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There are three main locations in the U.S. where Wycliffe Associates volunteers come together to facilitate Bible translation around the world. For many, this is their first chance to see, feel, and participate in the work of bringing the Scripture to the 2,300 people groups who do not yet have a single verse in their mother tongue.
Catalina
Catalina, Arizona, about 20 miles north of Tucson, is the headquarters for the Mexico Branch of our Bible translation partner, and therefore one of the important locations where Wycliffe Associates is involved. At Catalina, men and women are retyping manuscripts of New Testaments in the different languages of Mexico. The results are checked and rechecked, so this is time-consuming but rewarding work. Volunteers serve in this and many other ways that support the work of translators in Mexico.
The rewards of volunteering at Catalina are many. There is the satisfaction of being used in practical ways to help produce Scriptures in the heart language of Mexican Indians and of having a firsthand look at Bible translation and its life-changing effects.
Dallas
Three key Bible translation partner organizations have offices in Dallas. Wycliffe International coordinates the translation of the Bible with partner organizations around the world. SIL International supports language study and translation internationally. The Graduate Institute of Applied Linguistics (GIAL) is an institution of higher education that provides training and research opportunities leading to graduate degrees in applied linguistics and development of languages.
Wycliffe Associates provides volunteer staff and support for each of these organizations, including construction, maintenance, administration, computers, and many other areas. By volunteering with Wycliffe Associates in Dallas, you will be able to see and experience firsthand what it takes to bring God’s Word to the far corners of the earth.
Orlando
The Wycliffe Associates Volunteer Mobilization Center is in Orlando, strategically located next to the Wycliffe U.S.A. headquarters. The newly completed Volunteer Mobilization Center is the launching pad for sending out a growing number of talented, skilled volunteers from across the U.S. to share the load with Bible translators. Our goal is to have volunteers providing 250,000 hours of service in critical international roles in 2010. Orlando is where they receive training, logistical support, and encouragement.
Throughout the year, volunteers from across the country travel to Orlando to spend days, weeks, and even months filling important jobs that are vital to the translation of the Scriptures into remaining languages. During the winter months, the Volunteer Center’s RV site overflows with volunteers who want to make a difference. Many of them, after getting their feet wet in Orlando, realize that it is not only possible, but exciting and fulfilling to devote their time and energy to get God’s Word to those who need it. They decide to plunge in and do volunteer work overseas, where the need is greatest and where they can make the maximum difference. Could you follow their example?
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