A: When I was 12, my pastor was preaching on a Sunday morning and read Matthew 9:37-38. I knew God wanted me to go tell people about Jesus. I looked around expecting adults to jump up and run out to go answer that call, but no one did. I committed to go when I was older, and I kept that commitment in the back of my mind as I majored in Spanish in college and went on for my master’s degree in Education.
Q: How did God call you to translation ministry?
A: When I went to candidate classes, I had already decided to
serve in Chile as an MK teacher. However, during the month of classes,
God convicted me of my assumption. He showed me that what seemed logical
might not be His plan for me, and I needed to ask and wait. I did, and
He began to open my heart and mind to South Asia.
Then, during my years in South Asia, under the tutelage of my incredible mentor Lynn Silvernale, He guided me to my niche in translation and literacy ministries.
Q: What is your favorite memory from the mission field?
A: There have been so many thrilling and humbling memories from
my years in missions, but a life-changing one was hearing the testimony
of Rupon.
He was a highly educated young man who had used the national language in all his years of education and earned a master’s degree. He was beyond fluent and capable in the national language, but it was not his mother tongue language.
In his testimony of salvation, Rupon said, “I had heard the gospel message many times in the national language, but it was not until I heard the gospel in my heart language that I truly understood in my heart and was saved.”
That testimony sealed my passion for, and commitment to, providing scriptures in the heart language of people groups around the world. If someone with Rupon’s fluency needed God’s Word in his mother tongue in order to be saved, what about all those who had lesser or no ability in their national language?
Q: What story or moment had the biggest impact on your ministry?
A: As a first-term missionary in South Asia, I had an interest
in Bible translation but no training or experience. I joined the Bible
Translation committee and attended meetings and helped with the “drudge”
work of checking translation against a base text, word-by-word and
verse-by-verse. For me, it was fun, exciting, and deeply fulfilling.
One day, at a committee meeting, the members discussed a project in a local tribal language that had been started years before but had no one to serve as coordinator. As a result, the hand-written translation drafts were sitting in storage.
As the committee discussed the need for a project coordinator, Lynn Silvernale said, “I think Vicki should do it.” With no hesitation, I said yes. Their decision to entrust me with that project changed the course of my missionary life forever.
Q: What advice would you give to those considering missions?
A: Trust God to direct you to the place, people group, and
ministry He has for you. Don’t make decisions based on your human logic.
Allow God to stretch you. And enter each ministry with a commitment to
stay the course. Scripture translation work requires a long-term
commitment that few are willing to make.
