Republic of Congo back in October 2018. It was special to get to pray for Debbie and him together.
We also prayed for our new Senior Field Coordinator, Corneille Kadio of Burkina Faso. Corneille has been involved in Bible translation for almost 25 years, including helping lead the completion of the Old Testament translation into his mother tongue of Southern Nuni. God has gifted Corneille with many skills and much experience and he will lead us well. Please join me in praying for him and his wife, Mariette!
After our week in Cyprus with Wycliffe, we spent a week in Lausanne, Switzerland, where DeEtte worked for YWAM and studied French (1988-89 and 1990-91). We reconnected with dear YWAM and Swiss friends, who really spoiled and blessed us. We also enjoyed beautiful day trips in this lovely place and a lot of good food and Swiss chocolate. 😄
Grandparenting is the best!
Recently, DeEtte and I had the privilege of keeping ALL FOUR grandchildren at the same time for 30+ hours while our boys took their wives to a World Cup match. It was challenging but also a real joy to bless our children and to be with this next generation of Starrs. We think they're very special!
Oregon, here I come! ✈️
I'm going to Oregon for a month to help my brothers run our dad's u-pick operation one last summer. I'll be there July 14-August 17 (8340 SW River Road, Hillsboro). There's fresh produce to pick🫐 and I'd enjoy being outdoors with friends, so contact me & let's get together!
THANK YOU for your prayers and support - together we're making a difference among Bibleless communities!
